Sequels rarely live up to their predecessors. When they do, it usually feels accidental rather than intentional. 28 Years Later – The Bone Temple has every reason to stumble. A new director, new central characters and the weight of one of the most influential British horror films of the last few decades hanging over it. And yet, against the odds, it works. More than that, it thrives. Director Danny Boyle hands over the reins to Nia DaCosta , while Alex Garland remains on w

After episode 4 slowed things down to focus on character development, episode 5 of Pluribus does the opposite. This one pushes the story forward in a big way and shows us the consequences of Carol pushing the Joined too far. Carol has been testing the limits of the Joined for several episodes now, sometimes knowingly, sometimes not. This time, she finally hits that limit. The episode opens in the shadow of that massive cliffhanger from last week. At the end of episode 4, all

Episode 6 is one of the strongest in the series so far. It answers long-standing mysteries, introduces new ones and reshapes the entire narrative landscape. It is both a revelation-heavy instalment and a reset of the series’ foundations. The episode opens by resolving the cliffhanger from episode 5. Carol, trapped inside a packaging plant, uncovers a horrifying secret hidden in its vast freezer. Fans predicted human remains, and the episode confirms this immediately. Carol fi

This is the strongest entry in the series so far, a film that blends sharp humour with a darker and more grounded story that feels surprisingly mature for a Knives Out mystery. The film follows young priest Jud, played by Josh O’Connor, who arrives in a small-town parish to assist Father Jefferson Wicks. Wicks, played with great energy by Josh Brolin, is far from the gentle priest you might expect. He preaches not about love or forgiveness but about fighting back against a w

We finally get a proper introduction to Manouso, a character we have heard about before, the same man Carol calls from the plane, the one who still refuses to make any contact with the Joined. He is not doing well. He is locked away somewhere, running desperately low on food and eating ketchup packets and cans of dog food. The episode shows us exactly what he was doing at the moment Carol called him. He tries to reach anyone who might still be unjoined, scanning every possibl

Russell Crowe playing Hitler’s right-hand man. That alone makes this mandatory viewing. This film tells the story of the Nuremberg trials that started in 1945 at the end of the Second World War. It focuses on the German leadership that was captured and brought here for a fair trial, among them the Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring played by Russell Crowe. The story is based on the book The Nazi and The Psychiatrist by Jack El-Hai and we step behind the scenes of this trial thro

Episode 3, entitled Grenade , essentially sees Carol push the limits of what the Joined can do for her. Let’s establish some reference words: the infected people are called the Joined and moment 0, as per the countdown in the series, we will call the Event . After the happenings of the first 2 episodes where Carol got used to the ‘rules’ of this new world and how to survive within them, she continues exploring what she can do, what others are doing and learns where she can s

I knew this film wasn’t going to be like the other ones before it even started and that’s rarely a good sign. We’re back in the world of Predator, this time once again under the direction of Dan Trachtenberg, who previously revived the franchise with Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers . Trachtenberg has already proven that there’s still life left in this long-running franchise, even after earlier entries drained it of originality. When he took over Prey , he stripped the s

Roll out the red carpet ! Mr Vince Gilligan is back and what a return this is! Pluribus is the latest creative child of the mind behind Breaking Bad and B etter Call Saul and what potential this series has. We follow Carol, played by Rhea Seehorn, who fans will instantly recognise as the methodical, sharp, and quietly ruthless lawyer from Better Call Saul . Here, she plays a moderately successful novelist who writes fantasy-romance books that attract a loyal audience, mostl

Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein is perhaps the most faithful adaptation of Mary Shelley’s novel to date. And while it doesn’t follows every page, instead it it captures the novel’s soul. This version is both terrifying and mesmerising to watch. Del Toro has always been a master of dark beauty, but here he shows surprising restraint. Instead of overwhelming us with ornate visuals, as he did in Hellboy II , he lets the atmosphere serve the story. The gothic sets, detailed co

What kind of film leaves you breathless even when you already know how it ends? A House of Dynamite is that kind of film, Kathryn Bigelow’s majestic return to the political thriller genre she knows better than almost anyone. Bigelow has always excelled at capturing the intensity of high-stakes decision-making. Zero Dark Thirty traced the hunt for Osama Bin Laden through the eyes of a relentless CIA analyst, while The Hurt Locker followed a bomb disposal expert whose addicti

It looks like Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson is working hard to earn some Oscar credibility, but the question is whether The Smashing Machine truly delivers the knockout punch he’s aiming for. The film tells the story of Mark Kerr, the mixed martial arts champion who helped put MMA on the global map. Kerr’s rise is well known among fans of the sport: a wrestling prodigy who transitioned into mixed martial arts and quickly climbed the ranks through sheer physical dominance and tec

There are very few actors who can command your attention in the first five minutes of a film. Cillian Murphy is one of them. It’s also brave, considering where he is in his career right now. After the Oppenheimer whirlwind with all the awards, acclaim and inevitable prestigious film offers, he’s chosen to go in the opposite direction, focusing on smaller, more impactful projects. Steve marks his second collaboration with director Tim Mielants, following Small Things Like Thes

I’ll be the first to admit: I haven’t seen Barbarian , the film that everyone associates with this director. I know, I should watch it, especially because it’s widely praised. But even if Barbarian had zero buzz, I’d still go back to watch it now, simply because Weapons is that good. The trailers for Weapons give away just enough to hint at the plot, which walks the line between eerie realism and subtle paranormal undertones. To summarise: 17 children disappear at the same

Caught Stealing follows washed-up baseball player Hank (played with gritty charm by Austin Butler) as he’s dragged into the criminal underbelly of 1990s New York. What starts off with a favour, looking after a friend’s cat, quickly spirals into chaos. That friend, Russ (a wildly unhinged Matt Smith), is clearly bad news, and the trouble that follows Hank is anything but minor. This might be Darren Aronofsky’s lightest film in tone, but don’t expect a comedy. The trailer sells

One of my top five films of all time is There Will Be Blood , also directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. This new one comes real close, honestly, it might have topped it if Daniel Day-Lewis was in it. PTA’s films are always an event. They’re not just movies, they’re a reason to celebrate cinema to be hones. And with this one, he’s really outdone himself. What makes it so powerful is how much it mirrors the world we live in today. Not just in the US, but everywhere. Think about it

I’ll admit I might be slightly biased about this film, and for good reason. Tron has always held a special place in my heart (the original 1982 version was one of my childhood sci-fi favourites) so I went into Tron: Ares with high expectations. This latest entry takes us back into the digital world known as The Grid, although, interestingly, much of the story takes place in the real world rather than inside the computer realm. The setup is surprisingly grounded: two powerfu

Back when I was devouring comic books, my first real entry point was 1991’s Uncanny X-Men , and from there I went up and down the Marvel...

When I first saw the trailer for this, I already had a sense of unease about the approach they were taking. But I brushed it off,...

When it comes to summer blockbusters, this one fits the bill perfectly. I have to say, this might be the best commercial for Formula 1...