Rachel Power

Somewhat of a departure from previous Predator films, this one sees the world through the lens of Dek, a Yautja runt, whose drive to prove himself leads to uniting with unlikely friends, notably a Weyland- Yutani synthetic, Thia, engagingly played by Elle Fanning. This one should please the kiddies as plenty of CGI monsters and action galore with a mountain of gore which could have precipitated a 15 but wasn't which will please any bloodthirsty teens. Certainly a visual feast for the eye and some funny moments but those looking for emotional depth and an impressive expansion of the Franchise Universe note its a 12A so the accent will be on lots of roaring, and relatively simple plot line. One gripe, for me, not everything of difference has to be 'humanised' or 'Disneyfied' as part of the appeal of other species is their mystery and unknowability which previous Predator films have demonstrated. And 'cute' squeaky creatures should be eaten in the first sequence in any self respecting Predator film, not become BFF's. However, some magnificent set pieces with the creatures and occassional inventive ideas and if you're after easy viewing and some fabulous sequences, you'll enjoy! 👍

Master of exquisite imagery and emotional depth, Guillermo Del Toro does it again with breathtaking and lavish cinematography in this beautiful, majestic visual feast of Shelley's classic novella. Extraordinary performances notably a vulnerable, graceful, fragile 'Monster' perfectly executed by a mesmerising Elordi and Isaac's cruel arrogant antithesis of Victor, both supported by a wonderful cast. One of the few books where I blubbed loudly throughout reading, Del Toro's sensitive and majestic production is masterful on all fronts and keeps its finger constantly on the pulse of the central premise - neglect, abandonment and our complex love for a parent. This is much more than a horror, it is an unstinting observation of our relationship to God, belonging and our misplaced fears of 'otherness'. Deeply moving. Must watch 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Being a huge fan of King's Richard Bachman era and having grown up on classics such as Thinner, I could hardly say no to The Long Walk, a tightly plotted story with simple premise staying closely focused on the problem throughout but with room for manoeuvre, as powerful character development takes place within the nightmare, a classic Bachman style and a testament to King's talent perfectly complimented by J T Mollner's accomplished screenplay. The mindless extermination of the contestants acts as the ever present threat and background to unfolding friendships, courage and resilience in this beautifully paced, future dystopian America where bonds formed act not so much as rays of hope but the human condition's need to support to the grim end, like whistling in the dark to fend off the inevitable. Francis Lawrence shows skilful directing by weaving an unlikely mix into a harmonious whole of brutal violence, casual acceptance and confessional narratives as 50 'volunteers' embark on an impossible voyage through a simultaneously depressing and breathtaking landscape where the beauty of nature and economic desperation meet. Impressive leads in the excellent David Jonsson and Cooper Hoffman, a star turn from an unrecognisable Mark Hamill and a terrific performance from Charlie Plummer as the despised Gary with an engaging cast keeping up the momentum - a brilliant piece which never needs to explain itself, it's all there for the audience to draw its own modern day parallels and there are plenty to draw. Terrific!

Terrific sleuthing series where a bunch of warts and all characters take on nefarious deeds and prove they're better than their seemingly superior MI5 branch, the ever brilliant Gary Oldman leads a cast who grow on the viewer like a favourite armchair and make each series unmissable. Enough wry humour, superb characterisation and gripping storylines to keep any audience happy, this for me has become one of those series where my week is not complete unless I've seen it. Superb!

I'm one of those people who is wandering why this mind bending, highly original and addictive series wasn't more of an absolute mega hit but like quite a few huge horror and Sci fi classics, sometimes posthumously appreciated work achieves longer cult status than overnight hits. Extraordinary ideas, performances and superb scripting pervades throughout; it didn't flag once and for those who like a very Twin Peakish style mysteries twinned with gruesome horror and unanswered questions, this is definitely for you. Highly atmospheric and allowing the viewer views into strange and terrifying worlds without feeling the need to constantly show aided by ensemble performances where the story takes central stage, this is psychologically unsettling, at times deeply uncomfortable viewing which opens a window into the psyche and looks at things we'd rather avoid. Creepypasta fans will definitely dine out on this one! Superb 👍

A chilling psychological horror which evokes powerfully the main protagonist's battle between mental illness and religious fanaticism, the two extraordinary leads in Morfyyd Clark and Jennifer Ehle convey a mesmerising unlikely relationship which leads inevitably to tragedy. Rose Glass produces an uncompromisingly bleak world inhabited by the delusional Maud whose torturous quest for worthiness leads to a horrifying martyrdom on the beach. Cleverly spliced between the mundane reality of poverty, loneliness and depravity with flashes of 'supernatural' intervention, Maud's desire of the escapism of being chosen by God lead to extraordinary self punishment to achieve the Sainthood she craves and flee her past. This is a fantastic piece of work on all fronts and a must watch!

Reminiscent of a seventies movie that David Jansen would be at home in with romantic wide shot visuals and dreamy lush music score, The Surfer at times teeters uneasily between an almost Lord of the Flies battle over a strip of surfing beach and an Australian Tourist Board advert. What sets it apart from a disaster is the mesmerising Nic Cage and the commitment of the performances as we observe the downward plummet of the film's central character and his sometimes (unintentionally?) insane efforts and incredible bad luck. Cage is always par excellence at the underdog who descends into madness and the film certainly creates moments of mind bending tension with the old man as a constant mirror to Cage' s father's suicide and an aggressive tribe of Alpha males claiming their territory. Although the narrative and believability factor became a bit wobbly at times, hats off for keeping the central plot fixed on one locale with no frills and a reliance on the acting rather than effects. And Cage is always worth a watch.

Terrifying, depressing and dark, this film provides so many endless horrors throughout that it virtually seeps out of the screen! H P Lovecraft would be proud! For me, should rightfully become a classic! Those who like no way out survivalist horror will enjoy as a small group become trapped in a hospital by a bloodthirsty cult and insanely terrifying monsters, triggered by Dr Powell's dabbling with powerful forces in order to resurrect his dead daughter. Terrific performance from Aaron Poole as the desperate police officer, attempting to fight his way out of an increasingly hellish landscape and Kenneth Welsh's repulsive Doctor metamorphosising into a ghastly relative of the Xenobites. Hats off to all involved as the commitment of the performances and the relentless creativity of ever deepening depravity and gloom as the characters descend make it a great watch and will please any horror fan, notably lovers of cosmic horror. Great!

Extremely effective impressive creation from director Jon Knautz, Brendan Moore and Trevor Matthews who give what could have been another stock cult horror a hugely professional and excellently paced feel with plenty to keep horror fans happy. After being forbidden to cover the story by her boss, journalist Carmen's curiosity gets the better of her and she travels to a Polish village to investigate disappearing tourists accompanied by her enthusiastic colleague and reluctant ex. The plot never tires and retains its hook throughout ; a fog that never leaves, a violent, mysterious cult and a terrifying statue (the most frightening section of the film). A strong premise and script, engaging performances and superb set design and cinematography all add to a well crafted piece of work that does it's job - a very frightening film. The shocking ending and great twist are executed perfectly without once becoming silly or purile. Definitely not for the faint hearted!

Terrific psychological horror which begins with the mysterious premise of 17 children leaving their homes at 2.17am and vanishing. Following the narrative of several characters whose lives intertwine as a result of the disappearances, flashback is used in clever, inventive ways as explanations to bizarre occurances. Casting is strong, notably Benedict Wong and Josh Brolin's grieving father. With touches of humour and shock throughout, Weapons merges the ideas of abuse, neglect, the unseen and unheard and Blair Witch-like supernatural for horror fans. Personally, it kept my attention, plot and back story was not over explained, the script was sharp and lighting kept deliberately muted to add to a depressing, oppressive atmosphere. A hallucinatory gun in the dream sequence served as a grim reminder of the weaponisation of the victims and, eerily for me, a reminder of the victims of real world massacres. No happy ending here but I won't do a spoiler. Definitely worth a watch!