Jojo Rabbit (2019) Director: Taika Waititi Screenwriter: Taika Waititi Starring: Roman Griffin Davis, Thomasin McKenzie, Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson, Taika Waititi, Rebel Wilson, Stephen Merchant, Alfie Allen, Archie Yates Taika Waititi’s Jojo Rabbit is a daring satirical take on Nazi Germany that manages to blend sharp comedy with genuine emotional weight. Satire in film has … Read more
Doctor Sleep (2019) Director: Mike Flanagan Screenwriter: Mike Flanagan Starring: Ewan McGregor, Rebecca Ferguson, Kyliegh Curran, Cliff Curtis, Zahn McClarnon, Emily Alyn Lind Mike Flanagan’s Doctor Sleep arrives as a unique cinematic attempt to reconcile two powerful influences: Stephen King’s novel and Stanley Kubrick’s enduring film adaptation of The Shining. Where King’s book revisits the … Read more
This review was written by Holly Weaver and originally published at Screen Queens. The Aeronauts (2019) — Review Director: Tom Harper Screenwriter: Jack Thorne Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Himesh Patel Tom Harper’s biographical adventure film The Aeronauts opens with the candid disclaimer “inspired by true events,” and that framing prepares the viewer for a … Read more
The nominees for the 2019 British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs) were revealed on Wednesday 30 October 2019. Armando Iannucci’s The Personal History of David Copperfield, starring Dev Patel, led the pack with 11 nominations. Other highly nominated British independent films included Tom Harper’s Jessie Buckley-led musical drama Wild Rose, Peter Strickland’s In Fabric, and Joanna … Read more
This review was originally published at SSP Thinks Film by Sam Sewell-Peterson. The Shining (1980) Director: Stanley Kubrick Screenwriters: Stanley Kubrick, Diane Johnson Starring: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is one of the most instantly recognizable films in modern horror. Images from the movie — the Grady twins in their … Read more
Sorry We Missed You (2019) Director: Ken Loach Screenwriter: Paul Laverty Starring: Kris Hitchen, Debbie Honeywood, Katie Proctor, Rhys Stone Ken Loach returns with a deeply felt, unflinching drama that examines the human cost of the modern gig economy. The director, known for landmark films such as Kes (1969) and I, Daniel Blake (2016), once … Read more
Sitting down with your family to play a board game is rarely associated with horror. While a heated game of Monopoly might sour relationships, most tabletop games don’t inspire genuine fear. Yet some household items — seemingly harmless toys, tapes, or books — have become iconic sources of dread in horror cinema, tapping into a … Read more
Countdown (2019) Director: Justin Dec Screenwriter: Justin Dec Starring: Elizabeth Lail, Jordan Calloway, Talitha Bateman, Tichina Arnold Countdown is a contemporary horror-thriller built around a single high-concept idea: a smartphone app that tells you exactly when you will die. The film follows a young nurse who downloads the app and discovers a countdown to her … Read more
The Lighthouse (2019) Director: Robert Eggers Screenwriter: Robert Eggers, Max Eggers Starring: Willem Dafoe, Robert Pattinson, Valeria Karaman Few films sustain their atmosphere from the opening shot through the final frame the way this one does. Robert Eggers’s The Lighthouse is a meticulously crafted piece of psychological horror that thrives on tension, mood, and a … Read more
What would a film be without its characters? Whether they take the lead or remain in the background quietly supporting a great story, characters are the backbone of every movie. When we meet someone new in real life, we often form an impression of their personality from that first encounter—first impressions matter. The introduction to … Read more