All posts by Naila Scargill

Naila is the founder and editor of Exquisite Terror. Holding a broad editorial background, she has worked with an eclectic variety of content, 
ranging from film and the counterculture, to political news and finance. She is the Culture Editor at Trebuchet, and generally gets around.

The Revenant

D. Kerry Prior's limited experience mostly lies in SFX, but you wouldn't know it from what is perfect comedy timing.

/ April 2, 2012

A Horrible Way to Die

A non-linear approach wears thin, initial intrigue giving way to frustration as the story continually dances away with the cuts.

/ March 19, 2012

Evidence

There is probably a good film hidden somewhere in here, but the entire experience feels like a waste of time.

/ March 10, 2012

The Raven

John Cusack as Edgar Allan Poe is immensely watchable, but the story is downgraded to a bog-standard thriller.

/ March 9, 2012

The Shrine

Effectively creates tension to complement an overall creepiness, to deliver a climax that keeps the viewer in the dark.

/ February 28, 2012

Grindhouse Trailer Classics 3

Nucleus Films continue their mission to educate the masses on the concept of the grindhouse subgenre. Go purchase.

/ November 30, 2011

Rabies

The central story is drowned in subplot after subplot, red herrings running amok to the point of frustration.

/ November 22, 2011

The Human Centipede 2

Laurence R. Harvey turns in an excellent performance, but there is no escaping the knowledge of a rapidly hashed idea.

/ November 19, 2011

Snowtown

A truly effective film that will stay with you long after the credits roll; to have achieved this in a debut is quite remarkable.

/ November 18, 2011

Straw Dogs (1971)

This 40th anniversary edition, hosting a plethora of extras, is surely one of the year's most essential releases.

/ November 10, 2011

Straw Dogs (2011)

The dumbing down of the violence to tiresome torture porn, robs it of its parallel to David Sumner's psychological shift.

/ November 3, 2011

The Awakening

The raison d'être is ludicrous and sewn up in minutes, but the cast is very good, as is the cinematography and symbolism.

/ October 28, 2011

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale

Not quite as funny as you’d expect if you have seen the shorts, the film plays it straight.

/ October 24, 2011

The Woman

An interesting statement on misogyny, albeit subtle as a sledgehammer — but then, this is from Lucky McKee and Jack Ketchum.

/ October 14, 2011

Buried Alive

A required watch for fans of Frank Darabont, creator of The Walking Dead, if only to see what a difference 20 years can make.

/ October 13, 2011

Death Bell

Believes itself brutal, when in reality a small number of strong images are tied loosely together with a basic story.

/ October 10, 2011

Red State

A disappointing film with a script that is too basic for any kind of social commentary Kevin Smith may have been aiming for.

/ September 16, 2011

The Graveyard Poet

Writer Steve Santini possesses no talent whatsoever, prompting the begging of life's most simple, yet profound question: why?

/ July 25, 2011

The Silent House

Florencia Colucci is superb, easily shouldering the film. Also impressive is some genuine creepiness courtesy of clever lighting.

/ July 18, 2011

Hammer 2.0

In conversation with Hammer CEO Simon Oakes on his long-term plans for the studio and business strategy.

/ July 10, 2011

Seeing the Devil

Actor Lee Byung-hun discusses his performance in Kim Jee-woon's I Saw the Devil, and plans for directing film.

/ July 8, 2011

Night of the Living Dead: Reanimated

Despite the odd flare of brilliance, the concept fails. For rabid collectors only.

/ May 31, 2011

The Rite

All a rather predictable outcome that doesn't offer anything we've not seen before, but Anthony Hopkins saves it.

/ May 30, 2011

I Spit on Your Grave (2010)

The cartoon violence on display here completely removes all sense of realism, shoving the film into torture porn territory.

/ May 28, 2011

Let Me In

The performances are faultless, but clumsy CGI removes the delicateness that had us so in love with the original.

/ May 27, 2011

Julia’s Eyes

A mixed bag and too ambitious for so early in a career, however Guillem Morales should be noted for the future.

/ May 20, 2011

5150 Elm’s Way

A confused affair that is a bizarre mishmash of clashing styles, with the barest of subplot revealed in just one line of dialogue.

/ May 19, 2011

7 Days

A masterpiece that will make the world sit up and take notice of what is the perfect portrayal of the psychology of a man.

/ May 1, 2011

Peeping Tom

A timeless and sublime masterpiece that presents an incredibly intelligent and moving picture of psychological struggle.

/ April 24, 2011

Attack the Block

Stands on its own two feet amongst the usual Brit comedy suspects, which is largely due to its cast of unknowns.

/ April 22, 2011

Wasting Away

This low-budget indie is a star turn, with a clever, funny script that shows life from the point of view of the zombie.

/ April 21, 2011

Knuckle Supper

An interesting and refreshing take on your standard toothy yarn, but the author lacks the ability to drive his purpose home.

/ April 19, 2011

Dear Mr. Gacy

Low budget, not particularly well acted and with a basic script, yet somehow, this film manages to elicit goosebumps.

/ April 19, 2011

How to Speak Zombie: A Guide for the Living

There are many zombie survival guides out there. But do any of them teach you how to speak zombie?

/ April 18, 2011

We Are What We Are

Deftly balances a horror premise with the politics of a family drama, marking Jorge Michel Grau as a filmmaker to watch.

/ April 11, 2011

Wake Wood

With nicely subtle handling of its occult element, the film slowly builds an atmosphere and is more chilling as a result.

/ April 8, 2011