I don’t expect much from a midnight horror screening at the Melbourne Film Festival, but I want something with a good level of scariness that isn’t too ridiculous in its narrative arc.
Continue readingImposters (2026)
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The Blood Countess (Die Blutgräfin) (2026)
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What a hoot! I knew this was going to be a little bit absurdist and a lot camp and I thoroughly enjoyed every stylish and silly moment.
Continue readingMārama (2025)
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Māori and gothic horror are major tick boxes for me, particularly when I see an image like the one above.
Continue readingSpecies (Sanguine) (2026)
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This was such a contrast to AnyMart (2026) which hid its horror shocks behind a whole lot of scene development. Species – or Blood as its original title translates – hits you with it in the first act and is delightfully gory and darkly comedic.
Continue readingAnyMart (チルド) (2026)
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Yes, the synopsis for this debut film by Yusuke Iwasaki film in the festival program said it was a darkly comedic horror but for some reason that hadn’t really sunk in.
Continue readingGhost in the Cell (2026)
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This was perfect late night horror fare. The gore factor was excellent without being overwhelming and there were some great comedic moments and set pieces to balance it out.
Continue readingSaló, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975)
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Pier Paolo Pasolini’s infamous film is one of those that looms large in film studies class. Like L’Age d’Or (1930) and Un Chien Andalou (1929), this was talked about as the most depraved film ever made. The one that couldn’t be shown in so many countries.
Continue readingDracula: A Love Tale (2025)
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This started off like Dracula: Origins, and I thought, well that’s interesting, but it felt like Luc Besson couldn’t help himself by turning it into a spectacle that achieved less than hoped.
Continue readingBeast of War (2025)
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Zombucha! (2025)
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I’m not sure that I expected much from this horror comedy, other than a lot of lighthearted laughs.
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