Category: Reel Steel

The Evil Dead (franchise)

1981 – 2023 Words: Oliver Innocent. – Evil Dead is a franchise built on blood, sweat, tears and determination. Unusual in a series encompassing four (soon to be five) feature films and a three season TV series, the core creative group of director and… Continue Reading “The Evil Dead (franchise)”

Hammer Horror retrospective

Hammer Horror Words: Scott Burns. Founded in 1934, Hammer Films was a genre-film studio specialising in B-movies made with low budgets but impeccable standards. After making successful movies in several genres, mostly lurid thrillers, the studio would become a household name when it produced… Continue Reading “Hammer Horror retrospective”

The Plague of the Zombies

1966 Director: John Gilling Cast: Brook Williams, Andre Morell, Diane Clare, John Carson, Jacqueline Pearce Words – Scott Burns. Hammer’s zombie movie (released two years before George A. Romero and John A. Russo’s Night of the Living Dead) remains a strong contender in the… Continue Reading “The Plague of the Zombies”

The Devil Rides Out

1968 Director: Terence Fisher Cast: Christopher Lee, Nike Arrighi, Patrick Mower, Charles Gray, Paul Eddington, Sarah Lawson, Leon Greene, Patrick Allen Words – Scott Burns. Based on the popular novel by Dennis Wheatley, starring Christopher Lee in a fantastic performance and directed by the… Continue Reading “The Devil Rides Out”

Dracula: Prince of Darkness

1966 Director: Terence Fisher Cast: Christopher Lee, Philip Latham, Barbara Shelley, Charles Tingwell, Francis Matthews, Suzan Farmer, Andrew Keir Words – Scott Burns. After the success of The Brides Of Dracula (1960), which nonetheless disappointed fans because it didn’t feature the title character (only… Continue Reading “Dracula: Prince of Darkness”

The Gorgon

1964 Director: Terence Fisher Cast: Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Prudence Hyman, Barbara Shelley, Michael Goodliffe, Patrick Troughton, Richard Pasco Words – Scott Burns. Featuring Hammer’s first female monster, Terence Fisher’s The Gorgon is a unique and enjoyable monster movie starring both Peter Cushing and… Continue Reading “The Gorgon”

Crimes of the Future

2022 Director: David Cronenberg Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Léa Seydoux, Kristen Stewart, Scott Speedman, Nadia Litz, Tanaya Beatty, Lihi Kornowski, Welket Bungué Words: C. Abbott – “Surgery is the new sex.” A line that feels quintessentially David Cronenberg. It punctuates the very heart of his… Continue Reading “Crimes of the Future”

Dog Soldiers

2002 Director: Neil Marshall Starring: Emma Cleasby, Kevin McKidd, Liam Cunningham, Sean Pertwee Words: Scott Burns. . “Six Men. Full Moon. No Chance.” Making a long-overdue appearance on UK Blu-ray and streaming is Neil Marshall’s lad’s-mag inflected and gore-soaked horror debut Dog Soldiers from… Continue Reading “Dog Soldiers”

Press Eject: The Video Nasties Saga

. Words: Scott Burns.  . The Eighties: Margaret Thatcher, the Falklands War, David Hasselhoff. But what about the good stuff? Well, there was Rik and Ade, Factory Records, the Summer Blockbuster (if, like me, you were of an age in single digits) and films… Continue Reading “Press Eject: The Video Nasties Saga”

Daleks’ Invasion Earth 2150 AD

1966 Director: Gordon Flemyng Words: Scott Burns. The ambitious sequel to 1965’s Dr. Who And The Daleks and based on the popular William Hartnell-era story, The Dalek Invasion Of Earth by Terry Nation, Daleks’ Invasion Earth 2150 AD sees a returning Peter Cushing as… Continue Reading “Daleks’ Invasion Earth 2150 AD”