Nobody quite does horror the way that Hammer Studios does. It’s nice to sit down and watch a horror film and be genuinely scared rather than have to sit back and watch countless people hacked up for some sicko’s pleasure, no The Woman In Black goes back to that old Hitchcock style horror that has you jumping out of your seat throughout the film.

Based on a novel by Susan Hill The Woman In Black follows a depressed lawyer named Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe – Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows: Parts 1 + 2) who despite having a young son, Joseph (Misha Handley – newcomer) has never really recovered from the death of his worth.

In a bid to save his job Arthur takes a trip to a mysterious coastal town where he is to settle the estate of a recently deceased estate. Once there though he discovers that the estate consists of a mansion that all the locals warn Arthur not to go to.

Despite their warnings Arthur goes to the mansion and after he sees some mysterious events there the children of the village start dying. Soon the town’s people don’t want to have anything to do with Arthur, all except for Sam (Ciaran Hinds – John Carter, Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance) and his wife (Janet McTeer – Albert Nobbs, Island) whose own son was the victim of a tragic accident.

Director, James Watkins (Eden Lake) keeps the audience on the edge of their seat after easing them with a slow opening that does consist of some alarming deaths… let’s just say that this is one horror film that isn’t scared to kill kids.

Watkins uses every tool in the horror handbook (except gore) to scare his audience and he is certainly one director that isn’t afraid to show that good old-fashioned sound effects can still terrify an audience within an inch of their life.

He also owes the screenwriters a hell of a lot because they really have come up with a good supernatural thriller that never allows the audience to predict what is happening at all. The ending may be a little weak but the dark Gothic style of the film will leave even the hardened horror fan very happy indeed.

It does take a little while to get used to seeing Daniel Radcliffe in a role other than Harry Potter, but give it time as soon you find yourself accepting him as Arthur Kipps. Radcliffe performance is credible although you can’t help but wonder if he is a little too young to be cast as a father. Still he does surprisingly seem suited to period pieces and his performance here would suggest that he will in fact of an acting career outside of The Harry Potter series.

The Woman In Black is a return to old-school horror and shows that it still has a lease of life in modern cinema. This is a great supernatural thriller that is guaranteed to creep you out.

Year: 2012

Director: James Watkins

Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Misha Handley, Ciaran Hinds, Janet McTeer

Classification: M

Runtime: 95 mins

Rating:

Dave Griffiths

Somewhere in Turkey someone had a good idea ‘let’s do a criminal investigation film in virtual real time’. It may have sounded good on paper but the result, Once Upon A Time In Anatolia is a mixed bag. On the one hand you have some great shots of the Anatolia countryside but then you’ve got a film that runs way too long and has the potential to be a cure for insomnia.

The general story at hand is that Kenan (Firat Tanis – After The Revolution, Vay Arkadas) confesses to a murder and as a result a party of people led by Commissar Naci (Yilmaz Erdogan – Neseli Hayat, Organize Isler) and Prosecutor Nusret (Taner Birsel – Our Grand Despair, Siyah Beyaz) then drive around the Anatolia countryside one night as they attempt to help the confused Kenan find where he has dumped the victim’s body.

Then once the body is eventually found it is up to disillusioned Doctor Cemal (Muhammet Uzuner – Gorunmeyen, Munferit) to try to piece together exactly how the victim was killed.

There are some aspects of Once Upon A Time In Anatolia that work really well. Director, Nuri Bilge Ceylan (Three Monkeys, Climates) brilliant shot selection make the film visual candy to look at but sadly the audience finds their minds wandering (or worse still find themselves falling asleep) when the ‘real time’ nature of the film takes over and you find yourself watching characters argue over inane things such as yoghurt… it feels like you are watching a strange mix of Seinfeld and C.S.I. taking place in Turkish.

Still the screenwriters do get a lot of things right as well. The underlying story about Prosecutor Nusret’s wife is well written and a lot of other writers could learn from the characterization that the script sets up so well.

The other big plus for Once Upon A Time In Anatolia is the acting. Yilmaz Erdogan, Taner Birsel and Muhammet Uzuner all put in fine efforts, the later maybe could have even conjured up an Oscar nomination if the overall film had been better… he is certainly someone to watch the career of though.

Once Upon A Time In Anatolia is one of those annoying films where one moment you find yourself marveling at aspects of it but then five minutes you are eagerly anticipating the end credits. This is a good film that lets itself down by being over long.

Year: 2012

Director: Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Stars: Muhammet Uzuner, Yilmaz Erdogan, Tane Birsel, Firat Tanis

Classification: M

Runtime: 150 mins

Rating:

Dave Griffiths

With any ordinary director at the helm, Dark Shadows would have become the shallow comedy that its trailer hinted it could be. But Dark Shadows isn’t directed by any ordinary director, no it has the legendary Tim Burton (Alice In Wonderland, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street) in charge… and with his unique sense of humor infused into this dark tale you have a very good film indeed.

Based on a television series Dark Shadows tells the story of Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp – 21 Jump Street, The Rum Diary) a young man who is cursed by a witch, Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green – Perfect Sense, Womb), and becomes a vampire whom is then imprisoned for 200 years.

When Barnabas is awakened her finds that Angelique has destroyed his family’s business and now pretty much ‘owns’ the town that his family set-up. Even the mansion he once lived in is in ruins as his distant relatives struggle to make a dime.

Barnabas arrives back at his old home and encourages his relatives, Elizabeth (Michelle Pfeiffer – New Year’s Eve, Personal Effects), Roger (Jonny Lee Miller – TV’S Emma & Dexter), Carolyn (Chloe Grace Moretz – Hugo, Hick), David (Gulliver McGrath – Hugo, The Long Night), the family doctor, Dr. Julia Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter – Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2, Toast) and the butler, Willie (Jackie Earle Haley – Louis, A Nightmare On Elm Street) to help him rebuild his family empire and destroy Angelique.

And while trying to get used to the culture of the 1970s Barnabas also tries to find out how to impress the 1970s’ female when he finds himself falling for the Collins family governess, the mysterious girl who calls herself Victoria Winters (Bella Heathcote – In Time, Beneath Hill 60).

Tim Buton’s cool imagination runs riot with Dark Shadows and it is one of the things that makes the film work. The film’s humour works, and despite some of the jokes being really obvious it seems to fit with the films style. But more importantly Burton gets the right mix of comedy and darkness. As a result you like Barnabas as a character despite the fact that he does in fact kill innocent characters throughout the film.

The screenwriters need to be congratulated for that, but they also need to be thanked for not taking away any of the suspense that this film needs either. Together with Tim Burton they really have created a surprisingly good film.

As a credit to what a fine actor he is Johnny Depp manages to outshine everyone else even though this is an ensemble cast. He is unrecognizable as Barnabas, a role he seems to totally lap up. Eva Green gets the chance to announce herself as the ‘baddie’ but so many of the rest of the cast, such as Chloe Grace Moretz, really aren’t given enough screen time to allow them to shine. You especially feel sorry for poor Bella Heathcote who does nothing wrong but at times it feels like her character has been forgotten about by the script. Let’s hope that if a sequel gets made some of the other characters get a look in as well.

As far as a good mix of horror and comedy goes Dark Shadows works absolute wonders and is a joy to watch. Dark Shadows is a lot better than its trailer suggest and really does deserve to be seen on the big screen.

Year: 2012

Director: Tim Burton

Stars: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, Jackie Earle Haley, Jonny Lee Miller, Bella Heathcote, Chloe Grace Moretz, Gullivar McGrath

Classification: M

Runtime: 113 mins

Rating:

Dave Griffiths

So often we see modern horror films try too hard and fail or they simply forget about the story at hand and just become ‘torture-porn’. Luckily the filmmakers behind The Innkeepers use their brains and actually end up creating a horror film that even Alfred Hitchcock would be proud of.

The events of The Innkeepers take place over the last weekend of the historic Yankee Pedlar Inn being in operation. The lucky employees who get to be on duty are Claire (Sara Paxton – Enter Nowhere, Shark Night 3D) and Luke (Pat Healy – Compliance, When You Find Me), who have seen some creepy events occur in the hotel and are currently in the middle of putting together a website that reveals the paranormal side of the hotel.

As the weekend goes on Claire and Luke try to catch the ghost on tape while also looking after guests such as actress-turned-medium, Leanne Rease-Jones (Kelly McGillis – What Could Have Been, Stake Land).

The low-budget feel of The Innkeepers certainly enhances the film and director/screenwriter, Ti West (Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever, The House Of The Devil) needs to be congratulated for not taking the film down the popular ‘found-tape’ road that has made films such as Paranormal Activity popular.

West does a wonderful job with The Innkeepers, he doesn’t need flashy special effects to scare his audience and the slow build-up at the start seems to affect the audience by building up a strong anticipation that you certainly need a release from. West’s script and ‘natural look’ to the film also draws the audience closer to Claire and Luke meaning there is no way that you want anything bad to happen to them.

Paxton and Healy also put in some great performances and they are well aided by some great dialogue that surely would have made their job a bit easier. Paxton really shows that she is capable of more than she was given to work with in Shark Night 3D while Healy should some expect some job offers on the back of his performance.

The Innkeepers is a delightful horror film that reminds us just how good lower budget American films can be. If you are a lover of older style horror films then you need to get along to the cinema to check out The Innkeepers… you won’t be disappointed.

Year: 2012

Director: Ti West

Stars: Sara Paxton, Pat Healy, Kelly McGillis

Classification: M

Runtime: 102 mins

Rating:

Dave Griffiths

The Good Neighbour is yet another great little gem to have surfaced out of Germany in the last twelve months. This dark thriller is a brilliant film that takes its audience on a real journey.

For David (Maxim Mehmet – Westerland, Faust) life should be good. He has just landed his dream job and has landed a nice apartment at an absolute steal. But then David meets his neighbor, Robert (Charley Hubner – TV’S Ladykracher & Polizeiruf 110).

At first Robert is the perfect neighbor. He is friendly, helpful and is only too happy to allow David into all aspects of his life.  But then a night out turns sour. David meets a young woman at the bar and then accidentally runs over her as they head home. David wants to help but instead Robert tells him to drive off.

Robert then becomes increasingly creepy and full-on as they not only try to cover up the crime but David finds himself embarking on both a professional and romantic relationship with the young woman’s sister, Vanessa (Petra Schmidt-Schaller – My Life In Orange, Unknown).

Director, Stephan Rick (TV’S Die Pfefferkorner & Allein gegen die Zeit) really allows The Good Neighbour to go into some dark places and as far as thrillers go this is top notch.

Unlike a lot of modern cinema thrillers it is impossible to work out what is going to happen next, and even though David has committed a horrible crime you can’t help but like him and hope he gets out of this unscathed. And when Robert turns his attention to Vanessa you really find yourself caring whathappens.

Aside from the genius of Stephan Rick the other factor that makes this film work so well is the performance of Charley Hubner. Hubner is extremely creepy in his role and his performance lifts the character in that area that is reserved for characters such as Hannibal Lector.

The Good Neighbour is a sensational thriller that will have the hairs on the back of your neck standing to attention… you are guaranteed to feel thrills.

Year: 2011

Director: Stephan Rick

Stars: Maxim Mehmat, Charly Hubner, Petra Schmidt-Schaller

Classification: CTC

Runtime: 96 mins

Rating:

The Good Neighbour is screening as part of the 2012 Audi German Film Festival in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra and Perth from April 18- 6 May. Please check http://www.goethe.de/ins/au/lp/prj/fia/enindex.htm for session times.

Dave Griffiths

Why has Germany been hiding this film away for so long? Hell is a post apocalyptic film that proves Germany can make a film as equally as good as Hollywood… if not even better. This is a stunning film that can’t be missed.

Set in 2016 Hell depicts a world where the sun has become so bright that most of the Earth has dried up and any sign of life died or fled. Marie (Hannah Herzsprung – Escape From Tibet, Habermann), her younger sister, Leonie (Lisa Vicari – Vicki Ficki, Hanni & Nanni) and her boyfriend, Philip (Lars Eidinger – Home For The Weekend, Summer Window) drive across the country searching for somewhere where the sun is less cruel.

Just as they get their hopes up when they spot a bird they happen across a deserted gas station and have a violent introduction to Tom (Stipe Erceg – The Fourth State, Schilf). With differences aside, Tom soon joins them on their journey, but their world is about to become even harsher.

This has to be one of the most perfectly titled films you are ever likely to come across. The film has been titled Hell because the characters endure a hellish environment, the name actually comes from the German word Hell which means brightness… a stroke of accidental genius.

Hell certainly shows that director, Tim Fehlbaum (Wo ist Freddy?, Nicht meine Hochzeit) has a rosy future ahead of him. While the film is labeled as a horror Fehlbaum actually keeps it in the thriller realm, and films it in such a way that keeps its audience on the edge of their start from start to finish.

Fehlbaum also captures the stark environment in a brilliant way through the lense, although you can’t help but wonder if he saw The Book Of Eli before or after he shot the film.

Also announcing herself with a gritty performance is Hannah Herzsprung. She is sensational is a sometimes difficult role but never misses a beat whether she is called upon to do some serious action scenes or delve into something more dramatic.

Hell is a sensational film… actually one of the best to surface this year; it is even goes as far as outclassing films such as The Road. Post-apocalyptic cinematic brilliance.

Year: 2011

Director: Tim Fehlbaum

Stars: Hannah Herzsprung, Stipe Erceg, Lars Eidinger, Lisa Vicari

Classification: CTC

Runtime: 89 mins

Rating:

Hell is screening as part of the 2012 Audi German Film Festival in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra and Perth from April 18- 6 May. Please check http://www.goethe.de/ins/au/lp/prj/fia/enindex.htm for session times.

Dave Griffiths

Move over Snowtown and Animal Kingdom a new Aussie film has just blown you out of the water. Wish You Were Here is one of the finest Aussie movies to surface in a long time, it is nearly impossible to fault and is five stars all the way.

For Alice Flannery (Felicity Price – TV’S Rescue Special Ops & My Place), her husband Dave (Joel Edgerton – The Thing, Warrior), her sister Steph (Teresa Palmer – Take Me Home Tonight, I Am Number Four) and Steph’s boyfriend Jeremy (Antony Starr – Bliss, TV’S Rush) a trip to Cambodia seems like a fun week in paradise.

But then the unthinkable happens. After a party in a small coastal town one night Jeremy goes missing and the others are forced to return to Australia without him. Soon it is revealed that some of the remaining three have secrets about that night and with a Federal Police Officer, Jon Canane (Nicholas Cassim – Dealing With Destiny, TV’S At Home With Julia) sniffing around it’s obvious even more dark secrets will soon surface.

Director/screenwriter Kieran Darcy-Smith (The Island, Bloodlock) has delivered an absolute blinder of a film, a thriller that has all the elements of a European thriller and leaves you breathless throughout. Darcy-Smith teases the audience giving us titbits of what happened in Cambodia but never lets you fully know what happened until he is ready for the big reveal… and there is no way that you can pick what is going to happen. And yes there are a few times where you’ll jump.

Darcy-Smith has also created some terrific characters. You instantly care for Alice and hate the situation that she finds herself in. At times you will grow suspicious of (and maybe even hate) Dave but by the end of the film you’ll be loving him as well… such is the power of the writing in the screenplay. As far as thrillers go this script nails it to a tee.

Acting wise Edgerton and Price are brilliant. Price really shows that she deserves to be included amongst Australia’s top actors with a performance that should guarantee a few award wins. The same has to be said about Edgerton. Sometimes it feels that Australians take him for granted but here he shows that he is not just one of the best actors on our show but one of the best actors in the world at the moment. His performance is guaranteed to take you on a journey.

Wish You Were Here is not a film for the faint hearted. It will stir up emotions and takes the audience into some dark places, but at the end of the day this is a fine thriller that is at the top of its game. If you love a good dramatic film that keeps you guessing then you simply have to see Wish You Were Here. Five stars all the way!!!

Year: 2012

Director: Kieran Darcy-Smith

Stars: Felicity Price, Joel Edgerton, Teresa Palmer, Antony Starr, Nicholas Cassim

Classification: CTC

Runtime: 100 mins

Rating:

Dave Griffiths

Time to make all those people who say they will never watch Australian films because they are crap to eat their words because Caught Inside is a terrific thriller that could hold its own with thrillers coming out of any country.

Caught Inside follows Sam (Daisy Betts – TV’S Harry’s Law & Sea Patrol) who decides to escape the world for a few days after her boyfriend puts their sex-tape on the Internet. She decides to tag along with her best friend, Alex (Leeanna Walsman – Kissing Point, The Informant) and her partner, Toobs (Simon Lyndon – Loaded, TV’S Spirited) as they go on a surfing charter run by Skipper Joe (Peter Phelps – TV’S Home & Away & Rescue Special Ops).

Sam quickly takes a liking for Rob (Sam Lyndon – TV’S Crownies & Paper Giants: The Birth Of Cleo) but unfortunately for her it is the psychopathic Bull (Ben Oxenbould – TV’S Slide & At Home With Julia) that has eyes for her. Much to the surprise to his newfound buddy, Archie (Harry Cook – Panic At Rock Island, The Fall) Bull is soon taking everyone on a ride they will not forget.

Thrillers and surf movies both have a bad habit of becoming clichés but luckily director/screenwriter Adam Blaiklock (Domesticated Animals, The Existentialist Cowboy’s Last Stand) has the sense (and talent) to make Caught Inside realistic and fresh. His knowledge of the surf culture helps this film along a lot and he manages some scenes of true suspense without ever dipping into that large bag of clichés.

The thing that makes Caught Inside such a great movie though is the character of Bull. As far as on-screen baddies go Bull is right up there. He is happy to torture, rape and kill along with the best of them but there is just something about the character that makes him a standout. Everybody knows one of those lovable surfers (which Bull starts off as) so when he snaps it comes as a complete surprise.

You will also find yourself leaving the cinema and debating whether you think Bull was guilty of ‘attacking’ Sam or not. Blaiklock has written the script in such a unique way that it is totally up to the audience to make up their own mind. What is guaranteed though is that you will have your heart in your mouth for the entirety of the film after the accusations fly.

Added to Blaiklock’s brilliance is a remarkable acting performance by Ben Oxenbould who is in charge of bringing Bull to life. Forget the comedic performance that Oxenbould made us laugh at in Hey Dad, here he totally becomes the psychotic Bull in such a way that it is scary. Forget Hollywood for a moment, because what you see here is one of the finest acting performances to grace our screens in a long time… Oxenbould deserves to become a star on the back of this performance alone.

Caught Inside is one thriller that shouldn’t be missed, it is proof of what some of us have been saying for a long time, there are good Australian films around, you just need to go and see them. Caught Inside is a stunning film that will stay with you for a long time.

Year: 2010

Director: Adam Blaiklock

Stars: Ben Oxenbould, Daisy Betts, Sam Lyndon, Simon Lyndon, Leeanna Walsman, Harry Cook, Peter Phelps

Classification: MA15+

Runtime: 91 mins

Rating:

Dave Griffiths

There seems to be a lot of these so-called ‘found footage’ films going around at the moment and The Devil Inside joins the legion of them in the horror film genre. The good news is The Devil Inside is well worth a look and is a heap better than the Paranormal Activity series of films that it will most likely find itself likened to.

Supposedly filmmaker Michael Schaefer (Ionut Grama – The Whistleblower, Gruber’s Journey) finds out about a case in which Maria Rossi (Suzan Crowley – La Premiere, Wild About Harry) murdered three people who were exorcising her.

Schaefer hunts down Maria’s daughter, Isabella (Fernanda Andrade – TV’S The Mentalist & Sons Of Anarchy) and decides to take her to Rome where her mother is still institutionalized with the Catholic Church refusing to confirm that she is possessed.

Isabella manages to hunt down Father Ben Rawlings (Simon Quarterman – Inside, TV’S The Whistleblowers) and Father David Keane (Evan Helmuth – Love’s Christmas Journey, Removal), two renegade priests who are only too happy to do an exorcism without Church permission and are eager to go and see Maria.

Of course while it is difficult for director, William Brent Bell (Stay Alive, Sparkle And Charm) and his co-writer, Matthew Peterman (Stay Alive) to bring anything new to the exorcism style of horror film they do manage to create some intriguing characters and produce a film that does have a couple of ‘jumpy’ moments… although you wouldn’t call it completely terrifying.

Bell and Peterman do take a massive swipe at the Catholic Church with The Devil Inside but you feel that the Church wouldn’t even bat an eyelid at a horror film that nobody will take seriously anyway. The film is good, but once again the sense of the ‘lost-footage’ film is lost when you clearly tell that it is actors in the roles… so why not just shoot it as a film and be done that. That way is also far less likely to piss off those that don’t like the hand-held camera shots as well.

One of the things that Bell and Peterman did do extremely well with this film is the casting. While Fernanda Andrade is okay in the lead role she is overshadowed by Simon Quarterman who puts in a remarkable performance… he is someone to watch for in the future.

There is nothing new to be found in The Devil Inside, but if you are looking for a horror film that will give you a couple of frights then it will certainly fill your needs.

Year: 2012

Director: William Brent Bell

Stars: Fernanda Andrade, Simon Quarterman, Evan Helmuth, Ionut Grama, Suzan Crowley

Classification: MA15+

Runtime: 83 mins

Rating:

Dave Griffiths

On the surface Gone looks like an intelligent thriller that has the potential to really creep you out. But thanks to some really poor script work it ends up becoming a B-Grade thriller that seriously frustrates the audience.

Jill (Amanda Seyfried – The End Of Love, In Time) is a young woman who went through a terrifying ordeal when she was kidnapped by a man who planned to kill her, but she escaped. Since then she has spent time trying to convince police officers such as Detective Powers (Daniel Sunjata – One For The Money, TV’S Grey’s Anatomy) that she isn’t insane and that the serial killer is responsible for many of the area’s disappearances.

Things intensify for Jill when she returns home from work only to find that her sister, Molly (Emily Wickersham – I Am Number Four, Remember Me) is missing. Jill is convinced that it is the work of the serial killer but the Police believe Molly is just taking some ‘time out’. While the Police do nothing Jill and Molly’s boyfriend, Billy (Sebastian Stan – Captain America: The First Avenger, Black Swan) before she becomes the next murder victim.

Director, Heitor Dhalia (Adrift, Drained) should have realised that there was something seriously amiss with Gone. The poor scripting sees Jill uncovering the truth with absolute ease while a lackluster ending means the films doesn’t even give it’s an audience a decent payoff. And as for clichés, well Gone delivers them by the bucketful, including the good ol’ cat that always seems to jump out to scare the lead actress and the audience at the same time.

Being critical of the actors in Gone seems very unfair, considering what they had to work with. All the Detectives were given absolute rubbish to deliver and as a result all were pretty unremarkable. And as for poor Wes Bentley (The Hunger Games, Underworld: Awakening) playing Hood, well in a poor attempt to make him seem like the killer he is written out of some of the most important scenes in the film with the lamest excuse you are ever likely to hear in a film…wait for it…apparently he was ‘delivering soup to his mother’!

Gone just doesn’t live up to the suspense genre at all, in fact you get the feeling that if it didn’t star Amanda Seyfried it most likely would have just been a straight-to-DVD movie. Gone is pure disappointment.

Year: 2012

Director: Heitor Dhalia

Stars: Amanda Seyfried, Daniel Sunjata, Sebastian Stan, Wes Bentley, Emily Wickersham

Classification: M

Runtime: 95 mins

Rating:

Dave Griffiths