It’s 1992 and four repressed religious teens and a straight-edge projectionist working at a small-town cinema discover a secret screening room filled with vintage exploitation films. Playing one of the old film reels unleashes a demon named Lilith, who attempts to seduce each of them in order to steal their souls. In a film about… Porno Read More
Hail Satan? 4.5 stars
Stirring in both senses, Penny Lane’s documentary is an authentic and witty call to arms against an increasingly corrupt and oppressive State. The Salem-based Satanic Temple’s publicity stunts have the power to shock the Religious Right while leaving the rest of us giggling silently. “How do you fuck with Fred Phelps”, asks co-founder Malcolm Jarry. You… Hail Satan? Read More
Hail Satan trailer looks so wicked, it’ll make you Beelze-blub with laughter
These American Satanists are fighting injustice – which feels quite Jesus-like, but what do I know? I’m Church of England where belief in God is often seen as something of a hindrance. This documentary looks like a hoot, though Satan probably wants us to think that. I’m looking forward to the soundtrack too. Doesn’t the… Hail Satan trailer looks so wicked, it’ll make you Beelze-blub with laughter Read More
Suspiria (2018) (London Film Festival) 3.5 stars
*** Read my review of the 1977 Suspiria *** Suspiria is a feminist film, if you use the 1970s definition that it’s a movement dedicated to the liberation of women – a dance academy, run entirely by women (the often ignored older women, to boot), with only female students, its roots going back to prehistory. Though… Suspiria (2018) (London Film Festival) Read More
The Miseducation Of Cameron Post 3.5 stars
From trying to make teenagers “pray the gay away” to encouraging them to work out to Blessercise videos (imagine a Jane Fonda-esque aerobics queen teaming up with Billy Graham) the brother and sister behind gay conversion centre God’s Promise will do anything to suppress their charges’ sexualities. This is a movie set in 1993, though… The Miseducation Of Cameron Post Read More
The Seventh Seal 5 stars
I’d never watched The Seventh Seal before, though somewhere along the line I’ve almost certainly pretended I have. No film lover could be unaware of Ingmar Bergman’s masterpiece, though I was worried that memories of its parodies would prove insurmountable when I was finally faced with Death’s presence – it’s hard to take even mortality seriously… The Seventh Seal Read More
James & Jessica Whitehill On 5-Day Feature “The 12”
The debut feature film from director James Whitehill and screenwriter Jessica Whitehill, The 12 is a British thriller with a seam of black humour. In the movie, an unstable gunman, Caleb, takes a pastor and his congregation hostage. As the group gets to know the intruder, they discover he already has connections to their church; and… James & Jessica Whitehill On 5-Day Feature “The 12” Read More
Brimstone 4 stars
“It’s a woman’s fate” says young Joanna’s mother, when asked why her husband does so little to help in the house, but for him it justifies much more than avoiding the household chores. “Says who?” asks her daughter. “Says the Bible”. Learning from her mother’s experience, Joanna decides not to turn the other cheek, but it… Brimstone Read More
Thelma – 1 Minute Video Review Includes Video 4 stars
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Thelma 4 stars
Out hunting with his little blonde daughter in the forest, there’s a deer in his sights, and his gun is at the ready. But instead bearded Trond, standing behind the little girl, briefly but deliberately turns away from the deer and points the gun directly at the back of her head. What is he? And… Thelma Read More