Author: thrillersuspense

If you long for something that occurred at the perfect intersection between sanctimonious morality tale and harrowing existential horror, you’d probably find Roger Corman’s adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Masque of the Red Death delivers exactly what you’re looking for. To describe this film is to attempt to put a saddle on one of […]… Continue reading The Masque of the Red Death (1964) — Movies Unchained

The cinema of Mike Leigh has always been something I’ve been so deeply fascinated by, with his work being pivotal in my development to truly appreciate the art of filmmaking. One of the first encounters I had with Leigh was when I stumbled upon Vera Drake just after its initial release. Too young to fully […]… Continue reading Vera Drake (2004) — Movies Unchained

“He may be a servant, but he’s also a human” These words occur at a crucial moment in The Servant, the first of three collaborations between acclaimed playwright Harold Pinter and exiled American director Joseph Losey. They may appear to be an obvious, perhaps even painfully gauche, sentiment – but they happen almost concurrently to […]… Continue reading The Servant (1963) — Movies Unchained

When you’ve made arguably one of the greatest films of all time, a director is normally allowed to do anything he or she decides is worth their time, granted its within reasonable limits, and maintains some kind of artistic integrity. Vittorio De Sica is the mind behind Bicycle Thieves, a film that not only stands […]… Continue reading Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (1963) — Movies Unchained

“He looks like a normal person. If we met in a café, I’d never suspect it” The person being described here is Amadeo (José Isbert), a humble old man who is on his way to retirement after years of service to his craft. What most people don’t realize when they see him walking through the […]… Continue reading The Executioner (1963) — Movies Unchained

The Crawthorne State Mental Hospital is an institution that specializes in housing and treating children with mental handicaps. It’s run by the stern but dedicated Dr Clark (Burt Lancaster), a serious doctor who does his best to care for the children put under his care. He soon finds himself dealing with a new set of […]… Continue reading A Child is Waiting (1963) — Movies Unchained

If there was ever any testament to the endless talents of Alfred Hitchcock, it was that he managed to take an utterly absurd premise, a pair of uncharismatic leads, a shrill supporting cast and dated special effects and turn it into inarguably one of the greatest horror films ever made. There’s no need to wax […]… Continue reading The Birds (1963) — Movies Unchained

I have now returned to work to pour pints to people who tell me that Coronavirus is a myth. Yippie. I guess that means my lockdown is over. However, for all of you still stuck with your bottoms on sofas, here is some inspiration for what to switch on that screen you’ve been ogling for […]… Continue reading Lockdown Cinema — INFLICT

“Just Mercy” reminds us of the inherent worth of all human beings and that we are all more than our worst misdeed. It pleads for justice but also for mercy and unmerited grace. And if you’re going to pour the moralizing on a little thick, that seems like a pretty good lesson to double down on.… Continue reading The power and grace of “Just Mercy” — Static and Screen

Could another filmmaker have told this story with more nuance? Almost certainly. Would it have been better? I’m not sure. In telling the stories of serial abusers like Ailes, nuance can feel a little bit like using kid gloves. Sometimes, you need to scream these stories from the rooftops in order to get your point… Continue reading “Bombshell” is not subtle, nor should it be — Static and Screen