God Bless America, 2011. Directed by Bobcat Goldthwait. Starring Joel Murray, Tara Lynne Barr, Mackenzie Brooke Smith and Melinda Page Hamilton. SYNOPSIS: Terminally ill Frank has reached the end of his tether. His neighbours are inconsiderate, the television is full of programs that glorify stupidity and ridicule the weak, and life barely seems worth living. […]

The Amazing Spider-Man, 2012. Directed by Marc Webb. Starring Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Martin Sheen and Sally Field. SYNOPSIS: Peter Parker is bitten by a genetically altered spider, which gives him a few of its attributes. So… how’s this one different from the last three? It’s more “amazing”. You can tell […]

Pixar’s Brave is showing at the Edinburgh International Film Festival 2012, which is being covered by Samantha Morrison… Brave, 2012. Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman. Featuring the voice talents of Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters, Robbie Coltrane, Kevin McKidd and Craig Ferguson. SYNOPSIS: Merida, a medieval Scottish princess, hates not […]

Phantasm IV: Oblivion, 1998. Directed by Don Coscarelli. Starring Reggie Bannister, A. Michael Baldwin, Bill Thornbury, and Angus Scrimm. SYNOPSIS: The mystery behind the mortician reaches its conclusion. After the way Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead (1994) ended, it’s hardly surprising that the franchise spawned a fourth movie. I’ve had a good time with […]

The Life and Times of Paul the Psychic Octopus is showing at the Edinburgh International Film Festival 2012, which is being covered by Samantha Morrison… The Life and Times of Paul the Psychic Octopus, 2012. Written and Directed by Alexandre O. Philippe. SYNOPSIS: A documentary on Paul, the octopus who correctly predicted eight consecutive matches […]

Rentaneko is showing at the Edinburgh International Film Festival 2012, which is being covered by Samantha Morrison… Rentaneko, 2012. Written and Directed by Naoko Ogigami. Starring Mikako Ichikawa, Reiko Kusamura and Ken Mitsuishi. SYNOPSIS: Set in Japan, a woman rents out cats to lonely people. It’s a fairly bizarre premise, something that I don’t think […]

The King of Devil’s Island (Kongen av Bastøy), 2010. Directed by Marius Holst. Starring Stellan Skarsgård, Benjamin Helstad, Kristoffer Joner and Trond Nilssen. SYNOPSIS: Based on a true story, a brutal correctional facility has the tides turned against it when a new inmate arrives and defies their methods. I’m not one for watching foreign subtitled […]

Tales from Earthsea (Japan: Gedo senki), 2006. Directed by Goro Miyazaki. Featuring the voice talents of Willem Dafoe, Timothy Dalton, Mariska Hartigay, Cheech Marin, Blaire Restaneo and Matt Levin. SYNOPSIS: After a terrible omen, a wizard embarks on a quest to uncover the evil forces that are threatening the very balance of the world. Studio […]

Howl’s Moving Castle (Japan: Hauru no ugoku shiro), 2004. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Featuring the voice talents of Emily Mortimer, Christian Bale, Jean Simmons, Lauren Bacall, Billy Crystal, Josh Hutcherson, Blythe Danner and Jena Malone. SYNOPSIS: A plucky young girl joins a self-indulgent young wizard and his companions in a walking castle after being cursed […]

The Innkeepers, 2011. Directed by Ti West. Starring Sara Paxton, Pat Healy, and Kelly McGillis. SYNOPSIS: As the Yankee Pedlar Inn approaches its final days, two young employees attempt to uncover its dark history while they search for proof of ghosts. Horror fans are most likely to be familiar with director Ti West due to […]