'The Hallow' Review

When you think of horror films on an international scale, you tend to associate certain countries with a specific subgenre or films with certain characteristics. Italy has its giallo films with their black leather gloves and colourful cinematography, Japan has J-horror usually focusing on spirits from their folklore or containing graphic violence, but what springs to mind when you hear 'Irish horror'? Well generally you tend to recall Warwick Davis running around in a leprechaun costume in those god awful Leprechaun films and not much else. Sure, the past couple of years have seen the gory comedy-horror Stitches and the comedic alien film Grabbers, both severely entertaining but nothing truly horrific. However, this may be about to change with the release of Corin Hardy's suspenseful creature feature The Hallow. The British filmmaker presents us with a dark insight into the world of Irish folklore set against the backdrop of a beautiful forest setting in a film that has a lot of atmosphere and plenty of scares for all.
The film follows British conservationist Adam Hitchens (Joseph Mawle) and his wife Claire (Bojana Novakovic) who move into an old house in rural Ireland along with their newborn child so that Adam can survey the forest for future construction. However, this disturbs the forests demonic inhabitants and the family find themselves in a desperate fight for survival against the creatures of the hallow. Mawle's performance is reminiscent of Jack Torrance, closer to the book version rather than Jack Nicholson's portrayal. He is a loving family man who finds himself slowly becoming something more malevolent which leaves him not only fighting against the dark forces around them but also against himself. Mawle gives us a transformation that is both convincing and harrowing to watch, only backed up by his co-star Novakovic's performance as his wife. The two have a convincing onscreen chemistry that only makes the events of the film more emotionally gripping. The film also sees appearances from Game of Thrones star Michael McElhatton and the always entertaining Michael Smiley who seemed a bit underused in the film.
The film is a slow burner and it seems to take forever for something to actually happen, which can be quite tedious at times; even when the creatures do appear it can feel a bit repetitive to watch, but there are a few memorable scenes. The creatures themselves are beautifully grotesque like something straight out of a Guillermo Del Toro film and when we finally do see them onscreen they bring with them many memorable scenes such as a very Fulci-esque scene involving eyes. The stunning woodland setting is only enhanced by the dark cinematography which combine to give the film an extremely tense atmosphere throughout, reminiscent of the remake of The Evil Dead. This makes the rather monotonous first act a bit more pleasing as it at least gives us something attractive to look at. The story utilizes this rural setting and the folklore surrounding it and combines it with more contemporary themes such as forestry and the environment so that it helps to make the ancient folklore more engaging for modern audiences.
The Hallow is a film that draws clear inspiration from many earlier horror films that have been previously mentioned, however it is in itself it's own film and one of the few films out there to give a dark and creepy representation of Irish folklore. It does not conform to the excessive use of zombies, vampires or ghosts that we see continuously nowadays, instead it presents us with these original creatures that bring a sense of horror to the alluring woodland setting. It's two leads give an excellent performance although one can't help feel like the talents of supporting actors McElhatton and Smiley could have been used more. Although it is tedious to begin with and repetitive at times, The Hallow is both a suspenseful and dark horror film that has many moments that will make audiences jump or hide behind their hands. This original take on the creature feature subgenre displays Corin Hardy's skills as a director and gives us a little more faith in his remake of The Crow, if it ever makes it out of development hell.

3.5/5.

2016: Year of the Hero

We live in a generation where comic book adaptations are becoming more and more frequent as the years go by. This year was no exception with the likes of Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ant-Man and the rather disappointing Fantastic 4 or Fant4stic or whatever you want to call it, but it's best we forget that last one. Now with 2015 coming to an end very soon it is time to look forward to next years array of super hero films, and oh boy are there a lot. 2016 will see the likes of Batman, Superman, Spiderman and the X-men all appearing on the big screen in a range of different films from both DC and Marvel. The latter has been dominating the super hero genre for the past couple of years while DC has been rather quiet since Man of Steel in 2013, so it will be interesting seeing new films from both sides hitting theaters over the course of the year. Here are the super hero films we have to look forward to in the coming year.

Deadpool

Release Date: February 12 2016.

What's it about?

Special Forces operative Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) takes part in a dangerous experiment that leaves him horribly disfigured but grants him special abilities such as accelerated healing powers and the power to break the fourth wall.

Why you should be excited:

Deadpool is one of Marvel's mot popular characters, his comics being infamous for their graphic violence and dark humour, so it was rather disappointing seeing how he was portrayed in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. However, Ryan Reynolds has been given a second chance to shine as a more faithful version of the merc with a mouth. Along with the film's R-rating it's guaranteed to be off-the-wall and extremely graphic so if you liked films like Kick-Ass  then you should be excited for this. The trailer can be viewed here.

Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice

Release Date: March 25 2016.

What's it about?

After the events of Man of Steel, the vigilante Batman (Ben Affleck) aka billionaire Bruce Wayne grows suspicious of the mysterious Kryptonian (Henry Cavill). This leads to a clash of the titans between the two before they ultimately unite to face a greater enemy.

Why you should be excited:

I mean come on, who hasn't dreamed of seeing Batman and Superman team up on the big screen? They are arguably two of DC's greatest characters and seeing them together onscreen is sure to be monumental. Along with them are fellow heroes such as Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) and Aquaman (Jason Moama) as well as the criminal mastermind Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg). Many are skeptical however due to Man of Steel's poor reception and the casting choice of Ben Affleck as Batman. Personally I think Affleck is a great choice and I would advise people to have faith in director Zack Snyder, the man who brought Watchmen to the big screen. The trailer can be viewed here.

Captain America: Civil War

Release Date: May 6 2016.

What's it about?

Loosely based on the iconic Civil War story arc from the comics, the film will focus on a division between the superheroes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Some of them side with Captain America (Chris Evans) while others side with Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) and judging from the recently released trailer the division has something to do with former Winter Soldier, Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan).

Why you should be excited:

The Russo brothers bring us a follow up to their fantastic sequel Captain America: The Winter Soldier and by the looks of things it will be Marvels biggest and most ambitious film yet. Not only will it see the return of many Avengers from over the years but will also see the introduction of characters such as Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) and Spider-Man (Tom Holland) making it one of the largest ensemble cast that the MCU has seen. Although it is only a loose adaptation of Civil War, it will continue in with the whole Bucky story arc from the previous film that many of us are excited to see. It will also see Cap facing off against his former ally Tony Stark along with his half of the divided team, it will be interesting to see whose loyalties lie where and the roles played by each character in the film. The new trailer for the film can be seen here.

X-Men: Apocalypse

Release Date: May 27 2016.

What's it about?
The film will continue from where Days of Future Past left off, taking place in the 80's and picking up on the story of the young mutants. It will see the team face off against the ancient mutant known as Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac), one of the deadliest threats they have ever faced.

Why you should be excited:
The X-Men franchise is a turbulent one, the first two being great while The Last Stand and Origins being complete garbage. However the franchise was redeemed several years ago with the prequel X-Men: First Class and last year with the sequel/prequel Days of Future Past so it is safe to say that it has found itself again with director Bryan Singer back on board. If it's anything like it's predecessors, Apocalypse may be the biggest film of the franchise to date. Seeing the return of familiar faces like Professor X (James McAvoy) and Magneto (Michael Fassbender) along with more younger counterparts such as Jean Grey (Sophie Turner) and Nightcrawler (Kodi Smith-McPhee), the film is already beginning to link the old with the new. However, it is Isaac's performance as Apocalypse that I am most excited for. An extremely diverse actor, Isaac has starred in films such as Inside Llewyn Davis and Ex-Machina and will no doubt make an excellent Apocalypse. No official trailer has been released yet but above is what Apocalypse will look like in the film along with Fassbender as Magneto and Olivia Munn as Psylocke.

Suicide Squad

Release Date: August 5 2016.

What's it about?

The film will follow Task Force X, a team comprised of various supervillains who are forced to undergo suicide missions for the government. Under the supervision of Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) and through the use of shock collars, the team are kept in order. Although their mission is unclear at the moment it is thought to have something to do with the Joker (Jared Leto) and Enchantress (Cara Delavigne).

Why you should be excited:

Not only will the film act as a big screen debut for characters such as Deadshot (Will Smith) and the fan favourite Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) but it will also mark the first cinematic appearance of the Joker since Heath Ledger's Oscar-winning performance in The Dark Knight. Leto's Marilyn Manson-esque Joker had me skeptical at first but after seeing the trailer, hearing stories from the set and just looking at Leto as an actor he is sure to give us a thrilling performance. Director David Ayer has also proved in last year's Fury that he can handle an ensemble cast with no problem and his gritty looking style for the film has me putting a lot of faith in him. The film will without a doubt open tons of doors for the DC Cinematic Universe and its cast and director almost guarantee a fun and gritty film. The trailer can be seen here.

Gambit

Release Date: October 7 2016 (possibly during 2017)

What's it about?

Not much is known about the plot at the moment but it has been described as "a heist movie and a sexy thriller" by producer Simon Kinberg. It will follow the eponymous mutant who has the ability to convert and accelerate kinetic energy among other abilities.

Why you should be excited:

To be honest I was a bit disappointed to hear that Taylor Kitsch would not be reprising his role as the roguish Cajun as he was one of the only things I enjoyed about X-Men Origins: Wolverine. I was not sure what to think when I heard about Channing Tatum being cast but after seeing him appear in the Jump Street films it is clear that he has both the charm and the wit to portray Gambit. However, not much has been heard about the film as it is still in pre-production and has been rumoured to be pushed back to some time in 2017. However, because Gambit is such a popular character it is only right to anticipate what's going on with the film. Hopefully it won't be another Origins anyway.

Doctor Strange

Release Date: November 4 2016.

What's it about?

After his career is destroyed when he loses the use of his hands, Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is taken under the wing of an ancient sorcerer who trains him to become the sorcerer supreme and defend the world against evil.

Why you should be excited:

Much like Guardians of the Galaxy last year, Doctor Strange will delve into a different are of the Marvel Universe, this time that of the supernatural. The films cast has been revealed recently with Benedict Cumberbatch in the titular role, Tilda Swinton as his mentor the Ancient One, Chiwetel Ejiofor as the villainous Baron Mordo and Mads Mikkelsen and Rachel McAdams in unspecified roles. With a cast like that and Scott Derrickson (The Excorcism of Emily Rose & Sinister) as director, it's bound to be a good one and will open a new area of the MCU. There is no trailer yet but Strange and Mordo can be seen in the set image above.

As you can see, next year will be an eventful one for comic book movies from both DC and Marvel. It is evident that these films will set the foundations for the DC Cinematic Universe, shatter the Marvel Cinematic Universe and finally bring a decent Deadpool adaptation to the big screen. It is certainly looking like one of the most exciting years in the history of the superhero film and if all of the previously mentioned films manage to live up to peoples expectations then it will be a year to remember. 

The Star Wars Prequels: The Good, The Bad and The Binks

With The Force Awakens getting ever so closer, as a Star Wars fan it is hard to contain my sheer excitement of returning to the galaxy far far away. However, with this promising new trilogy on the horizon it is hard to forget a similar promising trilogy that landed several years ago. Yes that's right, the prequel trilogy. The films that caused an uproar in the Star Wars fanbase and were full of bad CGI, gungans and disappointment,  it has divided many fans and has left many skeptical of the upcoming films. From the heavily disappointing Phantom Menace to the extremely uneven Attack of the Clones and finally, the one that wasn't so bad, Revenge of the Sith the prequels unfortunately did not match the original trilogy in story, characters or authenticity. However, were they so bad after all? Despite it's many flaws, the prequel trilogy has a few aspects that mate it a lot less unbearable so now it's time to look at what they got wrong but also what they got right.

What They Got Wrong:

1. Anakin Skywalker

The original trilogy gave us one of the greatest baddies in cinematic history, Darth Vader. So naturally in a trilogy that explores his past and his road to the dark side fans were expecting the tragic tale of a troubled young jedi. What we got however was the tragic tale of a whining brat with questionable acting skills. Hayden Christiensen did not give us the portrayal we expected and his dialogue and development up until Revenge of the Sith was just bland and mundane. Maybe a more convincing actor could have gave Anakin the portrayal he deserved but even then, could they have conquered that ghastly dialogue?

2. The Romance

Speaking of  ghastly dialogue, none was more cringe-worthy than that between Anakin and his lover Padamé (Natalie Portman). The original trilogy gave us a convincing and playful romance between Han and Leia, inspiring cosplays and Family Guy parodies everywhere. The prequels however, especially Attack of the Clones gave us one of the worst onscreen romances ever. The characters have no chemistry at all, Anakin at times just looks like a pervy stalker, and even Natalie Portman's acting skills could not have saved this doomed romance. At one point, Anakin even makes conversation about his reasons for hating sand..

3. Killing Darth Maul

Perhaps the greatest asset of The Phantom Menace was Darth Maul, the new sith apprentice that dominated the film's advertising and *SPOILERS* kills Liam Neeson. So naturally when you've got such an intimidating and cool villain the smart thing to do is keep him around for as long as possible to give him time to develop and display his skills. George Lucas didn't seem to think so though and killed off Maul in the climax of episode 1. Now I know Maul was brought back in the extended universe but that's just not good enough, if he had have made further appearances in the films he could have given Obi Wan motivation after slaughtering his master, reflecting Darth Vader's role in the original trilogy. Instead, he was sliced in half like a bread roll and neither him or his double-sided light saber were seen in the films again.

4. Nute Gunray and the Trade Federation

The Neimoidian leader of the Trade Federation, the baddies who opposed the Galactic Republic, was far from villainous. Nute Gunray was neither clever or intimidating and was more or less a racial stereotype and offered nothing to the franchise. I'm not sure if Lucas intended these to be comic reliefs because neither Gunray nor his associates are funny, but one thing is for sure and that is that they are the second most annoying species in the prequels, next to the Gungans. Gunray was one of the weaker characters of the trilogy and if the Trade Federation had have been run by a better villain (perhaps someone similar to Grand Moff Tarkin) then maybe they could have been taken more seriously.

5. Jar Jar Binks

Ok, what was George Lucas thinking? Honestly, not only the most annoying character of the franchise but possibly of cinematic history itself, Binks was one of the major causes of disappointment among the fans. Although he only appears prominently in The Phantom Menace (thank God), his constant jabbering and idiocy is almost unbearable, like we get it, he's supposed to be a comic relief, but the only laughs he's getting are from George Lucas as he rolls in the cash from his prequels. Hopefully if he ever decides to remaster his prequels he'll cut this irritating Gungan out and replace him with some CGI rocks or something.

What They Got Right:

1. The Jedi

The Jedi were but a myth by the time of the original trilogy and the prequels definitely did them justice. From the more prominent Jedi like Obi Wan Kenobi and Samuel L Jackson's Mace Windu to the more obscure ones like Kit Fisto and Ki Adi Mundi, the midichlorian-filled knights were skilled in the force and in battle. Their arena battle at the end of Attack of the Clones is one of the most iconic scenes of the prequels and certainly allowed the Jedi to display their renowned skills.

2. Obi Wan Kenobi

Ewan McGregor is one of the most talented actors of his generation so he was undoubtedly one of the best choices to play Obi Wan. Instead of trying to out do Alec Guinness' original performance, McGregor instead channels Alec Guinness and does a great job as acting as Anakin's mentor and voice of reason much like he did with Luke in A New Hope. His transition from padawan to mentor is one of the best developments of the trilogy and if not for his story line in Attack of the Clones the film would have been just Anakin talking about sand and stuff. 

3. Pod Racing

The Phantom Menace was, for most of it's part, boring. It failed to match the action of the original trilogy and was slow and monotonous to watch. One highlight of the film however was the pod racing, the fast pace sport that was Naboo's answer to Nascar. The pod racing scene was fun to watch and was one of the few times in the prequels where we actually root for Anakin and want him to win. A blend of action and humour made the pod racing scene one of the most memorable of the prequels.

4. The Clone Army

The eponymous clones from the second prequel film, these guys were cloned from the DNA of bounty hunter Jango Fett (Temura Morrison) to fight for the Galactic Republic. Their armor foreshadowed the storm troopers of the original films, only the clones could hit their targets, and despite them being clones they do display individual characteristics at certain points in the trilogy. Contrasting to the rather comedic droids, the clone army were both cool and intimidating whether they were fighting for or against the Republic.

5. The Baddies

Apart from the previously mentioned Nute Gunray, the prequels had some pretty great antagonists. Darth Maul, despite his small screentime, was intimidating in both design and personality and was without a doubt the highlight of the prequels. However after his demise it was interesting to see what other villains would arrive to the franchise. Attack of the Clones saw the introduction of Count Dooku (Christopher Lee), a new sith apprentice and Jango Fett, a bounty hunter. Both were sinister yet likeable and the latter brought back everything we loved about his son Boba from the original trilogy. Revenge of the Sith introduced General Grievous, although for most of his part he was a bumbling cyborg with asthma, he became a  fan favourite after his iconic battle with Obi Wan Kenobi where he utilised four light sabers. Last but not least, Ian McDiarmid's Palpetine. One of the only returning cast members from the originals, Palpetine was maniacal and psychotic and McDiarmid managed to bring back everything we loved to hate about him after all those years.

Despite its many flaws, the prequel trilogy had a few beacons how hope that made it that little bit less shit. Although no amount of pod racing or jedi battles will erase Jar Jar Binks or Hayden Christiensen's acting from our memories, they do give some positive aspects to the trilogy. However, with the next installments in the hands of JJ Abrams and (thankfully) not George Lucas, there may be some hope for them. Whatever happens, I'll just be happy once there are no Gungans present. I hope you're all as excited for The Force Awakens as I am, until next time may the force be with you.

10 Greatest Horror Sequels of all Time

Sometimes when a horror film finds success it generally spawns a variety of sequels which develop into a franchise that expands on the world and ideas expressed in the first film. However, when we usually look at horror franchises there's a pattern. They tend to begin with something fresh and exciting that both encapsulates and terrifies viewers, however a couple of follow ups down the line and you've got Jason Voorhees in space or Leatherface buddying up with Matthew McConaughey. This can often lead to something people once found terrifying becoming a bad joke. Yes unfortunately not many horror sequels manage to match that first installment, and the same goes for any genre of film. However, there are a select few that stand out above the rest and manage to match that iconic first installment. So without further adieu I present to you my pick for the top 10 horror sequels of all time. I'm limiting it to one film per franchise and also they aren't necessarily the second installment of that franchise just to clarify.

10. Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982, Tommy Lee Wallace)

This is a film I tend to bring up a lot, I think it's just severely misunderstood. The main problem people seem to have with this is the lack of Michael Myers (who clearly died in Halloween II so?..) and judge it before they even give it a chance. I myself am guilty of such a crime which is why I now constantly defend this misunderstood classic. Attempting to make Halloween an anthology series, the film abandons the Myers plot and instead follows a bizzare story of an evil warlock looking to bring back the true spirit of Halloween using evil masks. There's stuff about robots and Stonehenge too but I don't want to ramble too much. This stands out for me as it breaks the monotony of seeing Michael stalk teenagers over and over again and if it had been better received, maybe we would have got a different franchise altogether. It's fun, dark and has a very cool soundtrack by John Carpenter so to me it stands out as the best sequel of the franchise.

9. Bride of Chucky (1998, Ronny Yu)

I'm a massive fan of the Child's Play franchise, each film offers something different and they're always both tense and humorous so to me it's one of the more diverse franchises. However Bride of Chucky acts as a turning point from the usual plot of Chucky going after young Andy Barclay to what can only be described as Natural Born Killers if Micky and Mallory were dolls. The film follows Chucky (Brad Dourif) being resurrected yet again, this time by his former girlfriend Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly) who eventually also becomes a doll. This film added a lot more humour than previous installments while still maintaining the brutal violence inflicted by the eponymous maniacal doll. Although it takes itself less seriously than the first three movies, Chucky was never really a serious villain anyways so I think adding more comedy to the franchise was a good idea. It's also got some Rob Zombie on the soundtrack so that's another reason why I enjoy this film.

8. The Devil's Rejects (2005, Rob Zombie)

Speaking of Rob Zombie, the next film on the list is the gritty follow up to his cult classic House of 1000 Corpses. Abandoning the colourful tone of its predecessor, The Devil's Rejects is full of gritty and raw violence that will make you cringe from start to finish and makes House of 1000 Corpses almost look like a kid's film. It sees the return of the Firefly family, the maniacal killers from the first film, and their attempt at escaping the law led by the crazed brother of one of their victims. Although Otis, Baby and Spaulding (Bill Moseley, Sheri Moon Zombie and Sid Haig respectively) are nasty serial killers, the film almost make you feel bad for them in a weird sort of way, especially during the final minutes set to Lynard Skynard's 'Free Bird'. It also includes appearances from other horror legends such as Ken Foree, Michael Berryman and, Machete himself, Danny Trejo.

7. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 (1986, Tobe Hooper)

The first Texas Chainsaw Massacre was a terrifying experience that lives on today as one of the best horror films of all time. It's sequel however, was much less terrifying but just as entertaining. Taking a completely different approach from the first film, director Tobe Hooper brings back the cannibalistic Sawyer family along with their previously unseen brother Chop Top (Bill Moseley). The family terrorize a radio DJ while being hunted down themselves by none other than Dennis Hopper who plays Lieutenant Enright. From Hoppers lightsaber-esque chainsaw battle to Bill Moseley's eccentric performance as Chop Top, the film does not just mimic everything good about the first film but instead takes an entirely new approach which works. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 may not have the same effect as part 1 but it is certainly worth the watch.

6. Hostel: Part II (2007, Eli Roth)

One of the few films on this list which I feel are better than the first, Hostel: Part II expands on the sinister Elite Hunting Club introduced in the first film, bringing in more violence and boobs for audiences everywhere. While managing to tie up the events of the first film it also begins a new story, this time with three girls checking into the titular hostel. What I liked about this one was it's suspense, the first film is rather boring for the majority but this one manages to build up many suspenseful scenes before even getting to the torture porn. We know the motivation behind the hostel so there is no need to drag it out to leave us wondering what the hell is going on, this one gets straight in there. While also managing to maintain Roth's dark sense of humour throughout, the film is definitely a step up from the first end has one of the most hilariously gruesome endings ever.

5. Bride of Frankenstein (1935, James Whale)

In a continuation of Whale's first Frankenstein film we see the return of Boris Karloff and Colin Clive as the monster and Dr. Frankenstein respectively. This time, the good doctor finds himself reluctantly continuing his work with the dead under the guidance of his former mentor Dr. Pretorious (Ernest Thesiger) in order to create a mate for the monster. The film is darkly comical and maintains the beautiful gothic atmosphere from the first film. Along with heavily emphasizing the themes of the monsters isolation and rejection from society, the film continues to portray Karloff's monster as sympathetic. It is a lot more emotionally driven than the first film and along with excellent performances including Elsa Lanchester's brief appearance as the titular bride it definitely is a worthy sequel to Frankenstein.

4. Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984, Joseph Zito)

Right so apart from having the most misleading title of the franchise (it was followed by 6 more chapters, a crossover and a remake) the fourth installment is arguably the best following the original 1980 film. First of all, it is a lot more brutal than previous installments with special effects maestro Tom Savini raising the gore levels to full capacity. Secondly, the characters presented to us are a lot more likeable and carry more depth than in previous installments. Following Jason Voorhees (Ted White) as he yet again stalks and kills teenage party animals at camp Crystal Lake, it also follows a revenge subplot and sees the introduction of Tommy Jarvis (Corey Feldman) to the franchise. It is a lot darker and more gruesome than previous installments and has some pretty grizzly death scenes. However the real highlight is Crispin Glover's iconic dance scene which you can see here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocgj9tewHso

3. Dawn of the Dead (1978, George Romero)

Before The Walking Dead or 28 Days Later, George Romero graced us with his original dead trilogy, and nothing defines the zombie genre more than his second installment, Dawn of the Dead. His original Night of the Living Dead is what gave us the modern zombie, however it's sequel brought it to a larger scale and really emphasized the whole apocalyptic aspect. Following a group of survivors held up in a shopping mall, the film not only contains some great death scenes and zombie makeup but also satirizes issues such as materialism and consumerism. To me, this definitely surpasses not only it's predecessor but also most modern zombie films of the modern era. Of course this is not to be confused with the 1985 film Return of the Living Dead or Lucio Fulci's Zombi 2, both are still entertaining but they've got no connection to Romero's films.

2. Evil Dead II (1987, Sam Raimi)

So the original The Evil Dead was one of the best low budget horrors ever and a cult classic, but it is it's 18987 sequel that popularised the series and put Bruce Campbell as one of the king's of one-liners (next to Arnie of course). The film acts as both a reimagining and follow up to The Evil Dead and continues the story of Ash Williams'battle with the deadites and the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis. It has a much more comedic tone but does not hold back on the graphic, bloody violence that made the first film so memorable. So get your chainsaw arms and boomsticks at the ready because Evil Dead II is a ride you won't soon forget.

1. Aliens (1986, James Cameron)

Ridley Scott's Alien is undoubtedly one of the greatest horror films of all time so it is hard to imagine a sequel being even better. James Cameron however, managed to bring us something entirely new while continuing the story of the first film. Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) returns to LV-426 to take on an army of Xenomorphs terrorising the now colonised planet along with a less evil android Bishop (Lance Henriksen) and even Bill Paxton. Instead of mimicking everything Alien got right, Aliens adopts many aspects of an action movie while keeping many other aspects which made the first film so frightening, it is also on a much larger scale with hundreds more Xenomorph this time. Aliens is by far the greatest horror movie sequel of all time.

Some honourable mentions include Scream 2, Inferno, Hellbound: Hellraiser II and Doctor Phibes Rises Again. If you feel I've left anything out or that something else should be in the top spot then let me know in the comments. Next time I'll be discussing the Star Wars prequels (yes I don't just watch horrors) so stay tuned for that, until next time! And happy Friday the 13th too.

7 of The Best Giallo Film's of All Time

Italy has given us some great things in it's time, pizza, beautiful architecture and giallo films. Giallo is an Italian genre of slasher films, usually taking elements from the supernatural and crime fiction and often characterized by graphic violence, themes of sexuality and stylish cinematography. Although not as prominent in modern cinema, giallo films were extremely popular in the 70's and 80's by directors such as Mario Bava and Dario Argento. Although many giallo films have been criticized for weak acting and sometimes confusing narratives, they have generally been praised for their style and their suspense. The following list is 7 of the greatest giallo films that I have seen (and I must stress that last part as there are most likely ones just as good that I haven't seen), enjoy!

7. The New York Ripper (1982, Lucio Fulci)

Lucio Fulci has always been considered a very controversial director mainly due to his excessive use of onscreen violence, and The New York Ripper is arguably his most controversial. Criticized for it's brutal display of violence towards women, the film follows Lieutenant Fred Williams (Jack Hedley) on the case of a homicidal maniac who, for some reason, talks like Donald Duck. This sleazy slasher flick is perhaps one of Fulci's most graphic films due to it's emphasis on sexuality and violence and, like most giallo films, contains pretty bad dubbing. However, The New York Ripper contains many elements that make giallo films so great from the black-gloved killer to it's tense chase scenes, along with Fulci's own realistic film making style that contrasts other, more stylish films of the genre.

6. Tenebrae (1982, Dario Argento)

The most prominent directors on the list and personally one of my favourite horror film director's of all time, Argento was not the first person to make a giallo film but he certainly made some of the best and earned himself the title of "the Italian Hitchcock". Tenebrae is a great example of why Argento deserves this title. It follows horror writer Peter Neal (Anthony Franciosa) travelling to Rome to promote his latest novel only to discover that there's a killer on the loose imitating murders from his works. What makes this film so great is it's twist ending that I won't spoil as it's too good, and how Argento manages to execute this onscreen. Full of twists and turns, Tenebrae may not be Argento's most popular films but it's framing and camerawork has influenced many directors including Brian De Palma.

5. Blood and Black Lace (1964, Mario Bava)

Mario Bava is often considered to be the father of giallo films as his works have characterized the genre and influenced later film makers like the previously mentioned Argento and Fulci. His 1964 thriller Blood and Black Lace is a prime example of how Bava gave the genre it's characteristics from the colourful lighting and the mysterious, black-gloved killer. The film follows a mysterious killer who stalks and kills fashion models in order to obtain a mysterious diary. This early giallo is definitely one of the most influential films of the genre and one of the highlights of Mario Bava's extensive career.

4. Don't Torture a Duckling (1972, Lucio Fulci)

An early work of Lucio Fulci and a noteable one as it was one of the first films in which he began to use his now infamous violent gore effects. Set in a small Italian town, the film follows a number of mysterious child murders that many believe have been committed by a reclusive gypsie who uses black magic. Journalist Andrea Martelli (Tomas Milian) begins to research the case and uncovers the grim truth behind the murders. The film is often considered to be one of the most significant films of Fulci's career, dealing with themes such as religion and sin along with controversial subject matters such as child murder. Don't Torture a Duckling is a must see for any fan of the giallo genre.

3. Profondo Rosso (1975, Dario Argento)

The films English title is Deep Red but I think the original Italian title just sounds much cooler. Profondo Rosso follows jazz musician Marcus Daly (David Hemmings) who becomes involved in a murder investigation after baring witness to one of the murders. What follows is a suspenseful tale of family and murder that had me on the edge of my seat for it's entirety. The film is a noteable entry in Argento's carrer as it marks the beginning of his frequent collaboration with Italian prog rock band Goblin who did the films score. It also highlights Argento's skills as a director as he makes excellent use of a moving camera. Profondo Rosso is not only one of Argento's most significant works but also one of the highlight's of the genre itself.

2. Suspiria (1977, Dario Argento)

Ok so I'm a bit obsessed with this film myself and was tempted to even give it the top spot but after consideration I had to give it second place. Suspiria is undoubtedly the highlight of Dario Argento's career and contains some of the most beautiful production design and cinematography that I've ever seen. The film follows ballet dancer Suzy Bannion (Jessica Harper) as she enrolls in a prestigious German dance school, however with a string of mysterious murders occurring Suzy suspects that not all is well at the academy. I'll never forget my first time watching Suspiria as it gave me so many chills, from it's eerie soundtrack by Goblin to it's gothic and surreal production design, the film builds up an chilling atmosphere that will leave many viewers uneasy. The film is as beautiful as it is haunting, often delving into the world of the supernatural while maintaining the characteristics of a standard giallo film. Not only is Suspiria Argento's best film but it is also one of the greatest horror films of all time.

1. A Bay of Blood (1971, Mario Bava)

Before Friday the 13th or Scream there was Mario Bava's 1971 giallo masterpiece A Bay of Blood. The film is often cited as being the primary influence of the slasher genre that emerged several years later. It follows a number murders committed by several individuals, all for their own personal gain. I've put this film as number one not only because it is one of the greatest giallo films of all time, but because of it's legacy. The film is thought to be one of the major contributions to the modern slasher genre that began almost a decade later and it's influence is evident in later films such as Friday the 13th: Part 2 and The Burning. Although initially met with criticism for it's brutal violence and being well known for it's variety of alternate titles, A Bay of Blood is a milestone in the history of horror cinema as, like Alfred Hitchock's Psycho, it helped to give birth to what we now know as the slasher genre. It is most certainly the greatest giallo of all time.

I hope now you'll check out these films if you haven't already, along with the countless other films in the genre. If you think I left out anything or have a personal favourite giallo film let me know in the comments. Until next time, ciao!