Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, 2012. Directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor. Starring Nicolas Cage, Violante Placido, Ciarán Hinds, Idris Elba, Johnny Whitworth, Fergus Riordan and Christopher Lambert. SYNOPSIS: Hiding out in Eastern Europe, Johnny Blaze (Nicolas Cage) is forced to take on the mantle of Ghost Rider once more to protect a young […]

Gary Collinson presents his five essential found footage films… Given the success of Oren Peli’s self-financed debut Paranormal Activity a few years back, it was inevitable that filmmakers would seek to capitalise on this with a string of new entries in the ‘found footage’ genre. Requiring only modest budgets, and often without star names of […]

Red Kingdom Rising, 2012. Directed by Navin Dev. Starring Emily Stride, Silvana Maimone, David Caron and Etalia Turnbull. SYNOPSIS: A troubled young woman must come to terms with her horrific past when she is propelled through dreams into the terrifying fairy tale world of the Red Kingdom, where she encounters figures reminiscent of her memories […]

Tyrannosaur, 2011. Directed by Paddy Considine. Starring Peter Mullan, Olivia Colman and Eddie Marsan. SYNOPSIS: A man whose life is spiralling out of control is given a chance at redemption when he meets a Christian charity shop worker. The feature debut from British actor Paddy Considine (Dead Man’s Shoes, Hot Fuzz), Tyrannosaur has been earning […]

Yamada: Way of the Samurai (a.k.a. Yamada: The Samurai of Ayothaya), 2010. Directed by Nopporn Watin. Starring Seigi Ozeki, Kanokkorn Jaicheun, Sorapong Chatree, Thanawut Ketsaro, Winai Kraibutr and Buakhao Paw Pramuk. SYNOPSIS: Betrayed and left for dead, the young Japanese samurai Yamada finds a new home in Siam and soon faces his greatest battle against […]

Red State, 2011. Written and Directed by Kevin Smith. Starring Michael Parks, John Goodman, Melissa Leo, Kyle Gallner, Kerry Bishé, Ralph Garma,n Michael Angarano, Stephen Root, Nicholas Braun and Kevin Pollak. SYNOPSIS: After responding to an online sex invitation, three horny young friends find themselves held captive by a group of ultra right-wing Christian extremists […]

Regular readers of this site may be aware that last year I sold my first book, a non-fiction title charting the entire screen history of Bob Kane’s Dark Knight Detective. Entitled Holy Franchise, Batman! and based upon this three-part article from way back in 2010, the book was picked up by Robert Hale Publishing in […]

Things I Don’t Understand, 2011. Written and Directed by David Spaltro. Starring Molly Ryman, Aaron Mathias, Grace Folsom, Lisa Eichhorn, Hugo Dillon, Meissa Hampton and Eleanor Wilson. SYNOPSIS: A detached graduate student forms a cathartic bond with a terminally ill girl and a damaged bartender as she and her artist roommates face eviction from their […]

Seconds out… welcome the 4th annual Superhero Showdown! LAST TIME OUT… As always, we begin with a recap of 2011, which saw Marvel Studios continuing down the road to The Avengers with Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger, Fox opening up the newest chapter of their X-Men franchise with the prequel X-Men: First Class, […]

Kill List, 2011. Directed by Ben Wheatley. Starring Neil Maskell, Michael Smiley, MyAnna Buring, Emma Fryer and Harry Simpson. SYNOPSIS: A hitman takes on a new contract, leading him deep into the heart of darkness. Following its world premiere at SXSW earlier this year, British filmmaker Ben Wheatley’s (Down Terrace) second feature, Kill List, has […]