Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this review names and references people who have died. The Last Wave is a 1977 supernatural thriller co-written and directed by Australian filmmaker Peter Weir. It followed his internationally acclaimed 1975 film Picnic … Continue reading REVIEW: The Last Wave (1977)
Six friends go hiking along Virginia’s Appalachian trail, but their curiosity soon leads to deadly consequences in Wrong Turn – a new thriller directed by Mike P. Nelson (The Domestics). It is technically a remake of the 2003 horror film … Continue reading REVIEW: Wrong Turn (2021)
Jodie Foster and Martin Sheen star in The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane, a mostly superb little Canadian thriller that sits uncomfortably between character-based drama and exploitation picture. It was released in 1976, and directed by Nicolas Gessner from … Continue reading REVIEW: The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane (1976)
Jarah (Alexis Lane) is an Aboriginal woman raised on a Christian mission with a husband and daughter (Dalara Williams). After her husband Waru (Shaka Cook) enlists to fight in World War II – on the false promise of more rights … Continue reading REVIEW: The Flood (2020)
A Californian motorist (Dennis Weaver) becomes the target of a monstrous and anonymous truck, in Steven Spielberg’s 1971 made-for-television film Duel – adapted by Richard Matheson from his own short story. It is an interesting step in Spielberg’s career. While his … Continue reading REVIEW: Duel (1971)
In Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala’s The Lodge, a father leaves his two grieving children alone in a winter cabin with his new girlfriend while they mourn their mother’s death. If nothing else, The Lodge may be 2020’s winner for “Worst Father of … Continue reading REVIEW: The Lodge (2019)
In the years between playing James Bond and his 1980s career resurgence, Sean Connery starred in a wide array of dramas, thrillers, and action films – many of which have languished in obscurity. Ransom, aka The Terrorists, is one such half-forgotten film: an … Continue reading REVIEW: Ransom (1974)
As a film enthusiast, I have been remarkably remiss in watching the works of Val Lewton. In the 1940s this film producer and writer supervised a string of cheaply-made B-movies for RKO Pictures. These were films that punched well above … Continue reading REVIEW: The Leopard Man (1943)
We need to talk about Bill Paxton. He was a regular fixture of 1980s and 1990s cinema, more often than not playing a supporting role, more often than not in some genre-based action film or sci-fi thriller. He was widely … Continue reading REVIEW: Frailty (2001)
Tom Clancy was a hugely successful author, combining military action and political intrigue in a long series of novels – mostly featuring protagonist Jack Ryan. Their popularity naturally led to Hollywood knocking on Clancy’s door; the first result was John … Continue reading REVIEW: Clear and Present Danger (1994)
