New Empress review: The Selfish Giant (Clio Barnard, 2013)

My first review of 2014 for New Empress is of Clio Barnard's The Selfish Giant. Released on DVD/Blu-ray on Monday 27th January, Barnard's second full length feature ranked as one of my favourite movies of 2013. To read my thoughts on the film, click on the link below.

New Empress: The Selfish Giant

Five more British movies about wayward teens:

Kes

Fish Tank

Scum

Made in Britain

Bronco Bullfrog

Hell is a Teenage Girl

The latest theme over at Electric Sheep is 'Daughters of Darkness', inspired by the BFI's lengthy Gothic season. Having written a monograph on Brian De Palma's Carrie for Auteur Publishing's Devil's Advocates series, I thought it would be fun to look at similar movies centering on violent adolescent females. The resulting piece, Hell is a Teenage Girl, features Poison Ivy, Ginger Snaps, Teeth and The Loved Ones among many others and can be read by clicking on the link below.

Electric Sheep: Hell is a Teenage Girl

Daughters of Darkness: 5 movies with deadly adolescent females:

Teeth

Jennifer's Body

Tamara

Suburban Mayhem

All the Boys Love Mandy Lane

Flicks and the City review: The Dark Angel

With the BFI's excellent Gothic season in full flow, I take a look at Peter Hammond's 1989 adaptation of J. Sheridan le Fanu's novel Uncle Silas. Renamed The Dark Angel, and starring the late, great Peter O'Toole, this three part BBC series is well worth seeking out for both its performances and Hammond's wild take on le Fanu's Gothic thriller. Read my review for Flicks and the City by clicking on the link below.

Flicks and the City: The Dark Angel

Letterboxd - all the films I watch in 2014

So, I've returned to using Letterboxd, mainly to keep a track of all the films I watch in 2014. If you want to see what I've been watching, then follow me here - 

Letterboxd: My profile

Flicks and the City review: You're Next

My first review of the new year is of Adam Wingard's terrific home invasion horror movie, You're Next. Starring former home and away regular Sharni Vinson, and featuring Ti West, Larry Fessenden and Joe Swanberg, Wingard's latest shocker is well worth seeking out.

Click on the link below to read my thoughts on it for Flicks and the City.

Flicks and the City: You're Next

Explore: Five more home invasion movies worth your time:

Funny Games

The Strangers

Ils (Them)

Mother's Day

A L'interieur (Inside)

My favourite films of 2013.

OK, 2013 has been and gone and it was a pretty good year for film-goers of all persuasions. Here's my favourite ten movies, in no particular order.

You're Next - Adam Wingard, USA, 95 minutes, horror

Bullhead - Michael R. Roskam, BEL, 128 minutes, drama  

After Lucia - Michel Franco, MEX, 103 minutes, drama

Sleep Tight - Juame Balaguero, SPA, 108 minutes, horror

The Selfish Giant - Clio Barnard, UK, 91 minutes, social realism

The Great Beauty - Paolo Sorrentino, ITA, 150 minutes, drama

Gravity - Alfonso Cuaron, USA, 91 minutes, science fiction

Simon Killer - Antonio Campos, USA/FRA, 101 minutes, drama

Beyond the Hills - Cristian Mungiu, ROM/FRA/BEL, 150 minutes, drama

Neighbouring Sounds -  Kleber Mendonca Filho, BRA, 131 minutes, thriller

Also worthy of mention are - 

Jiro Dreams of Sushi, Post Tenebras Lux, The Act of Killing, The Conjuring, Robot & Frank, Gimme the Loot, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire  and What Richard Did.

Last but not least, Gareth Evans' 'Safe Haven' section of V/H/S 2 is an absolutely astonishing slice of film-making.

Oh yes, the films that underwhelmed or annoyed - 

The Spirit of '45

After Earth

Only God Forgives

Olympus Has Fallen