Horror seems to be going through something of a renaissance this century. After the slasher-heavy cheapness of the 80s, the irony of the 90s, and the influx of remakes and misguided torture porn movies of the early 2000s, it seems that the horror movie is finally back on form. A quick search of modern classics … Continue reading
It actually happened then. For those who don’t know, a couple of months ago District 9 director Neill Blomkamp leaked a series of concept art pieces he’d developed for a future Alien movie. The images, showing an older Ripley and Hicks, an alien Queen, and some impressive world design, were not affiliated with 20th Century … Continue reading
Ti West has emerged as one of the most interesting horror directors working today, though his films remain polarising for fans of the genre. West has developed a particular, steady style which takes the slowburn narrative to its extremes, and some find this approach dull. It could be argued that his movies contain a whole … Continue reading
Thunderball was a huge commercial success, but suffered from its formulaic plot. Fearing that the rot was starting to set in, producers Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman sought to make On Her Majesty’s Secret Service as the 5th franchise film, but weather conditions meant production was shifted to You Only Live Twice instead. Released … Continue reading
By 1965, Bond was unstoppable. Goldfinger had made EON a lot of money and solidified the Bond formula; at this point, the series was well established as a franchise, and audiences wanted more. What they got was Thunderball. On paper, Thunderball could have been perfect. Ian Fleming wrote the book with the movie in mind, … Continue reading
And here we reach the complete nadir of the franchise. Yes, there’s been bad Bonds before – Diamonds are Forever, A View to a Kill, Octopussy – but none that have been quite as insulting as Die Another Day. Most of the bad Bonds have at least one redeeming feature – a great location, a … Continue reading
Though not really related to Christmas at all, there’s something very festive about the Harry Potter movies, which explains why ITV are showing every single one this December. Maybe it’s something to do with the series’ sense of childlike wonder and magic, its lazy Sunday afternoon vibe, or even, like Bond, its quintessential Britishness – there’s … Continue reading
