A personal journal of film and documentary reviews, and reviews of anything else that intrigues me.
Guillermo del Toro, “Frankenstein” (2025) After many years of planning and delays, at last Mexican director Guillermo del Toro brings his adaptation of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein;…
Michael Anderson, “Logan’s Run” (1976) Admittedly this film has not aged well over the past half-century: its sets look bad; its music soundtrack turns tired and…
Bong Joonho, “Mickey 17” (2025) Based on the science fiction novel “Mickey 7” by Edward Ashton, “Mickey 17” takes that novel’s premise – a space colonist…
Marc S. Nollkaemper, “The Space Between Us” (2015) In a future post-apocalyptic world, where the air is toxic to breathe, and scientists are experimenting with giving…
Drew Hancock, “Companion” (2015) A low-budget sci-fi thriller film with a young cast and a deceptively simple, straightforward plot becomes a magnet for commentary on aspects…
Jack Arnold, “Creature from the Black Lagoon” (1954) For a film of its vintage, made over 70 years ago with a straightforward story and an unremarkable…
British Films, French and French-language Films
Coralie Fargeat, “The Substance” (2024) It may be called “The Substance” but this film’s style – in its boldly colourful (and confrontational) visual style, its minimal…
Michael Mohan, “Immaculate” (2024) The, er, venerable niche horror subgenre known as nunsploitation is revived and refreshed as a vehicle for one young woman’s transformation through…
British Films, North American Films
Yorgos Lanthimos, “Poor Things” (2023) A visually sumptuous feast, set in an alternative late Victorian steampunk world, “Poor Things” is a science fantasy concoction revolving around…
British Films, North American Films
Lee Tamahori, “Die Another Day” (2002) For the twentieth movie in a film franchise celebrating 40 years, the scriptwriters were tasked to come up with a…