Frightening Strikes

Alien  has to be one of the all-time great sci-fi horror films. As old as it is, it has stood the test of time, still admired by generations of fans more than 40 years on. I remember when it was first released - the hype was tremendous, and the tagline was enthralling:  “In space, no one can hear you scream.”   The teenage me and my equally excited friends queued right around the block and, as there was only one screen at the local cinema in those days, I was anxious that we wouldn’t get a seat.  And yet, despite all the excitement, I came away a little disappointed. I thought it was a very good film, but maybe as an overexcited teenager, I was expecting more action, gore and shock value. I came to realise, when I watched it again a few years later, that Ridley Scott delivered a slow-burn masterpiece. Since then,  Alien  has become one of those rare films I return to for repeat viewings. Here are ten things, in no particular order, I loved about  ...

Summer might be heating up, but so is the horror. The short nights and hot weather might not feel like horror season but this July’s release slate says otherwise. From brutal reboots and eerie folklore to tight psychological thrillers and slashers, there’s no shortage of chills to cut through the heat. Here’s a quick look at the most talked-about horror films landing in July. Which ones are you excited about? Let us know in the comments. Brick Tim and Olivia wake up in their apartment to the discovery that a solid brick wall has appeared overnight, sealing them and the entire apartment building off from the outside world. With water cut off, no phone service and attempts to break-out fruitless, they and their neighbours must join together to survive and unravel the mystery of who or what has trapped them.   Described by   Tom’s Guide   as  “A mind‑twisting claustrophobic thriller. You’ll feel the walls closing in.”   Brick  promises to   build the ten...

Late Night With the Devil did not turn out to be the tour de force I had hoped for. However, on many levels it won't disappoint especially if you are an aficionado of television in the 1970s. Set in 1977, the film centres around Jack Delroy, a popular but troubled talk show host. Delroy's beloved wife has passed away, leaving him shattered, and his career is on the slide. In a bid to revive the show, he decides to air a special live episode on Halloween night, featuring a series of guests connected to the occult: Christou, a medium; Carmichael, a bullish paranormal sceptic and Lily (accompanied by parapsychologist, Madeline Piper), a young girl who allegedly is the sole survivor of a Satanic cult and believed to be possessed. As the night progresses, what begins as a ratings-raising stunt descends into turmoil and terror as supernatural events unfold live on air.  Entertainment Turned Deadly As the episode continues, strange phenomena begin to occur as each guest demonstrates...

The Woods is a psychological thriller from first-time director, Sarah Lyons. It follows four friends - Kate, Amy, Sam, and Lucas - who, having just graduated from college, decide to commemorate their friendship by recreating a childhood camping trip. But what begins as a nostalgic reunion soon takes a darker turn. The Only Survivor Fast-forward several years and the film opens with Kate (the only one of the four who makes it back) recounting her version of events on a true crime podcast. Kate’s desire to set the record straight after a traumatic experience drives the story forward, challenged by sceptical questioning from the podcast host, and we sense she may be an unreliable narrator. The group’s journey starts brightly enough, but it’s clear early on that the trip is a passion project of Kate's rather than the joint venture that she insists it is during the interview. At a motel stop on the first night, the eerie tone is set when Amy is found sleepwalking and caught in the m...