Horror

Atrocious

This horror flick is ‘Hide and Seek’ meets ‘The Blair Witch Project’. Except, rather than two acquaintances politely shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries, it’s two cars meeting at speed and resulting in a heap of twisted smoking metal…

The Silent House

Loosely based on true events, this South American horror promises “real fear in real time”, with its action purportedly playing out in a single, uncut take. Delivering for the majority of its running time, the film is let down most by its conclusion; a sigh that undermines the shocks. Yet for genre fans, The Silent House remains a curio that deserves to be watched – especially before the American remake arrives.

The Survivor

Directed by the late David Hemmings, whose acting credits include Gladiator and Gangs Of New York, The Survivor is a tense, psychological horror, but one that raises more questions than it answers. Sometimes tense, sometimes scary, sometimes making no sense whatsoever, The Survivor is a captivating watch. Though I guarantee you’ll spend most of it baffled at how much Robert Powell and Jenny Agutter look alike.

Cheat Sheet: Wes Craven

Wes Craven: Two words that by their associative powers alone, can conjure inimitable phantasmagoric visions from which you cannot avert your eyes, but in the dead of sleepless night, so desperately wish you had. Whether it’s the snicker-snack of finger-knives or an Edvard Munchian bogeyman that threatens our dreams, it’s high-time that we got ourselves educated on the hand that wields them…

A Date with Horror: Make This One A Bloody Good Valentine’s

Mmmm…Who can resist those rubberised lips.

In Their Sleep

Things start to get all twisty-turny for the mourning Sarah when she happens across a young man running for his life. Tuck yourself in for this French Horror/Thriller from the sibling directors Caroline and Éric du Potet. Who said that subtitles ruin a good bit of tension? Well, buy them a drink from me, because they were right. But don’t worry, hardly anyone says anything.

John Carpenter’s The Ward

Nothing groundbreaking or awe-inspiring to be seen here, but John Carpenter being just okay is still better than no John Carpenter at all. Flimsy plot and performances, but what you’re forking over for is the shocks, and he still delivers better than most. Will leave you thinking, “Come on, John… let’s next time get our hands REALLY dirty.”

Missing

Director Kim Sung-Hong treads an oft-travelled path with this vicious tale “inspired” by true events. That claim could well be disputed but Missing does boast a genuinely creepy central performance by Moon Sung-Keun as a farmer with an eye for the ladies and an original idea on what constitutes quality chicken feed. No wonder their eggs taste so good!

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale

This feature length adaptation of two youtube shorts is visually great, with an immersive world and spectacular effects. A darkly funny take on the legend of Santa Claus, though the film is sadly hampered by crippling pacing issues.