Category: Reviews

  • The Ticket (2016) Review – A Modern Moral Fable

    The Ticket (2016) Review – A Modern Moral Fable

    In one sentence: The Ticket is a modern moral fable in which a blind man’s newfound vision forces him to confront his life. Growing up, many of us encountered Aesop’s fables and their clear moral lessons, yet overtly moralistic films are relatively rare in contemporary cinema. Modern storytelling often favours ambiguity, inviting audiences to draw…

  • The Call of the Wild (2020) Review – A Journey Back to Instinct

    The Call of the Wild (2020) Review – A Journey Back to Instinct

    In one sentence: The Call of the Wild follows Buck the dog as he adapts to the harsh Yukon wilderness and discovers his primal instincts.  Jack London’s The Call of the Wild is a story that has endured for over a century and Disney’s adaptation proves why it continues to resonate. Using modern technology alongside…

  • Troll (2022) Review – A Nordic Legend Goes Large

    Troll (2022) Review – A Nordic Legend Goes Large

    In one sentence: Troll is a Norwegian creature feature that brings ancient folklore and large-scale action together in a dramatic, monster-driven narrative. Cinema has always had a fondness for creature features and the ongoing success of the Kong and Godzilla franchises proves that audiences still enjoy watching things get bigger, louder and more destructive. Norway…

  • Ideal Home (2018) Review – Love, Laughter and an Unlikely Family

    Ideal Home (2018) Review – Love, Laughter and an Unlikely Family

    In one sentence: Ideal Home is a warm comedy about an unlikely family navigating unexpected guardianship and the joys and frustrations that come with it.  There was a time when I would have actively avoided a film led by Steve Coogan, but those days are long gone. Since the excellent Philomena, Coogan has grown into…

  • The Salt Path (2025) Review – When ‘Based on a True Story’ Becomes Complicated

    The Salt Path (2025) Review – When ‘Based on a True Story’ Becomes Complicated

    In one sentence: The Salt Path follows a couple who, after losing their home, set out on a long coastal walk that becomes a test of resilience and endurance. Based on the bestselling book by Raynor Winn, The Salt Path is an interesting watch, particularly in light of the recent revelations surrounding the truthfulness of…

  • A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (2025) Review – A Magical Detour into Self-Reflection

    A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (2025) Review – A Magical Detour into Self-Reflection

    In one sentence: A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is a magical realism film that follows a couple on an unexpected road of reflection and self-discovery. What would you say if your GPS asked whether you wanted to go on a big, bold, beautiful journey? Sarah (Margot Robbie) and David (Colin Farrell) say yes, catapulting both…

  • Jay Kelly (2025) Review – All the Right Faces, Not Quite the Right Film

    Jay Kelly (2025) Review – All the Right Faces, Not Quite the Right Film

    In one sentence: Jay Kelly is a star-studded character study that examines fame and the tension between public success and personal fulfilment. Netflix’s latest release, Jay Kelly is brimming with household names, but raises a familiar question: is star power alone enough to create a compelling film? Noah Baumbach’s latest effort suggests not. George Clooney…

  • It Happened on 5th Avenue (1947) Review – A Christmas Story of Kindness and Community

    It Happened on 5th Avenue (1947) Review – A Christmas Story of Kindness and Community

    In one sentence: It Happened on 5th Avenue is a classic festive tale of kindness and community in post-war New York.  Christmas is synonymous with generosity and togetherness and most of us can easily name a handful of films that celebrate these ideals. Yet the same titles tend to dominate festive schedules year after year.…

  • Eternity (2025) Review – Love, Choice and the Afterlife

    Eternity (2025) Review – Love, Choice and the Afterlife

    In one sentence: Eternity is a speculative comedy drama that envisions the afterlife as a choice-filled journey where individuals decide their eternal destination. Most of us have probably wondered what awaits us after we pass and A24’s Eternity presents a refreshingly original answer. The afterlife here resembles a vast and bustling conference centre, complete with…

  • Krampus (2015) Review – A Christmas Horror with a Conscience

    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…