Straight Up (2019)

There comes a time in everyone’s life when they suddenly realise who they are supposed to be – or at least that’s the myth that we have been sold for decades. The belief that within us lurks our true identity patiently waiting to emerge is nothing more than a fallacy, since we’ve often found that…

It Won’t Stay Dead: The Secrets of Frankenstein (Guest Column)

Andre Ferreira is a mechanical engineer by day and a film buff by night. He claims to be moderately competent in both. The following is his spectacular tribute to Frankenstein and The Bride of Frankenstein, a superb piece of writing that I am very proud to share. What is scary? Can a film approaching it’s 100th…

Magic Farm (2025)

Every artist finds themselves in pursuit of something elusive – whether a particular project or to attain a specific status within their field, there’s a sense of urgency that comes with any artistic endeavour. The desire for fame is one of the most destructive and can often lead to unintentional challenges, from which recovery can…

Bloody Mama (1970)

For nearly a century, we have been enraptured by the story of “Ma” Kate Barker – and whether we hear of her story through detailed accounts of her criminal career, or through the song by Boney M that immortalised her within the culture, she has become a figure of American folklore, a fascinating individual whose…

The Assessment (2025)

For a species that has often expressed our fear of the end of the world, we do tend to have a fondness for dystopian stories. There’s something about works of speculative fiction that take place in the future in which we are presented with alternative realities that often capture our attention, even when we may…

Wish You Were Here (1987)

One of the more universal experiences that we all seem to encounter during our journey towards maturity is that particularly ambiguous space between adolescence and adulthood, which can be a challenging period for many people, even those who are relatively well-adjusted and responsible. Its the time when we are old enough to be aware of…

Calamari Union (1985)

A gang (consisting of a group of men all named Frank, and then later an additional member named Pekka, all of which seem to lack last names) meets in an abandoned building and begin outlining a plan for their upcoming escape from working-class Helsinki, which they are intending to complete within a few hours, given…

The Probability Factor (1976)

We all deal with frustrating people in our own way – some have a higher tolerance for irritation than others, while some may choose to simply cut someone entirely out of their lives. Neither of these are particularly fascinating when it comes to art, since we’re conditioned as a species to be naturally curious about…

In the Summers (2024)

There is nothing quite like the love between a parent and their child, especially when it goes in both directions. Many of us adore our parents and find them to be the cornerstone of our lives. However, it is also sadly quite true that there comes a point where our relationship begins to change, which…

Frontier Gambler (1956)

Few genres have changed more frequently than the western genre, which consists of clear delineations between periods, with very little overlap unless a film is constructed as an intentional throwback. Another genre in which this has taken place is the film noir, which also reached its peak at some point in the middle of the…