Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance (2002)

Something about Song Kang-ho’s face – as a presence he emits an innate likeability and charm. The guy has range, of course, and it’s always compelling when a likeable film presence plays someone whose actions are considerably unlikeable. Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance (2002) is the first of the unofficial “Vengeance” trilogy from South Korean director […]

Heatseeker (1995)

Heatseeker (1995) brings together two current interests of mine when it comes to movies. It’s a mid-1990s cyberpunk movie, something I’ve been searching for, ever since rewatching The Lawnmower Man earlier this year. And it’s directed by Albert Pyun, who passed away recently at the end of 2022 and left behind a back catalogue of […]

Scarlet Street (1945)

When a movie is in the public domain and is available everywhere, I often think that makes people less likely to check it out, particularly when there are some shocking versions in poor quality or if its a black-and-white movie that’s been colourised. Scarlet Street (1945) is in the public domain and I was also […]

Cure (1997)

Most horror films shout at you. Cure (1997), directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, never raises its voice. It maintains a steady whisper and is all the more unnerving for it. A Japanese horror film that was part of the ‘J-horror’ wave of the late 1990s, Cure almost stands outside of it by its ordinary, beige-brown palette […]

Looker (1981)

Looker (1981) is not a perfect film or maybe even objectively a good one, but if you have an appreciation for the aesthetic and vibe its throwing out there, it becomes a memorable experience. Directed and written by Michael Crichton, there’s a familiar sci-fi set-up with a mysterious corporation hiding a dark secret, and the […]