Adrian Charlton Hammer Film Productions created a wide variety of films, but the company will always be associated with its classic horrors of the 1950s-70s, which revived the great cinematic terrors in vivid colour. They were atmospheric, exciting, and (for their time) scary. But historical accuracy probably wasn’t high on the list of priorities. … Continue reading
Fighting racial tensions – in a single take
Racial tensions of the past and present are thrown into the spotlight in Red White and Black, the new single by Californian singer-songwriter Jesca Hoop and the stunning video that accompanies it. Directed by Elia Petridis, the video – better described as a short film – is an epic fight scene, shot in a single … Continue reading
Feature films, shorts and more – a busy year for Mhairi
One of the busiest actors around, Mhairi Calvey has an exceptionally busy year ahead, even by her standards. Last year, Mhairi spoke to me about her 25-year career, which began with a role in the Oscar-winning Braveheart. This year, she has four feature films due for release! Continue reading
There’s No Way Out (and I’m actually ‘in’)
If there’s one thing more exciting than reading the latest Cara Hunter thriller, it’s being in the latest Cara Hunter thriller. That’s the honour bestowed upon me by my dear friend, the mind-bogglingly talented author of the best-selling Adam Fawley novels. Continue reading
The Tattooist – it’s short, but not short of horrors
Michael Wong, the Malaysian film-maker whose debut short The Story of 90 Coins picked up a host of awards (and was reviewed on this blog!), has released his second film – and it marks quite a change of direction. While 90 Coins was an engaging romance which ran to nine minutes, The Tattooist is a … Continue reading
Fergus Riordan: bridging the artistic gaps from behind the lens
Fergus Riordan was a childhood movie star, but now he is more at home behind the camera. The Madrid-based artist, born to British parents, appeared in I Want to be a Soldier (2010), Fragiles (2005), Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011), and most recently Don’t Grow Up (2015). Now his creativity is taking him in … Continue reading
Rediscovering Sparrows Can’t Sing and its cast of future stars
It’s interesting to watch an old film and spot a future star in a small role. I noticed some of Hollywood’s biggest names when I rewatched Annie Hall, and recently I enjoyed a whole cast of soon-to-be-big actors in the British comedy-drama Sparrows Can’t Sing. This is a fascinating film in many ways. I hadn’t … Continue reading
Swansea Jazz Festival takes time out
Around this time of year, I’m usually looking forward to the announcement of the line-up for the Swansea International Jazz Festival, but not this year. Sadly, the festival isn’t going ahead in 2019. Continue reading
A haunted house and killer clowns – the Mychoverse continues
As British indie horror company Mycho Entertainment prepares to unleash two new feature films, I spoke to Professor Mycho himself, MJ Dixon, about Bannister DollHouse and CleaverS: KIller Clowns, as well as the films that went before them and those to come. I was an associate producer on Mycho’s Slasher House 2 (2016) and am … Continue reading
A spooky old house and vampire eroticism – it’s almost like Hammer time again
What could be better than an intelligent, high quality new movie in the tradition of classic British horror, with familiar faces among the cast and set in a spooky old mansion? How about a large format graphic novel version of that movie, based on stills from the film? Continue reading