Luke Evans Mimics Batman in New Poster for Dracula Untold

The first poster for Universal's upcoming period horror Dracula Untold has officially been released.

In the promo picture, Luke Evans (The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug) broods over a gothic landscape, brandishing a sword as his cape transforms into a group of bats. The image is certainly an effective one, but comparisons with Batman and even Van Helsing spring instantly to mind, hinting that originality may not be a key concern of Universal's at this stage. Hmm...

John Dies At The End (2012): Mini Movie Review

A lot of things can get in the way of finding time to review films, including work, family and even genetic laziness, but some movies still deserve a mention, so that’s where my Mini Movie Reviews come in. Each is less than 100 words long or your money back. That’s a promise people! Today it’s John Dies At The End.

A Haunted House 2 Will Scare The #2 Out Of You!

Brace yourselves! Marlon Wayans is back in the hilarious comedy sequel A Haunted House 2, spoofing The Conjuring and Sinister alongside a host of other recent horrors.

Breaking Emotions Blogathon Week #1 - Fear/Awkward

Blogathons are awesome. They're a great way for film bloggers to stumble upon sites that they may not have come across before and they're always fun to tackle. Lucky for me then, that I just discovered a brand new blogathon titled 'Breaking Emotions' on the Mettel Ray site. Each week, bloggers are asked to pick three movie scenes that best sum up a particular emotion for them. The first two emotions chosen this week are 'fear' and 'awkward'. To find out more about the blogathon, click here and to see which scenes I've chosen, read on after the jump. Go on. You know you wanna!

Film School Friday Lesson #10 - How To Survive A Serial Killer

It's Halloween bitches! Last week, Film School Friday celebrated this fun but most pointless of holidays by teaching you how to spot a serial killer. Everyone needs a hobby right? That's all well and good but what happens when you find this serial killer? Do you a) Scream as loud as you can? b) Wet your pants? Or c) throw the nearest elderly person onto their knife? Human shields are great and all but sometimes they're hard to come by and some people are just too damn heavy to throw, so what then? Stand around waiting to get decapitated? I don't think so. Film School Friday cannot stand idly by while innocent serial killer spotters are violently murdered doing the thing they love most, so put down your homework, swallow some pro-plus and take up self-defense as we read on for today's lesson.

Lesson #10 - How To Survive A Serial Killer

Anyone can become just another statistic on a police report so regardless of age, gender or weight, today's advice is essential for all. Some of the following tips may not sound like fun, but you'll have even less fun floating face down in a river with all your limbs removed. Most importantly, how will you be able to trick and treat if you're dead? Let's start with the serial killers favourite demographic - teenagers.

Film School Friday Lesson #9 - How To Spot A Serial Killer

Last week, Film School Friday gave a 101 on the mechanics on time travel. If you're reading this from the future then be quick - the giant flying lizard monkeys will be back to check on you at any moment! If you're still reading this from the present though, then what the hell is wrong with you? Right now, you could be off flirting with Marie Antoinette or enjoying a relaxing cruise on the Titanic with Leo. What could possibly go wrong? Go, there's still time!

Now I've finished trying to dissuade you from reading today's lesson, it's probably time to introduce today's lesson. Halloween is coming up, so Film School Friday is celebrating with a two-part horror special. Original, I know. This week, I'll be teaching you how to spot a serial killer. There's plenty of them out there in the concrete jungle and with so many different types to avoid, I thought it best to give you the heads up, so dust off your knife collection, prepare the embalming fluid and slip on your favorite clown costume as you read today's advice.

Film School Friday Lesson #5 - How To Be The Best Zombie You Can Be

If you ignored my advice last week and tried to attain immortality through the dubious means of becoming a zombie, then shame on you. Unless you're Nicholas Hoult, you just make it work somehow. However, if you are a zombie and your name isn't Hoult, then congratulations at least for taking the time out from eating brains to read our latest edition of Film School Friday. That's real commitment, especially considering how tough it is these days to be one of the walking dead.  The movies have given away most of the zombie weaknesses and every human left right and center has devised their own survival plan, so I figure it's time to level the playing field. Today's lesson is designed to help the zombies among us who are struggling in today's harsh apocalyptic society, so shuffle on over, check your face hasn't fallen off and read on to be the best zombie you can be.

Insidious 2: My Favourite Horror Sequel of All Time

After the surprise success of The Conjuring this summer, horror fans worldwide have been clamoring to see the latest release from James Wan. However, the first Insidious divided fans and critics alike with a tonal shift midway that some found to be too absurd.  Furthermore, the sequel has been receiving mixed reviews, so I was worried that  Insidious 2: Chapter 2 would fall victim to the inevitable drop in quality that all horror franchises suffer. Could Wan's latest ever hope to match the scares of the first film?

Obstruction 3 - The Conjuring (2013) A Jigsaw Review

Over at www.myfilmviews.com, a new event has begun, titled the 5 Obstructions Blogathon. Each month a challenge is set which is designed to test writers in ways they may not have encountered before. In June, I completed obstruction 1 by writing a negative review for a film I love; 'Avengers Assemble'. Unfortunately, I didn't manage to complete Obstruction 2 but I'm back this month, ready to have a go at Obstruction 3.

Today I'm going to review James Wan's latest horror 'The Conjuring', but by only using words originally written in other blog reviews.  It's going to be tough but then that's the whole point! To read more about the blogathon, click here and to find the original reviews which I sourced from, scroll to the bottom of this post after the jump.

World War Z Review (2013) How Did Brad Pitts' Hair Stay So Shiny?

'World War Z' has finally made it to the big screen after a number of setbacks and reported disputes between director Marc Foster and producer/star Brad Pitt. Here's how I think their discussions might have gone;

Foster: 'World War Z' is an incredible book.

Pitt: I couldn't agree more. I love how the plot keeps switching between the stories of different survivors.

Foster: I'd love to keep the political undertones intact so our film isn't just a generic summer blockbuster.

Pitt: That sounds perfect.
Foster: Oh but actually, won't that give us problems with international distributors? 
Pitt: Yeah but who cares? We have to keep the film true to the book.
Foster: Yeeeeeeeeah, I know but... Let's just ignore the book completely and keep the title. That way, we can still have a huge hit on our hands. I'm sure the fans won't mind...

Pitt: Whatever. Let's just finish the damn thing.

Dark Skies Review - Is It As Bad As The Critics Say?

I initially approached 'Dark Skies' with some trepidation. I'd already seen 'Legion', which was also directed by Scott Stewart, and I thought that was horrendous so what hope did his new film have? Promotion for 'Dark Skies' emphasised that it was produced by the same company responsible for 'Sinister' and 'Insidious', so my expectations increased somewhat but I was still shocked to realise that 'Dark Skies' is actually a great little horror film which I feel has been completely overlooked by critics. I rarely get scared so I was surprised to find myself feeling pretty damn tense throughout the majority of this sci-fi horror.

The Five Best Scenes From 'Stoker' Director Park Chan-Wook

With all the excitement that surrounded the Oscars this February, it was easy to forget that something very special was about to occur in the realm of world cinema. Yes, that's right. The acclaimed director of 'Oldboy' and 'Thirst' is back with a new psychological thriller starring Nicole Kidman and Matthew Goode in his first English language film. The majority of Asian directors who have made the move to Hollywood have had little success so far, aside from Ang Lee of course, but the reviews for Park Chan-Wook's latest are in and 'Stoker' is as disturbing and beautifully shot as any of his South Korean offerings. If you're interested in the effects of violence and revenge on the human psyche then you're in the right place, as this list of Chan-Wook's five best scenes should provide some insight into the auteurs fascination with the limits of morality in contemporary society. Deep stuff. Let's get started with what is arguably Chan-Wook's signature film, Oldboy.

Mama (2008) - The Scariest Short Film of All Time?

As a huge horror fan, I'm crazy excited about upcoming horror film 'Mama', which stars current industry fave Jessica Chastain in yet another unusual role choice. 'Mama' is about a young couple who adopt their two nieces after they were found lost in the woods after five years. It seems however that something wants them back and the girls believe that this ghostly force is their mother. Guillermo Del Toro serves as executive producer on the project and he's had a lot of success with similar films in the past, including 'The Orphanage' and 'Pan's Labyrinth'. The feature length version of 'Mama' is based upon a Spanish language short from 2008, both of which are directed by Andres Muschietti.

Sightseers...The Perfect Date Movie?

 

'Sightseers' is the latest film from Brit director Ben Wheatley, who gained critical acclaim for his cult horror 'Kill List' in 2011. The premise for this follow-up is simple but genius; a slightly odd couple plan a caravan holiday across Britain but are constantly beset by annoying strangers... who they end up killing in a variety of gruesome ways. The potential pitfall with this film of course is that such a bizarre concept hinges on the likeability of these crazed murderous characters. Luckily, both of the lead performances are just incredible and what's even more amazing is that both stars actually wrote the film as well! Let's start with Chris.   

World War Z: Trailer

 

They're coming! Apparently. The first footage of the new post-apocalyptic horror film based on Max Brooks best selling novel 'World War Z' has appeared online, and it looks pretty good. The film began production last year and was primarily filmed in Glasgow, of all places. It's directed by Marc Foster, the man behind James Bond's last outing 'Quantum of Solace' and stars someone called Brad Pitt, whoever that is.

 

 

But enough random information, lets take a look a what everyones been talking about.

The Wicker Man - Five Reasons Why You Shouldn't Visit Summerisle!

For anyone whose seen the classic British horror 'The Wicker Man', its obvious that the island of Summerisle will not top any lists for 'Best Holiday Destinations' anytime soon. However, if you still fancy a day excursion to the island, or even if you just happen to be a policeman searching for a missing girl, then I would strongly advise against it and here's five reasons why;

World Cinema; Is Australian Horror The Best?

Like many countries across the world, Australia has seen a resurgence of horror films in the past decade, with a range of titles now reaching us from down under. As with any country, these vary in quality somewhat but there are some gems to be found if you're a dedicated horror fan. I've chosen three of my favourite Australian horror films to determine whether the country that also gave us Kylie and Neighbours could really be the best at horror worldwide. My first choice is...

The Loved Ones (2009)

 

World Cinema; Is Japanese Horror The Best?

Japan has a long history of disturbing and influential horror films, ever since the release of silent film 'A Page of Madness' back in 1926. I was lucky enough to see this innovative film at university but for the majority of film fans, it is the more recent horrors that have catapulted Japan to the forefront of terrifying world cinema. The past decade has seen the most popular of these films copied and parodied to a ridiculous extent so I think it is worth taking a look back at the originals, to see what makes them classics of the genre. In this post, I have chosen my three favourite Japanese horror films to try and determine whether Japanese horror really is the best. Obviously, not every fan favourite could make it onto such a short list so some popular releases like 'The Grudge' and 'Pulse' might be notably absent to some. My apologies. But let's see if you agree with my three choices...

Ring (1998)

World Cinema; Is Spanish Horror The Best?

From mathematical chillers like 'Fermat's Room' and the sci-fi terror of 'Timecrimes', to even the fantastical world of 'Pan's Labyrinth', Spain has produced some of the most exciting and unusual horror films of the past decade. These films take ideas from a range of other genres, all in an attempt to scare the hell out of us and boy do they succeed! In this post, I have chosen my three favourite Spanish horror films to try and determine whether Spanish horror really is the best. Let's see if you agree... 

Rec (2007)

World Cinema; Is Korean Horror The Best?

Asian horror gained a huge following after the success of 'Ringu' back in the early 2000s, but in more recent years, Korea has overtaken Japan in the horror stakes, with a number of darkly innovative films making their mark on world cinema. Korean cinema is no longer the 'poor relation' of Japanese film and has become hugely successful in its own right, with a distinctive national identity all of its own. But is Korean horror the best worldwide? Here are three films that I've handpicked to prove that Korean horror is where it's at!

A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)