The Selfish Giant (2013)

Female director Clio Barnard directs what essentially is a contemporary fable about two working class 13 year old boys who after getting into endless trouble at home and school seek to earn money by getting involved with a local scrap dealer and criminal. Unfortunately things turn out tragically for all involved. Gritty and totally engaging, with some stand out performances by the lead cast. 

7/10

In Fear (2013)

A young couple take a detour on their way to a music festival in Ireland. Being the first weekend getaway as a couple, the two plan to stay one night in a remote hotel, but all too quickly find themselves getting lost in a never ending maze of backwood roads with wrong directions. This soon transcends into panic as night draws in and they realise someone's out to torment and terrorise them. With elements of Blair Witch, Texas Chainsaw and the Hitcher this is a surprisingly atmospheric chiller. Definitely worth a watch.

6/10

Cropsey (2010)

A powerful, dark and upsetting documentary about Staten Island's urban legend; the Cropsey Maniac that later came true when children started disappearing shortly after the closure of Hudson Valley. Linked with the horrible conditions at this mental home that neglected so many children with special needs, the documentary touches on how Staten Island was the biggest dumping ground for New York and if Andre Rand was the real killer or just a drifter with his own issues that was far to easy to blame.

7/10

American Scream (2012)

A touching portrayal of the endless struggle for perfection, as the residents of a small town in Massachusetts get ready for Halloween and their own Haunted Houses for the public to enjoy. This documentary delves deeply into the fun and enjoyment of being scared, the community spirit around the holiday and ultimately 'why' the residents do what they do. 

7/10

You're Next (2011)

Better than average yet sill fairly pointless home invasion movie directed by Adam Wingard (A Horrible Way To Die). A family renuin gets invaded by violent masked men, picking off the family one by one until, one surprising member starts fighting back. Good action and some good kills, with an actual ending and a point to it all. 

6/10

Carrie (2013)

Directed by the promising Kimberley Pierce, this fairly rigid remake of the Stephen King classic sees Carrie White, a withdrawn girl outcast by her school friends and sheltered by her over religious mother, unleash telekinetic atrocities on her small town after being subjected to constant taunts and bullying. Unfortunately this works really well in places, but in its traditionally most tense moments, including the finale, its a bit of a let down. With the overriding question of 'why remake a classic' hanging over this, it unfortunately doesn't offer anything new. Good lead performances but the original is still untouched.

5/10

Red White & Blue 2010)

Written and directed by Simon Rumley this fairly straight forward yet massively bleak film follows a disaffected and promiscuous Erica as she sleeps with a series of nameless men, until one day she is befriended by a Mansonesque guy called Nate (played brilliantly by Noah Taylor) an ex-Iraq war veteran with a sociopath's streak. Set in Austin Texas, it's fairly hard nosed, gripping and definitely unflinching. Not a masterpiece but a definate cut above the rest in the genre. 

6.5/10

Grabbers (2012)

Jon Wright directs this Sci-Fi Comedy, whereby an island off the coast of Ireland is invaded by bloodsucking aliens. Playing on some traditional stereotypes the heroes discover that getting drunk is the only way to survive. It's a decent mix of prosthetic and CGI effects, the mosters cool with knods to films like Alien and Jaws. It's a decent film with no great floors it just didn't do it for me personally. Maybe more drink was needed. 

4/10

Mortified Nation (2013)

Directed by Michael Mayer, this documentary focuses on the Mortified stage shows whereby adults share their most embarrassing teenage diary writings and art in front of total strangers across the country. The shows popularity says a lot about us all and in some ways the film aside from its traditional film qualities, has so much more merit through how it speaks to us as humans. Some parts are genuinely laugh out loud funny while others very touching. 

8/10 

Byzantium (2013)

This was great as when I sat down to watch it, I had completely forgotten what I had read. This only added to the enjoyment as Neil Jordan directs an intelligent take on the vampire genre. Two mysterious women seek refuge in a run-down coastal resort, making a new home for themselves in the deserted guesthouse, Byzantium. As their secrets untangle the past catches up with them with deathly consequences. Not normally my cup of tea, but there's lots to like here, including some great cinematography. 

7/10

The Act Of Killing (2012)

Joshua Oppenheimer & Christine Cynn alongside a mostly anonymous crew demonstrate the genuine true power of well made cinema. 'The Act Of Killing' is simply draw dropping cinema. 8 years in the making, it's profoundly surreal, disturbing, terrorfying and upsetting yet always compelling and challenging. In its most simplistic synopsis the documentary lets former leaders of Indonesian Death Squads reinact the killings of millions of Communists after the government was overpowered by the military in 1965. All the extras which include Joshua talking through the scenes and how the film has been received are also essential viewing. Overall, this really is essential cinema.

10/10 

Incidious: Chapter 2 (2013)

Directed by James Wan who also directed the equally disapointing 'The Conjuring' and with the same cast as it's predecessor, part two continues this supernatural thriller of a tormented family plagued by an evil spirit. With obvious knods to both 'The Shining' and 'Poltegeist' it fails to really be scary in any real sense, and although it seems to follow on nicely from the first film with no obvious plot floors, it unfortunately, like 'The Conjuring' comes across as 'a bit silly'. Reasonably fun, but ultimately to throw away to remain in ones conscious for more than a day, if not a few hours. 

4/10