Maps To The Stars (2014)

“Please. No film noir questions.” Maps To The Stars (2014) fits into the sub-genre of Hollywood noir or neo-noir rather, a descendant of Sunset Boulevard’s scathing look at the film industry, wrapped up in murder, gothic imagery, grotesqueries, and sardonic comedy. David Cronenberg’s film, the first he shot in Los Angeles, and working with a […]

Black Widow (1987)

There’s more than one Black Widow on Disney Plus – you can also check out the neo-noir Black Widow (1987) directed by Bob Rafelson (Five Easy Pieces, The King Of Marvin Gardens). I remember watching this when I was a kid on TV and being a bit underwhelmed – I thought there was going to […]

Woman On The Run (1950)

Woman On The Run (1950) is an effective and underrated film noir that’s under 80 minutes and has made me a fan of main star Ann Sheridan (who was also a silent co-producer on it). When her husband (Ross Elliott) witnesses a murder while walking their dog, he reports it to the police but gets […]

Point Blank (1967)

Lee Marvin in a series of dapper suits with a revolver in hand is enough for a 1960s neo-noir like Point Blank (1967) but the actor’s collaboration with young British director John Boorman offered them both a chance to push the crime genre into pop art experimentation. Revisiting Point Blank, it feels like Steven Soderbergh […]

Issue 15

Issue 15 of VHS Tracking zine is now out! A two-page A5 sized fold-out publication printed on riso printers from Neighbourhood Press. The cover illustration is by Ellen Broadhurst based on the film, Daisies, directed by Věra Chytilová. Artwork is also included from Claudia Deborah based on the film, Scream, directed by Wes Craven. There’s […]