Monday 11 April 2022

COMPETITION: Win Agnes on DVD


Agnes - Released from 18th April

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 2 copies on DVD to give away.

Synopsis: 
Face your fears in a bold and audacious new horror not to be missed.

In Agnes, a nun’s disturbing behaviour sparks rumours of demonic possession at a remote convent. When a priest-in-waiting and his disillusioned mentor are sent to investigate, their methods backfire, leaving a wake of terror and trauma. Starring Molly C. Quinn (Castle, Doctor Sleep), Agnes is written and directed by Mickey Reece (Climate of the Hunter). 

Dazzler Media presents bold, original new horror Agnes coming to DVD & Digital Download from 18th April

Pre-Order from Amazon at https://amzn.to/3DYShLf
Pre-Order from iTunes at https://apple.co/3jHU7XL

For your chance to win just answer the question below.

Who directs Agnes?

Send your name, address and of course the answer to competition365@outlook.com

Quick Terms and conditions - For full T&C click here
1. Closing date 25-04-22
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.
5. Entries that come directly from other websites will not be accepted.

Sunday 10 April 2022

REVIEW: Father of Flies (2022) - Starring Nicholas Tucci

Review by Jon Donnis
Father of Flies is a psychological horror from director Ben Charles Edwards.

We are introduced to a family in America, the father of the family Richard, played by the late Nicholas Tucci, has broken up with his wife Linda (Sandra Andreis), who is having a hard time with mental illness. He invites his pregnant girlfriend Coral (Camilla Rutherford) to move in with him, and his children in his house in the mountains. Coral is pregnant and soon to be Michael (Keaton Tetlow) and Donna's (Page Ruth) stepmother.


For some reason Coral likes to wear a super creepy face mask, that makes her look more like Michael Myers than anything, but this is what women go through as part of their beauty regime, or so I am told.

The children are unhappy, Michael has hearing issues and is terrified of monsters under the bed, Donna is a rebellious teen going out with her boyfriend, and doing the usual teen things, and they both hate the new set up with Coral, and as she moves in, that is when things go from bad to worse, as a supernatural entity seems to come with her.


Coral is a cold and unloving person, and clearly lives the clichéd evil stepmother persona well.

The young Michael is the star of the film though, and his performance is what really drags the viewer in. And there is a great scene where he is talking to his dad while in bed, and frustratingly they give that scene away in the trailer! Why would you do that? It is such a well filmed scene, don't give it away for free.


The Good
The way the film is shot is excellent, the loneliness, the bleakness really comes through, and with a story that is as old as time, a mother being replaced, unhappy kids, it is something that many people can relate to, or understand.

The jump scares are well done, and you won't see them coming, which is the whole point. The character of Coral is super creepy, and you could argue that the added supernatural element is not really needed.

The Bad
Some scenes feel rushed, and with a very short run time of about 73 minutes, this really shouldn't happen. Also some scenes are painfully dark, in that it is hard to see what is going on. 

Overall
A decent psychological horror, that will have you jump out of your seat more than once. 

I score Father of Flies a decent 7/10

On UK digital 11 April 2022 - Watch at https://apple.co/3jkXT9f

REVIEW: The Tender Bar (2022)


Review by Jon Donnis
George Clooney directs The Tender Bar; a slightly yellow tinted film, that is an adaption of a 2005 memoir by JR Moehringer. 

The film follows Moehringer's life from being a young boy in the 1970s, living with his single mother at his home in Long Island, and as he grows up, through school and college to his first job in New York City, and all the struggles of life along the way, from family issues, to school and work, and of course love.

JR is played by Daniel Ranieri early in the film, and starts off following the move back to the family home due to money problems. After splitting with her partner, JR's mother (Lily Rabe) bounces back and forth to the care of her father played by the always fantastic Christopher Lloyd and her mother (Sondra James), to help with raising JR. Throw in Uncle Charlie (Ben Affleck) who runs the local bar and you have a nice setting to tell some interesting stories.

There is narration (Wonder Years style) by Ron Livingston who is future grown up JR. Seems a bit pointless to me to have narration, but it is an easy way to explain things when the director is feeling lazy, I guess.

Uncle Charlie (Ben Affleck) comes in as one of the more important influences on JR as he grows up, teaching him how to steer a car, as well as introducing JR to the locals at the bar, who tell stories too.

Tye Sheridan takes over the role when we fast forward to high school as JR finds himself chasing the dream of getting into Yale University and becoming a lawyer. The film is nonlinear, so there is some back and forth and the narration helps to explain things.

For a coming-of-age story, it can all get a bit melodramatic at times, and bit too serious, usually in scenes featuring JR's alcoholic father, who reappears in his life every so often.

The film has a warm and relaxing feel, and at under 2 hours, it never feels too long.

The Good
Wonderfully filmed, and it is rare these days to get a nice relaxing film, that tells some good stories.

The Bad
Some parts of the film feel quite slow, and then the end feels a bit rushed.

Overall
Not my usual type of film, I prefer films with a bit more action, but this was an ok film. You will watch it once, feel good, and then never think about it again.

I score The Tender Bar an unforgettable 6/10

In cinemas now, and on Amazon Prime - https://amzn.to/34D7gg5

Friday 8 April 2022

REVIEW: Death on the Nile (2022) - Starring Kenneth Branagh as Poirot

Review by Jon Donnis
The Renowned detective Hercule Poirot is back, in what is the 3rd version of the Death on the Nile story by Agatha Christie. Kenneth Branagh once again takes on the role of the man who no one can quite pronounce his name. 


The start of the film sees a young Poirot in World War 1 helping his unit attack the enemy, but a trip wire ends up being activated and a fellow solider gets blown up, and Poirot finds himself with a mutilated face. While being treated by his fiancé, Nurse Katherine (Susannah Fielding), she tells him that he can grow a moustache to hide his scar. Sadly, she dies in WW1, and we quickly jump to 1937.

Poirot finds himself watching a blues singer, Salome Otterbourne (Sophie Okonedo), he sees Jacqueline "Jackie" de Bellefort (Emma Mackey) dancing with Simon Doyle (Armie Hammer).  Jackies childhood friend Linnet Ridgeway-Doyle Gal Gadot) enters the scene and is introduced to Simon, and now we have pretty much been introduced to the main cast.


Quick look at the official synopsis:
"Renowned detective Hercule Poirot is off on a relaxing retreat to Egypt, where he meets his friend Monsieur Bouc. He offers Poirot to join him and his mother at his friend's post-wedding celebration. Poirot arrives at the hotel and recognizes the newly married hosts: Linnet Ridgeway and Simon Doyle. Six weeks ago, he had seen Simon Doyle with his fiancé Jacqueline at a nightclub. Jacqueline had introduced her fiancé to her best friend: Linnet. Poirot scoffs at how love took its turn in a short period. Bouc introduces Poirot to all the passengers on the cruise:"


And as is always the case we then get a murder, and it is up to Poirot to figure out who committed the crime, and make sure the murderer faces justice.

As with all of the Poirot films and TV episodes, you know what to expect, they are always well acted and well written, and I have found that someone's enjoyment of a film comes down to if you like the actor who plays Poirot or not.


There have been a number of actors to take on the part, but I think we can all agree that David Suchet is the best, and probably the one that most people associate with the role. Peter Ustinov also played the role well. The other actors I don't care to even mention, so that leaves us with Kenneth Branagh, a super talented actor. HOWEVER, I just hate him as Poirot. His accent is terrible and makes it hard to understand him. He just does not fit the rule. 

Death on the Nile is a big budget film, with an all-star cast, loads of big names, a beautiful setting, a famous story. All the ingredients are there for this to be a great film. But Branagh just isn't Poirot.


The Good
Wonderful talented cast, well made film, everything is there for an enjoyable murder mystery film.

The Bad
I can't stand Kenneth Branagh as Poirot. Simple as that.

Overall
This is a good film, but I have this barrier of not enjoying Kenneth Branagh as Poirot. If you like him as Poirot, then you will enjoy the film. I don't, and I didn't

I score Death on the Nile a fair 7/10 (I give this a decent score, because I accept my enjoyment of the film is based on my own opinion on who plays the role of Poirot, and not necessarily everything else in the film)

Out on April 13th at https://amzn.to/3LPRvTr

Thursday 7 April 2022

REVIEW: Scream (2022) a.k.a. Scream 5 - Starring Melissa Barrera, Mason Gooding, Jenna Ortega, Jack Quaid, Marley Shelton, Courteney Cox, David Arquette and Neve Campbell

Review by Jon Donnis
Before I start the review, I am currently running a competition to win a copy of Scream on DVD, you can enter that competition at

Although billed as a relaunch or as they say in the film a "requel" this does serve as a direct sequel to Scream 4.



"Twenty-five years after a streak of brutal murders shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro, a terrifying new killer resurrects the Ghostface mask. As the deaths mount, Woodsboro's new targets must seek help from the survivors of the original Ghostface attacks. Now, only Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), former sheriff Dewey Riley (David Arquette), and reporter Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) can find a way to stop the killer when everyone is a suspect."


If you have seen any of the previous Scream films, then you pretty much know what to expect. This film is your classic "Slasher" film, mixed in with a guessing game of who the killer is. The film takes an interesting approach of satirizing the whole horror genre, and specifically the slasher film, but this is done in a straight-laced way.


At times it does feel like you are watching a serious version of the Scary Movie film, which was itself a parody of the original Scream film. And at points things get a bit too "meta" for my liking. And tries a bit too hard to pay lip service to the kind of horror nerd on reddit who spends way too much time analysing everything.

The new cast do a decent job, and are your typical annoying, rich, late teens, and of course it is always good to see original cast members come back. The killings are your usual slasher film clichés, and you will roll your eyes often at the film, perhaps more at the need to satirize the genre, with the constant dialog of the characters pointing things out, as opposed to the basic story.

With that said, the film is exactly what you expect it to be, and it does a good job of painting by numbers while also trying to do something different, but also honouring the franchise.


The Good
The acting is all very good, some fun slasher moments, and your usual jump scares, are what most horror fans will want.

The Bad
I am not a fan of "meta commentary" in a film, especially when the film is serious and not a parody, or comedy.

Overall
I am self admittedly not a big fan of the Scream franchise, but this is the best since the original, and I did enjoy it. at 1 hour 50 minutes, it is about 20 minutes too long.

I score Scream 2022 a fair 8/10

Pre-Order from Amazon at https://amzn.to/3J7Y2r0