2021 films
Re: 2021 films
Offseason
A gripping and paranoia laden horror thriller, anchored by a typically great lead performance from Jocelyn Donahue. The foggy locations ooze atmosphere and there are plenty of good, suspenseful sequences. 8 / 10
A gripping and paranoia laden horror thriller, anchored by a typically great lead performance from Jocelyn Donahue. The foggy locations ooze atmosphere and there are plenty of good, suspenseful sequences. 8 / 10
No tears, please. It's a waste of good suffering.
Re: 2021 films
Prisoners of the Ghostland
Predictably bonkers, but less humorous than expected, so it ended up being more ho-hum than fun. 6 / 10
Predictably bonkers, but less humorous than expected, so it ended up being more ho-hum than fun. 6 / 10
No tears, please. It's a waste of good suffering.
Re: 2021 films
The Maid
It came with a fair amount of hype, but was fairly predictable - nevertheless, it was very well made and executed. Some satisfyingly jumpy and creepy parts in the first act too. 8 / 10
It came with a fair amount of hype, but was fairly predictable - nevertheless, it was very well made and executed. Some satisfyingly jumpy and creepy parts in the first act too. 8 / 10
No tears, please. It's a waste of good suffering.
Re: 2021 films
King Knight
An entertaining wicca romp, funny and heartwarming. A little slight, so probably not one that I'll remember for years to come, but it was fun while it lasted. 7 / 10
An entertaining wicca romp, funny and heartwarming. A little slight, so probably not one that I'll remember for years to come, but it was fun while it lasted. 7 / 10
No tears, please. It's a waste of good suffering.
Re: 2021 films
Sound of Violence
Improbable and a bit too farfetched in places, but a joyride of a movie, definitely worth seeing on the giant screen and with the audio to match. A sensory feast of an experience and it operates effectively as a slasher cum Saw type of movie with a 8.5 / 10
Improbable and a bit too farfetched in places, but a joyride of a movie, definitely worth seeing on the giant screen and with the audio to match. A sensory feast of an experience and it operates effectively as a slasher cum Saw type of movie with a
Spoiler:
No tears, please. It's a waste of good suffering.
Re: 2021 films
John and the Hole
Intriguing but glacially slow. I think this has been adapted from a short and it feels like the idea has now been stretched too thin over the feature running time. A shame, as the story had potential. 6 / 10
Intriguing but glacially slow. I think this has been adapted from a short and it feels like the idea has now been stretched too thin over the feature running time. A shame, as the story had potential. 6 / 10
Spoiler:
No tears, please. It's a waste of good suffering.
Re: 2021 films
As In Heaven, So On Earth
A mash-up of found footage, mockumentary and creative puppetry that works really well to tell a tale spanning the centuries. I enjoyed the mystery and investigative elements too. 8 / 10
A mash-up of found footage, mockumentary and creative puppetry that works really well to tell a tale spanning the centuries. I enjoyed the mystery and investigative elements too. 8 / 10
No tears, please. It's a waste of good suffering.
Re: 2021 films
No Man Of God
A gripping portrayal of the Hagmaier - Bundy interviews. Whilst it doesn't go into lots of detail of Bundy's crimes there's enough to keep his shark-like presence suitably foreboding and compelling, while both leads give very good performances. Come the ending you just know this one will stay with you for some time after making such a profound impact. Powerful stuff! 9 / 10
A gripping portrayal of the Hagmaier - Bundy interviews. Whilst it doesn't go into lots of detail of Bundy's crimes there's enough to keep his shark-like presence suitably foreboding and compelling, while both leads give very good performances. Come the ending you just know this one will stay with you for some time after making such a profound impact. Powerful stuff! 9 / 10
No tears, please. It's a waste of good suffering.
Re: 2021 films
Thanks for posting these reviews! I much prefer to read a quick paragraph and a mark out of ten then have to click a link to some over-long spoiler laden blog post!!
Re: 2021 films
Thanks for the feedback! Much appreciated - hopefully some more reviews will be added by others over the next few days now that the fest is over.
No tears, please. It's a waste of good suffering.
Re: 2021 films
The Retaliators
Not quite the film I was expecting, this is reasonable but probably forgettable fare, unless you're a fan of the bands on show. The story is quite heartfelt before becoming a revenge flick where the violence escalates, with a 6 / 10
Not quite the film I was expecting, this is reasonable but probably forgettable fare, unless you're a fan of the bands on show. The story is quite heartfelt before becoming a revenge flick where the violence escalates, with a
Spoiler:
No tears, please. It's a waste of good suffering.
Re: 2021 films
Slapface
A pretty powerful story that exceeded expectations, where a local folktale is blended with the dysfunctional, broken remains of a family after two young brothers lose their parents in an accident, a situation that increasingly spirals out of control, leading to a blood laden conclusion. 8 / 10
A pretty powerful story that exceeded expectations, where a local folktale is blended with the dysfunctional, broken remains of a family after two young brothers lose their parents in an accident, a situation that increasingly spirals out of control, leading to a blood laden conclusion. 8 / 10
No tears, please. It's a waste of good suffering.
Re: 2021 films
Ultrasound
A mindbending mystery thriller, perhaps too mindbending for the last day of the fest! Intriguing, if a little confusing and bewildering before explanations and reasons start to be revealed in the second half of the film. Probably one to watch again with a clearer head! 7.5 / 10
A mindbending mystery thriller, perhaps too mindbending for the last day of the fest! Intriguing, if a little confusing and bewildering before explanations and reasons start to be revealed in the second half of the film. Probably one to watch again with a clearer head! 7.5 / 10
No tears, please. It's a waste of good suffering.
Re: 2021 films
The Advent Calendar
An entertaining dark fable and a neat variation on the "be careful what you wish for" subgenre. It strangely reminded me of the Final Destination films as the deaths started to unfold, although the violence and gore are much more restrained compared to that franchise. A fun yuletide horror with a moral dilemma at its heart. 8 / 10
An entertaining dark fable and a neat variation on the "be careful what you wish for" subgenre. It strangely reminded me of the Final Destination films as the deaths started to unfold, although the violence and gore are much more restrained compared to that franchise. A fun yuletide horror with a moral dilemma at its heart. 8 / 10
No tears, please. It's a waste of good suffering.
Re: 2021 films
The Sadness
Bloody hell! This came with a lot of hype and it mostly delivered. The sexual content was neither as strong nor as frequent as I had expected (not that it needed to be), but I guess in the current climate it has still been problematic due to sensitivities and censorship prevailing in some areas, both geographically and topically.
Nevertheless, the action and bloodshed came in copious quantities, while the story was serviceable and fine, if fairly predictable and not very original. 8 / 10
Bloody hell! This came with a lot of hype and it mostly delivered. The sexual content was neither as strong nor as frequent as I had expected (not that it needed to be), but I guess in the current climate it has still been problematic due to sensitivities and censorship prevailing in some areas, both geographically and topically.
Nevertheless, the action and bloodshed came in copious quantities, while the story was serviceable and fine, if fairly predictable and not very original. 8 / 10
No tears, please. It's a waste of good suffering.