'31' Review

When it comes to the films of director Rob Zombie, you either love them of you loathe them. While his films aren't generally well received, he retains a cult fanbase regardless who enjoy and appreciate his films despite their flaws. His latest outing 31 will certainly please said fans, however it may not do so well with others. 31 follows a group of carnival workers who are kidnapped on Halloween and are forced to play a brutal game known as, you guessed it, 31. The whole idea of the game is that they must survive for 12 hours against a variety of maniacs dressed as clowns who will stop at nothing to kill their prey. The film sees Zombie returning to his roots after the experimental Lords of Salem and those awful Halloween remakes, back to his gritty world of crazed, white trash freaks. And while it was nice to see Zombie back on familiar territory, it seems that the director still cannot learn from past mistakes.

First of all, the characters. There is very little development in both the protagonists and the antagonists, it's hard to form an attachment to any of the survivors in this film because they lack any sort of character development. Sure Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs is pretty funny as Panda and Sheri Moon Zombie is somewhat likeable as Charly, the closest thing to a lead character in this film, but they lack any sort of real depth so it's hard to really get behind these characters and root for them. Meg Foster once again gives a fantastic performance as one of the survivors, Venus Virgo, and at times I genuinely did want her to make it to the end. She was the only one of the five protagonists who I felt anything for and I think this is because she's the only one of them to really put some emotion into her performance. There are attempts to inject some sentiment into the film, particularly when a protagonist dies, but it never really works out because the character was probably bland to begin with.

With the villains, they all look pretty cool in their bizarre clown attire, but again there's not a lot of development for them either. Most of them get very little screen time and don't leave much of an impact at all which is a real shame because the character design in 31 is wonderful. However, one character who stands out above the rest is Richard Brake's Doom Head, a psychopath with a painted white face who smokes cigars and likes to monologue. Brake gives one hell of a performance here and is incredibly imposing in the role, every scene with him has a really tense atmosphere as we are left in anticipation of what he's going to do next. He's one of the only characters in the film with any real personality, when we meet him in the opening sequence we are left feeling somewhat excited to see him again later on, and although it does take him some time to reappear it is certainly worth the wait when we see him in action. Some of the other clowns or 'heads' as they are called are also fun to watch, particularly Pancho Moler's Sick Head, a dwarf dressed in Nazi attire who speaks Spanish. He is the first head to face off against our 5 protagonists and although he is a pretty silly character I really enjoyed his performance, he's a character I wish I could have seen more of. Other memorable characters are Torsten Voges' Death Head who has a nice sing song in one scene, and Malcolm McDowell's Father Murder, the man who runs 31 and dresses like a member of the French bourgeoisie. However, again, they just don't get enough time to do anything that leaves a lasting impact.

It certainly is a stylish film, from it's twisted set design to its gritty 70's aesthetic, 31 is definitely a treat for the eyes. However, like most of Zombies films it is very heavy on style but lacks any substance to back it up. There's no real character development which gives us no real reason to care about whether or not the protagonists survive, therefore things become a bit tedious after the first hour or so and not even the macabre circus tent or grimy corridors of 31 can stop the monotony. With past Rob Zombie films at least the violence was some sort of saving grace, but here it still feels a bit lackluster at times. Sure there are a lot of deaths in this film, usually by knife or chainsaw, but the gore is nothing we haven't seen before and will do nothing for those who have become accustomed to onscreen violence. However, it may shock a few of those with weaker stomachs. There are some tense moments, John 5 is deservant of praise thanks to his brilliant soundtrack that helps the film gain some suspense, but the tension never usually lasts very long which, again, is unfortunate.

To be honest, it seems like 31 doesn't really know what it wants to be itself. At times it feels as though it's going for a really raw and gritty tone, however some of the performances and parts of the script render the film plain silly at times and makes its edge seem a bit too forced. It has the look of a more serious film but when Sheri Moon Zombie and a Nazi dwarf start shouting at each other in Spanish we begin to question what type of film we really are watching. The serious tone can be misleading as this isn't a film to be taken seriously, it's not even tongue in cheek it's simply uneven. It's important not to take this film seriously in order to enjoy it, if you're the type of person who is able to laugh at some of the films sillier moments then you'll find yourself having a great time. Rob Zombie fans will know this, but for everyone else it's important to bare that in mind.

31 has many flaws, Rob Zombie still fails to inject any real substance into his films despite that being the general criticism of his previous works. The script is clunky, the characters are underdeveloped and it can feel a bit tedious during the second act. It's nothing we haven't seen before to be honest which is a real shame as Zombie's last film suggested a new direction for the director. However, it does have redeeming qualities. Richard Brake is phenomenal as Doom Head and may just be the next great horror icon, along with this the film has a wonderfully tense soundtrack and a gritty aesthetic that really makes it stand out. If anything, Zombie certainly has a great sense of style. 31 is not to be taken seriously no matter what the initial tone may suggest, it's silly, it's bizarre but it's fun. It's not a milestone for the horror genre, it's not a career changing film for Rob Zombie, but it is quite enjoyable even with its flaws. If you go into 31 with an open mind and low expectations, you'll find it to be a film that is both fun and easy to watch.

'Don't Breathe' Review

About 3 years ago Uruguayan filmmaker Fede Alvarez gave us a surprisingly solid remake of Sam Raimi's The Evil Dead, now Alvarez returns with something completely different, a home invasion suspense horror called Don't Breathe. The film follows a trio of young delinquents (Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette and Daniel Zovatto) from the mean streets of Detroit who rob houses in order to gain enough money to leave behind their old lives and start anew. However, when they break into the home of a seemingly helpless blind man (Stephen Lang), things don't exactly go to plan. The film takes a different route to most home invasions, more in line with The People Under the Stairs than Hush, this is an extremely effective move from Alvarez that makes for one of the most suspenseful games of cat and mouse in the history of horror cinema.

Setting aside the hardcore gore that made Evil Dead so memorable, Alvarez now relies on suspense to frighten the audience. Not only does this give him an opportunity to show off his incredible directorial skills and masterful cinematography from Pedro Luque, including some fantastic tracking shots that would even make Inarritu giddy, but it also allows him to play with the audience in a whole different way than in his first outing. The suspense is eminent as soon as the trio step inside the house, every silence is gut-wrenching while any loud noise is perfect shock value. The protagonists thrive on silence as it's the only way to stay safe from the blind man, meanwhile every creaky floorboard, slamming door or vibrating phone acts as a threat to them. It's so simple yet incredibly effective, the antagonist cannot see them which forces them not to make a single noise (hence the title), therefore anytime they do make even the slightest sound it results in a catharsis of terror that's both exciting and terrifying to watch. I literally found myself biting my nails in fear during some sequences. The score by Roque Banos also enhances this suspense, it knows when to be minimal and let the silence take over, as well as kicking in whenever the tension rises.

Returning with Alvarez is his Evil Dead lead Jane Levy who plays the primary protagonist Rocky, she gives a truly harrowing performance throughout and finds herself facing all sorts of terrors. She also uses her acting abilities to flesh out her characters emotional depth, allowing us to see her as more than just a petty thief but someone who has a reason for her actions. Along with her is the always enjoyable Dylan Minnette as Alex, the trio's moral compass of sorts. I feel like Minnette could play the dullest character ever and still make them incredibly likeable just by acting, his character is not dull in this film but it's safe to say that Minnette was the right choice to bring him to life. The third member of the party is Rocky's irritating boyfriend Money (yes, that's his name) played by Daniel Zovatto, the dickhead of the group and a character whose death warrant is signed from the beginning. The real star of the show however, is Stephen Lang's blind man. A highly skilled army vet with a heightened sense of hearing, The Blind Man is a true force to be reckoned with. Appearing almost out of nowhere at times and using even the slightest noises to hunt his prey, the Blind Man is undoubtedly the next great horror icon thanks to a very intense performance from Lang.

The film is very well paced straight from the beginning, it doesn't dwell too much on the set up or introducing the main characters but works well nonetheless. Alvarez gets straight into things here and within the first twenty minutes or so the tension has already begun rising. Once inside the house the tension continues to rise to extremely high levels which works wonderfully, there is little gore and only a few jumpscares but that's all that is necessary. You will literally feel your heart pounding against your chest for the majority of the films duration. If there's one thing I could criticise about this film it's this plot twist (which I won't spoil) that occurs and is played out more in the final act. It just felt out of place and unnecessary and I feel like it was just thrown in there to give audiences another reason to dislike the blind man. Apart from that however, this is a really tough film to fault, it's fun, it's tense and it's scary as hell.

All in all, Don't Breathe is a masterclass in suspense horror. It's well paced and well framed, allowing for a steady yet effective building of tension that never fails to pay off. The performances are fantastic all around while Alvarez' direction proves that he can do much more than just hardcore violence. It's a truly frightening film that will have you on the edge of your seat from the second the trio enter the home of the blind man. Every silence is golden and every sound is a threat and Don't Breathe will have your heart racing like nothing before, another fantastic piece of horror cinema for 2016.

Thoughts on 'American Horror Story'- Season 6, Episode 1

Since it began in 2011, American Horror Story has kept fans interested with its anthology format by changing the story and location each season while maintaining the same cast members. While the show has lost some of its charm in the last couple of seasons, fans were nonetheless intrigued by the mysterious season 6 set to air this year. Unlike previous years, the theme or official cast were never announced, instead a number of unrelated teaser trailers were released in order to keep fans guessing what the real theme was. Set photos hinted at a story surrounding the Roanoke Colony which was mentioned in season 1, while a supposed leak hinted that this seasons theme was 'The Mist'. Some fans even speculated that all of the seemingly unrelated trailers meant that this season would take place in a film studio, but last night we finally discovered what the theme was when the first episode of season 6 aired. Well, we kind of did.. I think.

Be Warned, spoilers beyond this point.

The episode opens by informing the audience that the following is based on true events before presenting us with something that is very reminiscent of one of those true crime stories. Cutting between interviews with the 'real victims' (played by Lily Rabe and Andre Holland) and their 'reenactment' counter parts (played by Sarah Paulson and Cuba Gooding Jr.), the episode tells the story of a couple, Shelby and Matt, who begin to experience paranormal phenomenon after moving into their new home. This is an entirely different format from previous seasons as instead of just telling the story, it does so via mock interviews and reenacments. Entitled 'My Roanoke Nightmare', this season does in fact focus on Roanoke, not the lost colony however, but instead Roanoke Island in North Carolina. Honestly I'm quite conflicted over this first episode, it's not at all what I expected and in some ways I do feel a bit disappointed. Having said that, it does have some redeeming qualities and I feel like this season has some excellent potential.

The episode plays out like the first act of your average supernatural horror, couple moves into new house, strange things start to happen etc. Naturally the rednecks are prime suspects in the mysterious phenomena, Shelby being attacked, the dead pig on the doorstep, but when it starts raining teeth it's obvious that something supernatural is happening. I'll have to admit, it did have some pretty scary, or at least jumpy moments, particularly when reenactment Shelby was assaulted. In fact, the episode uses a number of classic horror tropes to shock the audience and while some are effective, after a while the episode begins to suffer from a sense of familiarity. Like previous seasons, this one contains a number of references to horror films, the house itself looks a lot like the one from The Amityville Horror while the wooden figures in the woods are an obvious shoutout to The Blair Witch Project. Once again the show isn't subtle about its influences, but it has enough original content to keep it from being a blatant rip off. The scene where it rains human teeth or the scalped man in the woods were particularly chilling. Something else that caught my attention was when reenactment Shelby and her sister in law Lee (Angela Bassett) watched a mysterious tape in the basement. On the tape a mysterious man (Denis O'Hare) is in the woods where he catches a mysterious Pig Man on camera before falling to the ground. It made me think back to the Piggyman episode of season one, will this have anything to do with that? The show has been connecting its different seasons recently, but I suppose only time will tell.

As per usual, the acting is superb. Once again Sarah Paulson gives a wonderful performance as reenactment Shelby and we really do get behind her in this episode. Other AHS alumni include Lily Rabe who plays the 'real' Shelby and Angela Bassett as her sister in law in the reenactment. I can't help but feel like there's more to Rabe's role this season, she is one of my favourite cast members on the show so limiting her to the odd 'interview' here and there seems a bit strange. As expected, Bassett steals all of her scenes and her character has already been given a solid backstory with a hint of tragedy, I look forward to seeing more of her. There are also a number of newcomers to the show, Andre Holland plays Shelby's husband Matt while Cuba Gooding Jr. plays his reenactment counterpart, both give convincing performances and Gooding Jr. shares a great chemistry with Paulson, it's great to see the shows already talented cast expanding. There are cameos from Denis O'Hare (who looks set to play a larger role in the next episode) who can be seen in the 'found footage', and Kathy Bates who plays an old timey ghost. They don't do much in this episode but they leave many unanswered questions. Still no sign of the likes of Evan Peters or Lady Gaga though and to be honest I was quite disappointed that Peters wasn't there, however it took him a while to come into the previous season so hopefully he'll eventually turn up soon.

My main problem with this episode was the true crime format, we never really fear for the characters in the reenactment because we know they all lived to tell the tale. The episode could have been much more suspenseful if it wasn't cutting to interviews with the 'real victims' every few minutes, assuring us that they are going to be okay in the 'reenactments'. It's also a bit frustrating to see Lily Rabe limited to such a small role, she has played some of the best characters on the show like the demonic Sister Mary Eunice or real life killer Eileen Wurnoss, but here she's just a regular woman talking to the camera. I feel she has been severely underplayed in the last couple of seasons and hoped that she would be given a larger role in this one, it is early days however and anything could happen. For me, the true crime format really doesn't suit the show, it inhibits any real tension from building and just gets a bit repetitive after a while. However, I can't help but feel like this whole format is just a cover for something else, like there's something more behind it, a reason for making it that way in the first place. American Horror Story can be very unpredictable at times so it will be interesting to see where it goes this season. Speaking of which, the episode left many questions unanswered that I'm curious to find out the answers to, who was the Pig Man? Who's Denis O'Hare's character? What's behind the haunting and more importantly, how will this season link to the others?

With such an enigmatic marketing campaign I had hoped that this episode would finally clear things up, but in all honesty I feel more confused after watching it than before. Aside from all of those unanswered questions, I'm still confused over the whole theme of the show, is it all about 'My Roanoke Nightmare'? Or is there something bigger waiting for us later down the line? I'm hoping the latter because so far I am not a fan of the whole true crime format. It has its redeeming qualities however, some of the scares are effective, the acting is superb and I really love the whole southern gothic vibe this season. It left many open ends that had me personally excited for next weeks episode, however the whole interview/reenactment thing is bound to get old soon so I'm curious as to where this season will go. Very different from previous seasons and only adding more intrigue than before, the season 6 opener will leave you very confused and possibly a little disappointed. However, with so many mysteries left to be solved it is bound to leave you hungry for more.

10 Potential Batfleck Bad Guys

Whether you loved or loathed Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad, you can't help but fall a little bit in love with Ben Affleck's portrayal of Batman. While his initial casting was met with uproarious backlash, he ha since proved himself as a worthy successor to the cowl and some fans already consider him to be the best live action Batman. Affleck is currently working on a solo outing for his Batman which is a really exciting concept, he's already done wonders with the character so it will be exciting to see how he handles other characters such as Batman's extensive rogues gallery. We've already caught a glimpse at some of Batman's foes, Jared Leto's Joker and Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn, Will Smith's Deadshot and Adewale Akkinuoye-Agbaje's Killer Croc, not to mention the recent casting of Joe Manganiello as Deathstroke but this has merely scratched the surface. So here are just a few Batman foes that I hope will turn up at some stage in the DCEU.

The Penguin

The self proclaimed gentleman of crime, Oswald Cobblepot aka The Penguin is a crime lord and weapons dealer who resides in Gotham City. While he isn't the strongest of Batman's foes, or even the craziest, he is certainly formidable. He is cunning and relentless, using any means necessary to get his own way which makes him one of Gotham's most powerful criminals. Penguin hasn't been in a live action film since 1992 although Robin Lord Taylor has been giving a wonderful performance as a younger version of the character in the television series Gotham, so I think it's time he made his return to the big screen. Let's face it, he's one of Batman's greatest and most well known foes so excluding him from the DCEU would be a crime, a more grounded and serious version of the character would fit in nicely to Batfleck's world. I think Toby Jones could give a fantastic performance as Cobblepot too, maybe with a fake nose.

The Dollmaker

This version of The Dollmaker is a relatively new villain, making his debut with the introduction of the New 52 and quickly becoming a fan favourite. Barton Mathis aka The Dollmaker is a maniacal serial killer who creates 'dolls' by using the flesh and limbs of his victims, he holds a particular grudge against Commissioner Jim Gordon who killed his father. As he is a relatively new villain, Dollmaker hasn't really shown up at all outside the comics which leaves a lot of potential for the character. If Affleck was to go down the darker route with his film then the twisted Dollmaker could make for a great adversary, pitting the caped crusader against a deranged serial killer would really emphasise his detective skills. As he's such a horrific villain then I think it would be only right to have a horror icon don the Dollmaker's mask, Bill Moseley perhaps?

Mr. Freeze

Ok so the last time Mr. Freeze turned up in a live action Batman film things didn't go so well, let's just say about 90% of his dialogue was puns, but if done right I feel that Mr. Freeze could be an formidable and well-developed antagonist. When his wife Nora became fatally ill, Victor Fries attempts to freeze her until he finds the cure, however all of that meddling with cryogenics eventually leads to an accident that inhibits Victor from being exposed to any temperature above zero. This forces him to wear a mechanical suit and don the name Mr. Freeze. Freeze is a complex villain, he's the grey area in that he's only bad with the best intentions, committing crimes all in the hope of saving his wife. This makes him different from most villains and I think he could bring a real emotional depth to a Batman film, once Arnold Schwarzenegger wasn't portraying him again. Bryan Cranston, now there's someone who'd do an ice job in his shoes.

Dr. Hugo Strange

Strange is one of Batman's earliest foes and is known for his obsession with creating an army of super monsters and discovering Batman's identity. Cruel, cunning and highly intelligent, Strange is by far one of Batman's most dangerous antagonists and has proven himself to be a worthy intellectual adversary. He's a different sort of villain, one who pulls the strings and orchestrates these crimes instead of carrying them out himself which I feel leaves a lot of room to fit his character in somewhere. Recently B.D. Wong has been doing a superb job at playing the character on Gotham, that's the type of Hugo Strange we want in a live action film. Including Strange would be a great opportunity to introduce the intellectual side of Batman, matching wits with the villainous professor instead of just beating lumps out of him. Wong's performance on Gotham is a hard one to top but I think Patrick Stewart could certainly bring his own flare to the character while channeling everything that makes Strange so menacing.

Poison Ivy

Another villain who fell victim to Batman & Robin's awful script, Poison Ivy deserves another chance. After being injected with experimental plant toxins, plant biologist Dr. Pamela Isley was transformed into the villainous and seductive Poison Ivy. Using her newfound powers, Ivy brought a new meaning to the term eco-terrorism and unleashed hell upon Gotham with her giant mutant plants. Ivy would be the perfect character to introduce to the DCEU, she is a strong, independant female antagonist and not just a mere love interest. Harley Quinn has already attracted an immense female fanbase since Suicide Squad and I feel someone like Ivy could do the same, her and Harley also have a strong bond in the comics which could be greatly expanded upon onscreen. Dutch actress Carice Van Houten has proven herself no stranger to playing a seductive redhead on Game of Thrones so I feel like she could bring her acting abilities to a character such as Poison Ivy as well.

Clayface

There have been many Clayfaces in the Batman mythos and all of them are superhumans with the ability to change shape. A few years ago the idea of including Clayface in a Batman film was almost laughable, Nolan's Dark Knight films were heavily grounded in reality and the idea of superhumans just didn't exist there. However, the DCEU has already given us a variety of superpowered metahumans with extraordinary abilities, maybe Clayface could be next. It would be a risky move bringing in Clayface, excessive CGI could make the character look way too cheesy and not intimidating in the slightest, remember Sandman in Spiderman 3? But Clayface could very well be done right, a mixture of practical effects and CGI or perhaps limiting his powers in some way so that he's not a mere blob of CGI but an actual, physical character. There's some real potential here for a tragic villain who feels burdened by their abilities, Killer Croc was done very well in Suicide Squad so I believe there is a chance for Clayface. Ron Pearlman has voiced the character before, I don't see why he shouldn't return for a live action version as well.

Riddler

Edward Nygma aka The Riddler is another one of Batman's more intellectually powerful villains, known for his obsession with puzzles and conundrum's, The Riddler incorporates them into his crimes making them a lot more complex for the caped crusader. The Riddler is a major Batman villain but his last big screen appearance didn't do him much justice thanks to Jim Carrey. Since then however, Corey Michael Smith has been fantastic as the character on Gotham, redeeming him after Batman Forever. Again, like Hugo Strange, Riddler could really highlight Batman's crime solving abilities as opposes to his crime fighting abilities, we've seen Batfleck do a lot of detective work in Batman v Superman so introducing a character like The Riddler could help display more of that side of him. My only choice for the character would be Matthew Gray Gubler who lended his voice to the character for the animated movie Assault on Arkham, he has the appearance and the ability to portray the character so I think he would be an excellent casting choice.

Mad Hatter

Expert hypnotist Jervis Tech has a profound obsession with two things, the works of Lewis Carroll and hats. Naturally this leads him to become the deranged criminal known as the Mad Hatter who uses his mind controlling devices to manipulate whoever he pleases. Sounds like a bit of a silly concept but the Arkham games have proven that the Mad Hatter can be quite a formidable, almost frightening villain very much in the same way as villains like Scarecrow. Utilising a variety of devices for hypnosis and mind control, Tech is able to manipulate the minds of his victims, leading them to carry out bizarre feats or experience strange hallucinations. It's about time the Hatter showed the world that he's not just some goofball in a hat, but has the potential to be a really dark and disturbing bad guy. And who better to bring to life this maniacal hatter than Game of Thrones star Ewan Rheon, just imagine him channeling his inner Ramsay Bolton while spouting out some bizarre Lewis Carrol quotes, I like the sound of that.

Catwoman

Right, Catwoman is an integral character in the Batman mythos and I feel after Anne Hathaway's awful performance in The Dark Knight Rises somebody has to do the character justice. The street savy cat burglar has been a longtime foe/friend of the Bat, helping him on some occasions while turning on him on others, she's clever, skilled and highly unpredictable. Although she does often get romantically involved with the Bat, Catwoman is very much her own character and is more than just a love interest. Her playful, on/off relationship with the Batman is always a pleasure to watch and the two could have some real chemistry together if she were to enter the DCEU. She could also continue the trend of strong female characters in the DCEU such as Harley and Wonder Woman, hell she could even have her own solo movie once Halle Berry wasn't involved. Which brings us to the casting, I think that Rosario Dawson has the charm, charisma and general badassery to take on a role like Catwoman, I can't imagine anyone else who could carry out the role like her.

Red Hood

Without going into too much detail, Red Hood is a resurrected version of the second Robin, Jason Todd, after he perished at the hands of the Joker. After his resurrection via Lazarus Pit, Todd became violent and unhinged, taking on the persona of the Red Hood and killing anybody who stood in his way. We already know that a Robin has been killed by The Joker, from the battered costume in the batcave to Amanda Waller's case files in Suicide Squad, a Robin has been killed by the Joker in the DCEU. Since The Joker was responsible for Jason Todd's death in the comics, it's only right to assume that he is the dead Robin and that he will eventually return as the Red Hood. I would absolutely love to see Red Hood in the solo Batman film, not only is his big screen debut long overdue but including him in the film could also explore his relationship with Batman and add layers of depth to both characters. I'm tempted to say Matt Damon should be Red Hood, given his offscreen friendship with Ben Affleck. As the character will be presumably much younger than Batman however, perhaps a younger actor such as Richard Madden could don the hood in a future film.

So those are my thoughts, what about yours? Who do you think should appear in the solo Batman film and who do you think should play them? Let me know in the comments if you have any thoughts! Also I'll be making an announcement about a future post soon so stay tuned for that, until next time.

'Sausage Party' Review

Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have given us a number of hilarious flicks over the past decade, from their teen sex comedy Superbad, to their post-apocalyptic farce This is the End, the duo are responsible for arguably some of the funniest films in recent years. Their latest outing Sausage Party is no exception and sees the duo take the absolute piss out of the world of animated movies. Directed by Greg Tiernan and Conrad Vernon, Sausage Party sees Rogen as a sausage named Frank who sets out on a quest to discover the truth about what lies beyond the supermarket where he and his fellow foodstuff reside. Don't be fooled by the films friendly looking animation however, this film is just as hilariously crude as Rogen and Goldberg's other features and is packed full of profanity and innuendo. But surprisingly Sausage Party has a lot more to offer than its humour and makes some bold statements about some of today's most topical issues.

While the animation in Sausage Party may not live up to the likes of Pixar, it does have some really clever and memorable character design. The ways in which the inanimate objects and food are transformed into anthropomorphic beings are truly brilliant. Some of these include Teresa del Taco (Salma Hayek), a lesbian taco shell who has a thing for Franks hotdog bun girlfriend Brenda (Kristen Wiig), and the wheelchair-bound Gum (Scott Underwood), a Stephen Hawking-esque character. Not only are these characters memorable in appearance but are also complimented by an extremely talented voice cast. My personal favourites were Edward Norton who is almost unrecognizable as a Jewish bagel who talks like Woody Allen, and the Middle Eastern Karim Abdul Lavash (David Krumholtz), the two argue relentlessly throughout the film, I honestly could listen to them argue for hours. The entire cast all carry out their roles very well and each bring a sense of personality to their respective characters. Never before will you route so hard for a sausage.

As expected from a Rogen/Goldberg collaboration, Sausage Party is painfully hilarious. If, like myself, you're a fan of puns, then you're in for a real treat as every scene in this film has at least one. From casual play on words to visual puns, this film really does set its phasers to pun in some really clever ways, also it arguably has the best use of a Meatloaf song in any film ever. The only thing that matches these puns is the abundance of innuendo in this movie, I mean a sausage looks phallic enough as it is and this film really takes advantage of that. Without spoiling much, there is constant mention of Frank and Brenda using 'only the tip' and how he wishes to be between her buns etc. Any possible food-related innuendo is used in this film. To top it all off, the films climax contains one of the most bizarre sequences in any film I've ever seen, I don't want to spoil it but prepare for a lot more than just mere innuendo. The film really does take any opportunity to throw in whatever puns or innuendo it can, and while at times it does feel like a bit too much, they'll tickle your funny bone regardless.

While a film about talking food does sound like a dumb concept, Sausage Party is anything but stupid. The films story is quite clever and very thought-provoking, the whole plot involves Frank questioning the beliefs of his fellow food who anticipate being chosen by 'Gods' and taken outside the supermarket to 'the great beyond'. The story is basically one big metaphor for questioning organised religion, but it also contains some really interesting messages about acceptance and going against cultural norms. From the Jewish Bagel and Middle-Eastern lavash representing the Israel/Palestine conflict to Teresa del Taco 'coming out', there are a number of messages in this film that make reference to some of today's most important issues, none of which are subtle. However, instead of straight out mocking these issues like some films would, it instead makes out that it's okay to question things like religion and sexuality and I'm really impressed at how such delicate subjects were handled by Rogen and Goldberg. For a film that relies so heavily on puns and sexual references it was nice to see it have some deeper messages that really set it apart from some of the other contemporary comedies.

As with any film however, it does have some downsides. Naturally the excessive innuendo can get old after a while and at times can feel a bit forced and juvenile, the film never takes a break when it comes to delivering punch lines which can be a disadvantage at times. Along with this, there are times when it does go from funny to borderline offensive, I'm not one who's easily offended but even I thought some of the racially oriented jokes were a bit much. Another downside is the films villain, a Douche played by Nick Kroll (not his Parks and Recreation character but an actual douche). While his voice acting is great, I feel like his character had no real reason to be there, the entire story would have went almost exactly the same without him because he doesn't really do anything. Even his motivation for going after Frank is a pretty silly reason and after a while, all of the douche jokes go a bit stale. Apart from that I can't really fault anything else to be quite honest, I really liked this film.

Sausage Party is crude, it's bizarre and at times it's blatantly offensive, however it's an immensely funny film that makes a number of thought-provoking statements about beliefs and acceptance. Clever character designs and a talented voice cast combine to create some likeable and memorable characters that will really grow on you throughout the film. Not only do they deliver some brilliant dialogue throughout but their physical appearance helps to make them look and feel human, this is a film that will make you feel for food. Clever, humorous and with more heart than it probably should have, Sausage Party marks another fantastic comedy for Rogen and Goldberg and may just be one of the funniest films of the year.

Revisiting 'The Lords of Salem'

Three years ago, heavy metal star turned director Rob Zombie presented a film very different to his usual works. While his previous films had been heavy on the gore and exploitation, this one instead took the psychological route which was a big change from Zombies other works. That film, of course, was The Lords of Salem. Upon its release, the film received very mixed reviews, some praising the atmosphere and the fact that Zombie was trying something new, while others called it dull, boring and just plain shit. When I first watched The Lords of Salem, I wasn't quite blown away to be honest. I don't really know what I was expecting, probably something along the lines of The Conjuring with jumpscares a plenty. However, since Zombies new film 31 is almost here, I decided to give The Lords of Salem another watch, these are my thoughts.

First of all, I feel that this film was a big risk for director Rob Zombie. All of his previous works were blood soaked exploitation films that thrived off the obscene and bizarre, however this was a much more experimental, slow-burning film. The plot involves young radio DJ Heidi Hawthorne (Sheri Moon Zombie), who begins to experience strange hallucinations and phenomena in her hometown of Salem after listening to a strange record by a band known as 'The Lords of Salem'. It differs greatly from Zombies past films that relied heavily on the blood and the gore to shock the audience, instead this film places greater emphasis on its atmosphere and its imagery. Zombie proves that he can create an extremely chilling atmosphere that would send chills up even Lucio Fulci's spine, the sinister soundtrack and gloomy visuals combine to create this really eerie vibe throughout. As Heidi wanders through the glum streets of Salem, we watch and wait with a subtle sense of dread hanging over us, even when nothing scary really happens. Visually, this is a beautiful film. The cinematography is fantastic and it really gives the town of Salem that Halloween-y vibe. Grey skies, piles of brown leaves, jagged branches, the whole town has this very dark, autumnal look that fits in well in this film. I particularly liked Heidi's apartment building with its dark wallpaper and low lighting, it's got plenty of shadowy corners for things to hide in.

While it is a visually stunning film, it is also quite a disturbing one too. From the numerous flashbacks to old Salem to the menagerie of outlandish creatures found in the film, it can be very hard to watch at times but in the best way possible, it is a horror film after all. Some of my favourite of the films creatures are these demonic beings whose faces look as if they've been eroded over time. They dress as doctors, clergymen and other things and look a lot like Dr. Freudstein from House by the Cemetery, they don't appear often but when they do they certainly leave an impact. The real villain of the piece however, is the witch Margaret Morgan played by Meg Foster. Foster gives a brilliant performance as the unhinged, almost feral sorceress and at times she appears as almost inhuman, her filthy and skeletal appearance are a big change from the witches we're used to but it works and Foster is one of my favourite things about this film. While it does rely heavily on atmosphere, the film does have a few jumpscares here and there, some work and others do not, but I didn't really take notice of these as I was so encapsulated by the surreal imagery and atmosphere. I'd compare it to films like Suspiria and Rosemary's Baby with a hint of David Lynch, there are many things left unexplained or to the imagination, but given the surrealistic elements of the film, these work greatly in its favour.

The cast is made up of a number of Zombie regulars and horror icons, as you'd expect. Zombies wife, Sheri, takes on the lead role and to be honest I think this is her best performance yet. It's more subtle than her performance as Baby in his previous films and gives her a chance to show off her real acting chops, she is very convincing as a woman slowly descending into madness while struggling with addiction. As I said, Meg Foster is superb as the villainous Margaret Morgan and joining her are a trio of sisters played by horror legends Judy Geeson, Patricia Quinn and Dee Wallace herself. Much like the Castevet's from Rosemary's Baby, the trio hide a sinister agenda beneath their otherwise friendly appearance, it was great seeing this darkness emerge from the nice old women every now and then and each one of them gives a memorable performance in their respective roles. Bruce Davison plays author Francis Matthias while Jeff Daniel Phillips plays Heidi's co-host Whitey, each trying to desperately help her in their own ways and each giving strong performances despite being somewhat underused.

And that's where I must begin to criticise. Many of the cast members, talented ones at that, feel extremely underused in their roles. Ken Foree, for example, plays the other co-host Herman, he's charming, witty and shows a certain sense of emotion towards his friends when necessary, but he is too underused. I feel like his character had much more potential but never got the chance to show it. Similarly, horror icons Sid Haig and Michael Berryman have brief, nonspeaking cameos as a pair of witch hunters. For some reason I wanted to know more about them though, they're both high profile actors playing interesting looking characters, yet they don't even get a line of dialogue between them. It looks like a film that has been severely cut, that had a lot more development for certain characters which just didn't make it to the final cut, it's a real shame because many characters do feel underdeveloped. Hell, even scream queen Barbara Crampton shows up for a few seconds, never to return again, this is a film begging for an extended cut. Another problem is the script. While more serious in tone that Zombies previous efforts, Lords of Salem gets very silly at times mainly because of its script. Certain lines of dialogue or the scene where Whitey and Heidi dance in her apartment just feel very unnatural and out of place in this film. At times it feels like the film itself doesn't know what it wants to be. It's constantly stuck in the intersection between cheesy B movie and surreal nightmare, and while the two do sometimes compliment eachother, it often doesn't work. The masturbating demons in the climax are what I mean by this.

While it is a film with many flaws, I am glad I went back and watched The Lords of Salem again as I felt like I can appreciate it much more now as opposed to back when I was 16. It's atmospheric, it's surreal, it's completely out there, this won't appeal to everyone but it appeals very much so to myself. While it does take inspiration from many films such as the works of Argento, Fucli, Polanski and Kubrick, The Lords of Salem is very much its own film and is rich with originality. However, at times Zombie can't help but go back to his old ways which makes the film feel a bit inconsistent, the script also brings the film down and makes it feel downright silly at times. However, it was Zombie's attempt to make something different, something more serious and mature than his previous works, and personally I think he succeeded in doing so.