Category: Discussion Piece

Letterbox Breakdown – Owen Wilson

Post author By Darren Lucas
Post date July 5, 2022
No Comments on Letterbox Breakdown – Owen Wilson

Letterbox Breakdown – Owen Wilson

Studying through the stats on Letterbox, it becomes fascinating to see who has become the most-watched star and whether they should be number one. I am going to be looking through the roles and see if the numbers add up to different roles and importance within the film. Exploring to see who has the most leading roles, supporting roles or just random cameos. Without further ado, let’s explore.

Owen Wilson – 40 Films

Current Rank – 20th

Different Roles

First, I will look at the number of different roles the actor has portrayed.

Number of different roles – 34

Roles in more than one film – 5

Hansel – Zoolander
Lightning McQueen – Cars
Roy O’Bannon – Shanghai Noon/Knights
Kevin – Meet the Parents/Fockers
Jedediah – Night at the Museum 2 & 3

Roles In Film

Second, I will explore the position in the film the star portrayed.

Leading Roles – 9

The leading roles include the three voiceovers for ‘Cars’ and ‘Marmaduke’. Whereas the live-action roles include the action movies ‘Behind Enemy Lines’ and ‘No Escape’. Owen has always been an actor shining in comedy roles, which is clear with the roles in ‘Big Bounce’, ‘Drillbit Taylor’, and ‘Midnight in Paris’.

Co-Star – 14

The Co-Star roles are where we see Owen’s biggest strength, working with others. The movies on this part of the list will show him in the comedy world he so easily shines in.

The Big Year – Jack Black & Steve Martin
The Darjeeling Limited – Jason Schwartzman & Adrien Brody
Father Figures – Ed Helms
Hall Pass – Jason Sudeikis
I-Spy – Eddie Murphy
Life Aquatic – Bill Murray
Marley and Me – Jennifer Aniston
Shanghai Noon/Knights – Jackie Chan
She’s Funny That Way – Imogen Poots & Jennifer Aniston
Starsky & Hutch – Ben Stiller
The Internship – Vince Vaughn
Wedding Crashers – Vince Vaughn
You, Me and Dupree – Matt Dillon & Kate Hudson

Supporting Roles – 6

The supporting roles tend to follow suit with the co-lead roles. Using limited time to get laughs in the movies he is in. he is often found working with the same directors or stars for these roles. The roles include the pair of ‘Zoolander’ movies, ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’, ‘Royal Tenenbaums, ‘Wonder’ and ‘Inherent Vice’.

Small Part of the Film – 3

In the late 90s Owen did work on trying to step out of the comedy roles after his first breakout. This will see him starring in roles where he didn’t make it to the end of the film. ‘Anaconda’, ‘Armageddon’ and ‘The Haunting’.

Cameos – 8

The cameo roles will see Owen return to his closest friends in the industry. Twice teaming up with Ben Stiller ‘Meet the Parents/Fockers’ and ‘Night at the Museum 2 & 3’. While also having a small role in Stiller’s directed movie ‘Cable Guy’. Completing this list is ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ where he was a Wright Brother with his own brother Luke. Returning to work with Wes Anderson in ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ and Woody Harrelson’s strange ‘Lost in London’.

Here is a full breakdown of the amount of roles to the ones I have scene.

The Missing Roles

This is a list of the biggest movies I haven’t yet seen from Owen Wilson.

The French Dispatch
Bottle Rocket
Marry Me
Little Fockers
Masterminds
How Do You Know

The date the stats were looked at – 5^th July 2022

Tags Owen Wilson

Discussion Piece

7 Essential Space Movies to Watch Before Magdalena Lauritsch’s ‘Rubikon’

Post author By Darren Lucas
Post date July 1, 2022
No Comments on 7 Essential Space Movies to Watch Before Magdalena Lauritsch’s ‘Rubikon’

RUBIKON ist eine Produktion von Samsara Filmproduktion und Graf Filmproduktion, hergestellt mit Unterstützung des Österreichischen Filminstituts (ÖFI), des Filmfonds Wien (FFW), des ORF Film/Fernsehabkommens, der FISA (Filmstandort Austria) sowie von der CFC/Land Kärnten.

7 Essential Space Movies to Watch Before Magdalena Lauritsch’s ‘Rubikon’

Rubikon gets released by Signature Entertainment on 11^th July 2022. Following a crew in a space station who must decide whether to risk their lives in returning to Earth. Searching for survivors from a toxic fog that has covered the Earth or stay in the safety of the space station. The full review of Rubikon will be available in a couple of days. With the idea today to suggest a couple of movies you could watch before seeing Rubikon, with the biggest point being about the human confliction of problems faced in space.

Moon

Duncan Jones Moon follows a lone astronaut Sam Bell who is on his stint on the moon base. When he has a quintessentially personal encounter towards the end of his stint. That will make him question everything he knows about the mission he is on. Sam Rockwell is fantastic in this lone role, which will see the bigger life decisions come to his character after the discovery. Which will ask you as well as him the bigger question about why we are doing the things we do.

Sunshine

Danny Boyle’s exceptional Sunshine follows an international team of astronauts that are sent on a mission to restart the dying sun with a nuclear fission bomb. Only for them to come across problems on their journey. In Sunshine the crew will have their own skills, meaning decisions are made on expert opinions over voting. Giving the characters a chance to look at the decisions being made in a way of looking at is the danger worth the reward.

This aspect of the story is by far one of the most interesting sides to this story, as well as having an all star cast in the movie. Including ‘Captain America’ Chris Evans, ‘Bridesmaids’ Rose Byrne, ‘Peaky Blinders’ Cillian Murphy, ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ Michelle Yeoh, ‘The Meg’ Cliff Curtis, ‘Doctor Strange’ Benedict Wong, ‘The Last Samurai’ Hiroyuki Sanada and ‘1917’ Mark Strong.

Pandorum

Christian Alvart’s Pandorum follows two crew members who wake up from hypersleep. Only to find the spaceship off course and nobody waiting to swap with them. Leaving them to figure out what has happened on board, where they are not alone anymore. Pandorum might not put everything down to the pure decision-making process. It will see the people needing to survive, after a disaster has led them to search for a new home, keeping everything human or evolution of humanity based.

High Life

Claire Denis’s High Life follows a father and daughter struggling to survive deep space travel where they live in isolation. After the ship gets put in an unimaginable situation after cosmic rays hit the ship. High Life will look at a different subject to most of the rest. Seeing how deep space travel could be survived with people needing to be able to reproduce in space. If they are to remain awake, with this one diving into the must more horrific side to everything involved with deep space travel.

Life

Daniel Espinosa’s Life follows a team of scientists on the international space station. Discovering a new life form that might have been the cause for extinction on Mars. Which would bring devastation if it ever made it back to Earth. Life is the only movie on this life that will use aliens in the plot, with the only reason it being on the list. Is because of the fact it will be dealing with the human factor of needing to learn about a potential new threat. While also needing to stop it reaching Earth. Putting the scientists into a difficult decision about how far they will let the life form evolve, before it becomes uncontrollable.

Ad Astra

James Gray’s Ad Astra follows an astronaut Roy McBride. Who is given a mission to travel across the Solar System in search of answers about his father’s mission. Who was lost over 30 years ago, only for it to have returned, with a potential threat for the universe. Roy is a very distant human, that shows no emotion. He is a perfect subject for a mission that is about keeping calm and reaching out. It what is one of the most beautiful sci-fi movies of recent years. We get to see this amazing journey across the Solar System. Giving us stunning colouring for each planet and a journey that is about saving the world.

Gravity

Alfonso Cuaron’s Oscar Winning Gravity completes this list. Following the two astronauts who find themselves floating around the Earth must work together to figure out a way to get to safety before their oxygen runs out. Gravity is the ultimate story about surviving. In a place where getting on a ship would be the only solution to this. It is incredibly intense with how the story unfolds. Leaving us on the edge of our seats, waiting to see if they can survive the disaster.

Tags Rubikon

Discussion Piece

Thir13en Ghosts – The Cult Classic Round Up

Post author By Darren Lucas
Post date July 1, 2022
2 Comments on Thir13en Ghosts – The Cult Classic Round Up

The House in Thir13en Ghosts

The House is made of glass with Latin phrases etched onto every wall and floor. This will prevent the ghosts from travelling past them, keeping them contained in the basement. Once the family enters the house, it triggers the machine that moves the walls and opens doors. Releasing the ghosts on the unsuspecting family. The line ‘How do you lose a family in a glass house’ has never felt more satisfying in a movie.

When it comes to set design, you can’t look past how brilliant is. What should be a safe home, turns into a nightmare situation. Having them carry a wall with Latin on it to get past ghosts is a smart idea. Changing how people can defend themselves against ghosts. It is fitting that two of the villainous figures meet their demise thanks to the walls or doors. Leaving the family in a position where they never touch killing anyone. This could have easily been a factor in the story, but not used that way.

The Director

Steve Beck – Steve Beck has an interesting career. Working on the visual effects for ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’, ‘The Abyss’ and ‘The Hunt for Red October’. Before stepping away from that, focusing on directing. Following Thir13en Ghosts with ‘Ghost Ship’. The two movies clearly show his skills in effects and design. While other sides of both movies have their weakness, the ascetics are brilliant.

Returning to the original question. Why do I think this is a modern-day Cult Classic?

When it comes to cult classics, we need to see how big the audience the movie brings. The movie did well at the box office, making $68.5 Million off a surprisingly big budget of $42 Million. Ranking it 60^th in the US Box Office for the year. Around ‘Zoolander’, ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’ and better than ‘Ali’.

When it comes to the visual look of the movie. The ghosts are memorable, most of which could even have their own spin-off movies. Let’s be honest, if it was released today, we would definitely have some spin-offs with these ghosts. The opening sequence shows of destructive the Juggernaut is. Certain ghosts have tragic backstories that could be explored. Sure, some are violent figures, but others have more to give. It would be like ‘The Conjuring Universe’ where the core stories are outstanding. While the spin-offs do the basics of horror without being offensive.

This is a movie that has plenty of horror fans out there. The actors who only appeared in this movie have been given a cult following because of the movie. The relentless pace at which the movie unfolds is a big draw. Everything about this movie knows where it stands in the horror world. It brings you in for an entertaining journey through a twisted mind.

Do you think Thir13en Ghosts is a cult classic?

Discussion Piece

Thir13en Ghosts – The Ghosts

Post author By Darren Lucas
Post date June 30, 2022
No Comments on Thir13en Ghosts – The Ghosts

Thir13en Ghosts – The Ghosts

The ghosts are the major plot point in the film. They are the keys to the bigger picture, each having its own unique appearance to strike up different levels of terror. They are not all evil ghosts, some are disturbing, while others are friendly. It is how you see them to what horrors they bring to you.

The First-Born Son

The First-Born Son has an arrow through his head, the child makes it easy for Bobby to be attracted to play with him. Can appear in any direction, just wanting to play. He is often further away. Never seemingly like a threat when he appears.

The Torso

The Torse is a terrifying figure, dismembered around the home. He will often be used for shock value, because of the image the torse presents. He is begging for help wanting the limbs of victims to come back to life.

The Bound Woman

The Bound Woman is one of the first ghosts we get a glimpse of. Calling for Bobby into the basement. She has been strangled, with maggots on her body, in her hair and over her cuts. Having a contorted movement towards the victims.

The Withered Lover

The Withered Lover is the one pure sole out of the ghosts in the home. The deceased wife of Arthur lost in fire six months before. She will act more as a guide, looking to protect her family from beyond the grave. Proving that not everything we meet in the home is going to be scary.

The Torn Prince

The Torn Prince has been waiting to swing away at his victims. He has been ripped apart, with his flesh hanging off his body and his baseball jacket covering up other parts. Swinging away, he gets the damage done to Dennis once released.

The Angry Princess

The Angry Princess is easily one of the most iconic ghost creations of the era. Naked and scarred, she lurks more than attacks. Involved in the first kill in the house. In what is a nice touch of revenge on the sexist comment she just received from the seedy lawyer. The bathroom scene, with the message of ‘I’m Sorry’ in a bloodstain on the floor shows the chaos she brings.

The Pilgrimess

The Pilgrimess is locked in a pillory making her a wide threat, that is desperate the scratch, claw and bite her victims. It would be easy to compare this ghost to The Jackal, in the era where they came from. It is one of the few ghosts we don’t get too much interaction with.

The Great Child & The Dire Mother

Thir13en Ghosts - The Ghosts The Great Child and Dire Mother

The pair come together, as the overweight adult still gets fed by his tiny mother. Wearing a diaper and eating baby food. It is almost like she never let him grow up. More of a disturbing image, rather than a bigger threat as ghosts.

The Hammer

The Hammer is the killer covered in spikes, almost like he has put them in himself after his kills. He will torment from behind the glass, creating jump scares to show how the glasses work for Maggie. A massive figure that would strike fear in anybody who comes across him. Every strike with his massive hammer creates a massive electrical flash moment.

The Jackal

The Jackal is one of the most ferocious ghosts. Ravaging anyone it manages to capture in a frenzied attack. One of the ghosts Dennis doesn’t want to get near. He will unleash a terrifying attack on Kathy, leaving her injured, screaming and terrified.

The Juggernaut

The Juggernaut is the last captured ghost, the 12^th ghost. A serial killer that never stopped killing after his death. Haunting a junkyard, he kills with ease, with an imposing presence. The character looks a lot like Frankenstein’s monster, only more menacing.

The director’s commentary has created deeper backstories for Thir13en Ghosts – The Ghosts. One that would have been interesting to learn more about, if this ever got remade.

In the final part, I will be looking at the other factors that could make this a cult classic

Discussion Piece

Thir13en Ghosts – The Cast

Post author By Darren Lucas
Post date June 29, 2022
No Comments on Thir13en Ghosts – The Cast

Thir13en Ghosts – The Modern Cult Classic – Part One – The Cast

Thir13en Ghosts was a remake of William Castle’s 1960, 13 Ghosts. It follows a family who inherits a home from a relative, only to find out it is haunted by 13 ghosts. The movie went on to receive terrible ratings from critics. MetaCritic score of 30 and Rotten Tomatoes score of 17% of 94 reviews. The audience was only a little kinder with a solid 48% and IMDB gets an average of 5.6 of 87,000.

The legendary Robert Ebert is quoted with this. ‘The Experience of watching the film is literally painful. It hurts the eyes and ears.’

So, why do I think this is a cult classic?

Thir13en Ghosts Cast

Tony Shalhoub – Arthur

Arthur is the grieving widow that is struggling to hold everything together for the family. He is doing his best, which is seeing him struggling to control his temper at times. The opportunity to have a new home from his uncle is too big of an opportunity to turn down. It would be best for his family, and he will have to fight for them.

Tony Shalhoub has always been a big character actor. In the aftermath of this movie, he went on to star in his biggest TV show, Monk. He has always had a strong career, and nothing changed for the star of the movie.

Shannon Elizabeth – Kathy

Kathy is the daughter of Arthur, taking up more responsibility around the home after her mother’s death. She is craving some more independence, which has become difficult for the whole family. It is hard to work out this character’s age because of Elizabeth playing the role. Her look makes her look like someone in their early twenties, but she could easily still be a teenager, with how she is treated at times.

Shannon at the time was fresh off ‘American Pie’ at that infamous scene and had recently done the parody Scream movie ‘Scary Movie’. She has moved away from too many roles, focusing more on her animal and environmental activist side of life now.

Embeth Davidtz – Kalina Oretzia

Kalina has been fighting against Cyrus throughout his whole hunt. She has lost her partner in the battle, leading to her looking to end his horrors tonight. Guiding Arthur through the home, she has a secret left to reveal. One that doesn’t seem to make as much sense in the bigger side of the movie.

Embeth has always had a strong career, from ‘Army of Darkness’ to ‘Bicentennial Man’. She did slow down after this movie, which seems like it was more to do with starting her family.

Matthew Lillard – Dennis Rafkin

Dennis has been working with Cyrus, helping him locate ghosts with his psychic abilities. Anything or anyone he touches can give away the story of their lives. He must take medication to make it through the day because of the side effects. Searching for his money, he ends up helping Arthur make it out of the house alive.

Matthew had already made a big impact in ‘Scream’ and a string of movies through the late 1990s. Ironically Lillard would go on to play Shaggy Rogers in the ‘Scooby-Doo’ movies and voice the iconic character once Casey Kasem retired. I say ironically because in 1985, ‘The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo’ aired, bringing everything full circle. Matthew continued to have a long career-changing how people saw him with the more mature performances on TV. With every Scream release, he gets plenty of attention too.

Rah Digga – Maggie Bess

Maggie is the live-in helper childminder for the youngest member of the house Bobby. She is nonsense when it comes to problems and has become close to Bobby after the tragedy the family suffered.

Sadly, the hip-hop star never seemed to return to the big screen until an upcoming project ‘Stars’. This is in post-production according to the IMDB.

F. Murray Abraham – Cyrus

Cyrus is the estranged uncle that has collected the twelve ghosts. He created the home for them to be contained in but died in the last hunt. It is his fortune, that the family thinks they are receiving. Only he has played the trick on the world, faking his death for his evil play.

F Murray Abraham is the Oscar winner for ‘Amadeus’ in 1985. Being a character actor, he has had an amazing career. Still going strong too. He was the biggest draw for the movie. The film uses his status to help unfold the surprise factor of his early death.

JR Bourne – Benjamin Moss

Benjamin is the lawyer that brings the family to the home. He knows the payday this will offer him, being the typical seedy lawyer type. Once he dumps the family in the home, he looks to make a quick exit via the money. Slipping past the ghosts, making sly comments about each one. Including the Angry Princess, who gets released, seeing try and back up his comments. He will have the biggest death in the film, as a door slices him clean in half.

JR Bourne has gone on to have a successful career, most recently sticking more to TV. he has always been a reliable actor for the type of role he takes on in this film.

Alec Roberts – Bobby

Bobby is the youngest member of the family. Put in the massive house, he can’t help but want to explore. He is drawn to the basement by the ghosts and his fascination with ghosts is even scarier. The rest of the adults spend most of the movie searching for him. As he gets a first-hand encounter with some of the scariest images of the ghosts, The Torse. Alec Roberts chose to step away from acting after this movie to focus on his education.

That completes the Thir13en Ghosts Cast. Part two will be looking at the ghosts

Discussion Piece

Deathwatch 20 Years Later

Post author By Darren Lucas
Post date June 26, 2022
No Comments on Deathwatch 20 Years Later

Deathwatch 20 Years Later

M.J. Bassett’s directorial debut Deathwatch was released in 2002. This British war horror movie follows nine soldiers. Coming across a seemingly abandoned German trench. As the unit looks to make the trench easier to defend, they start seeing unusual events in the trench. Nothing quite adds up for the unit. The horrors are waiting for them as time goes by. This is one of my favourite horror movies I remember finding in a Blockbuster. Picking to watch because of one cast member, Kris Marshall (we will get to why later).

What happened to the cast and crew behind Deathwatch?

Director – M.J. Bassett

MJ Bassett has gone on to have a successful career behind the camera. She Followed up Deathwatch with ‘Wilderness’, ‘Solomon Kane’ and ‘Silent Hill: Revelation’. She moved into TV with popular shows including ‘Ash vs Evil Dead’, ‘Strike Back’, ‘Power’ and ‘Altered Carbon’. Recently she has returned to movies. ‘Inside Man: Most Wanted’, Megan Fox led ‘Rogue’ and Rebecca Romijn led ‘Endangered Species’. The latter of the two, returning to her roots as a natural photographer. According to IMDB, her latest project is a ‘Red Sonja’ movie, something we will be looking forward to.

The Cast

The cast is filled with a host of British actors, but we have one German on board in the movie. Let’s see where these stars have gone with their careers.

Torben Liebrecht – Friedrich

Friedrich is the captured German soldier who has been through the horrors already. Being captive by the English soldiers, he knows the outcome if they can’t escape. Torben has gone on to have a successful career in German and reteamed with MJ in ‘Altered Carbon’. Torben also won a Screen Award for his role in ‘X Company’ in 2016.

Jamie Bell – Charlie Shakespeare

Charlie Shakespeare is the youngest member of the unit. Lying about his age to be part of the war. He is the character that keeps his pure and innocent side during the horrors. Trying to make sure they stay together during the events. Jamie Bell was fresh off the BAFTA win for ‘Billy Elliot’ when taking this role. Remaining a constant talent for his whole career. Earning himself a second BAFTA nomination for ‘Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool. His upcoming project will see him playing Fred Astaire in ‘Fred & Ginger’.

Rúaidhrí Conroy – Private Chevasse

Chevasse is injured before they reach the trench. The medics are not hopeful for him, seeing him getting a shocking moment later in the film. He might not have had as busy of a career as other members of the cast. ‘The Professor and the Madman’ is his outing in 2019.

Laurence Fox – Captain Bramwell Jennings

Jennings is the highest-ranking officer in the unit. He is trying to maintain control of the soldiers, who are starting to move away from his orders. Laurence made a reputation for playing the stuck-up English man, a figure from wealth. ‘The Hole’ and ‘Gosford Park’ showed this up. Recently he has become a controversial figure in the British media. His behaviour has made plenty of people dislike him and that has been reflected in his career slowing down in recent years.

Dean Lennox Kelly – Private Willis McNess

McNess is one of the soldiers’ given orders. He supports Charlie through his struggles but only seems to be part of the background of the bigger story. Dean has gone on to have a successful TV career, on both sides of the pond. His latest bigger named show ‘Jamestown’ is the one that stands out the most.

Kris Marshall – Private Barry Starinski

Starinksi is just another soldier, here to get the job done and go home. He is the first one killed, showing the horrors attacking during the night. As previously mentioned, it was Kris Marshall that drew me to the movie. Having been a massive fan of ‘My Family’ I was interested in seeing how he handled horror. Kris was trying to shake the goofball role that the show had given him. He never managed to break out to the levels many had hoped for in movies. He did return to the BBC with ‘Death in Paradise’ and most famously the BT adverts that went on for years.

Hans Matheson – Private Hawkstone

Hawkstone, like many of the soldiers in the movie, doesn’t get much else than to be a number. Hans had an impressive 2002. Appearing in the leading role of Yury Zhivago in the ‘Doctor Zhivago’ miniseries opposite Keira Knightley and Sam Neill. He went on to have a shorter career, with the short-lived western TV series ‘Jericho’. Being his last outing, stepping away from the spotlight.

Hugh O’Conor – Anthony Bradford

Bradford is the radio expert, trying to find a connection for support. Unlike the other soldiers, his nightmares take him in a different direction in the movie. Hugh always managed to find roles after Deathwatch. Even if he did fall into the reliable supporting actor roles, through TV and film. His latest appearance was as Dr Kevin in ‘Smother’.

Matthew Rhys – Corporal Doc Fairweather

Doc is trying to help Chevasse remain comfortable. He knows time is ticking for the young man and morphine is running low. Matthew didn’t take too long before he got a big break. In 2006 he appeared in the TV show ‘Brothers & Sisters’ for over 100 episodes. Following that up with ‘The Americans’. The leading role in ‘A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood’ got heads turning for a big-screen career. An Upcoming ‘Gremlins: Secret of the Mogwai’ TV series will be interesting to see. With his career keeping him very busy on our TV screens.

Hugh Speer – Sergeant David Tate

Tate sees the dangers they are facing. Wanting to keep the men safe, he will conflict with Jennings and Quinn. Leading to the big showdown between the three. Hugh had already been a part of a major British film in ‘The Full Monty’. He will be returning for the 2022 miniseries too. Elsewhere he has had a strong career in TV, where he would become a household face for the British public.

Andy Serkis – Private Thomas Quinn

Quinn is the hothead of the group. He loses patience the quickest and will kill prisoners. Almost enjoys his role as a soldier. Fittingly his character will get the most horrific death in the movie. Where do we start with Andy Serkis though? The actor-director has become the biggest named star of this movie. Even in the last year, he directed ‘Venom Let There Be Carnage’ and starred in ‘The Batman’. He has also appeared in the ‘Lord of the Rings’, ‘Planet of the Apes’, ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ franchises. Andy Serkis became a global superstar and anyone looking to check out his earlier roles will find Deathwatch.

Tags Deathwatch

Discussion Piece

12 Hidden Gems from the First Half of 2022

Post author By Darren Lucas
Post date June 22, 2022
No Comments on 12 Hidden Gems from the First Half of 2022

12 Hidden Gems in the First Half of 2022

2022 has seen the cinemas come back stronger than ever. Top Gun Maverick, Jurassic World Dominion, Everything Everywhere All At Once, to mention a few. Like every year, we hear about the most popular films, the ones that get the full cinema release. We also get to learn about the special movies that might have been missed. This is that list of Hidden Gems from the first half of the year.

This is not a ranking, only a list of the hidden gems that you might have missed.

Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes

Junta Yamoaguchi brings us a time travelling single shot sci-fi comedy. In the movie we get to see how a café owner discovers the TV in his café starts showing two minutes into the future. Before long the group have set up a system to see how far they can push things. As we see a string of events happen, in what is one of the most creative movies of the year.

The Policeman’s Lineage

Kyu-maan Lee’s The Policeman’s Lineage is a crime drama from South Korea. We follow a young police officer that is pushed into helping internal affairs investigate a respect detective. The same detective that once worked with his father. We are taken into the criminal world of fine lines. Between the police and criminals that are being set up to keep their lives financed. A thriller that will keep you guessing throughout. we are left to see whether the young officer will uncover the truth, or learn more about his father.

The Cellar

Brendan Muldowney’s The Cellar is horror film that went to Shudder. The movie follows a couple that get a new home only for their daughter to vanish. Leading the mother down a path searching for answers as to what is happening around the home. Filled with plenty of scare, nerve shredding tension and an ending that will leave you shocked. The Cellar is one of the best horrors of 2022.

Night’s End

Jennifer Reeder’s Night’s End is a horror movie with a twist. We get to follow an anxious shut-in that starts to believe his apartment is haunted. Turning to friends and experts for advice, with no way of escaping the terror he is going through. Night’s End is a clever twist on making an effective horror during the pandemic era. With every other performance including Michael Shannon, being through webcams.

Gatlopp: Hell of a Game

Alberto Belli’s Gatlopp is a horror comedy, channelling the likes of Jumanji. It follows four friends that come together after years apart for a board game night. The board game Gatlopp, that will test the friendship to help cure the problems they are all facing in life. Kept in a comical tone, the games are deadly and unique. Bringing a fresh approach to this needing to get on with life discussion people go through.

Beyond Existence

Schuman Hoque’s Beyond Existence is a sci-fi thriller. This movie will follow a government agent who finds herself getting caught up in the middle of a great problem. Gathering the information to make things become clearer for her. In what is more of a thinking sci-fi thriller. It will leave you surprised with how it all ends.

Yes Man

Daniel Glenn-Barbour’s Yes Man is a raw crime drama follows a young man caught between worlds. One which will give him a chance to escape, the other that will see him either dead or in jail. The movie will show the struggles living in London will create when stuck in a circle of crime. How trapped the people can feel and become, when the gang mentally around them will drive them down the wrong paths.

Heart Parade

Filip Zylber’s Heart Parade is a Polish romantic comedy. Following a career driven woman who loses her job and relationship. Wanting to rebuild her reputation with a story about dachshund competition. This will see her meet somebody new, someone who will give her new hope about her future. A new love and understand for life, take it slow and you will enjoy yourself. Not being the biggest fan of romantic comedies, this is one that made me laugh along with the love story.

A Violent Man

Ross McCall’s A Violent Man follows a dangerous prisoner looking for redemption. A man that finds himself with a new younger gang member cellmate and an estranged daughter that finally wants to meet him. This drama will show the redemption that prisoners might go through inside. Using their guidance to help people find navigate the prison system. Looking to pass on his lessons to his young cellmate. When you see the cast includes Craig Fairbrass, you would expect to see a more violent driven movie. This does hold back everything in the movie.

Last Radio Call

Isaac Rodriguez’s Last Radio Call is a found footage movie. Following a wife searching for answers about what happened to her husband. In a world where we have too many found footage movies. The idea we have one that makes sense to keep recording. We have a story that will keep us wanting to learn the truth, a truth that will shock and surprise you. There are some excellent scares in the movie, using the found footage methods to its advantage.

I Am Zlatan

Jens Sjogren’s I Am Zlatan follows the early career of one of the most famous iconic footballers of all time Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Being a football fan, learning about the hardship, commitment and life problems Zlatan went through. Makes this a massively entertaining interesting story. One you want to learn more about, as we only follow up to his Ajax days. If you are a football fan, you will get great enjoyment out of this movie.

Love You Anyway

Anna Matz’s Love You Anyway follows two lifelong friends as they deal with growing up and adult struggles. This emotional drama shows us the effect of losing something in life can have on people. How depression can take over, controlling your life without knowing who to turn to. Shot in what is like a found footage form, highlighting the biggest moments of the lives of the characters. One of the most authentic life dramas of the year. This is one of the movies that jumped into my top 5 for the year.

What are you Hidden Gems of 2022 so far?

Discussion Piece

Thor Love and Thunder cast’s Early Roles

Post author By Darren Lucas
Post date June 20, 2022
No Comments on Thor Love and Thunder cast’s Early Roles

Thor Love and Thunder cast’s Early Roles

Thor Love and Thunder is hitting the cinemas in a couple of weeks. The fourth outing for Thor, excluding the Avengers appearances. Plenty has been kept under wraps with this movie. Thor is looking to escape the superhero world, after pacing over the leadership to Valkyrie. Jane Foster is back and with a new twist and we have Gorr the God Butcher is the villain.

Like the previous posts on early career movies. We are going to look through some of the lesser-known movies of the star’s careers.

Chris Hemsworth – A Perfect Getaway

Chris Hemsworth is another Home and Away alumnus who didn’t take long to jump into major franchises. First Star Trek before, Thor, it didn’t take long for him to reach super stardom. One of the very few early roles before his big break, is in fact one of my favourite movies. A Perfect Getaway follows two couples that will spend the Hawaii vacation together. Only one has plans for the other. Hemsworth is a couple they pass by, only a small cameo like performance.

Natalie Portman – Beautiful Girls

Natalie Portman made a major impact with her first role in Leon: The Professional. A supporting role in Michael Mann’s Heat followed that up. The first one that I personally haven’t heard of is ‘Beautiful Girls’. The film follows a group of friends meeting back together in their own hometown. Where they find love with the beautiful girls in the town. Portman is one of the daughters of the characters.

Christian Bale – Mio in the Land of Faraway

Christian Bale, like Natalie Portman, got a major role early on, Empire of the Sun. also in 1987, Bale starred in this fantasy adventure movie, as the character Jum-Jum. What looks like a fun fantasy adventure that would fit in perfectly in the era. It feels like one that would be worth checking out to complete the Bale back filmography.

Tessa Thompson – Mississippi Damned

Tessa Thompson made a major impact in Thor Ragnarok. Being one of the best additions to the franchise, with laughs and action. When a Stranger Calls remake was her first movie, a horror that many people get to insult. The one that looks most interesting from her early career roles, is Mississippi Damned. This powerful drama looks at three black families that go through a cycle of abuse, addition and violence. One film that will show the stronger performance from the then young Thompson.

Jaimie Alexander – Squirrel Trap

Jaimie Alexander was one of the biggest misses in Thor Ragnarok. She is returning back to the films this time around. Jaimie did star in the first two movies in a fun supporting position, but it was her role in TV’s Blindspot that gave her more attention. It was back in 2004 when she got her first film role. In a low budget romantic comedy Squirrel Trap, one that I couldn’t even find a trailer too. The few snippets I could locate, show her to be seductive like character.

Russell Crowe – Prisoners of the Sun

Russell went on to be an Oscar winner actor and will be joining Thor as Zeus. Back in 1990 he got a supporting role in this movie. Showing the horrendous condition soldiers were put through during war. It is funny that the later productions of the poster, have put Russell front and centre in the movie. When the original trailer doesn’t even mention his character.

Which Thor Love and Thunder actors would you like to see the early films from?

Tags Thor Love and Thunder

Discussion Piece

Scott Derrickson’s 6 Best Horror Moments

Post author By Darren Lucas
Post date June 15, 2022
No Comments on Scott Derrickson’s 6 Best Horror Moments

Scott Derrickson latest movie The Black Phone is coming to cinemas, returning Scott Derrickson to his horror roots. The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Hellraiser: Inferno, Sinister and Deliver Us from Evil to his name already. It seems like a good idea to dive into these films and see which moments have scared us most through the years. Before The Black Phone is joining the ranks.

This is not a ranking order, only Six occasions it has happened.

Emily’s College Dorm Room Incident – The Exorcism of Emily Rose

Emily has started her college experience, finding herself alone in her dorm. She wakes up during the night to a strange smell, exploring the hallway. Returning to her room, Emily finds herself pinned down by an unseen force. The experience is a nightmare for anyone, but seeing how the courtroom turns into a medical condition. Only brings extra pain to everything we see.

The Zoo – Deliver Us from Evil

Detective Sarchie (Eric Bana) investigates an incident at the zoo, with his partner Butler (Joel McHale). They are searching an empty zoo at night, with no lights. Where they first find a woman involved frantically digging. Before a stranger in a lion’s enclosure is wanted for questioning. Sarchie looks to get in the enclosure. Only to find himself being approached by the two lions. Needing to remain calm to make it out of the deadly situation.

Videos – Sinister

When author Ellison Oswalt (Ethan Hawke) moves his family into a new home. He is looking to solve a local murder and disappearance for his latest book. Ellison finds a box of super 8 videos in the attic and as he watches through them. He sees a string of murders, each one just as horrific as the next one. Which is scary enough, but once Ellison finds the Bughuul figure in one. He starts searching for it in each one, until the sudden jump scary of the head turning to see him through the screen. What makes this moment so great, is the fact that we see it. Ellison doesn’t, giving us a major jump while the character isn’t affected by this moment.

The Visitor in the Mirror – Deliver Us from Evil

Sarchie is now fully investigating the case, with priest Mendoza (Edgar Ramirez). He has a strange encounter and returns home for family time. Where he looks to check on his daughter who had been screaming to sleep. Sarchie checks around the room, before looking up in the mirror. Only to see the figure they are hunting lurking over his daughter’s bed. This is a quick jump scare, but comes out of nowhere, leaving Sarchie shaken.

Visitors – Sinister

Ellison continuing deeper into his project gets a horrific shock from the last video. Searching around his home for a noise he hears. As he searches, we see the ghosts of the missing children lurking behind him. In a way that he would never have seen, but clearly right behind him, moving next to him. All this leading up to a terrifying vision of his daughter staring at one to keep quiet.

Christina’s Night Visit – Deliver Us from Evil

Christina is Sarchie’s young daughter who has been having trouble sleeping due to a scratching being heard. One night she will see her favourite owl toy roll towards the bed, the jack in the box setting off. Leading her to go screaming out of her room, finding the shadowy figure waiting at the end of the hall. Not her father, or mother, the protectors she normally finds.

What are your favourite Scott Derrickson horror moments?

Tags Horror