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Threshold
(2020)
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Naila Scargill
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An impressive slow burner that develops beautifully through to a spine-chilling climax, with unexpected, shocking results.
Posted May 09, 2021
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I Blame Society
(2020)
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Naila Scargill
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This at times excruciating feminist satire is propelled forward by Gillian Wallace Horvat's delightfully deadpan delivery.
Posted Apr 19, 2021
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Terror Train
(1980)
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Naila Scargill
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Roger Spottiswoode's Terror Train is an effective comment on social order, teaching that trust in our hierarchy is a dangerous assumption.
Posted Mar 31, 2020
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The Taking
(2014)
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Naila Scargill
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Burrows beneath your skin from the off, with a sly edit that ekes out the tension to unbearable levels.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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Wake Wood
(2011)
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Naila Scargill
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With nicely subtle handling of its occult element, the film slowly builds an atmosphere and is more chilling as a result.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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Wasting Away
(2007)
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Naila Scargill
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This low-budget indie is a star turn, with a clever, funny script that shows life from the point of view of the zombie.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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We Are What We Are
(2010)
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Naila Scargill
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Deftly balancing a horror premise with the politics of a family drama, We Are What We Are is utterly refreshing.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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Dear Mr. Gacy
(2010)
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Naila Scargill
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Low budget, not particularly well acted and with a basic script, yet somehow, this film manages to elicit goosebumps.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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Peeping Tom
(1960)
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Naila Scargill
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A timeless and sublime masterpiece that presents an incredibly intelligent and moving picture of psychological struggle.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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5150 Elm's Way
(2009)
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Naila Scargill
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A confused affair that is a bizarre mishmash of clashing styles, with the barest of subplot revealed in just one line of dialogue.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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7 Days
(2010)
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Naila Scargill
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A masterpiece that will make the world sit up and take notice of what is the perfect portrayal of the psychology of a man.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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Attack the Block
(2011)
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Naila Scargill
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Stands on its own two feet amongst the usual Brit comedy suspects, which is largely due to its cast of unknowns.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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Let Me In
(2010)
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Naila Scargill
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The performances are faultless, but clumsy CGI removes the delicateness that had us so in love with the original.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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I Spit on Your Grave
(2010)
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Naila Scargill
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The cartoon violence on display here completely removes all sense of realism, shoving the film into torture porn territory.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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Julia's Eyes
(2010)
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Naila Scargill
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Several plot twists keep us guessing, however this device is overused and the final of these is bizarre, undoing much of the work accomplished.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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Buried Alive
(1990)
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Naila Scargill
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A required watch for fans of Frank Darabont, creator of The Walking Dead, if only to see what a difference 20 years can make.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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Death Bell
(2008)
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Naila Scargill
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Believes itself brutal, when in reality a small number of strong images are tied loosely together with a basic story.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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Red State
(2011)
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Naila Scargill
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A disappointing film with a script that is too basic for any kind of social commentary Kevin Smith may have been aiming for.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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The Silent House
(2010)
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Naila Scargill
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Florencia Colucci is superb, easily shouldering the film. Also impressive is some genuine creepiness courtesy of clever lighting.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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The Rite
(2011)
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Naila Scargill
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All a rather predictable outcome that doesn't offer anything we've not seen before, but Anthony Hopkins saves it.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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Night of the Living Dead: Reanimated
(2009)
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Naila Scargill
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Despite the odd flare of brilliance, what is an honourable and creative concept ultimately fails due to a case of too many cooks. One for rabid collectors only.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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The Woman
(2011)
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Naila Scargill
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An interesting statement on misogyny, albeit subtle as a sledgehammer-but then, this is from Lucky McKee and Jack Ketchum.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale
(2010)
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Naila Scargill
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Not quite as funny as you'd expect if you have seen the shorts, the film largely plays it straight.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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The Human Centipede II (Full Sequence)
(2011)
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Naila Scargill
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Laurence R. Harvey turns in an excellent performance, but there is no escaping the knowledge of a rapidly hashed idea.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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The Snowtown Murders
(2011)
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Naila Scargill
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A truly effective film that will stay with you long after the credits roll.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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The Awakening
(2011)
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Naila Scargill
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The raison d'être is ludicrous and sewn up in minutes, but the cast is very good, as is the cinematography and symbolism.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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The Shrine
(2010)
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Naila Scargill
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Effectively creates tension to complement an overall creepiness, to deliver a climax that keeps the viewer in the dark.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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A Horrible Way to Die
(2010)
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Naila Scargill
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A non-linear approach wears thin, initial intrigue giving way to frustration as the story continually dances away with the cuts.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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The Raven
(2012)
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Naila Scargill
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John Cusack as Edgar Allan Poe is immensely watchable, but the story is downgraded to a bog-standard thriller.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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Rabies
(2010)
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Naila Scargill
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The central story is drowned in subplot after subplot, red herrings running amok to the point of frustration.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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Evidence
(2012)
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Naila Scargill
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There is probably a good film hidden somewhere in here, but the entire experience feels like a waste of time.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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Sometimes They Come Back
(1991)
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Naila Scargill
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A painfully average film, its classic horror status somewhat baffling. Purchase to complete your Stephen King collection.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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The Revenant
(2009)
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Naila Scargill
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D. Kerry Prior's limited experience mostly lies in SFX, but you wouldn't know it from what is perfect comedy timing.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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The Cabin in the Woods
(2011)
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Naila Scargill
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A perfect introduction to the genre that's accessible enough to reel folk in. The rest of us will go giddy counting the references.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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Dark Shadows
(2012)
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Naila Scargill
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At first glance Dark Shadows is fun, but there is simply little story to be had, with a script that relies on just the one joke.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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Osombie
(2012)
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Naila Scargill
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Quite possibly one of the most lacklustre attempts at a zombie film ever made, Osombie is simply excruciating.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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Cassadaga
(2011)
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Naila Scargill
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Enough strands are left to ponder to deem writers Bruce Wood and Scott Poiley as worthy of keeping an eye on.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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Island of Lost Souls
(1933)
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Naila Scargill
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The foreboding set piece complements the horrific story wonderfully, while Charles Laughton is genuinely sinister.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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Father's Day
(2011)
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Naila Scargill
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Has everything one could desire of a daft evening's entertainment, from sibling incest to a meeting with the Devil/God himself.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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Skew
(2011)
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Naila Scargill
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Found footage is a tricky subgenre to add an original concept to and Skew makes a good attempt. But it's not enough.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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The Amityville Haunting
(2011)
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Naila Scargill
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Cliches abound, as does overkill, while the characters are irritating. And yet, a wound-up tension is impressed without noticing.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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Chernobyl Diaries
(2012)
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Naila Scargill
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The set piece needs more attention, but the attacks are done reasonably well, an instil of progressive tension reasonably effective.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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The Innkeepers
(2011)
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Naila Scargill
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It's only really for specific moments that The Innkeepers very obviously feels like a horror film, yet it is effectively creepy.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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Absentia
(2011)
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Naila Scargill
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Will keep you guessing until all possibilities for explanation are eventually tied together in an excellent balance of subplot.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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Axed
(2012)
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Naila Scargill
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Intriguing at first with some style to be had and attention to detail, but let down by a lack of direction and poor acting.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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The Reverend
(2011)
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Naila Scargill
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Bordering on unbearable, The Reverend pushes the limits of patience, the script basic and the acting self-consciously bad.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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Rec 3: Genesis
(2012)
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Naila Scargill
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A bizarrely playful addition to the [REC] series that opts for comedy over horror, despite plenty of blood on offer.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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V/H/S
(2012)
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Naila Scargill
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Naturally there is variance in quality, but overall an exhilarating experience that brings pleasure back to found footage.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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Supernatural Activity
(2012)
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Naila Scargill
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The humour wears thin due to puerility and the editor needed reining in, but some of the comedy is surprisingly well timed.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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The Inside
(2010)
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Naila Scargill
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Refreshing for its solid reason for found footage, with some effective moments, but let down by uncontrolled camera.
Posted Feb 28, 2019
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