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JUST ANOTHER FILM REVIEW
I adore films. Whether that be a black and white silent classic or a popcorn fuelled blockbuster I am at my happiest when escaping into the worlds that only films can create. This blog allows me to go on a journey of film discovery and although there will be good and bad times along the way it is an adventure that I hope you will join me on. I don't take myself too seriously, you shouldn't either. - Robert Hay
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Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000)
The Blair Witch Project (1999) is a classic of horror, even if it is a bit of a marmite film. While not the first of the genre, it really pushed found footage into the mainstream as a genre that can be successfully both commercially and critically, and it remains one of the greatest box offices successes of all time. So is it all that surprising that the studio would want to push out a sequel as quickly as possible in order to capitalise on the hype and success of the first f
Resurrection (2025)
This week I finally managed to get myself to watch Bi Gan’s Resurrection (2025) which I have wanted to see for a while but for one reason or another I didn’t get round to. Why did I want to see it? I couldn’t tell you. I hadn’t seen a trailer for it, nor read the synopsis. All I knew was that it was long and in Mandarin. If anything got me in the cinema it was the poster, showing you the power of marketing. But again, I went into a film completely blind, and once again it was
28 Years Later (2025)
Danny Boyle is a director not short of classic films, and 28 Days Later (2002) is up there with his best. I was also a fan of 28 Weeks Later (2007) which, while it did not hit the heights of its predecessor, had a lot to like. So, I was excited when a new addition to the series was announced. Not excited enough to actually get my arse up and watch it when it was in cinemas, but you know, still excited. Well, in the time since 28 Years Later (2025) was released (and its seque
Dead Man’s Wire (2025)
Gus Van Sant, a director whose name lives in my brain despite having only seen 3 of his films (including today’s) likely because it is just cool sounding. And while I absolutely love Good Will Hunting (1997) the only other film of his I had previously seen was Drugstore Cowboy (1989) so my knowledge of him is not great. Pair that with the fact that I knew almost nothing about Dead Man’s Wire (2025) going in and it meant that I didn’t not what to expect when I took my char in
Lady Snowblood (1973)
I keep telling myself I won’t only review Japanese films, but that’s basically all I watch so it leaves me little choice. Also, when I enjoy films as much as I enjoyed Lady Snowblood (1973) I’m going to want to talk about it. And I am glad that I enjoyed it because I have had it on my watchlist for a long, long time. Acting as one of the primary inspirations for the Kill Bill films, Lady Snowblood follows Yuki Kashima (Meiko Kaji), a young woman who has been trained from birt
A Pale View of Hills (2025)
When getting back into writing these reviews, I could have quite easily imagined my first two Tuesday reviews would have been of Japanese films. After all, these are my free for all reviews whereas my Friday ones are for new releases. Anyway, here’s my second Friday review and the second time focusing on a Japanese film. This time it is Kei Ishikawa’s A Pale View of Hills (2025) . Based on the book of the same name, the film tells the story of Etsuko, played by both Suzu Hiro
Escape from New York (1981)
John Carpenter being called a master of horror, while correct, always feels a little reductive. While his two most famous films are masterpieces of that genre, he is a director who has the ability to mix it up in other genres with a great deal of success as well. And if that is the case, would it be more apt to just call him a master filmmaker? Escape from New York (1981) is an example that supports this way of thinking. This is an action film set in a dystopian future (or at
Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme
The Japan Foundation’s Touring Film Programme recently finished up in Manchester, and I was lucky enough to get myself along to three screenings throughout the season. Each of the films I watched were vastly different, ranging from comedic action to classic J-horror to off-beat dramas. While none of them are technically new releases, and I am going to try and reserve this slot for reviews of new films, while it is my first one back I thought I would treat you to three short r
Plan 9 From Outer Space (1957)
If you were to look up the best ‘so bad they’re good’ film, then Ed Wood’s Plan 9 From Outer Space (1957) will likely always be one of the first to pop up. A film that is infamous for its low quality, it has become somewhat of a cult classic, even being somewhat immortalised by Tim Burton in his film, Ed Wood (1994) . I have been aware of the film for several years and have been meaning to watch it out of some morbid curiosity. I have also seen some of the other classic films
Day 31: Godzilla Ranked
We are at the end of the journey through all thirty live action Godzilla films. We laughed, we cried (not really), but we had a good time the whole way. And so, we come to the rankings. Before getting into this I do want to say, there is only one of those films that I actively dislike, and the vast majority of them I enjoyed overall despite any issues that may or may not have existed within them. I have enjoyed watching all of these and I have found a few films that I will de
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