Enemy (2013)
One word: complicated. Enemy is the kind of film you have to see more than once. For me, a film that is hard to grasp makes it all the more intriguing. I’m a sucker for mind-boggling, complex movies and Enemy is exactly that. This film, I guess, is a surrealist thriller about doppelgangers discovering their mutual existence. […]
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Hector (2015), directed by Jake Gavin
This festive-themed road movie, Hector has the spirit of Ken Loach hanging over it. It’s a social realist drama with Peter Mullan at the centre. He plays the titular Hector, a homeless man from Glasgow, seeking to reconnect with his family. I stumbled across this low budget British film on Netflix and I thoroughly enjoyed the warmth […]
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HUSH (2016): Home Invasion Horror
So I watched Hush the other day on Netflix, not expecting much, but I was well surprised at how good it was. I liked it a lot! Hush is yet another tale of home invasion, and it’s as if director Mike Flanagan sets out to upturn any expectations we might have. Here’s the set-up: Maddie (Seigal), our hero, […]
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What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
Quirky and weirdly compelling, here is an indie comedy I found very funny! Once you embrace its ridiculous plot, you’ll be entertained right until the end. Four vampire housemates – Viago, Vladislav, Deacon and Petyr, live in Wellington, New Zealand, where they let a film crew document their everyday lives. Presented in the mockumentary style, What […]
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Requiem for a Dream (2000)
Is Requiem for a Dream the most depressing film ever? It has to rank up there. Seriously, this film is so bleak and hopeless that I would rather watch a dozen cheesy romantic-comedies one after the other, then see Requiem for a Dream ever again. This isn’t to say that I didn’t think it was any good. In fact, […]
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Personal Shopper (2017): A Captivating Ghost Thriller
Fusing different styles, themes and cinematic directions, Personal Shopper is an intriguing puzzle box movie. I can’t explain everything I saw in this film, but there’s no doubting its quality. Going into this, you have to be prepared for serious, artsy cinema, as it’s a testing watch. So, here’s what it’s all about… Maureen (Kristen […]
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20th Century Women (2016)
“Wondering if you’re happy is a great shortcut to being depressed,” is a genius line said by Annette Benning’s Dorothea, in 20th Century Women. You can take this quote how you want, but I see it as the perfect anecdote for this film. Set in the 1970s, 20th Century Women isn’t about anything specific. This […]
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Cinema Psychos: 5 Classic Slasher Movies
The slasher movie: a term given to any horror film where there’s a psychopathic killer on the loose. The golden period for this sub-genre was during the 1970s and 1980s. Even if you’ve never seen a slasher movie, you’ll probably have some idea of the classic tropes that come into play. Most of these films […]
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The Basketball Diaries (1995)
Rock bottom. Chances are you’ve heard that phrase a time or two in your life. I hope you’ve never been there or experienced anything like the struggles of punk rocker and writer, Jim Carroll. A talented but misguided individual he was, The Basketball Diaries chronicles his teenage years when he went from basketball star to […]
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5 of the Most Badass Women in Movies
If you (like me) can’t get enough of badass women in film, here are five female characters who could take out of even the most menacing villains. There are plenty of strong female protagonists to choose from, but I’ve gone for the most iconic and memorable. Here are my top five picks: Sarah Connor, Terminator […]
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Bleed for This (2016): Heavy hitting boxing drama
There is arguably no point in making boxing movies anymore. While the sport is still the best suited for the big-screen, there’s nothing new to be found in this overcrowded genre. But when has originality ever been a prerequisite for entertainment? Sometimes you can skew over originality in a film, as long as there’s a […]
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Short Term 12 (2013)
Short Term 12 is so authentic, life-affirming, and grounded in reality that it genuinely makes you feel the power of its message. Rarely can a film be a truthful understatement, tell a profound story, devastate you and lift your spirits all at the same time. For me, the film is a stroke of genius, a […]
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