Video Nasty Rewatch part 16 - The Driller Killer

It was 1982. An innocent time. Cheers was on TV. ET and Rocky III were filling the cinemas. The video boom was kicking off. A small time distribution company called Vipco made a choice that changed film history forever. They'd bought a film called The Driller Killer and wanted to advertise it so took out a full page ad in English movie magazines using the video cover seen above. People didn't like it and the Advertising Standards Agency were contacted. This combined with the furore over the advertising for Cannibal Holocaust a few months later brought Mary Whitehouse into the mix and a legend was born. 

But was the film that started it all any good? 

Surprisingly yes.

From the crazed mind of Abel Ferrera came the story of Reno Miller (played by Ferrera himself in an effective cost cutting exercise), an artist living in the grotty and dangerous New York City of the late 70's. He's broke and he's frustrated. It's hard to find peace and quiet to work in his gaff when he's sharing it with two others, Carol and her girlfriend Pamela. Things get worse when a band move in next door and practice constantly, leaving Reno really on edge. He's hallucinating, he's hearing voices, he's begun ranting at homeless men in the street. When one night he sees an ad for a portable battery pack. A battery pack that will go very well with the drill laying around the house.....

The Driller Killer is as sleazy and brutal and avant garde/trippy/pretentious as you've heard but it gives me a great giggle that the film that started the video nasty era was essentially an arty psychological drama. Had that artwork not been used this would have passed by unnoticed and disappeared in the midst of time but there's loads of reasons to watch it. As a snapshot of that time in NYC it nails the danger, the fashion, the music, the grime. It shows the start of Ferrera's obsessions with the city, Catholicism, guilt, madness, sex and violence, themes that have pervaded his work since in films like Ms. 45, The King Of New York, The Addiction and so on. It's shoddy, micro-budget stuff but it hooks you in, especially that unnerving Ferrera performance. I can imagine it being a wild watch in the early 80s, a nice counterpoint to shinier NYC films from the likes of Woody Allen. 

As for its nasty status I kinda get it,, especially in the second half with two scenes being particularly vicious. The one from the cover is a genuinely horrific moment that's really dwelled on while Reno's first kill is pure splatter movie fodder, with claret flying left right and centre. Had the poster not caused uproar the film would have been snipped and the film passed...... hold up, this is a paradox. Without the uproar would video classification have come in at all?? Would the vhs format ever have taken off properly without people seeking out the salacious and the vicious. Maybe we have a lot to thank The Driller Killer for.

Would I recommend this - Yes. Without a doubt. 

Does it deserve to be a nasty? - No but I understand why it all happened. Moreso than most others on the list. 

Next up - Evilspeak. The film where the young lad from Gentle Ben gets possessed and kills Bob from That 70's Show with a demonic sword. Evilspeak rocks.

Cinemas are coming back. Joy.

The cinema is back open next friday. Oh man I'm getting giddy just thinking about it. Looking at the listings, seeing something is coming that you've wanted to see for ages. The manky smell of popcorn in the lobby that's somehow comforting. The familiar faces checking tickets. The creaky uncomfortable chairs that feel like home. The knowledge that you are far safer in here than in a crowded shop. Great looking trailers for films that might never get a cinema release because of bastarding fuckbag covid. That Love Cinema ad narrated by the fella from Patriot Games. The moment the lights go down when I grin like a loon at the sheer joy of being back in my favourite place. The overwhelming relief of feeling some bit of normality again. The excitement of finally getting to see the film you've been reading about all year. When it's over hopefully feeling like the wait was worth it. Thinking that films on the TV at home just never compare to seeing them on a huge screen. Walking out the door into the fresh air and instantly wondering do you have time to fit in another film. Realising you don't really but saying fuck it and doing it anyway.

I cannot wait.

16 films on TV this week to help you ignore the outside world for a while

Breakdown   Sat   28/11   TCM @ 21.00

A married couple breakdown in the desert and while hubbie stays with the car wifey takes a ride from a trucker to get help and she disappears. Of course. In my opinion this is one of the most underrated thrillers of the 90s. An economical and extremely tense thriller with not a second wasted. Kathleen Quinlan is fine in a thankless role but Kurt Russell & the late JT Walsh are excellent as always. There's some lovely oppressive desert scenery too.

The Big Short   Sat   28/11   RTE2 @ 22.35

Remember the financial crisis of 2007? Well here's the story of the men who contributed to it all told in 3 parallel tales. It's a humorous but maddening & frightening watch as we look at the beginning of a global disaster set in motion by a group of risk taking fools. Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Marisa Tomei, Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt all put in first rate work in this searing indictment of today's money men.

Arrival   Sat   28/11   CH4 @ 23.40

The planet has been invaded by huge alien ships and a professor of language called Louise Banks is sent out to try to understand them. This film is fantastic. A look at the science of communication and the highs and lows of the human experience. Don't go in expecting Independence Day style fireworks. You won't get them here. You will get something special though. Amy Adams & Jeremy Renner are both great.

The Balloon   Sun   29/11   BBC4 @ 22.00

East Germany in the 70's was not a nice place to live and a family comes up with a desperate plan to escape to the west. A plan so stupid and dangerous that....it....just.....might work. If you want to finish your weekend with a film so suspenseful it will cause you to lose sleep then here you go. A fast moving, nerve wracking thriller that still finds time for humour and humanity. Friedrich Mücke, Karoline Schuch and Thomas Kretschmann all put in a good shift here.

Changeling   Sun   29/11   Virgin Media One @ 22.35

In 1930's Los Angeles, a woman's son is kidnapped and months later he's returned to her. But she doesn't recognise him and takes on the might of the LAPD to prove that she's right. A gripping tale of a mother's love and determination in the face of massive corruption and carried by a convincing performance from Angelina Jolie. This is not an enjoyable movie but it's one that will move you and make you righteously angry.

Coriolanus   Mon   30/11   BBC1 @ 00.50

In a place that calls itself Rome an army man is pushed towards a political career he's not suited for and chaos ensues. He allies with an enemy to bring peace and things get even worse. This modern day adaption of the Shakespeare play is a gruelling but clever watch that shows a 400 year old play can still be topical and relevant. Lead actor & director Ralph Fiennes leads a nice cast that includes Jessica Chastain, Vanessa Redgrave and Gerard Butler. 

Adore   Mon   30/11   Film4 @ 01.30

Lil and Roz have been friends forever and their sons are best friends with each other too. They all go away on holiday and things get strange between them. Yeah , I know this sounds like the plot for a dodgy adult film but it's actually a complex, twisting and provocative watch about need and loneliness. Naomi Watts and Robin Wright lead the film with a pair of brave performances.

One Hour Photo   Mon   30/11   TG4 @ 21.30

Sy develops photos for a living and he's become a bit too attached to the people popping up in the pictures. One couple especially. Everyone knew the much missed Robin Williams for his comedy skills but he was a master of drama too and his performance here will burn itself into your brain. A suspenseful, cringy, intriguing and quite terrifying watch. Michael Vartan and Connie Nielsen offer fine support.

The Man From Laramie   Tues   1/12   Film4 @ 14.35

A stranger rides into town looking for information about his brother's demise and immediately has trouble with the local landowners. Before long he's sucked into all manner of hassle. The last of the films director Anthony Mann made with James Stewart is a strong, beautiful looking, lean thriller that packs a surprising depth while still hitting all the beats you'd expect in a western. Keep an eye out for the usual genre faces.

120 Beats Per Minutes   Wed   2/12   CH4 @ 00.10

AIDS is decimating the gay population of Paris and a group of activists called ACT UP decides to push the government into action. One of them knows he's dying and he wants his death to mean something. A unique and moving look at an underserved community. It sounds grim but it really isn't, a story about a killer disease that's full of life. Nahuel Pérez Biscayart & Arnaud Valois lead a young cast that crackles with energy.

Ema   Wed   2/12   Film4 @ 01.20

Her marriage to Gaston is on the rocks and Ema is feeling immensely guilty, both for it and the actions that led to the break up. An action that's had consequences reaching far beyond their home. This Chilean drama from last year is a tough one, a film best watched cold but it still manages to find moments of great beauty and humanity in amongst the misery. Mariana di Girolamo who plays Ema is immense.

The Quiller Memorandum   Wed   2/12   Talking Pictures TV @ 22.00

Two British spies have been murdered in cold war era West Berlin and a third called Quiller is sent to investigate what's going on. WW2 is long over but he finds out a mysterious group is happy to let the hate continue. This film written by Harold Pinter is a stylish one, daft as a brush, full of well sketched characters and carried by a decent cast that features Alec Guinness, George Segal and Max Von Sydow.

Mistress America   Thur   3/12   CH4 @ 00.35

Tracy, a student new to the New York city way of life is feeling the misery of loneliness but a new family member rapidly makes her existence into an exciting one. A film about the problems of the middle class written and directed by Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach might be an anathema to some but some stick with it and it's joie de vivre will get under your skin. Lola Kirke is a pleasure to watch.

Road Games   Thur   3/12   The Horror Channel @ 22.50

Pamela is hitchhiking across Oz. Pat is the lorry driver who picks her up. Then Pamela disappears and Pat finds himself playing cat & mouse with a extremely dangerous presence. Richard Franklin's thriller is a forgotten classic, one that plays out like an 80's version of a Hitchcock movie. Very unpredictable and very compelling. Stacy Keach and Jamie Lee Curtis are both reliable as always.

Den Of Thieves   Fri   4/12   Film4 @ 21.00

A highly trained group of criminals are robbing armoured trucks but now they've set their sets on a rather large target. A highly trained squad of cops is on their tail. But which group is scummier. That's a tough call. There's some serious shades of Heat here but a wildly entertaining and seriously slimy turn from Gerard Butler makes this film into it's own beast, one that's quite overlong but always watchable.

Florence Foster Jenkins   Fri   4/12   RTE2 @ 21.45

Florence Foster Jenkins was a rich New York heiress who only wanted one thing from life - to perform her songs onstage at Carnegie Hall. There was one issue though, Florence was a terrible singer. An amusing and surprisingly moving look at what can be achieved when you have enough money. Meryl Streep is tremendous as the titular character, I really wish she'd do more comedy. Simon Helberg and Hugh Grant as the men in her life do satisfying work too.

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Happiest Season

"Ok. We can do this. It's five days. How bad can it be?"

If you're lucky Christmas was the most wonderful time of the year as a child. If you're even luckier you stay liking it into adulthood. For many though the weight of expectation is too much, family stresses feel magnified by proximity and the pressure to smile your way through it all can be a headwreck. Add alcohol and financial issues to the mix and it can be dynamite. But no matter how bad it gets just make sure you never hop a painting off your sister in front of everyone. That's always bad.

Christmas isn't Abby's (Kristen Stewart) favourite time of year and she usually spends it babysitting pets for her friends who're going home. This Christmas though she's with her girlfriend Harper (Mackenzie Davis) and Harper adores this time of year. In a fit of romanticism Harper invites Abby to spend the holidays with her family. Against her better judgement Abby agrees and decides it's the perfect time to propose. There's a wee problem though. Harper hasn't told her parents (Mary Steenburgen & Victor Garber) she's gay and they are rather conservative. Sure what could go wrong? 

This is one of those films you know will become a festive fave in years to come. It deserves to. It's lovely, quotable, warm, funny, packed with great characters and family dynamics that feel real. It hits every beat you'd expect a Christmas film to hit and it feels a lot more inclusive than Christmas films tend to be. Yes it's all based around an upper class whiter than white family and it doesn't take many risks but enough jokes land to make it memorable (Dan Levy is priceless) and it ends on a note that feels really genuine. It also manages to avoid mawkishness and excessive sentimentality which is always a plus. That's not to say it isn't sentimental, it's a family Christmas film sure, but it doesn't wallow in it. It also never makes a big deal out of it's central pairing's sexuality either, a move that makes it feel quietly powerful. It's confident enough to just let them be a real couple with feeling the need to jam in silliness. Writer/Director Clea Duvall has a deft touch to her work. I can't wait to see what she does next.

What really makes it work is the family chemistry. Outwardly the family looks perfect, a look designed purposefully by patriarch and wannabe mayoral candidate Ted (Victor Garber) but inwardly you know it's going to be messy. There's plenty of that weirdness that family's have grown used to that outsiders pick up on straight away and that casual cruelty that's become so commonplace it isn't noticed anymore. They aren't nice to each other but they feel like they belong together. Then in rocks Abby and with her comes a welcome tension, one that humour is mined from and one that adds a nice bit of conflict that Stewart and Davis can get their teeth into. Stewart has been known to be a touch glacial onscreen but not here, all she wants here is to be happy. She does well leading a cast where everyone gets a moment to shine from Mary Steenburgen's karate confession to Alison Brie's (eldest sister Sloane) public freakout. Mary Holland as Jane, the middle sister will strike a chord with many too as she quietly steals the film away from everyone.

Happiest Season is streaming online now. It's really worth a watch. A feelgood Christmas watch for a year that badly needs one.

You did it!

You made it through another day of  2020.

A huge achievement in this cunt of a year.

Pat yourself on the back.

Except you, Johnny eye roller, you can piss off.

Run

They fuck you up, your mum and dad.   

 They may not mean to, but they do.   

They fill you with the faults they had,

 And add some extra, just for you.

Philip Larkin - 1971. The first verse of his famous poem This Be The Verse. He knew what time it was.

It's great when a film has a lead as strong as Sarah Paulson but it can be a burden too, especially when that lead is best known for their work in the horror genre. For years she's been great in the American Horror Story series and this year she rocked it in Ratched so when she turns up in Run you're on the offensive straight away. There's no way she's going to be playing a straight laced character and it's a not a spoiler to say you won't be waiting long to find about about her in Run. Streaming on Hulu now it's yet another film kicked onto streaming platforms by this chaotic year but this time it's really worth your while. BTW, it was supposed to be released in cinemas on Mother's Day. Chortle.

Diane (Sarah Paulson) and Chloe (Kiera Allen) are a mother and daughter living in the countryside in Washington State. They live for each other. Chloe was born prematurely and suffers from numerous ailments ( asthma, diabetes, heart arrhythmia, haemochromatosis, paralysis and others) because of it and Diane has devoted her life to caring for and homeschooling her wheelchair bound daughter. Their days go by in a blur of learning, physiotherapy and medication. The relationship is built on love and trust and both have their emotional needs fulfilled by the other. All is as well as it can be until the day Chloe looks into a bag of groceries and sees something that rocks her to her very core.

There's a real bang of 90's psychodrama off Run. You could imagine it being released in 1992 with Anna Chlumsky playing Chloe and Melanie Griffith as Diane. In fact, save for a mention of an iphone and a tense google search if could be set in the 90's and fitted in nicely on the shelves of Xtravision alongside Jennifer 8, Pacific Heights and The Hand That Rocks The Cradle. But it's Run's unwillingness to embrace the melodrama and excess that those films reveled in during it's climax that makes it stand out. Instead it's power comes from two super central performances. Performances at first built on love and trust and then fear and need while staying intertwined until the bitter end.

Add to that a couple of expertly crafted sequences that lay on the tension to an unbearable level and you have a watch that comes from nowhere to slap you across the mush. It's a film that might seem far fetched to some but there's a real life precedent there and in fact this film plays out it's story in a far more understated fashion thankfully. Truth being stranger than fiction and all that jazz. This one is a story that needs no silly embellishments to work.

Run is streaming online now. It's very good.

Concrete Plans

Standard concrete mix for bricklaying is 1 part cement, 2 parts sand and 4 parts gravel with a splash of water to bind it together. 1 part Straw Dogs, 2 parts Blood Simple and 4 parts Emmerdale bound together by a splash of dramatic irony gets you Concrete Plans, a fine new feature length debut from writer/director Will Jewell.

The next 3 months are going to be hellish for Bob (Steve Speirs), the foreman of a group of builders tasked with renovating a pair of farm outhouses in a remote part of Wales. He's up to his neck in debt, he's wary of the ability of his employer to pay him and he's taken on his scumbag nephew Steve (Charley Palmer Rothwell) as part of his crew. Also along are Jim (Chris Reilly), a Scotsman who's hiding a secret, Viktor (Goran Bogdan), a Ukrainian who's been away from home for far too long and Dave (William Thomas), the homebird building site veteran. Their new boss is Simon (Kevin Guthrie), an ex soldier with financial matters on his mind and his wife Amy (Amber Rose Revah) who's far friendlier than he is. The work is messy and tough, the accommodation sucks, the weather is miserable but the financial rewards will make it all worthwhile. They hope.

From it's ominous overhead beginning and the bloody flashforwards we glimpse it's clear from the off that Concrete Plans isn't going to have a happy ending but we get to have plenty of fun on it's journey into darkness. It nails the ways men can act when women aren't around to temper their baser instincts and how unfiltered behaviour can lead to all manner of madness, especially when toxic masculinity and a fear of straying from the herd comes into the mix. Despite differing ages and backgrounds we watch as our wild bunch does exactly what we know they'll do while letting themselves led by the nose down some darkly comic alleys. Emphasis on the word dark. Best of all is we don't have to wait too long for it to happen. By the midway point the stall is set out and the rest of the film is all about the nightmarish aftermath.

Classism is what kicks everything off. To Steve, these builders are little more than shit on his shoe, he's living in luxury while they pile into a stinking mobile home with no access to indoor plumbing. His contempt is obvious from the off and they can all feel it, giving the film sense of tension you can really get your teeth into, a tension that builds until it inevitably boils over in a scene of brutal, but not dwelt on violence. In lesser hands the gore of the situation would be reveled in but thankfully Concrete Plans is confident enough to show it's effects on it's characters instead. Some love it, some are horrified by it and for others it's just another day at work. 

For Victor it's another obstacle in his journey home and Goran Bogdan nails his desperation as a decent man trapped in a cement dusted nightmare. Charley Palmer Rothwell's Steve is a particularly memorable and despicable piece of work, one we've all bumped into at one stage or another and Steve Speirs does very solid work as a Bob, quiet desperation scrawled across him as he tries to prevent both personal and professional breakdowns. It's only at the other side of the class divide can you find fault, with Kevin Guthrie's Simon being almost too broad, feeling like a caricature against the more deftly sketched builders. The second he appears onscreen you can tell what way the story is going to go. It doesn't ruin the film although it does take away from it slightly. But it gives us a lovely Blood Simple homage too. A moment that will genuinely stick with you. #Shudder

Concrete Plans is out soon. It's worth your time.

16 films on TV this week to keep you on the straight and narrow

Rachel Getting Married   Sat   21/11   TG4 @ 21.50

Kym is home from rehab once again and this time it's for her sister Rachel's wedding. Sobriety is hard enough as it is but when everyone is watching and waiting for you to fail it starts feeling even harder. A fine portrayal of broken family dynamics that may/will strike a chord for a lot of people. It's not an entertaining watch by any means but it's strong acting from Anne Hathaway, Rosemarie DeWitt, Debra Winger and Bill Irwin will keep you stuck to it.

The Dead Zone   Sat   21/11   The Horror Channel @ 22.45

5 years ago Johnny Smith had a crash car that left him in a coma. When he awoke he had a special new skill. He can see the future and when he meets a presidental candidate he glimpses a horrifying look at the years ahead. David Cronenberg's adaption of the Stephen King novel isn't as gooey as his usual work but it's still a hell of a creepy watch powered by a mighty turn from Christopher Walken and a hammy one from Martin Sheen.

Lynn + Lucy   Sat   21/11   BBC2 @ 22.55

Lynn and Lucy have been friends forever. It's an intense friendship amplified by the fact they're also neighbours. They do everything together until the day something happens that puts a serious strain on all they know. This depiction of small town anger is a genuinely unsettling watch about how the bonds that bind us all together are as fragile as a cobweb. Roxanne Scrimshaw and Nichola Burley brilliantly lead a mostly unknown cast.

Eddie The Eagle   Sat   21/11   RTE2 @ 22.55

Calgary. 1988. The Winter Olympics. A young and inexperienced English man called Michael Edwards is taking part in the ski jump. Slowly he becomes a very unlikely sporting hero. Based on a true story this is absolute fluff but it's very enjoyable fluff and the perfect thing for a lazy Saturday night. Taron Egerton is fun in the lead but Hugh Jackman (in a very fictional role) as his coach Bronson is great craic.

The Apartment   Sun   22/11   BBC2 @ 15.10

C.C. Baxter has a cunning plan to get ahead in his job. He lets his apartment out to the executives at his work as a place where they can have their affairs safely. He's hoping he can get ahead but lately he's starting to feel used. Billy Wilder's 1960 comedy drama is a stunner, a comedic, believable and upsetting look at a man's realisation that's he's nothing more than a cog in a machine. Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine and Fred MacMurray are all on fire here.

Triangle   Sun   22/11   The Horror Channel @ 21.00

The yacht Jess and her friends are on has been damaged in a storm and now they are floating aimlessly. Eventually they come across a deserted ship and climb aboard. Before long they realise floating aimlessly had it's good points. This is a well made psychological thriller that will scare you and confuse you in equal measure but the pay off is worth it. Melissa George does well as a woman very out of her depth.

Free State Of Jones   Sun   22/11   BBC2 @ 22.10

Alienated by the confederation, a soldier deserts his post during the American civil war and together with farmers and freed slaves creates a new state. Things do not go smoothly. Gary Ross's 2016 film is a solid recreation of a era of American history that rarely gets mentioned. It's as brutal and ugly as you'd expect but superb acting from Matthew McConnaughey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw & Mahershala Ali eases the pain.

Call Me By Your Name   Sun   22/11   CH4 @ Midnight

Elio, a teenager lives a carefree life in the early 80's Italy. Until he meets Oliver, an American man hired to work with his father and his life gets rather complicated when he starts to feel attracted to him. Lead Timothée Chalamet does his drippy thing as usual but here it suits the film. It's a heartfelt look at the pain and angst and discovery of your formative years. Armie Hammer and Michael Stuhlbarg do excellent work.

Hanna   Mon   23/11   TG4 @ 21.30

A young woman has been trained by her father for her entire life to do one thing and she's very very adept at it. Finally her day has come. Saoirse Ronan nails the lead role of Hanna, a young woman with no experience of the outside world who finds herself having to adapt to it all very fast. Eric Bana as her Da & Cate Blanchett as the woman looking for her add a nice heft to the film too. An action packed, well acted and slightly surreal watch.

The Fog   Mon   23/11   SYFY @ 21.00

Director John Carpenter is on mighty form in this properly spooky and scary tale of ghostly pirates taking their revenge on a seaside town that let them down many years before. This film has a lovely old fashioned feel as violence and gore is kept to a minimum and atmosphere and creepiness rules the roost. Genre legends Jamie Lee Curtis, Adrienne Barbeau, Janet Leigh and Tom Atkins all hit their mark in this horror classic.

A Pigeon Sat On A Branch Reflecting On Existence   Tues   24/11   Film4 @ 01.50

Two travelling salesmen are living their worst life, their accommodation is dreadful and their attempts to sell their products are a disaster. We learn all about them in a sequence of short, bizarre, flat out odd stories. Some people are going to hate Roy Andersson's 2014 comedy drama but some will find it a unique enchanting experience. Nils Westblom and Holger Andersson lead the strangest film you'll see this week/month/year.

'71   Tues   24/11   Film4 @ 23.10

A squaddie finds himself alone and on the run after he gets split from his unit in the war torn Belfast of 1971. This one is a strange beast in that it's a view of troubled Belfast from a side you never see but that doesn't take away from it, it's still powerful viewing. Prepare for 99 minutes of terror, stress, disorientation, palpitations and revulsion with a fantastic performance from Jack O'Connell motoring the story along.

Fish Tank   Wed   25/11   BBC4 @ 23.00

Mia lives with her mam and her little sister in a housing estate in Essex. She's an angry teen, prone to lashing out and it's cost her her friends. Her mam's new Irish boyfriend intrigues her though, but she's only 15. Andrea Arnold's drama is a harsh, gritty slice of life drama ignited by a fiery showing from Katie Jervis who stuns in her debut role. Our own Michael Fassbender will make you want to kick your TV over.

Get Low   Thur   26/11   Sony Movies @ 16.50

When a hermit dies and receives an outpouring of good will at his funeral, another hermit decides he wants in on the lovefest so decides to stage his own funeral, while he's still alive enough to hear the compliments. A warm, funny and moving watch about the need for human contact even when you spend your life denying it. Robert Duvall and Sissy Spacek give us a pair of charming performances that remind us of why they've been around for so long.

Brief Encounter   Thur   26/11   BBC4 @ 20.30

A man and a woman fall in love with each other over a series of meetings in and around their railway station. The only problem is she's married and they live in an era where this just would not do. David Lean's 1945 drama is a masterpiece. One which will actually break your heart and maybe even ruin you day but it's so worth watching. Beautiful acting from Celia Johnson & Trevor Howard and a clever narrative twist make it one you'll remember for an age.

Patti Cake$   Fri   27/11   CH4 @ Midnight

Patricia Dombrowski, a.k.a. Killa P, a.k.a. Patti Cake$ is trying to become a rapper. She's a white girl from New Jersey and no one will take her seriously. So she knuckles down. This is a deadly film, one of the best of 2017, that on the surface looks silly and cringeworthy but a fiercely committed turn from Danielle MacDonald will have you begging for her to find the success she needs. Cathy Moriarty as her gran adds loads of fun.

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2020 is turning me into a big ol' sap

Two characters in a TV show I've been watching for almost a decade got together last night after being hovering around each other for years. I won't lie, I did a little woohoo when it happened. And then I almost started to fucking cry. This prick of a year is turning me into an awful sap. Yes I'm aware I'm using profanity to toughen this paragraph up. Some people cry watching DIY SOS, some get emotional during the Great British Bake Off, I turn into an eejit during Chicago Fire.

I swear to god, if either of these two characters gets killed off in the next episode I'll be on the first plane to Chi-Town to kick some ass.

The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special

A long  time ago in a galaxy far far away there used to be a yearly celebration called Life Day. It was a day celebrated across the universe when friends and family got together and forgot about Rancors, Sarlaac pits, Krayt dragons and of course THE EMPIRE. In the aftermath of Kylo Ren's death and the second destruction of Emperor Palpatine, Rey Skywalker is still trying to find her way in the world by training Finn and all he can think about is the upcoming celebration. She's frustrated by her skills as a teacher while Finn, Rose, Chewie and Poe all want to get a start on their holiday plans. The Jedi Scrolls rescued from Ahch-To speak of a time key that will help her travel through time to learn from other Jedi masters. It goes without saying everything goes wrong. In a delightful way.

Ok, first off, there's little new here and what is new probably won't be considered canon. The vast majority of this Lego Star Wars holiday special is made up of rejigged moments from all 9 of the films from the main saga and a wee visit to a certain popular TV show. But who cares when it's this much fun? As Rey falls through time she bumps into dozens of familiar faces and each bump causes it own little ripple effect. We get to see fan faves and faces not seen since 1983. Everyone you can think of pops up apart from that one reviled character who's name you can probably guess. Pitch perfect recreations of some of the most loved scenes in cinema whizz by and the injokes come thick and fast. From laughable words heard in the latest revisions to the 4K releases to huge winks about topless bad guys and a doubling down on one of THE most infamous deaths in the entire saga. There's fun here for everyone, from the adults watching since 1977 to the kids who's first Star Wars experience will be this special.

It's nice watching Star Wars and remembering how fun it can all be. The last 2 films (Rise Of Skywalker especially) went full dark and sucked most of the fun out of the universe but this special and The Mandalorian are bringing some of the joy back and remind us of why we fell in love with it all in the first place. If you're still haunted by memories of the 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special this new one will cut through them like a Sith Lord's lightsabre cutting through Ben Kenobi. (sorry)

Available on Disney + now.

A perfect pairing of sound & vision - Summer Of Sam & Dancing Queen

Spike Lee's Summer Of Sam was one of the best films of the 90's but it's all but forgotten these days. A drama based on the true story of David Berkowitz, a murderer who terrorised The Bronx and Queens during the scalding hot summer of 1977 and the Italian America characters who lives were effected by his actions. Chief among them are Vinny and Dionna, a couple trying their hardest to make their marriage work. Due to a repressive Catholic upbringing Vinny is having trouble sexually with Dionna and going elsewhere to get his kicks. Kicks he thinks he's keeping a secret. One night in an attempt to spice things up they take a trip to Plato's Retreat, a notorious swingers party in NYC and on the way home, everything comes spilling out. 

Warning - the language here may offend.

   

3 minutes and 50 seconds of brilliance. 3 minutes and 50 seconds, the exact length of the Abba song 'Dancing Queen' playing on the car radio. A joyous anthem scoring the absolute disintegration of a marriage. Vinny, who's fucked his way across the Bronx can't cope with the jealousy of what he's just seen and he erupts. He's the dictionary definition of a hypocrite and he expression says he knows it when Dionna lets loose with the knowledge she's been hiding throughout the film. If he'd any bit of cop on they'd be in a club dancing to the song playing but here they are, roaring at each other in the middle of a cemetary, a fitting place for the death of their relationship. Watch his face at the start and look at hers. He's a portrait of disgust and she's as meek as a mouse. Then as the song comes to a crescendo the tables turn. Dionna's in charge now and Vinny's the pathetic figure chasing her. She's the queen. She's won't be dancing with Vinny anymore.

Spike Lee gave Mira Sorvino and John Leguizamo a general idea of what he wanted in this scene and let them loose to improvise. This was the result. An amazing pairing of sound & vision.

Previous pairings 

Vamp

American Me

Beetlejuice

Rio Bravo

Hard Boiled
8 mile
Wheels On Meals
The Office (UK)
Do The Right Thing
Se7en
Mad Men
The Colour Of Money
Rules Of Attraction

Jackass II

Game Of Thrones 

Apocalypse Now

Blade

Big
Miller's Crossing

The Blues Brothers

Straight Outta Compton

The Princess Bride

American Honey

Snake In The Eagle's Shadow

On Her Majesty's Secret Service

The Untouchables

Airplane!

Dazed And Confused  

Kickboxer                                  

Grosse Point Blank

Mean Streets

Watership Down

Casablanca

Zodiac

Jackie Brown
The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
Deliverance
The Omen
Copland
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
The Mission

Before Sunset

Carlito's Way
A Knight's Tale
Platoon
Before Sunrise
Rushmore
An American Werewolf In London
Dazed And Confused
Boogie Nights
Raging Bull
Almost Famous
Once Upon A Time In The West
Goodfellas

Last Of The Mohicans

Video Nasty Rewatch part 15 - Don't Go In the Woods.....alone!

The 15th video nasty ends on an intriguing shot. A child alone in the woods playing with a hatchet. Earlier in the film she was kidnapped and her mother was butchered in front of her. Now her kidnapper is dead and she's all alone, with only this blunt tool for company. Is the film suggesting she'll grow up to be a murderer too? That violence is cyclical and it's ripple effects far reaching? You might think that from the description given, but if you watch the entirety of this piece of shit you'll probably want to slap me for suggesting this film has even an inkling of a brain.

2 couples (Peter, Joanne, Ingrid and Craig) are heading off into the woods of .....we never find..... for a hiking holiday. The scenery is glorious, the air is sweet and the spring water is clear and cold. Until it's all splashed with bloody viscera. Someone is hunting down the holiday makers in the area and no one knows why. Artists painting the scenery are knifed through their canvasses, honeymooners are beaten to a pulp, men lose their limbs and get thrown off waterfalls while woman are hunted and gutted like hogs. One man in a wheelchair who's somehow made it to the top of the mountain is even decapitated before he can begin to take in the view. Finally, in a twist on slasher movie tropes, only Peter and Ingrid are left and to survive they have to become as vicious as the killer himself.

Every single aspect of Don't Go In The Woods.....alone! is inept. It's a blend of Friday The 13th, The Burning and Just Before Dawn and not a patch on any of them. The bad guy looks like the laughable love child of the cast of The Hills Have Eyes and Mad Max 2. Honestly, you'll burst out laughing at him. The acting is putrid, the sound is tinny, the editing was seemingly done by a chimp with a scissors, the vast majority of the kills - the fucking Raison D'etre of a slasher movie ffs are so shoddily shot you can barely see what's happening and the gore consists of red paint splashed on trees and clay. It's all hilarious. It's a perfect film to get drunk to. Weird overdubbed accent - do a shot. Confusing editing - do a shot. What the hell is going on? - do a shot. It's hard to imagine anyone getting any enjoyment out of this one sober.

There's one scene though where Joanne is butchered that's rather intense and it's no doubt this scene that got the film in trouble with the BBFC and the DPP. Looking at it now it's pretty tame (the film has a 15 certificate these days) but back in the early 80's it was strong stuff. A shrieking woman alone in a cabin being slashed to bits in a prolonged attack by a machete wielding maniac was always going to ring bells in a political climate terrified of video violence. It's effect is of course blunted by how badly it's all staged but context never mattered during the video nasty witch hunt.

Would I recommend this one? Yeah, but only so you could laugh at it's godawfulness. Plus it's lack of sexual violence and real life animal cruelty make it more palatable than some of the other nasties.

Did it deserve it's video nasty status? No, but I can see why it fell afoul of the DPP.

Next up? THE DRILLER KILLER. The film who's artwork started all this nasty madness. And the film that unleashed director Abel Ferrera on the world

Wolfwalkers

Kilkenny, 300 years before Brian Cody civilised it, was a dangerous place. Cramped, dirty streets were patrolled by English soldiers supervised by the Lord Commander (a thinly veiled Oliver Cromwell voiced sneeringly by Simon McBurney). Surrounding the city were wild forests, gnarled, overgrown places filled with wolves that feasted on the livestock in the fields under the city walls. Entrusted with slaying these wolves was Bill Goodfellowe (Sean Bean), a British soldier and hunter who lived in the city with his daughter Robyn. Sick of her household chores she one day follows her father into the trees and discovers a mystical world in the caves beneath the forest. A mystical world that she's introduced to by a young girl called Mebh Óg MacTíre (Eva Whittaker), a young girl with a distinctly lupine presence.

Wolfwalkers, the latest creation from Kilkenny's Cartoon Saloon and directors Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart is a beautiful thing. A funny, thrilling & heartfelt slice of Celtic mysticism that will leave you buzzing as it's credits roll. It's the fourth animated film from Cartoon Saloon and once again they've nailed it. Any single frame of this lovingly crafted film would hang proudly on your wall, then there's the music, the design, the wonderfully drawn characters, all of it just hits the spot, coming together like a gorgeous tapestry. There's Robyn, the young girl who feels there has to be more to a woman's life than what society expects of them, Bill, the loving father who's terrified for his daughter growing up in a land where her accent will only bring her hate, the hilarious woodcutter Sean Óg (Tommy Tiernan) who's ill advised rant lands him in a very public spot and Mebh, a super creation, a feral but fun loving young Wolfwalker who craves townie treats (bread) and wants to 'ate the people who stole her mammy' from her. 

These are the people who populate the story, a deftly plotted tale that weaves magic and real life history together in a way that never feels forced or preachy. As with Cartoon Saloon's previous two Ireland set films this one is all about our ancient Hibernian ties with the magical side of life but here we see how colonialism tore it away from us, replacing it with civility and order and servitude. The wolves and wolfwalkers represent a freer existence, one that Robyn is striving for and when she gets a taste of it, her life becomes joyous and we get to have a lot of fun on her journey. A journey represented in a sparsely sketched POV that will just drop your jaw. Of course all fun things must can to an end and when the nefarious Lord Commander catches wind of the prowling, growling world outside the city walls the film veers off into more familiar but still thrilling territory with shifting aspect ratios and comic book style framing amping up the action in a stylish manner. Honestly, you'll be giddy watching it all play out.

Animated films live or die with their voice acting and here it's pitch perfect. Honor Kneafsey and Sean Bean bring gentle Northern tones that suit their characters perfectly, McBurney radiates menace as the baddie but it's little Eva Whittaker who steals the show as Mebh, her untamed accent and wild red mane melding together. She's just fantastic, a funny and vicious facade hiding a broken wee heart. Watching her and Robyn together would melt the coldest of us and later on when we get to see what she's really capable of, you'll be gnawing the nails off yourself as the Brits (never not at it) set their sight on her. It's a film that will stir the emotions of everyone in it's audience, the kids who'll love the colour and the sense of adventure and the adults who'll appreciate it's thematic richness.

Wolfwalkers is coming to Apple TV on the 11th of December. Hopefully it will get a cinema release next month to but your guess is as good as mine as to whether government restrictions ease. What ever way you do choose to watch it, it's a glorious way to spend your time.

Greenland

Remember that vague sense of panic back in March when all the shops almost ran out of toilet paper and chocolate? That feeling in the air that reaching for a 9 pack of Andrex could get you punched in the face. Now imagine the terror you'd feel in Tesco if there was a planet killing asteroid heading towards Earth. There you have it, that's what watching Greenland will do to you.

The Gerrity's have been having a shitty time of it lately. Marriage troubles forced John (Gerard Butler) and Allison (Morena Baccarin) apart but they're trying to reconcile for the sake of their young son Nathan (Roger Dale Floyd). To make things feel some bit normal they've decided to host a party for their neighbours where they'll gather and watch the skies for the passing of a comet called Clarke, an event news agencies have been hyping up to the max. The thing is though, it's not passing, it's headed right for Earth, something governments have known for years but declined to mention so as not to cause mass panic. A panic that kicks off instantly the second cities start being wiped off the map. John, a structural engineer is contacted by the government and informed his family is being transported to a shelter. There's only one problem - actually getting there. 

Michael Bay and Roland Emmerich ruined disasters movies for us. They make films that revel in the almost pornographic destruction of recognisable cities and tourist landmarks. The people inhabiting these places are a mere passing thought to them. Greenland thankfully does things different with director Ric Roman Waugh instead focusing on the people instead of the problem. He paints an intimate portrait of epic destruction. The camera stays on our leads (almost) throughout, with death and destruction only ever seen in the distance or during news reports. It keeps the story at a human level, keeps us involved and keeps the fear factor high throughout. And believe me, it does get rather nerve wracking at times. Comets aside, watching civilisation crumbling onscreen feels a lot different in a year where real life is verging on it, especially in America, at all times.

Annoyingly though, some of the stupidity that plagued other big budget CGI strewn disaster films crops up here too. Big plot points from earlier in the film become null and void as the climax draws near, one especially will make your eyes spin in their sockets and our leads get themselves out of strife with big coincidences more than once but let's be honest, to complain about stupidity in a disaster film is churlish, especially one that dares to change things up from the norm. This is a disaster film where you'll remember the smaller moments instead of the scenes of carnage. A conversation between neighbours played out mostly with hand movements, two fathers whispering in a barn, an intensely stressful night-time wander on a busy road, a crying child struggling to speak out and the little slivers of human kindness sprinkled throughout that stop the film becoming too dark. 

The smaller moments work because we've spent all our time with our 3 main characters and the cast sells the stress well. It's the done thing lately to piss on any film Butler crops up in but here he's the everyman and he's quite believable in the part. Morena Baccarin thankfully gets a lot more to do than be the wife waiting to be saved and young Roger Dale Floyd really gets put through his paces. Together the three of them work and for once you'll be invested in the human side and not just waiting for the next CGI setpiece.

Greenland is streaming online now. It's one of those films you watch expecting one thing and then 30 minutes in you realise it's actually good. A nice surprise.

17 films on TV this week that will do good things to your eyes

What Richard Did   Sat   14/11   RTE2 @ 22.45

The story of a young man and his friends and their lives leading up to a night out in Dublin that goes very very wrong. It's all about how privilege will ruin you and still protect you. A wonderfully acted film about a part of Irish society that we rarely see in film. Jack Reynor is excellent in the title role and is surrounded by a rock solid cast of familiar faces who all got their start here. My favourite Irish film of this century.

Juno   Sat   14/11   TG4 @ 22.50

Juno is 16 & she's pregnant. The baby's father is a terrified 16 year old too. Juno's parents are angry but supportive. She's going to give the baby up for adoption. She thinks. Diablo Cody's 2007 comedy drama is a lovely watch. Hilarious, upsetting, warm, clever and with a killer soundtrack. Ellen Page plays Juno flawlessly and the cast of Michael Cera, Allison Janney, Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner and J.K. Simmons all do splendid work.

The Ritual   Sat   14/11   CH4 @ 23.45

A year after a terrible tragedy a group of lifelong friends go hiking into the Scandinavian wilderness and encounter something no-one should ever have to encounter. A story that starts out unsettling and ultimately ends up rather silly but one that stays gripping throughout due to well sketched characters brought to life by a nice cast that includes Sam Troughton, Arsher Ali and an effective Rafe Spall. You'll stay away from the woods for a while after this.

The Manchurian Candidate   Sun   15/11   BBC2 @ 00.10

Prisoners of war return from capture in the Korean War to America. But all is not well. To say anymore might spoil this magnificent piece of neo-noir. A truly suspenseful film, intelligent, inventive, paranoid, complex and deeply layered. Fabulous acting abounds. Frank Sinatra gives one of his best performances but the star of the show is Angela Lansbury. Her character is quite the creation, you won't be able to look away from her.

Time Bandits   Sun   15/11   Film4 @ 13.30

A young boy finds himself on the adventure of a lifetime when he teams up with a group of time travellers on the run from their master. A brilliant piece of fantasy from the minds behind Monty Python and a pretty much perfect family film for a rainy sunday. A dreamlike & bizarre film in places but so so much fun. And the cast is mighty, a who's who of deadly English actors. There's too many to name here so i won't bother. 

Pompeii   Sun   15/11   Syfy @ 21.00

The year is 79AD. A slave turned gladiator in Pompeii has caught the eye of the daughter of a high born merchant. Can anything come of their love? Especially with the nearby mountain making some ominous noises. Ignore the reviews, Paul W.S. Anderson's action drama is a joy, filled with crunchy battles, some super effects and a genuinely affecting romance. Kit Harrington, Emily Browning and Kiefer Sutherland all have a whale of a time.

Don't Breathe   Sun   15/11   CH4 @ Midnight

Three thieves break into the house of a man they assume will be an easy target. Man oh man were they wrong. Will any of them live to see sunlight again? This 2016 horror thriller, despite a very icky and unsettling subplot, is a real nailbiter of a watch especially if you're bothered by the dark or small places. Steve Lang is a ghoulish baddie and you'll want Jane Levy to survive even though she's a thieving little fecker. 

Joy Ride   Mon   16/11   The Horror Channel @ 21.00

Three teenage friends are on a roadtrip across America. A prank involving a CB radio puts them on the radar of a murderous trucker and their trip takes a dangerous turn that sees them running for their lives. This 2001 horror is a criminally underrated one and one that gets its scares from slow burn tension and suspense instead of cheap shocks and splatter. Leelee Sobieski, Steve Zahn and the late Paul Walker all do decent work

Before Midnight   Mon   16/11   TG4 @ 21.30

While on a holiday in Greece a couple begin to question the decisions that brought them together and to this place in their lives. This is the third in the Before Trilogy and it's a powerful way to finish the story of Jesse & Celine. It's a sharp and very well written story that feels painfully real. Julie Delpy & Ethan Hawke are outstanding as the leads and Richard Linklater's direction is the icing on the cake. If you've seen the first two films you'll get a lot more from this.

Shoplifters   Mon   16/11   Film4  @ 23.10

A Japanese couple are struggling to make ends meet and have taken to petty theft to keep themselves fed and clothed. One night they take in an abused neighbour child and things become rather troubled. Hirokazu Kore-eda's film about his country's societal mores and family love is a stunner, a warm look at a cold culture that will leave you rattled by it's end. Lily Franky and Miyu Sasaki are both brilliant.

The Nice Guys   Tues   17/11   RTE2 @ 21.30

The death of a porn star and the case of a missing woman bring two very different private investigators together in 1970's Los Angeles. Shane Black's 2016 film is a touch overlong and a little bit muddled but it is an amusing and surprisingly violent watch held aloft by two solid performances from Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe who bounce off each other well and Crowe especially displays some hitherto unknown comedy chops.

Goodbye, Columbus   Tues   17/11   Talking Pictures TV @ 22.00

A man and woman meet and fall in love in late 60's New Jersey. He's an ex soldier and she's a student. Both are Jewish but they still come from very different worlds and find that social classes are very much a thing. This adaption of Philip Roth' story is a bitingly honest look at how love sometimes just isn't enough for a relationship to work. Ali McGraw does well in her debut movie but Richard Benjamin steals the show.

Happy As Lazzaro   Wed   18/11   CH4 @ 02.05

Lazzaro is an Italian farmer and he has such a decent soul that people think he's a fool they can take advantage of. He gets involved with a lively nobleman who has a cunning plan and then things take a.......well you'll just have to watch won't you. The second hour of this may enrage some but it will fill others with a sense of fun and wonder. You won't see anything else like this anytime soon. Adriano Tardiolo is a superb lead.

Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll   Wed   18/11   BBC4 @ 22.00

A biopic of Ian Dury, a man who overcame the ravages of polio to build himself a successful music career in the hey day of the 1970's UK punk scene. Dury is played to perfection by Andy Serkis in a rare non CGI role. A wee bit livelier and entertaining than your usual musical biopic due to a welcome weird edge. The supporting cast nails it too with loads of well known UK actors like Naomie Harris, Ray Winstone and Olivia Colman.

Out Of The Furnace   Thur   19/11   CH4 @ 01.00

Living in America's Rust Belt is tough and two brothers dream of getting away from the misery but cruelly life always manages to get in the way of their best laid plans. Christian Bale and Casey Affleck make for a cracking pair of leads in this tough and violent thriller about a side of the American dream that rarely makes it to the big screen. Zoe Saldana and an evil Woody Harrelson round out a fine cast.

The Shallows   Fri   20/11   Film4 @ 22.50

While surfing by herself in a deserted Mexican cove, Nancy is attacked by a great white shark. Trapped on a tiny rocky outcrop she must use her wits to survive the encounter. This was really enjoyable stuff, scary, nerve wracking and of course spectacularly silly (do not watch this expecting anything serious) but Blake Lively as Nancy sells the fear and eventually the inner strength needed to take on mother nature at her fiercest. 

The Passenger   Fri   20/11   Talking Pictures TV @ Midnight

David's in Saharan Africa making a war documentary but he can't find anyone to talk about the conflict. When an acquaintance dies suddenly he decides to try a different way of getting people to open up. This film rarely gets a TV showing so now's a chance to experience Michelangelo Antonioni's surreal, unique and beautiful film. It's not for everyone but it's worth a watch. Jack Nicholson and Maria Schneider do good things in the lead roles.

An aul retweet is always appreciated if you find this helpful. Cheers.

Ranking the Friday the 13th films

For the day that's in it.

It's hard to believe there's 12 of these films. It's even harder to believe there hasn't been a 13th made.

They aren't ranked highly among film fans, even horror fans tend to mock them but honestly I love 'em. Well not all of them, a couple of them are downright dreadful but they have a certain charm. It's a plain old story of good vs evil, black and white and no shades of gray.

It all began in Camp Crystal Lake in 1957. A young boy with special needs drowned while the two camp counselors who were supposed to be looking after the swimming children snuck away to have it off. The boy who died was Jason Voorhees and his death drove his mother Pamela insane. The following year she killed the two guilty counselors causing a scandal that closed the camp for the next 22 years. In 1980 it reopened and would you believe it, the new arrivals were once again butchered until one woman managed to fight back and decapitate Pamela. The killing spree was over. Or so we thought. It turns out Jason didn't die. He was living in the woods all along and now he wants revenge for his mother's death. Nothing can stop him, not even death itself.

The 12 films are ranked below from worst to best.

Friday The 13th Part 5 : A New Beginning.

Dreadful. A Jason-less attempt to take the franchise in a new direction that tried to cover up it's extreme deficiencies with big dollops of nudity. Oh and the 50's greasers scene has to be seen to be believed.

Friday The 13th Part III

The 3d gimmick adds fun to the kills but the appalling acting ruins it all. Only notable for the first appearance of Jason in his trademark hockey mask.

Friday The 13th Part 7 :The New Blood

Dull as dishwater and totally neutered by censor cuts to all of its kills. A bloodless Friday The 13th film. What is the point?  And speaking of pointless.

Friday The 13th (Remake/Reboot)

A modern day reboot that amps up the sex and violence but one that adds nothing new to the mix at all. Made to cash in on the popularity of it's lead Jared Padalecki but no one bothered to watch it. Plus Jason's a drug grower. No....just no.

Friday The 13th Part 8 : Jason Takes Manhattan

By part 8 the franchise had accepted it's silliness and decided to up sticks to mix things up. Sadly it takes nearly 80% of the films runtime to get to NYC but there's plenty of fun to be had when it gets there.

Friday The 13th

The original film isn't the best for once but it's still a decent slasher with some genuinely effective jump scares and Tom Savini's gooey special effects make the kills sing. Kevin Bacon's demise is especially nasty.

Friday The 13th Part 2

Part 2 is a part 1 redux but it improves on it in every way. Better characters, better scares and better kills. Plus two of the kills are flat out stolen from Mario Bava's A Bay Of Blood. That's always fun.

Freddy Vs Jason 

This clash of franchises does something rare. It makes Jason the good guy. Kind of. The funniest film of the bunch by far "That goalie was pissed!!"

Friday The 13th Part 4 : The Final Chapter

Brilliantly crunchy Tom Savini effects, a well placed storyline, a fun turn from a baby faced Corey Feldman and an unhinged Crispin Glover performance (that dance scene) turns part 4 into the best of the early episodes.

Jason Goes To Hell : The Final Friday

The franchise's second attempt to go in a different direction was quite successful as the supernatural is fully embraced and the gore is upped to an almost obscene level. Almost.

Friday The 13th Part 6 : Jason Lives

Part 6 is when F13 stopped taking itself seriously and it's so much fun as a result. Zombie Jason, paintball kills, triple decapitations, the Bond spoof opening. Loadsa laughs.

Jason X

Jason in space. Yep. Number 10 fully embraces insanity and we win. Frozen heads, holographic replays of the franchises most iconic kills, a David Cronenberg cameo and the hockey masked shooting star. A perfect beer and spicebag movie.

What's your fave of the bunch?