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The best Shudder original horror films

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Host (Directed by Rob Savage, 2020) 

In the midst of the Covid-19 lockdowns, Rob Savage joined a virtual meeting with a team of his friends, however, halfway through the camaraderie, Savage convinced the group that he was hearing strange noises coming from his suspectedly haunted attic. Equipped with his device in hand, he virtually led his friends into the cold, pitch-black loft, little did they know, Savage had pre-edited a jumpscare clip of a demon lurching out and spliced it into the meeting. Plenty of screams and gasps were followed by laughter and applause at this truly epic prank. Savage posted this nifty play online, which led to attention from major outlets.

The viral success, teamed with his filmmaking history and clear talents in the horror field led to a bidding war from film studios for him to take this idea and adapt it into a full-length feature. Shudder won the rights and the rest was history. Host was met with heaps of praise, particularly in ode to the film’s organic quality, with the film packing in doses of realism despite the fantastical, paranormal storyline – meaning that the ghostly apparitions became all the more provoking and genuinely frightful.

The film additionally makes use of its desktop, Vérité aesthetics, creating an internal and seemingly authentic zoom call, which many can recall was quite a sign of the times circa Host’s release. Particularly for viewers who watched Host upon its initial release, the film injected a breath of fresh air into cinema. It was a time when cinema visits were largely prohibited and being trapped at home was the ‘norm’, so to get a brand new horror that was conceptualised, filmed and released at such a dark time was a true treat that still rocks five years on. 

Caveat (Directed by Damian McCarthy, 2020) 

For horror lovers who have seen nearly every ‘must-see’ and ‘classic’ film that the genre has to offer, it can be difficult to stifle a little scare or jump out of them, let alone a whopping frightful experience that will have them watching through peaked fingers. However, as Irish filmmaker Damian McCarthy proves, this is definitely possible as his debut feature Caveat is host to some of the scariest moments modern horror has to offer.

It can be said that Caveat is a slow burn and a film that honestly takes a while to make sense, yet the deliberately drawn out narrative is ultimately to the film’s benefit as the finale will make viewers wish they could return to the creepy, yet tame atmosphere of the first act. This effective white-knuckle maker follows Issac (Johnny French), who is hired by Moe (Ben Caplan) to watch over his niece Olga (Leila Sykes), who has a habit of going catatonic with stress after the disappearance of her mother and death of her father.

The job seems easy, but there is one caveat… Issac has to remain harnessed in a chained armour, to which only Olga possesses the key. As one can expect, this supposed ‘easy’ mission soon goes array, leading to a chilling conclusion. Caveat’s simplicity is key to its success as the stripped back setting, limited cast and confined storyline becomes a testament to low-budget independent cinema that allows excellent talent such as McCarthy the chance to release a film that is terrifying to the core. 

Oddity (Directed by Damian McCarthy, 2024)

If Damian McCarthy’s Caveat hits a nerve, just wait until you watch his second feature Oddity. This nail-bitingly frightful, morbidly intriguing and utterly sinister horror is one for the ages, with the film being a catalyst for nightmares. Oddity begins with Dani (Carolyn Bracken), all alone refurbishing her mainly empty, new countryside home, whilst her psychiatrist husband Ted (Gwilym Lee), works nights at a mental health hospital. As the sun goes down and the dark loneliness of the night washes the peculiar wraparound design of the barren house, Dani receives a knock on the door from Olin (Tadhg Murphy), one of Ted’s patients informing her that whilst she tended to her car a man entered the house.

What follows is a journey into hell as the film combines some of the most startling moments that horror has to offer. To describe Oddity as less than an experience would be a disservice to how fear-stricken the film forces you to feel. There are countless ways in which McCarthy provokes a shiver, namely the setting of Dani and Tim’s house. The structure is pleasant on paper: open plan, modernly styled but with country house bricks and a manorial themed essence. However, in the case of Oddity (whose plot is nearly entirely set inside the house), the openness allows for a sense of exposure where there is nowhere to run and hide.

Further stirring the pot is the isolated, rural setting. As someone who grew up only a stone’s throw away from where Oddity was filmed and set in West Cork, Ireland, I can attest to how sequestered and therefore cut-off and secluded such a setting can be. Under the right circumstances, just like Oddity, this desolation can be devastating if tragedy were to strike. It’s a film that enforces a damning sense of vulnerability as we become witness to some of the most malevolent and ominous terror one can imagine.  

The Sadness (Directed by Rob Jabbaz, 2021) 

This Taiwanese Shudder original continuously oversteps the mark, creating shocking scenes that are beyond revolting in their barbarity to the point of the film gaining a reputation for being a seriously ‘depraved’ watch. As per its reputation, The Sadness is a study into the depravity hidden deep within the psyche and what happens when the innermost savage facets of the human condition is unleashed into the everyday.

The film implements this thought as it sees a viral pandemic shift to the point of no return as a virus unexpectedly mutates, turning people into murderous sadists. The Sadness plays on the horror of the zombie subgenre, with the psychology and physiology of creatures being known for their visceral abject quality that instantly unnerves. The film weaponises the core characteristics of the zombie, by making them even more distressing. Rather than the creature killing for feed, like an intrinsic, animalistic need to hunt and get to the flesh as quickly as possible, The Sadness makes its monster take pleasure in the capture and slow killing of their victim as they torture, mutilate and sexually abuse their target with the biggest self-satisfying grin on their face. The Sadness has no care for life, instead wanting to show the fragileness of civility as it crumbles to the bone. 

You’ll Never Find Me (Directed by Indianna Bell and Josiah Allen, 2023) 

Patrick (Brendan Rock) sits alone in his muted and dimly lit caravan late one night. The rain pelts down on the metal roof. The wind violently batters the curtained windows. The storm is in full bloom, so why is there a loud knock at the front door? You’ll Never Find Me is haunting in its portrayal of Patrick and his late night guest (Jordan Cowen), as the film continually misleads and melts in surreal moments that create a brooding, atmospherically tense horror that is not to be forgotten.

It is the kind of musings that could be thematically compared to a Hitchockian thriller as You’ll Never Find Me ties in an intimate narrative with a filmmaking style that embodies a bubbling pot that is waiting to boil over at any minute. Exacerbating the grittiness of this Aussie Shudder original are the performances by Rock and Cowen, whose combined talents are what allows the film to not feel contained despite its single setting, and to not feel one-dimensional despite only having two present characters. It is rare to come across a film that peels away at you and makes you think, digging until it reaches flesh and unearths a narrative woven with an air of eerie personableness. 

Satan’s Slaves (2017) and Satan’s Slaves 2: Communion (2022) (Directed by Joko Anwar) 

As a child, Joko Anwar snuck into a cinema screen that was playing ‘Satan’s Slaves’ (1980), a horror following a family who are plagued by the supernatural after the matriarch of the family dies. As Anwar grew older and became a budding film enthusiast, filmmaker, writer and critic, he would pester Satan’s Slaves production company, Rapi Films, for him to receive first rights if they were to ever remake his favourite horror film. Lo and behold, roughly thirty-six years after Anwar snuck into the screening of Satan’s Slaves, Rapi signed off the golden rights to Anwar’s dream film, allowing him to take reign and remake the cult classic. Anwar’s remake of Satan’s Slaves, (which acts a prequel to the events in the 1980 film) and its equally as enchantingly disturbed sequel have gone down in Indonesian cinema history as being one of the country’s most successful films, grossing an equivalent $35 million on a combined budget of just over a $1 million.

These benchmark films feature deeply woven narrative structures that tie in an array of lore that helps conjure the rich backstory and various character arcs that take center stage throughout both films. Anwar’s focus on developing the internal mythology surrounding the plot began years prior to the actual making of the films, with the director conjuring the storyline throughout his career as a creator, lovingly spending time crafting exactly how he would retell and expand the story of his favourite film. Both films follow the plot of a family ravished by grief and the consequences that occur due to their deceased mother’s ‘deal with the devil’. Each film ends with more questions than answers, paving the way for the continuation of this soap-opera-esque twisted storyline, with the sequel concluding with a neat and ready setup for the third film which Anwar has teased will be the last notch in this bone-chilling demonic tale. 

Speak No Evil (Directed by Christian Tafdrup, 2022) 

Quite often when characters make so-called ‘stupid’ decisions and take the wrong route to their own demise, viewers bash the film, taking aim at the piece for being nonsensical and frustrating. An example that falls into this category is Speak No Evil. But rather than director Christian Tafdrup and co-writer, Mads Tafdrup, falling prey to poor writing, Speak No Evil is purposefully and meticulously planned to be one of horror’s most infuriating plots. The film follows the meek Bjørn (Morten Burian), and his slightly less passive but still people-pleasing wife Louise (Sidsel Siem Koch), who along with their young daughter Agnes (Liva Forsberg) embark on a beautiful trip to sunny Italy.

Whilst holidaying they meet Dutch couple, Patrick (Fedja van Huêt) and Karin (Karina Smulders) and their young boy Abel (Marius Damslev). The families hit it off and decide to meet up again, however, the atmosphere soon sours leading to an almighty, shocking turn of events. Speak No Evil is a film about submission and agreeableness, how people often conform, bootlick even, to exercise malleability and appease to those who do the opposite and take stride and exert their backbone. Certain decisions are made throughout the film to exercise this divide and create a provocative think piece. This Shudder original is unlike any other, with the film rapidly gaining a large following and receiving heaps of praise and critical acclaim all within a few weeks of its release. Just around the one year mark after its premiere, it was announced that it would be receiving an American remake by Blumhouse Studios starring James McAvoy and Mackenzie Davis. Whilst the remake was surprisingly effective and quite misanthropic just as the original source material, it didn’t quite reach the level of the superb and compelling Shudder Original. Just as the remake demonstrates, Speak No Evil is a one-of-a-kind whose effectiveness is unrepeatable. 

Violation (Directed by Madeleine Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli, 2020)

Violation is a brutal take on a very real horror story as we see Miriam (Madeleine Sims-Fewer) and her husband Caleb (Obi Abili) travel to the remote countryside to visit her sister, Greta (Anna Maguire) and her partner Dylan (Jesse LaVercombe). The weekend flows smoothly, but as the sun goes down and the campfire mellows and Caleb and Greta retreat to their respective rooms, Dylan shockingly rapes his sister-in-law Miriam. Dylan downplays the assault and proclaims it was a mutually exclusive, consensual act, leading Miriam to plan revenge against the ultimate violation. The film feels deeply intimate, akin to a personal attack on the viewer where the gut-wrenching visceral take on violence acts as a complete invasion and encroachment to the mind and senses.

Violation is not afraid to show the multidimensional perspectives of such an attack, as many rape-revenge films employ a cathartic element to the situation, which typically ends with the victim feeling a sense of empowerment, an almost silver-lining-like/twisted relief. However, Violation’s portrayal of vengeance is not glossy, smile-inducing or cathartic by any means. Alternatively, it makes the viewer feel unclean and saddened by the entire situation. To be clear, Dylan is never made out to be a force to feel sorrow with, only anger; but Miriam’s descent is just as damning to her healing. Violation is a unique film that will make you emotional, angry, sick and infuriated as this slice-of-life piece unravels. 

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Review – Opus (2025)

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Mark Anthony Green, a previous high-ranking editor for the prized GQ magazine was no stranger to penning pieces ranging from articles on couture Tom Ford fashion to write-ups of interviews with elite celebrities on their success, discography and upcoming projects. Green’s passion for journalism was and is still clear, but after years of honing his craft and gaining such raw experiences in the world of celebrity culture and headlining antics, he noticed a pattern.

The world of fame was like a cult, with people almost worshipping these people that they do not really know. Where there is fame, money and success, there are problems; problems that have the potential to be quite terrifying when thought through. This philosophy is what instigated a fire within Green to take his years of experience and catalyse the madness of fame into a horror film that is akin to a fever dream and kaleidoscopic nightmare into the underbelly of celebrity culture. 

Opus follows Ariel Ecton (Ayo Edebiri), a journalist who is hungry for the next big-piece but contemplative enough to see past the smoke and mirrors. Ariel is spotlighted to travel to the compound of the eclectic Alfred Moretti (John Malkovich), a pop phenomenon who retired from the public eye nearly three decades ago. Along with a team of her fellow writers, she embarks on a journey to the popstar’s commune to be witness to his brand new album. 

Laying the foundations of what works well in Opus are the performances by leads Edebiri and Malkovich who fuse together their shared ability to get lost into a role, amplifying the film’s chaotic and surreal tonality. Whilst the actors equally dress the scenes with a form of magnetism that draws you in and holds your attention, leaving you wondering what happens next, they also bring contrasting elements that create a layered experience. Edebiri has finessed the nuanced approach to performing, enacting perfect comedic timing and knowing how to subtly balance the emotional shifts of the story. Whereas Malkovich’s intensive talents lend to his character’s cryptic flamboyant manner, amalgamating charm with a cold and menacing undertone. 

Opus is an evolving, layered-like story that works hard to create a textually mysterious environment where something innately feels off with the situation, but exactly where the horror originates from is not revealed until the final act. The feeling is emulative of emotionally similar films such as Get Out (2017), The Menu (2022) and Blink Twice (2024), where a slow-burn approach is employed, gradually building an unsettling aura until the penny finally drops and every obscure, elusive ploy forms to create a catastrophe. One caveat to this type of film is whether or not the grand reveal can match the tight tension that brews for well over an hour. In the case of Opus, the answer is a lukewarm ‘kindof’.

When the credits roll, the viewer is met with equal confusion and satisfaction, due to the film’s bold take on the tribalism of celebrity cults. If Opus would have pushed harder on the gas and implemented a more significantly extreme finale then it would have hit the mark with feverishly exciting but still disturbing payoff, rather than a conclusion that is not equivalent to what it promises throughout the first half of the film. 

Despite the slightly deflated revelations, Opus is brilliant at stirring the pot. In today’s day and age, the whole idea of major figures and key players in the entertainment industry harbouring rings filled with all sorts of sordid deeds is not a secret. It goes without explanation that the premise of private islands and taboo (or to be frank, inhumane) tastes have been at the central focus of tabloid media for a while.

Green has been open about his experience as a journalist and his beliefs regarding putting these people who we do not know personally on a pedestal, which can be a dangerous game. Opus toys with this open secret and develops a film that stands to respond and play with this truth. Whilst the brutality of the situation could have been more hardcore, Opus is a feature that is a piece of its time and feeds into a spark of horror that thrives on the real seediness that lies in front of us everytime we turn on the television or radio, read the papers, admiring the lives of others that we do not know. 

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Unmissable horror and thriller movies on streaming platforms (March 2025)


The Gorge (Directed by Scott Derrickson) – Apple TV+

Horror director, Scott Derrickson (“The Exorcism of Emily Rose” [2005], “Sinister” [2012] “The Black Phone” [2021]), turns to the sci-fi genre with The Gorge, a straight to Apple TV+ production starring Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy. The film follows two highly skilled snipers who are tasked with a mission to watch over and guard with their lives, a seemingly bottomless gorge. Although the assignment is shrouded in mystery, they soon discover what unearthly secret dwells in the pit. The Gorge is booming with high-impact, exhilarating twists and turns, with the action factor being pumped up throughout the entire film, yet there is also a unique tenderness played out by Teller and Taylor-Joy. As such, the film becomes this unmissable, multidimensional piece that is a standout release in Apple’s streaming catalogue. 

Severance – season 2 (Directed by Ben Stiller) – Apple TV+

The widely acclaimed and Emmy nominated dystopian thriller meets psychological horror hybrid, Severance, is back for a second season. Taking place in an atmospherically uncanny office, Severance follows a unit of office employees who have undergone a company-warranted surgery where their memories have been altered to not remember their working days whilst off the clock, and to not recall their personal lives when on duty. The recently premiered second season manages to be as surreally creepy as its first, with the storylines initiated from the previous episodes becoming even darker and more entrenched in that terrifying, yet monotonous aura that was established in the very first episode. 

Rumours (Directed by Evan Johnson, Galen Johnson, Guy Maddin) – Paramount Plus 

Working on the same level as satirical, but also all too real films such as “The Belko Experiment” (2016) and “The Hunt” (2020) is Rumours, now streaming on Paramount Plus. Rumours sees a cast of some of the most wealthy democracies become lost in the forest as they draft a joint statement on a major crisis. Rumours thrives on its own sporadic story where satire and black comedy meet with peculiar, erratic, creature horror to create a film that can be described as a viewing experience, rather than just a quick watch. The eclectic storyline is made all the more appealing thanks to the ensemble cast which includes, Cate Blanchett, Roy Dupuis, Denis Ménochet, Charles Dance, Nikki Amuka-Bird and Alicia Vikander. 

Control Freak (Directed by Shal Ngo) – Disney+

The itchingly affective horror Control Freak might have only just premiered on Disney+, yet this monstrous feat already has viewers itching. Control Freak follows Val (Kelly Marie Tran), a very successful and high-achieving motivational speaker who begins experiencing an uncomfortable itch on her head that soon takes control over her entire being. Creepy crawlies, body trauma and anxiety-inducing scenes all take centre stage in this so gross, yet oh-so-moorish series. 

Alien: Romulus (Directed by Fede Álvarez) – Disney+

When it is announced that a major franchise is receiving a ninth release, it can be easy for eyes to roll, with audiences often craving new, original storylines. However, Alien: Romulus’ effective, truly nerve-gripping sci-fi feature was a sure-fire crowd-pleaser from day one. Originally released in cinemas last year, the latest Alien film has finally been released on Disney’s streaming platform for all to witness this intense fight for survival. 

Nightbitch (Directed by Marielle Heller) – Disney+

Based on Rachel Yodder’s 2021 novel of the same name is Marielle Heller’s Nightbitch, a gutsy horror following a stay-at-home mother (Amy Adams), who is becoming increasingly frustrated at her life as she waits at home all day maintaining the idyllic housewife lifestyle; however, all of her frustrations take a turn for the worse as she begins to experience a feral, canine transformation. Adams gives an ambitious performance that helps to align the entire character-study element of the film, in turn providing an abundant amount of tension and ferocity to every inch of this monstrous and complex horror.

The Calendar Killer (Directed by Adolfo J. Kolmerer) – Prime Video

This German horror follows Klara (Luise Heyer), a woman who has been given an ultimatum by The infamous ‘The Calendar Killer’: murder her husband or die. Terrified, Klara calls an emergency helpline, reaching Jules (Sabin Tambrea), together they must do the impossible and get to the bottom of the case before it is too late. The Calendar Killer has all the tools for a stellar, gripping ride of pure intensity, with the film being highly dramatic, rich in its storytelling techniques and aesthetically thrilling. Although this horror has seen a steady rise on the streaming charts, this film is still highly underrated and certainly unmissable.

Little Bites (Directed by Spider One) – Shudder

This gruesome horror from the mind of Spider One, the brother of Rob Zombie, sees a family tormented by a sinister, gory demon. Little Bites plays with impactful family dynamics, with the narrative showcasing complex facets such as generational trauma within the ties that bind us. Whilst the film demonstrates such matters with impressive value, where the film shines the most is in the practical effects, with Little Bites creature design being seriously effective throughout. 

Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person (Directed by Ariana Louis-Seize) – Shudder 

The brilliantly titled Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person, follows Sasha (Sara Montpetit), a sensitive vampire who after a traumatic childhood incident, sees killing for feed as inhumane. Although years have passed, Sasha remains appalled with the concept of vampirism until she meets Paul (Felix-Antoine Benard), a suicidal young man. With similar strains of humour to the likes of “What We Do in the Shadows” (2014) and “When the Screaming Starts” (2021) is Humanist Vampire’s sense of quirky, dark comedy where the surrealist quality of the cinematic events sparks an outlandish, yet delightfully funny tone. 

Delicious (Directed by Nele Mueller-Stöfen) – Netflix 

Since its premiere on Netflix early this March, Delicious has garnered quite a contentious reception, with audiences either loving the satirical, ill-natured horror or strongly disliking this take on the ‘eat the rich’ genre of cinema. Either way, Delicious is quickly catching attention. No matter which side is taken, Delicious is extremely well filmed, with the film’s atmosphere being increasingly sinister with each scene, alongside the brilliant cinematography that captures the stark social divide that the film aims to tackle. 

Demon City (Directed by Seiji Tanaka) – Netflix 

Based on the Oni Horoshi (2020-2024) comics is Demon City, a Japanese dark thriller following a hitman who is on a path of vengeance after demon-masked killers murder his family and frame the unforgivable crime on him. The revenge element combined with the moody lighting and melancholic, almost gothic feel will remind viewers of “The Crow” (1994), but with an even bloodier and callous punch of violence as this merciless thriller refuses to mellow. 

The Line (Directed by Ethan Berger) – Now TV/Sky Cinema 

For many of us overseas, the fraternity culture of American colleges is only something that has been captured on screen. However, Ethan Berger’s The Line rips away any cinematic divide as this first-time feature director fully immerses the viewer in the chaotic and devastating world of collegiate organizations at their worst. The Line stars Alex Wolff as Tom, who is seduced by the lifestyle of the Kappa Nu Alpha (KNA) fraternity. The film takes on the bold subject with an air of rawness that puts on a show of how hazing rituals and masculinity exercises can be truly terrifying. 

I Saw the TV Glow (Directed by Jane Schoenbrun) – Now TV/Sky Cinema 

I Saw the TV Glow received tremendous acclaim upon its release, praised for its personal nature and haunting aura that hypnotises as much as it startles. The film follows shy teenager Owen (Justice Smith), who in 1996 meets the quiet and distant Maddy (Jack Haven), who introduces him to a TV show titled ‘The Pink Opaque’; together the pair become entranced by this mysterious show. I Saw the TV Glow follows their journey of obsession and delusion over the years as The Pink Opaque takes over their sense of being. Utterly enthralling and entirely bewitching, this horror will sink its teeth into you and not let go. 

Get Away (Directed by Steffan Hars) – Now TV/Sky Cinema 

Nick Frost and Aisling Bea lead this hilarious and unexpectedly brutal horror, playing parents Richard and Susan as they take their two teenagers, Sam (Sebastian Croft) and Jessie (Maisie Ayres), on a family holiday to the Swedish island of Svalta. What begins as a quaint trip to the lakeside town ends up as an absolute bloodbath. The film excels at the hands of Frost and Bea’s incredible comedic timing, complete with realistic, hilarious dialogue that turns even the most mundane of moments into gory laugh-fests. The excellent script, also written by Frost, is not afraid to take a few grisly detours, with the film adding in just enough subplots to create an interesting buildup to the shocking third act. 

Coming soon: 

Happy Face (Created by Jennifer Cacicio) – Paramount Plus – 20th March 

In March of 1995, Melissa G. Moore found out that her father, Keith Hunter Jesperson, was the ‘Happy Face Killer’, the previously unidentified serial killer who had murdered eight women, although the number is said to be in the hundreds. Moore’s brave resilience in speaking about the hidden signs and revelations of her father sparked books, Lifetime Movies, documentaries, podcasts and now a Paramount Plus produced TV series. Dennis Quaid plays the father/murderer, with Annaleigh Ashford starring as Moore. Although not yet released, the show has been met with critical praise, with reviews speaking of the film’s integrity to not create an idealised portrayal of a sensitive and true story, instead opting for an honest, necessarily brutal and authentic account of a horrific tragedy. 

Holland (Directed by Mimi Cave) – Prime Video – 27th March 

Nicole Kidman stars in this Mimi Cave directed psychological thriller which follows suburban mum, Nancy Vandergroot (Kidman), whose picture-perfect life comes shattering down when she and her friend Dave (Gael García Bernal) discover that a disturbing secret lies amongst them. From the released teasers and images, Holland is set to be just as devilish and dark as Cave’s previous feature “Fresh” (2022), with the film blending the juxtaposed worlds of quaintness and sickness together to create a layered mystery that gets more distressing each and every scene. 

The Rule of Jenny Pen (Directed by James Ashcroft) – Shudder – 28th March 

The Rule of Jenny Pen, based on Owen Marshall’s short story of the same name, follows former judge and now retiree, Stefan Mortensen (Geoffrey Rush) who finds himself in a care facility after becoming partially paralysed. Stefan’s dismay at the home is made all the more immediate by fellow tenant, Dave Crealy (John Lithgow), an elder man who is seemingly pleasant enough. However, Dave is a secret sadist who enjoys the torture of others, as he uses his glove therapy puppet, nicknamed Jenny Pen, to reign terror over the residents. The film is set to be a genuine fright, with the premise itself being enough to catalyse an array of doll-themed nightmares. If that wasn’t enough, the film is complete with the talents of Rush and Lithgow whose screentime amplifies the impact of this upcoming fright.

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2025 Horror Anniversaries: Part Two

The Descent (Directed by Neil Marshall, 2005) 

Very rarely does a film like The Descent come around, with the horror being comparable to one hundred minutes of pure fright. This British film comes from the mind of horror auteur Neil Marshall, who delivers an experience that is known for managing to scare the wits out of even the most hardened of viewers. The Descent follows six lifelong friends who have made a habit of going on adrenaline-fuelled trips. For their latest excursion, they embark on a caving adventure, however, once inside the uncharted cave they discover an army of humanoid creatures who they must battle against to survive.

Every box is ticked: gnarly creatures, the dark, twisted group dynamics, betrayals, heights and injuries all make an appearance. Yet, there is one element that surpasses the rest, the claustrophobic caves. The film showcases tight caves, where the women have to squeeze themselves through the tiniest of gaps just to get to another narrow tunnel. It’s a seemingly neverending cycle of torture that still daunts, intimidates, wrecks, shocks and scares stiff twenty years on. 

Final Destination (Directed by James Wong, 2000) 

The franchise responsible for making people terrified of log trucks, alongside pretty much every potentially dangerous concept such as bridges, planes, race tracks and so forth is soon to have six films to its name, but it all began twenty-five years ago with the original Final Destination. The premise follows a group of teens who cheat death after experiencing a catastrophic premonition before they are due to take off on a plane. However, rather than remaining unscathed from the incident, death begins coming after them one by one.

Prior to writing the script with fellow writer Glen Morgan and eventual director James Wong, Jeffrey Reddick conceived the premise as an unsolicited idea for an episode of the TV series ‘The X-Files‘. However, rather than being submitted to the network, Reddick was convinced to develop the forty-five minute episode into a feature-length film. The result of the script is extremely theatrical, very seriously toned, and alert to its own sternness of a subject matter, yet at the same time, its melodramatic flair makes it somewhat of a comfort watch, where the predictable, formulaic nature of death chasing down each character makes for great repeat viewing. 

Ginger Snaps (Directed by John Fawcett, 2000) 

The matter of lycanthropy has never been so angsty in John Fawcett’s Ginger Snaps. This werewolf tale follows Ginger (Katharine Isabelle) and her sister Bridgette (Emily Perkins), who together have a strange obsession with death, often photographing themselves as they stage various methods of killing. Their curiosity about the macabre soon becomes a reality after Ginger is bitten by a werewolf on the night of a full moon. Soon, Ginger becomes more than a hormonal teenager as she sports a growing tail, sprouts hair and develops a ferocious appetite for violence.

Ginger Snaps possesses the capacity to be analytically torn apart and devoured as a piece of metaphorical heavy cinema, with the film often being written about by many academics, namely Barbara Creed in her Monstrous Feminine theory. Creed posits that Ginger Snaps can be read as a recreation of the adolescent woman as an animal, akin to a feral beast equipped with all the bodily changes for a monstrous affair. Whether you absorb the film as an interpretive experience, or as pure entertainment, Ginger Snaps is a killer horror through and through. 

Scary Movie (Directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans, 2000) 

Although the iconic satirical slasher Scary Movie is due to turn twenty-five years old this summer, the Wayans brother production is largely, minus a few dated moments, still as hilarious today as it was at the start of the millennium. The two decades before Scary Movie was inundated with slasher films, to the point where metafictional cinema and media had pulled reign and both celebrated and parodied the influx, with Scary Movie being a key example of such cinema. Just a few pieces that are spoofed throughout the film include ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’, ‘Scream’, ‘The Shining’, ‘Friday the 13th’, ‘Halloween‘, ‘The Matrix’ and ‘The Blair Witch Project’.

Unlike many horror films, Scary Movie solely thrives on its humour rather than the scares, with every scene brimming with raunchy, vulgar moments of shockingly daring, slapstick-like and at times crude laughs. This bold take was seen as a bit too tasteless for some of the bigger news outlets reviewing the film upon its release, yet for many, the obscenity is what makes the film excel. The film ended up spawning five sequels, the latter of which was only recently announced, but the anticipation is already making waves, particularly as the Wayans are set to return and write the screenplay. 

Misery (Directed by Rob Reiner, 1990) 

Misery, an adaption of Stephen King’s novel of the same name (1987), is said to be one of King’s favourite cinematic recreations of his many books. The reasons as to why this is the case are countless, as Misery well and truly flourishes in every category. Firstly, the acting is excellent, with Kathy Bates winning the Academy Award for Best Actress, which is a feat in itself when one considers that the Oscars is renowned for commonly overlooking the horror genre in its selection. One of the many other reasons for its golden reputation is that the film is genuinely suspenseful, with Reiner actively creating scenes awash with nail-bitingly tense moments of sheer fright, terror and blinding anticipation.

A pivotal example of Misery’s brilliance is when Bates’ character, Annie Wilkes, who has been holding novelist Paul Sheldon (James Caan) restrained and hostage, takes a sledgehammer to her captive’s ankles, smashing them to smithereens. The snapshot of Sheldon’s ankles making a ninety-degree angle is shown, but the moment is deliberately and incredibly brief, with Reiner focusing on showing the raw reactions of both the characters instead of the gore. Ultimately, it is Misery’s adept ability to convey strong emotional tension that makes it still a supreme classic horror film thirty-five years on. 

A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (Jack Sholder, 1985) 

Wes Craven’s original A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) is an obvious, undefeated champ, and commonly agreed upon as the best entry in the lengthy franchise, yet its sequel ‘Freddy’s Revenge’ does have its gleaming moments that have led to its contemporary cult status forty years on. The second telling of Freddy Kreuger (Robert Englund) follows teenager Jesse Walsh (Mark Patton), who has recently moved into the former property of Nancy Thompson, who years prior suffered a disastrous fate at the hands of the ‘Springwood Slasher’ himself. Soon, Jesse begins to experience horrific nightmares of Krueger, leading to a deadly fight for survival.

Upon its release, reviews were in the grey, with the film being continuously compared to its predecessor. Despite the initial murky critical reception, Freddy’s Revenge has become a glorified entry in the Elm Street series, with the film’s surrounding dialogue revolving around matters such as homoeroticism, sexuality and repressed desires. 

The Changeling (Directed by Peter Medak, 1980) 

The Changeling follows John Russell (George C. Scott), a New York composer whose car becomes stuck in the snow whilst travelling in the mountains. Whilst calling for help in a nearby phone booth, he witnesses a truck collide with his wife and daughter, brutally killing them both. Grieving from the loss of his family, he moves to Seattle, renting a grand mansion that has been supposedly vacant for over a decade. Although John is all alone, he begins to experience strange phenomena as the house reveals itself to be haunted.

The Changeling is known to be quite the terrifying feature, with the film being the quintessential ghost story. Creaky doors, loud sudden noises and supernatural apparitions all make themselves known throughout, with each act becoming embroiled with layers of haunting lore. Yet, the archetypal spooky elements are far from being monotonous, as The Changeling is filmed in such an atmospherically captivating way, with some truly mystifying cinematography, detailed sound design and a commendable, believable performance from Scott. 

Peeping Tom (Directed by Michael Powell, 1960) 

Carol Boehm plays Mark Lewis, a serial killer whose modus operandi is unsuspecting women who he murders using a concealed blade hidden in his camera equipment, filming his victims as he murders them. In Peeping Tom, the camera that Lewis uses becomes a weapon, capturing the look of pure fear in a person’s eye as they realise that the man before them is actually a savage and a sadistic killer.

It is incidents such as these that led to the film becoming harshly received upon its release sixty-five years ago. Various countries sought for the film to be censored and reprimanded due to the shocking nature of the film. One of these restrictions lasted for twenty-one years, with Finland outright banning the film. Peeping Tom’s historical legacy is rich with explorations surrounding the film’s portrayal of voyeurism, which is used as a lens, traversing issues such as the human psyche, alongside the voyeuristic gaze that cinema itself withholds. 

Psycho (Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, 1960) 


One of the most iconic horror films of all time turns sixty-five years old this Autumn. Psycho is a lesson in suspense, particularly in thanks to the filmmaker behind the camera, the one and only Sir Alfred Hitchcock. The film’s direction, unnerving legendary score, unsettling set design, stark lighting and tremendous performances have helped propel Psycho to its acclaimed position and cement the tropes that still linger in the genre to this day.

The film’s uncanny ability to startle does not simply lie in its technical elements, with Psycho additionally taking heed of its dark atmospheric aura and tone to draw viewers in only to cruelly punish them at the hands of its anxiety-inducing plot. For instance, the film makes use of its psychological motives, both through the narrative itself, and through the way Hitchcock pulls off some of the greatest plot twists of all time.

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2025 Horror Anniversaries

The Witch (Directed by Robert Eggers, 2015) 

Robert Eggers has become a prodigy in contemporary gothic horror, creating films that ooze a rich, dramatic aura that presents historical, period-based tales of folklore and mythology. One film in particular that kickstarted his now cemented reputation as a historical-fiction director is The Witch (stylised as The VVitch). This 1630’s set horror follows a Puritan, New England family whose quiet life is turned upside down after being banished from a commune after a religious upset.

Even to the history experts, The Witch is said to be rather accurate, with Eggers ensuring that every detail was written with consultation from specialists on 17th-century agribusiness, ensuring that the film is as authentic to the subject material as possible, therefore aiding the integral presence that the film so flawlessly achieved. Every inch of screen time has this otherworldliness about it; a ghostliness that speaks to disturbed pastimes and the horrors that still haunt to the present day. Although The Witch is only celebrating its tenth birthday this year, its striking effect is set to tread the genre for a long time to come. 

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Hostel (Directed by Eli Roth, 2005) 

Although it has been a whopping twenty years since its release, Hostel still stirs quite a contentious reaction to this day. This Slavic-set film follows the brutal fates of three backpackers who are unknowingly lured into an underground organisation where members pay to torture unsuspecting victims. Upon its release, many audiences were shocked at the film’s graphic displays of violence and appalled that this is what mainstream horror had evolved into.

Indeed, there were a good handful of viewers who got stuck in with the mountains of bloodied gore, creating a boom of the ‘torture-porn’ subgenre that rocked the horror scene in the mid-2000, yet much of the public opinion was that Hostel was essentially heavy-violenced smut. Hostel thrives in its own griminess, whether that be the gritty storyline or the extensively grungy, brutalist vibe of the film’s various torture lairs. By today’s standards, Hostel is tame, but its rude arrival on the scene propels the film to be a contemporary classic. 

Seven (Directed by David Fincher, 1995) 

Seven might not be marketed as a horror film, yet the David Fincher directed ‘thriller’ is certainly horrific and based on a terrifying concept. Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman star as the detective duo ‘Mills and Somerset’, desperately trying to solve a series of murders committed in a pattern following the seven deadly sins. As the film goes through the deaths conducted under the guise of the sins, ‘gluttony’, ‘greed’, ‘sloth’, ‘lust’ and ‘pride’, the viewers undergo a viciously cruel string of emotions, as we experience disgust and fright at the hands of the film’s evil killer ‘John Doe’ (Kevin Spacey).

However, nothing could prepare you for the final act, where the last two sins ‘envy’ and ‘wrath’ are acted out. Elevating the daunting narrative is the film’s sharp aesthetic which is just as visually dark and morbid as the film’s content. Fincher is said to have wanted to make Seven appear as a black and white film, but in colour; recreating the sleek shadowing of noir thrillers, with the added electric jolt that colour films can create. To say that Seven is entirely cruel and boldly immoral is an understatement, with this film still being as wickedly brilliant even thirty years later. 

Fright Night (Directed by Tom Holland, 1985) 

Tom Holland’s extensive career in the horror scene, directing the likes of Child’s Play (1988) and Thinner (1996) started forty years ago when he made his directorial debut with Fright Night, a film that follows a horror fanatic teen, Charley (William Ragsdale) who discovers that his neighbour, Jerry (Chris Sarandon) is a vampire in disguise. Determined to put a stop to the creature, Charley convinces TV vampire hunter Peter (Roddy McDowall) to join forces and destroy the blood-sucker once and for all. Fright Night has the nostalgic, charged energy of 1980s horror, where off-kilter humour mixes with a vibrant sense of terror, in turn forging an unforgettable viewing experience that makes for an excellent watch time after time. Essentially, it is a film that epitomises the offbeat, monstrous mayhem of classic horror, swinging a plethora of hooks and jabs of vampiric madness into the essence of the story, prompting a finished result that is still as electric today as it was forty years ago. 

Demons (Directed by Lamberto Bava, 1985)

Equipped with a form of strangeness, a slightly odd narrative flow that combines moments of outlandish gore with an almost sci-fi-like alien/zombie/demon creature arc is Lamberto Bava’s Demons. Bava, being the son of famed horror director Mario Bava (‘Black Sabbath’, ‘A Bay of Blood’), most definitely has the horror gene pumping through his veins, with Demons being a prime example of a horror film created out of a passion for the genre. The eclectic film takes place in a theatre, where a group of people are mysteriously invited to a screening, only to end up trapped in a true nightmare as green-drooling demons take over. The metafictional qualities are glaringly obvious; the cinema room becoming a literal labyrinth, the ‘film-within-a-film’ premise, the over-the-top, parody-like gore effects and so forth. This unique texture breaks the figurative fourth wall and infests the film with a punchy, refreshing tone that stands out and leaves a lasting impression. 

Jaws (Directed by Steven Spielberg, 1975) 

Jaws is synonymous with the descriptions of a ‘classic’ film. Quotes are plentiful, the theme tune is an integral jingle to this day which is more than likely already being hummed in reader’s minds, and most importantly Jaws is still as much scary fun now as it was half a century ago. Bar his work on TV movies and The Sugarland Express (1974), Jaws is what kickstarted Steven Spielberg’s household name status, with the film at one point even being the highest-grossing movie of all time.

Whilst it is worth discussing how the film has been infinitely cited as one of the greats and how the United States Library of Congress elected Jaws as being selected for preservation due to its landmark status and appeal, what is a more pressing matter is exactly how and why Jaws achieved its infamy. The film delivers some outwardly funny quips and pockets of dialogue, adding a flush dimensionality to the scares, and putting a bit of flesh on the film’s bones. More so than that, Jaws has genuine suspense attached to the horror. No matter the quantity of watches, the looming threat of chaos and destruction still has an almighty bite to it, entirely absorbing attention and captivating audiences at a seriously impressive rate. 

Deep Red (Directed by Dario Argento, 1975) 

Dario Argento’s work for horror cinema is nearly unmatched, with the director being the brains behind the likes of The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970), The Cat o’ Nine Tails (1971), Suspiria (1977), Tenebrae (1982), Phenomena (1985), and Deep Red. The film exercises a genuinely terrific compositional structure where the labyrinth of a plot is powered by the camera’s incessant need to be constantly moving, floating and dancing around as it captures the brutal antics that unravel before us.

The flexible nature of the action is further enhanced by its content, which has some truly alarming moments of panic and dread, particularly in regards to the smorgasbord of violent scenes, alongside the inclusion of an awfully creepy puppet. Deep Red acts as one of the giallo subgenre’s most definitive films, with the visual outcome of Argento’s work here being comparable to a visual opera, as the film stirs in elements of murder mystery with sleek stylisations and countless dramatic effects. 

The Skull (Directed by Freddie Francis, 1965) 

Joining Hammer Film Productions in the run of 1960s British horror was fellow Brit-based company, Amicus Productions, whose credits include The House That Dripped Blood (1971) and Tales from the Crypt (1972). One other film that kickstarted Amicus’ fairly successful run in cinema during the sixties and seventies was The Skull, a horror made in colour to challenge the competitive horror market. The film follows the hauntings, hallucinations and possessions that surround the stolen skull of the French libertine and controversial figure, Marquis de Sade. Starring both the iconic Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee is this rather zestful feature that boasts an applaudable assemblage of visionary cinematography that has not aged a day since its release sixty years ago. 

Les Diaboliques (Directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot, 1955)

Henri-Georges Clouzot’s French horror Les Diaboliques is coined as one of the true greats, obtaining a stellar reputation over the seventy years since its release, gaining Criterion Collection status and helping cement the tropes that have formed the horror genre. The film is also said to have helped inspire the basis for the legendary Hitchcockian thriller, Psycho (1960). The film follows a conspiracy to murder Michael Delasalle (Paul Meurisse), a cruel headmaster at a boarding school.

The mastermind pair behind the elaborate plan are Michael’s wife, Christina (Vera Clouzot), and his mistress Nicole (Simone Signoret), who merge to create the ‘perfect plan’, however, matters soon turn sour as their scheme unravels. Time has graced this film, with the various twists and turns becoming even finer over the years, as the clever narrative still holds such impact due to its melodramatic, nightmarish and solemn tone that is both haunting and alluring. 

Dead of Night (Directed by Alberto Cavalcanti, Charles Crichton, Basil Dearden and Robert Hamer, 1945)


The British horror Dead of Night has become a quintessential piece of cinema that holds gravity in the anthology portmanteau reign of films, the horror genre and the extensive selection from Blighties’ own film market. Dead of Night’s anthology structure captures five sequences, all rounded up by the framing story of a team of guests who join together at a rural country house, retelling their own horrific stories. The impressive line-up includes Sally Ann Howes, Googie Withers, Mervyn Johns and Michael Redgrave, who all bring their own special zing to each segment, taking heed of the elaborate lore, fables and legends from the individual stories.

Although Dead of Night will see its eightieth birthday in September of this year, the film is very much alive. There are countless memorable snippets that still stand out from the film, but one particularly notable example surrounds the seriously unnerving ventriloquist dummy that stars in one of the segments. The unhinged puppet is nothing less than sinister and more unsettling than many contemporary attempts at capturing possessed puppets.

PART TWO HERE…..

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Review – The Monkey (2025)

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The Monkey makes an array of promises. It vows to shock at the audacity of its plot, urges a repulsive affective response at some of the more gnarly moments, and most importantly, it demands that every viewer is grinning from ear to ear at the bombastic ludicrousness of it all. Conceived originally as a short story from horror darling Stephen King was ‘The Monkey’ (1980), which followed a man and his lifelong plague of terror caused by a toy monkey that would cause utter destruction. It is a somber tale of trauma and generational guilt all bundled up with a string of dread and doom. Indeed, in its contemporary adaptation, such commentary is explored, however, the new wildly ambitious feature is far from a melancholic woe. 

Originally, the rights for King’s story was owned by Frank Darabont, legendary director of ‘ The Shawshank Redemption‘ (1994) and ‘The Walking Dead’ (2010-11), only for his plans to vanquish after prioritising other projects. After sitting on the shelf, James Wan, under the banner ‘Atomic Monster’, acquired the rights, with filmmaker Osgood ‘Oz’ Perkins brought on to write and direct. Originally, producers aimed to imitate that same foreboding aura that King’s penned short conjured, yet, Perkins insisted that the sporadic nature of the narrative’s various plays of death spoke to the utter disregard that death has. The subject can of course be mysterious, chilling and scary, just as Perkin’s previous feature ‘Longlegs’ (2024) demonstrates, but more than that, it can be entirely random, unbiased and determined by a string of unfortunate coincidences.

You see, Perkins faced his own tragedy at the hands of his parents’ deaths. The 18 year old Oz was just on the cusp of adulthood when his father, Anthony Hopkins (aka Psycho’s [1960] Norman Bates), died in 1992 of AIDS-related pneumonia. A few years later, his mother, actress and model Berry Berenson, was a passenger on Flight 11 when it crashed into the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. This fate is gut-wrenchingly terrifying to face, with the thought of loved ones departing in the most painful of ways becoming a whole-heartedly catastrophic event to even imagine, and yet Perkins has managed to channel this hurt into his work. He interprets these awful events into something that is horrific in itself, creating a vision, an exhibition and a vessel to explore and therefore externalise the internal. Such analogy has not been pulled out of thin air, as Perkins himself has incorporated this anguish into the promotional material of The Monkey. 

“Death does not care about your feelings” is essentially the core value that The Monkey pertains, in fact, an actual advertisement for the film included a poster quoting “The hard truth is that everybody dies, and that’s fucked up. But at least now you can enjoy death with your friends and loved ones”. 

With this notion of the brutal, yet somehow cathartic and dare it be said peaceful analogy of death and its lingering shadow, grief, The Monkey aims to portray its philosophy in the most daring of ways. Forgive the second quoting, but as Perkins states, the film shows a series of “decapitations, eviscerations, electrocutions, impalements, disembowelments, infestations, immolations, conflagrations, exsanguination and a defenestration”. As one can imagine, the copious acts of violences on display are so rambunctious and vivacious that it genuinely makes the grim-reaper sequences of deaths in the Final Destination franchise seem like child’s play as we witness one unfortunate circumstance after another throughout this berserk and entertaining film. 

Whilst it is clear that full throttle, pedal to the metal frenziedness was the goal, The Monkey manages to pace itself nicely, and rather steadily, taking its time to unravel the madness, additionally enveloping a decent backstory into the meat of the film. With this also comes an ensemble of superb performances from a truly stellar list of actors including, Tatiana Maslany, Colin O’Brien, Rogan Campbell, Sarah Levy, Adam Scott, Elijah Woods and last but not least Christian Convery and Theo James, who both put their acting talents to the test, genuinely bringing their A-game at every step.

Whilst it is sure to force a good handful of viewers to raise their brow at some of the more gratuitously gory, almost ‘pulled out of the hat’ kind of scenes, The Monkey equally has the gall to enforce a good chuckle and giggle at the mere fun of it all.

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Review – Companion (2025) spoiler-free

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Basked in the cruelty of the human nature, blasting deep truths, whilst being equally entrenched in glimmeringly stunning imagery is Drew Hancock’s Companion. 

The trending Companion follows an unconventional love story that challenges and startles as we see the likes of Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lucas Gage, Rupert Friend, Megan Suri and Harvey Guillén navigate this disturbingly complex tale, presenting an original take on a dark, unnerving romance.

Companion was set to be directed by ’Barbarian’ director Zach Cregger; however, unlike the marketing for Barbarian that kept the crucial twist tightly under lock, letting the film deliver its full, intended shocking fate, Companion’s marketing essentially handed the film’s events on a silver platter in the ‘spoilerific’ trailer. This expression has somewhat tainted the buzz of Companion, yet, Hancock’s innovative approach to this dark comedy is so fine tuned that the spoilt details become long forgotten after actually watching this superb feat. 

Throughout, Companion dances with the subject of toxicity, particularly the kind that appears subtle and contained at first, bubbling under the surface until it boils over and spews venom. It is this kind of thoughtful, cinematic prose that propels Hancock’s story to be more than a one-dimensional piece of malignancy in relationships. The film delivers an emboldened  contraption of reality when it comes to scenes of abuse, focusing on how this can be outwardly presented as subdued, but behind closed doors, the matter is profoundly intense. 

Where Companion’s distinctive flair peaks resides in the performances, particularly those from Quaid and Thatcher, who together form a wildly dark powerhouse, elevating the project as they both balance moments of vulnerability and contrasting terror with an air of raw intensity. 

Beyond the stellar performances and the intriguing, dauntingly ominous experience that the film presents, Companion, weaponises it’s cinematic prowess to deliver an atmospherically striking feature. The cinematography, sound design and setting all build an immersive, harsh peak into the film’s world, making even the most seemingly mundane moments become eerie and sharp. 

Companion is not a film to be missed, nor a film to be underestimated. It’s a gripping and provocative picture that stands tall as a solid entry into 2025’s already fantastic line of theatrical releases. 

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Review – Once Upon a Time in the Future: 2121

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Serpil Altin’s ‘Once Upon a Time in the Future: 2121’ is an ominous tale with sparks of surreal comedy that acts as a bold and honest take on both the familial regime under pressure and the horror that arises from fears of the future. 

In the year 2121, planet Earth has broken down from years of climate damage, leading to a treacherous famine, ultimately leaving behind an uninhabitable, barren landscape. Those who did survive now live underground in confined concrete spaces and communities, ruled under the dictatorship of the irreverent ‘Young Administration’ whose power and authority leads to a disastrous fate for a particular family living in the ‘new world’. 

Striking themes of existentialism, authoritarian reign and destruction to the family unit are all tackled throughout in a pragmatically cold and shameless way, owing credence to the film’s overt testimony to topics such as climatology and scarcity threats.  Altin has been open about her intentions in conveying the thematics of the film, with the director expressing how the film tackles a global issue.

In fact, Once Upon a Time in the Future: 2121 belongs to a budding trilogy, with the other future narratives being ‘Young Revolution: 2071’ and ‘Heavenly World: 2222’. As such, 2121’ marks itself as being ambitious and certainly not afraid to delve into its storytelling-world-building-plot. For instance, the main characters are incredibly well fleshed-out, with the film fully diving deep into the relationships between the characters, allowing for the family dynamics on display to be compelling and emotional, in turn heightening the stakes to an extremely tense level. 

The film’s complexity is further established by the dystopian atmosphere. By trade, the structure of a desolate world governed by a totalitarian state is a claustrophobic and brutalised place, which Once Upon a Time in the Future: 2121 brilliantly recreates. The film utilises aspects of industrial architecture, consisting of cold concrete and harsh spaces, complete with a form of controlled symmetry via the lack of individual personalisation to form a grim terrain for the terror to ensue. As the characters descend deeper into the story and come to terms with what the Young Administration’s direction means to them, the film becomes darker, both through its allegorical tone and its setting, with the final act dressing itself as a somber and eccentric buffer for the series to progress. 

Once Upon a Time in the Future: 2121’s intriguing world-building setting, complete with its dramatic flair and eccentricity has proven to be a success, with the film dominating the award scene. To name a few, the film has won the ‘Best Feature Award’ at both the 2023 London Sci-Fi Film Festival and the 2023 Phoenix International Horror and Sci-fi Film Festival. Further to this was the multiple wins at the Fantasporto event (2023), Female Filmmakers Festival Berlin (2023) and Miami International Science Fiction Film Festival (2024). 

Once Upon a Time in the Future: 2121 is an exciting sci-fi thriller that is not only the first Turkish sci-fi film directed by a woman, but it is also the first of its kind to be released in cinemas across America. 

There is a lot to be said about a film that can be daunting and rather frightening in its premise and portrayal of particular ideals, but that simultaneously peppers an odd, quirky humour that speaks to the uncomfortableness of the situation. In other words, this film manages to be disconcerting, formidable and rather wacky in its intentions, leading to a truly refreshing viewing experience that is not often happened upon. 

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Review – Presence (Spoiler-free)

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Unlike anything many have ever seen before, convolutedly excellent, with a slow burn-like atmosphere is precisely what makes Presence the cinematic enigma that it is. This film is not simply genre bending, it is a complete malformation of categorisation, which has left a slew of mixed reviews in its wake. However, forgoing the ruse stirred by the clever marketing and trickery, Presence is precisely the provocatively dense and thoughtfully crafted film that will beremembered for long to come. 

Presence follows itself; a ghostly apparition, spirit, a higher being, as it weaves in and out of a family home witnessing the everyday. The family in question is made up of the hardworking, power-hungry matriarch Rebecca (Lucy Liu) and her comparatively gentle husband Chris (Chris Sullivan). Together they have two teenagers, Tyler (Eddy Madday), who seems to take after his mother’s harshness, and Chloe (Callina Liang), an alert young adolescent who is in the midst of heartbreak after her best friend recently died. 

The film is shot entirely from the perspective of the ‘presence’, with the point of view angle goading the presence’s autonomy to belong almost entirely to the family dynamic. As such, we only see the household through the eyes of this phantom character. Whilst details are saved for spoilers sake, the mute presence can only show the audience what it is a witness to, in turn forming a puzzle-like story of what is exactly going on. 

This idea of a spectre granting us a gaze into the cinematic world is a large part of Presences’ charm. The fresh and innovative take on a traditional ghost story, using this contemporary lens – both figuratively and literally – allows for a raw, authentic boost to be thrust onto the entire film. Just as the ‘presence’ itself takes in the actions of the family it watches, we too are granted this immediate, concentrated peek into the doings of the film’s subjects. 

Presence’s tactical experience is made all the more rich by the applaudable performances from all. Liu excels as a powerhouse mother whose complex coldness is enacted with a sense of integrity and believability. Following this is the role of Chris, portrayed by Sullivan, whom perfectly compliments Liu’s emotive tonality. Lastly is the onscreen parent’s kin, Tyler and Chloe, which are both played with a level of maturity that should be far beyond both the young actor’s abilities, but the pair have proven that their acting chops are akin to that of actors with decades upon decades of experience. 

Whilst Presence disturbs and disconcerts, particularly through the final act, the film is not overtly ‘horror-coded’, with the ghostly entity not serving its predicted, expected purpose. In a sense, the film weaponizes the presence itself as a filmmaking device to tell the story, rather than material, or even a means to simply frighten. Ghosts by nature are indeed eerie, but in Presence, the matter of the spirit is much more dimensional that what the subject typically provides.

It is this continuous toying of expectations that speaks to director Steven Soderbergh and writer, David Koepp’s, unique talents. Presence is not simple, instead, its alert to its own emotional hue, its revelations are thought-provoking and it certainly requires more than a single screening to digest the intense complexity of it all.

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Review – Wolf Man (2025)

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Leigh Whannell is somewhat contemporary horror royalty, belonging to projects such as Saw (2004), Dead Silence (2007), Insidious (2010), Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013), Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015), Upgrade (2018), The Invisible Man (2020) and now Wolf Man (2025). Regardless of opinion, Whannell is a seasoned horror creator, but is his extensive experience enough to make the long-awaited Wolf Man a film that has a decent bite? 

Wolf Man follows Blake (Christopher Abbott), a family man who along with his wife Charlotte (Julia Garner) and daughter Ginger (Matilda Firth) travel to the remote wilderness of Oregan from the bustling San Francisco after Grady (Sam Jaeger) Blake’s estranged father dies, leaving his estate to his only son. In hopes of repairing their fractious marriage, the family head to the “Beaver State”, however, en route they are attacked by an unseen creature, leaving Blake with a gushing, troubling scratch by the howling beast. 

Werewolves are colloquially known as furred giants, gnarling their prey like a rabid frothing dog and unleashing havoc at the sheer warning of a full moon. Wolf Man internalises the essence of the unsightly brutes and spits out a powerful reengineering of the beloved movie creature that is tonally deep and seething with a whole new lease of emotionality. Wolf Man is just as much of a family drama as it is a creature feature, which should be conflicting and over complicated, except Whannell manages to tiptoe the two thematic halves and creates a film that gives equal credence to both components. 

Firstly, the transformation element (i.e. the backbone of any good werewolf film) is unique and unexpected, but in the most pleasant of ways as we see Blake go from an unextraordinary man to a strange species. A monster whose personhood experiences a metamorphoses just as much as his appearance.

During the promotional tour, Whannell has been open about the film’s potentially controversial lyncathrophic transformation, with the director speculating that the Wolf Man’s appearance will not be traditional, opting for similar approach to David Cronenberg’s The Fly (1986), where the meanings behind the ‘changing’ will take presidency over the gore-factor. That being said, the film does still include the frequent nasty body horror that one would expect from a werewolf feature. 

As such, the few sequences of gross-out visuals are met with an even more haunting feeling manifested by the strict, continuous facets of tragedy that are woven in and out of this complex horror. The film delves into Blake’s relationship with his father and Blake’s own fears and anxieties about his capabilities to be a better patriarchal figure in Ginger’s life.

Amplifying the narrative’s emotive trepidations and woes is Blake’s transformation. Throughout his change, he not only sprouts hairs and gains speed, his core capacities and senses also begin to fragment into that of lycanthropy. No longer can he clearly hear exactly as he once could, with his wife and daughter’s speech becoming strange muttering. Every portion of his sensibility is lost. He is now forever haunted and lost. 

Wolf Man is entrenched in a layer of darkness that aims to move, which in a cruel twist of fate makes the film not as traditionally ‘scary’ as it could be. Not every horror film has to frighten, just as not every horror has to be a metaphorical allegory. On the basis of pure fear factor, the kind that will linger and cause the worst kind of nightmares, Wolf Man is somewhat toothless. Nevertheless, audiences should stay for the melancholic portrayal of man versus beast that aims to unravel the psyche more than it does shudder in sheer horror. 

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