Classic English-language horror like William Friedkin’s The Exorcist (1973) and John Carpenter’s Halloween (1978) remain timeless, but exploring outstanding horror films produced outside the English-speaking world opens a far richer and more varied spectrum of fear. From Italian Giallo and Japanese J-horror to the New French Extreme and modern genre work across Europe, Asia and … Read more

This article was written exclusively for The Film Magazine by Paul A. J. Lewis of paul-a-j-lewis.com. Adrian Hoven’s 1973 shock-horror Hexen geschändet und zu Tode gequält (released as Mark of the Devil, Part II; the German title translates as “Witches Violated and Tortured to Death”) exemplifies the brutal, sensational strand of witch-hunt cinema that flourished … Read more

The Prodigy (2019) Director: Nicholas McCarthy Screenwriter: Jeff Buhler Starring: Taylor Schilling, Jackson Robert Scott, Peter Mooney The horror genre has long relied on the unsettling image of a child who is not what they seem, and Nicholas McCarthy’s The Prodigy follows that tradition with a contemporary, character-driven take. This American-Canadian thriller centers on Miles … Read more

Vampires have captivated readers and viewers for over a century. From early literary origins to countless film adaptations, they satisfy our curiosity about immortality and our fascination with a creature that looks human but hungers for blood. On screen, vampires have taken many shapes—terrifying and tragic, seductive and monstrous, heroic and ruthless. This list aims … Read more

For readers familiar with The Film Magazine and this “Movies I Had a Religious/Spiritual Experience With” series, you will know the routine — Spoiler Alert! — and a brief disclaimer: this essay reflects my personal views formed by my life as a Roman Catholic. I do not claim these experiences are exclusive to Catholicism; I … Read more

To Die For (1995) Director: Gus Van Sant Screenwriter: Buck Henry Starring: Nicole Kidman, Matt Dillon, Joaquin Phoenix, Casey Affleck, Illeana Douglas, Alison Folland, Wayne Knight “To Die For” is a sharp, darkly funny examination of ambition, manipulation, and the intoxicating lure of television fame. Directed by Gus Van Sant and adapted by Buck Henry … Read more

The BFI London Film Festival is widely regarded as the UK’s premier film festival. Each year it introduces audiences to award contenders, acclaimed arthouse works, shorts from emerging filmmakers, and standout mainstream releases. The 2020 edition was notably more accessible than previous years, expanding screenings beyond central London to several major UK cities and, for … Read more

On the Rocks (2020) Director: Sofia Coppola Screenwriter: Sofia Coppola Starring: Bill Murray, Rashida Jones, Marlon Wayans, Jessica Henwick, Jenny Slate Sofia Coppola first drew attention with her debut feature, The Virgin Suicides (1999), and secured a distinct filmmaking voice with Lost in Translation (2003). That film brought Coppola wide critical recognition and an Academy … Read more

Get Out (2017) Director: Jordan Peele Screenwriter: Jordan Peele Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, Catherine Keener, Lakeith Stanfield, Caleb Landry Jones, Lil Rel Howery, Betty Gabriel, Marcus Henderson Jordan Peele’s feature debut, Get Out, arrived in 2017 as a landmark blend of psychological thriller and social commentary. The film follows photographer Chris Washington … Read more

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (2020) Director: Jason Woliner Screenwriters: Peter Baynham, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jena Friedman, Anthony Hines, Lee Kern, Dan Mazer, Erica Rivinoja, Dan Swimer Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen, Maria Bakalova Review: Satire, Shock and Sharp Political Commentary Fourteen years after Sacha Baron Cohen’s original Borat introduced the world to a deliberately outrageous fictional journalist … Read more