Tag: Supernatural

V/H/S/99

A gritty, bitty car crash into memory lane that impressively stitches its eclecticism together like a grotesque mixtape.

/ March 23, 2023

Lunacy

As a carefully cultivated horror story that resonates in the fear-laden recesses of modern life, Lunacy is a book to savour. 

/ February 22, 2023

The Deep House

A suffocating rollercoaster that breathes new life into an enervated subgenre, trapping us into a nightmare that refuses to let go.

/ October 28, 2022

Lingering

A psychological depth that pushes the meaning of ‘haunting’, urging readers to question the origins and nature of evil.

/ June 22, 2022

Father of Flies

Unreliable characters in an ethereal setting drive this powerful parable on disintegrating families and stolen childhood.

/ April 11, 2022

Amulet

With an allegory that seethes on its underbelly, Amulet is a disturbing and enigmatic picture that reflects a strikingly bleak view.

/ January 27, 2022

Jakob’s Wife

Hallmarks of the vampire genre coupled with a small-town America backdrop challenge patriarchal institutions.

/ August 19, 2021

Itsy Bitsy

Occasionally eerie but doesn’t surprise us with any unique quirks that make it more than a one-dimensional creature feature.

/ October 14, 2019

Castle Rock

A compelling plot explores Stephen King’s core themes while creating something truly unique with his mammoth bibliography.

/ December 13, 2018

Demon

Darkly absurd humour, with a deeply unsettling score and cinematography that bolster the portentous atmosphere of dread.

/ May 28, 2018

We Go On

A fascinating central premise strongly evokes The Twilight Zone, the focused script ensuring an insular, intimate atmosphere.

/ February 21, 2017

Under the Shadow

A triumphant debut effort which offers unique tension and poignancy and isn’t afraid to confront uncomfortable cultural realities.

/ January 23, 2017

Blair Witch

Dream team Adam Wingard and Simon Barrett bring an unusually hit-and-miss affair that nevertheless delivers in a frenetic final act.

/ January 23, 2017

Ghost Stories of an Antiquary

Cuts to the core of the horror without ever diluting or compromising M. R. James’ carefully woven plots. Recommended for die-hard enthusiasts.

/ October 21, 2016

Lucifer (TV Series)

Featuring the Devil in his most vanilla of forms, horror fans will be left wanting; Lucifer is disappointingly sparse on strong imagery.

/ October 17, 2016

Some Kind of Hate

Beautifully filmed, with a bleak karmic mantra that makes for a frequently intense viewing experience.

/ May 6, 2016

Curtain

Gleefully absurd, a gonzo sense of humour ensures that Curtain is a disarmingly compelling and bizarro genre gem.

/ March 5, 2016

Backtrack

With a tenuously linked story that lacks supernatural finesse, Backtrack is confused, and a tiresome experience.

/ January 29, 2016

The Messenger

A missed opportunity for exploration of the relationship between mental illness and the supernatural.

/ September 17, 2015

An Evening of Irish Horror

With their ingenious recreations of radio productions from a bygone era, the troupe afford us a glimpse into the past.

/ July 8, 2015

Unhallowed Ground

A wealth of interesting ideas remain undeveloped, while rudimentary direction fails to make the most of the moody location.

/ June 25, 2015

Wake Up, Maggie

An audacious effort that should be given praise for its unrepentant Maggie, portrayed with fearless honesty and confidence.

/ May 29, 2015

The Sleeping Room

At times the film feels rather muddled, but atmospheric tension and taut pacing ensure it remains compelling.

/ May 5, 2015

Afterimages

Serves as a neat, interesting introduction to Asian folklore that allows some playing with storytelling techniques.

/ March 29, 2015

The Haunting of Black Wood

A carefully constructed and deliberately vague set-up that milks every ounce of tension, with twists coming thick and fast.

/ February 2, 2015

FrightFest: The Sleeping Room

A half-baked, ambitious ending, but the film is effectively creepy and satisfyingly lensed, its shocks permeated with a melancholy calm.

/ August 23, 2014

FrightFest: All Cheerleaders Die

Not a bad parody of 90s high-school horror, but its deliberate clichés fall short.

/ August 23, 2014

The Quiet Ones

A script crying for a horror backbone is frustratingly weak for the most part, its tedious jump-scares no substitute.

/ April 10, 2014

Ghost Stories

The promised 'extreme shock and tension' is a baffling assurance; what we have here is far from a true horror production.

/ March 3, 2014

The Complex

Atmospheric and beautifully shot, it may not take any original paths, but should appeal to admirers of Japanese horror cinema.

/ January 6, 2014

My Amityville Horror

My Amityville Horror poses many questions, but by the film’s conclusion, very few have actually been answered.

/ October 23, 2013

Insidious: Chapter 2

Although the plot loses some of its intrigue, Wan superbly distracts us with his talent to make the audience feel constantly unsettled.

/ September 10, 2013

FrightFest: The Paranormal Diaries – Clophill

One hell of a dull time, with nothing other than repetitive speculation to lull one to sleep.

/ August 24, 2013

FrightFest: Haunter

Showcases a great deal of devil in its detail, with a tight-knit, metaphysical framework that may require multiple viewings.

/ August 23, 2013

The Fallow Field

That rarest of films, one that genuinely keeps you guessing to culminate in some palpable tension come the third act.

/ March 11, 2013

The Night Child

As the epitome of seventies B-movie charm, it boasts the strong elements of enjoyable kitsch that one would hope for.

/ December 3, 2012

The Pact

Juxtaposes the supernatural with real-life threat, whilst holding a very strong point in maintenance of mystery.

/ September 27, 2012

A Night in the Woods

A taut atmosphere is effectively created, emphasised by drip-feeding of subplot, with one particular twist genuinely surprising.

/ September 5, 2012

The Possession

The exorcism makes a refreshing change in not being Bible-based, but this is strictly Hollywood horror by numbers.

/ August 31, 2012

Absentia

Will keep you guessing, until all possibilities for explanation are eventually tied together in an excellent balance of subplot.

/ July 9, 2012

Grave Encounters

It's pure pantomime and about a decade too late, but with the lights down and sound up there's fun to be had.

/ July 3, 2012

Seance: The Summoning

Despite the potentially ominous setting, this is a lethargic outing augmented by lifeless direction and a leaden script.

/ July 2, 2012

The Innkeepers

It's only really for specific moments that The Innkeepers very obviously feels like a horror film, yet it is effectively creepy.

/ June 25, 2012

The Amityville Haunting

Cliches abound, as does overkill, while the characters are irritating. And yet, a wound-up tension is impressed without noticing.

/ June 17, 2012

Skew

Found footage is a tricky subgenre to add an original concept to and Skew makes a good attempt. But it's not enough.

/ June 10, 2012

666: The Prophecy

You would almost expect tongue planted firmly in cheek, yet this sagging clod of a movie takes itself quite seriously.

/ June 7, 2012

The House

Visually, there are some good moments, but it's a hotchpotch of story-telling technique, none of which stick.

/ June 3, 2012

A Ghostly Pushover

One week on since fun and games at a paranormal investigation… Perhaps it's safe to talk about it now. Perhaps it's not.

/ April 20, 2012

Cassadaga

Enough strands are left to ponder to deem writers Bruce Wood and Scott Poiley as worthy of keeping an eye on.

/ April 16, 2012

Sometimes They Come Back

A painfully average film, its classic horror status somewhat baffling. Purchase to complete your Stephen King collection.

/ April 9, 2012