Tom Jolliffe travels back in time 20 years to 1999 to look over the cinematic landscape… The millennium suddenly draws in. The century is in its final year. Cinema has a pre-occupation with apocalypse and disorder, chaos, among other things. It’s 1999. 20 years ago now. That’s pretty frightening, but regardless, hold my hand, lets […]
The Mummy director says the Dark Universe movie wasn’t what he wanted it to be
Alex Kurtzman, the director of The Mummy, has admitted that the film wasn’t what he “wanted it to be” and that he is no longer involved in the Dark Universe. Universal had some pretty grand designs for their Dark Universe, a shared film universe built around their classic monster movie properties. The Mummy was supposed […]
Looking Back at the 5 Most Iconic Horror Films of 1999
Twenty years on, E.J. Moreno looks at the five most iconic horror films of 1999… The horror genre twenty years ago is a much different beast than it is now. Not regarding quality, as there are good and bad films in any year, but the way the studios handle the genre and how viewers digest the […]
From Predator to Upgrade: The Best Action Horror Films
EJ Moreno on the best action horror films… With a new Predator film on the horizon, viewers will get the treat of another entry into the obscure action/horror sub-genre. While there are plenty of movies to include in this list and the sub-genre, it isn’t easy to define. What makes something an action/horror film? For […]
Tom Cruise – Unstoppable
Helen Murdoch on Tom Cruise and his continued success… With the sixth instalment of the Mission: Impossible franchise being released at the end of July, it got me thinking about the enigma of Tom Cruise and why regardless of how crazy he seems in real life, I always go and watch his films. My love […]
Universal announces Classic Monsters: Complete 30-Film Collection
Here’s something rather exciting for fans of Universal’s original Classic Monsters universe, as the studio has announced the upcoming release of the Universal Classic Monsters: Complete 30-Film Collection on Blu-ray! The set will feature all of Universal’s Monster films from 1931 through to 1956 as well as a 48-page collectible book and a number of […]
Could the Dark Universe rise from the dead? “Monster things” apparently in the works
It’s alive! Or at least, it might be. A recent social media posting from an artist has suggested that Universal might still be searching for life in the rigid corpse of its Dark Universe, hinting at “monster things in the works”. The wheels have continued to come off the Dark Universe ever since Tom Cruise […]
The Worst Movie Action Scenes of 2017
Harrison Abbott on the worst movie action scenes of 2017… In Absentia Luci, Tenebrae Vincunt – In the Absence of Light, Darkness Prevails. Likewise, in the absence of competence, asinine garbage will invariably triumph. Which means that for all the recent advancements in cinematic technique and film-making technology, you can always count on some hack to […]
Are franchise blockbusters too big to fail?
Anghus Houvouras on whether franchise blockbusters are too big to fail… Sequels, prequels and reboots. Hollywood is in love with the familiar because more often than not it’s a safe bet. This year’s monumental blockbuster clusterfuck Justice League is proof of that. Can you think of a big studio film more maligned? More inherently flawed […]
Universal’s Dark Universe could already be dead
When Universal’s attempts to re-launch their monster movie franchise unravelled with serious Mummy issues this summer, grossing just $409 million off a $125 million budget, that wonderfully staged photograph of Tom Cruise, Russell Crowe, Javier Bardem, Johnny Depp, and Sofia Boutella appeared to be a serious case of running before you could even shuffle. Now […]