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Krampus (2015) Review – A Christmas Horror with a Conscience
In one sentence: Krampus is a Christmas horror that spins Alpine folklore into a dark tale about family tension and festive belief. Christmas films do not always have to be light, romantic or comforting. There is now a rich niche of festive horror and Krampus is one of its strongest. Drawing on Alpine folklore, the…
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Frankenstein (2025) Review – A New Perspective on a Timeless Monster
In one sentence: Frankenstein is a reinterpretation of the classic tale that emphasises humanity and monstrosity over simple horror. Guillermo del Toro’s much-anticipated Frankenstein arrived on Netflix yesterday. I initially wondered whether releasing it after Halloween was a missed opportunity, however, this is not really a horror film but a story about humanity. It also…
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Rogue (2007) Review – Australia’s Underrated Creature Feature
In one sentence: Rogue is an Australian creature feature that follows a tourist group’s harrowing encounter with a deadly crocodile. Creature features vary wildly in quality, but Rogue, from Wolf Creek’s Greg McLean, is one of the best. Its poor box office performance did not reflect its quality. Fortunately over time it has found the…
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The Ugly Stepsister (2025) Review – A ‘Grimm’ Retelling of Cinderella
In one sentence: The Ugly Stepsister is a reimagined Cinderella story that delves into beauty standards and unrealistic expectations we have on ourselves and others. We all know Cinderella, or at least we think we do. The story has been told, retold, animated, modernised and Disneyfied so many times that it feels impossible to find…
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Nosferatu (1922) Review – The Film That Defined a Genre
In one sentence: Nosferatu follows Thomas Hutter’s journey from Wisborg to Transylvania to meet Count Orlok, whose later arrival in Wisborg unleashes death on the town. Vampire films remain endlessly popular, with new interpretations emerging every year, some even earning critical acclaim, such as the recent Sinners. However, long before glossy romances or glittering immortals,…
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Dangerous Animals (2025) Review – When the Real Monsters Are Not in the Water
In one sentence: Dangerous Animals follows Zephyr, a surfer abducted by a shark-obsessed boat captain, who is forced to survive and escape while held captive at sea. I have long believed that Australia produces some of the most exciting film and television today, and I have a soft spot for creature features, especially the water-based…
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Little Shop of Horrors (1986) Review – Still Biting After All These Years
In one sentence: Little Shop of Horrors follows florist Seymour, who discovers a strange, fast-growing plant that he names Audrey II and as it thrives, it demands increasingly drastic measures to be fed. As Halloween approaches, here is an option for those who prefer their films with laughs rather than scares. Little Shop of Horrors…
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The Guest (2014) Review – A Killer Choice for Halloween Viewing
In one sentence: The Guest follows charismatic soldier, David, whose arrival at a family home escalates into deadly tension. With Halloween approaching, it is time to start the seasonal movie lineup, and The Guest (2014) is one I highly recommend. Dan Stevens, then best known for playing the dapper Matthew Crawley in Downton Abbey, took…
Rhiann’s Reels 