Joe Bloggs About Films

The latest addition to the 'Knives Out' series brings more murder and satire, as Benoit Blanc looks to unravel his most difficult case to date in 'Wake Up Dead Man' - and it's a blast. I'm a big fan of Rian Johnson's murder mysteries. They are a wonderfully fresh, modern take on the classic whodunnit. Setting themselves apart apart with a distinctive tone, blending sharp humour and a touch of iron...

Guillermo del Toro has a singular vision and voice. Each of his films feel distinct, seamlessly blending beauty with horror, which is why he’s become such an esteemed filmmaker. Naturally, I was eager to see what he would do with the classic 'Frankenstein' - and, as expected, the result is something truly special. It’s clear this was a true passion project for the director - you can feel that love...

Edgar Wright returns with his adaptation of Stephen Kings explosive dystopian tale; 'The Running Man'. It goes without saying that, like many, I’m a huge fan of Wright and his filmography. His style and techniques are among my favourites in contemporary filmmaking: the punchy zooms, the energetic swish pans, and the way he interweaves music with visuals all stand out as signature elements that ele...

There's always a question mark when a film suggests it was 'inspired by true events' as to which parts were actually true. Then there's a film and story such as Derek Cianfrance's 'Roofman' in which the true story sounds more like the work of fiction... It's surreal, but most definitely true. Following the story of Jeffrey Manchester, aka Roofman, a chap who robbed 46 stores, escaped prison, and t...

Following the success of 'Prey' and 'Killer of Killers', Dan Trachtenberg returns with his next Predator release; 'Badlands' - and its epic. Taking a big swing, Trachtenberg shakes things up and puts us up close and personal with the Yautja as they take centre stage, making for an epic sci-fi action adventure that never stops with its thrills. The director clearly has a strong vision for this worl...

Having been a fan of what Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone brought to the screen with last year’s brilliant 'Poor Things', I was eager to see what their next collaboration would deliver. Enter 'Bugonia'. This wonderfully strange black comedy delves deep into themes of truth and reality, anchored by outstanding performances from Stone and Jesse Plemons. It's a simple premise; conspiracy theorist kid...

Having been a fan of Chris Stuckmann for some time, I was thrilled to see him receive the backing and funding to release his first feature film; 'Shelby Oaks'. Its a journey that will no doubt inspire many others, and its one that gets all my applauds. Coming away from this directorial debut, it’s clear that the film marks a promising start for Stuckmann — though, not without its flaws. There’s a...

There's no better way to prepare for Spooky Season, than spending a couple of hours with the masked menace that is Michael Myers, right? Dropping in 2018, the legacy sequel, or requel, gained positive reactions from both fans and critics as it served a helping of kills, as well nods to the 1978 original. Not only were fans getting more Michael, but too the ultimate scream Queen Jamie Lee Curtis re...

To this day, it still surprises me that we never got a sequel to Stephen Sommers 2004 gothic action-horror 'Van Helsing'. Its one that I have a wee bit of nostalgia for, having watched at such an impressionable age, and with Halloween approaching; it seemed appropriate to revisit. Like others of similar age, it was my first 'real' introduction to iconic monsters like Dracula, the Wolfman, and Fran...

Ever rewatch a classic and think, "They don’t make films like that anymore"? Well, Paul Thomas Anderson’s 'One Battle After Another' proves they still can. This latest release from PTA feels like a standout in his filmography. Rich in character, layered in tone, and packed with that nostalgic density of ’80s and ’90s cinema. The genre bending too has that perfect balance of intensity, with sharp s...

The announcement that came at last years comic con regarding yet another Dexter series starring Michael C Hall had me a little concerned that this was getting a tad silly... but boy, oh boy, was I wrong - this latest season was a blast from start to finish. Despite the clumsiness of how Dexter evaded prison (as well as surviving) on the back of 'New Blood', Dexter: Resurrection delivers as a terri...

I was lucky enough to attend an early screening of 'The Long Walk', and it's absolutely worth your time. The premise is simple: young men walk over 300 miles in a brutal competition. Fall below 3mph, get three warnings—then you're executed. It's a harrowing concept that delivers both shocking visuals and emotional gut-punches as characters you grow attached to are picked off. While the full ensemb...

The third and final season of the highly popular streaming sensation 'Squid Game' premiered a couple of months back - and whilst 'Squid Game 3' raised the stakes and gave Seong Gi-hun a dramatic send-off, the story often felt forced and messy; especially when compared to the stronger, more cohesive seasons that came before. There are still some standout moments – particularly, the hide-and-seek ga...

'Weapons' is the latest release from 'Barbarian' director Zach Cregger, and once again, he delivers something brilliant. While marketed as horror, 'Weapons' leans more into thriller territory, similar to 'Prisoners', exploring a chilling mystery surrounding missing children that unfolds with a gripping story, tone, and performances that keep you fully immersed from minute one. Much like 'Barbarian...

Leslie Neilson cemented himself as one of the comedy greats with his roles in classics such as 'Airplane' and 'The Naked Gun', packed with timeless gags and quotable lines. Thankfully, the same can be said for this new sequel/legacy sequel starring Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson - because boy, is this a blast from start to finish. Sure, not every joke will land, but for every small chuckle, comes...

Marvel’s First Family has finally arrived in the MCU with 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' - and yes, the fourth time really is the charm. Matt Shakman delivers a stunning, retro-futuristic world that visually is Marvel’s best yet, elevated by outstanding costume and production design, as well another brilliant score by Michael Giacchino. Question marks surrounded some of the casting choices upon...

The DC Universe has officially launched under James Gunn's direction, and his first outing with 'Superman' is nothing short of remarkable. Gunn brings a fresh and heartfelt take on the iconic Man of Steel. 'Superman' delivers everything fans hoped for—epic action, strong performances from David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, and Nicholas Hoult, and a perfectly balanced script full of warmth, humour,...

Joseph Kosinski returns with the high-octane and adrenaline pumping, 'F1 ' . Though I'm not a fan of the sport, nor did everything fully work for me within this release, it's hard not to be impressed with the films thrilling and up-close racing sequences, and the techniques used to capture them. Brad Pitt brings in another top performance, alongside a great supporting cast, delivering on drama and...

After the lacklustre 'Dominion', it seemed the Jurassic saga was set to go extinct. However, life indeed has found a way, as Universal and Gareth Edwards have unleashed the 7th instalment 'Jurassic World: Rebirth'.. and I had a pretty fun time with this one - even if the ride is a little bumpy. It's very much back to basics; dinosaurs on an island and the humans trying to avoid being chomped. It d...

Danny Boyle and Alex Garland reunite to bring the highly anticipated sequel '28 Years Later', thrusting audiences into how survivors are coping nearly three decades after the initial outbreak; and its excellent. '28 Years Later' highlights the beauty in human survival and the evolution of a community over time, shaped by their harsh environment. At the same time, it explores the surprising enduran...

Live action remakes are all the rage these days, and with that, DreamWorks have finally released their new reimagination of the fan favourite 'How to Train Your Dragon'... and it's just as great as the original. I wasn't overly keen on a live action adaptation for this story upon its announcement. The animation was pretty much perfect (as too was the whole trilogy, to be fair), but credit where cr...

Ana De Armas takes centre stage in this highly entertaining new spin off from the world of John Wick; 'Ballerina'. It's hard finding anyone that doesn't like at least one of the Wick films. They are full of incredible spectacles thanks to the sets, locations, and of course, action - and 'Ballerina' continues this trend, with de Armas showing off her skills for some terrific viewing. Though the sto...

The first season of HBO's adaptation of 'The Last Of Us' was met with mostly high praise from fans and critics. But much like the second game, the second season has been met with a lot of criticism... But I’m not too sure as to why. I might be in the minority, but I felt the second season was another incredible spectacle that delivered a brutal story of love, loss and revenge. It’s not a perfect s...

Tom Cruise is back as Ethan Hunt in what seems to be the finale to the pretty darn good Mission Impossible franchise. Aptly titled 'The Final Reckoning'. Cruise and his IMF team try to save the world from the AI entity known as.. well, the Entity. Cue death defying stunts, lots of running and a whole lot of exposition. I wasn’t the biggest fan of 'Dead Reckoning', and sadly, 'The Final Reckoning'...

'Final Destination' returns to the big screen with it's newest addition; 'Bloodlines'. This time, death is taking down a whole family tree due to their ancestor cheating death years prior. It certainly felt like a new and refreshing creative team were involved with this release. The franchise had reached a point of becoming stale and repetitive - afterall, there's only so many times you can watch...