“I Want Audiences to Remember My Island”: Hayden McLean on Bringing an Authentic Jamaica to FarEye

Hayden McLean’s FarEye is a film deeply rooted in place. Set against the landscapes of rural Jamaica, the short follows young Khalil as he navigates a world shaped by spirituality, community and adversity. But for McLean, the film is about more than telling one story. It is an opportunity to present Jamaica beyond the familiar […]

The End of Oak Street Review- Finding the Joy in Going to the Movies ★★★★

In 2009, amid the messy breakdown of my parents’ marriage, my father took me to the cinema to see The Land of the Lost, a time travelling dinosaur epic, starring Anna Friel and Will Ferrell. For almost two hours, my father and I sat silently in that dark room, our fingers still greasy from the […]

Heartstopper Forever Review: The Romance Still Charms, Even if the Plot Doesn’t

Inevitably, when it was announced that the finale of the hit show Heartstopper would be released as a film rather than another TV season, I couldn’t contain my excitement. At the same time, I couldn’t help but have my doubts, after seeing how Netflix has handled the finales of some of its other successful shows. […]

Full Disclosure: Aliens, Anxiety and VHS Nightmares

There is no thought more powerful and paralysing to my anxiety addled brain than ‘what if?’ In my adult life this can take on a whole load of monstrous variations from some of the most deranged and disturbing ideations to every time I sit down in the cinema, without fail, wondering if I’ve forgotten to […]

Remembering the Pre-Internet World: Michael Cusumano and Charity Schubert Discuss Last Minute

In an age where information is available within seconds and human interaction is increasingly filtered through screens, Last Minute looks back at a time when solving even the simplest problem required patience, creativity, and genuine connection. Written and directed by Michael Cusumano, the charming short film transforms a familiar childhood experience into a heartfelt reflection […]

Sirât Review – A Winding Road to Catharsis ★★★½

Sirât truly is as wild as people say, but not in the way people usually mean. This is the first feature in six years from Oliver Laxe, who has said he “died and came back to life making this film.” That intensity sits over the whole experience. Laxe often describes cinema as cathartic. Sirât tries to reach that space, though it […]

Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die Review ★★★.5

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: a man is sent back in time to present-day LA to prevent a sentient AI from taking over the world and ushering in the apocalypse. This is not only the plot of the better part of the Terminator franchise but also the simplest description of the new […]

Mickey17 Deserves to be Discussed More: Here’s Why (spoiler-free)

At this time of year, there’s often a look back at the strongest films of the year, and discussions around awards always begin, too. While the debated tokenism of awards can be left by the wayside for now, one of the absences I’ve noticed from this year’s top film discussions isn’t an indie darling – […]

Marty Supreme & the New Age of Movie Hype

Marty Supreme is a spectacular film. From start to finish it’s an adrenaline rush, with Timothée Chalamet delivering an Oscar-worthy central performance. But you don’t need me to rave about the film itself – that’s already happening everywhere. What’s far more interesting is how the chaos around it unfolded, and what that chaos might mean for the future of cinema. Let’s rewind. It’s Sunday, February […]

Lurker Review- An Adrenaline Inducing Ride ★★★★

Today I saw Alex Russell’s directorial debut, Lurker, and I left the cinema completely floored by what an intense ride it was. I honestly can’t remember the last time a film made me feel so deeply uncomfortable and so adrenaline-fueled at the same time. When it ended, I had to sit in my car for […]