Films That Matter
Montreal Magnum
When it comes to car chase scenes, the one that is always highlighted, and for good reason, is from Peter Yates’ 1968 action thriller Bullitt starring Steve McQueen... but some eight years later, the city of San Francisco was replaced by Montreal, Quebec in this little known Italian production with quite the epic speedy sequence of its own, Shadows in an Empty Room (1976), directed by Alberto De Martino. Fusing this touch of Bullitt with a Dirty Harry style storyline – hence why it is called Blazing Magnum in some markets (including the UK), while also including a hint of the ever popular at the time 70s giallo for some murder mystery elements, the narrative follows gritty, hard as nails Ottawa cop Capt. Tony Saitta (Stuart Whitman) as he dispatches some bank robbers in his own city... before getting the tragic call that his much younger sister, Louise (Carole Laure – Sweet Movie), who lives in Montreal, has died under very suspicious circumstances.
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Cat Scratch Fever
The Crimes of the Black CatFebruary 7, 2026You know you’re in for a doozy of a caper when you’ve got dead bodies piling up, a mysterious black cat wandering around (with all that revolves around the creature and its unlucky curses), a disappearing wicker basket (simply suspicious), and a seemingly occultist person wandering around whilst wearing a striking white cape... remember what George Costanza once said in the comedy Seinfeld – “I bet you he is mixed up in this. I don't trust men in capes”. Without further ado, we look at co-writer/director Sergio Pastore’s Italian giallo The Crimes of the Black Cat (1972) – sometimes also known as Seven Shawls of Yellow Silk. Clearly influenced by Dario Argento’s 1970 hit The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, and part of the massive gialli boom that happened soon after, things start off in Copenhagen, Denmark (it was actually shot there)
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Star Pick with Billy Boyd
Star Pick with Billy BoydGregory's GirlJanuary 28, 2026For those of you who know me well, it is no secret that I’m a huge The Lord of the Rings fan... and it has been a goal of mine to meet and interview as many stars from the trilogy as possible. So, when I got the chance to chat with Billy Boyd about his favourite film, it was an absolute treat. Best known for playing Peregrin ‘Pippin’ Took, one of the loveable and quite comedic hobbits in the franchise (who is most often seen opposite Dominic Monahan’s Merry), it is most definitely worth highlighting some of his other roles, including 2003's epic Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (where he plays coxswain Barrett Bonden), 2005's On a Clear Day (a dramedy about swimming the English channel), while he also features in both the horror film Seed of Chucky and the television show Chucky (2021-2024), and even appeared in four episodes of the very popular series Outlander as Gerald Forbes.
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Singing the Blues
SinnersJanuary 21, 2026It is not too often that a mid or post-credit sequence leaves much of an impact as things come to a close. Usually meant to add a few final jokes to a comedy (think Airplance! or Old School), show some silly bloopers, or tease for a future film (Marvel has thrived thanks to these hints pointing towards coming storylines and movies), a rare example of something having a true impact on a narrative is Ryan Coogler’s period horror film Sinners (2025). A most dynamic feature melding many intriguing elements, the first thing that will be noticed is the time and setting – Clarksdale, Mississippi during the Great Depression (specifically 1932). Following twin brothers ‘Smoke’ and ‘Stack’ Moore (both played by Michael B. Jordan), and to a slightly lesser extent their cousin Sammie...
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A Bee in Your Bonnet or: A Bug in the System
BugoniaJanuary 17, 2026Sometimes a movie doesn’t fit nicely within a genre box. In today’s case, the film touches on bizarre sci-fi dialogue, brings forth some satirical dark comedy, plenty of drama and thrills, and centers on a crime... in other words, it’s another unique vision from Yorgos Lanthimos (The Lobster; The Favourite) – titled Bugonia (2025). . . inspired by the 2003 South Korean motion picture Save the Green Planet! by Jang Joon-hwan. Falling down the rabbit hole with Teddy (Jesse Plemons – Hostiles; Game Night) and his autistic cousin/helpful sidekick Don (Aidan Delbis – an excellent amateur casting of an autistic man), they have done copious amounts of research on the recesses of the internet into an alien species called the Andromedans – that are supposedly secretly residing amongst us while pulling the puppet strings.
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An Erotic Thriller Double Feature
The HousemaidChloeJanuary 14, 2026It is now quite rare to see an erotic thriller made. Thriving during the late 1980s and into the 90s, in a modern cinematic world that has become more cookie cutter and safe, it just doesn’t seem to fit within the current mold being used in Hollywood. That is why it is a breath of fresh air to see the current success of The Housemaid (2025). And, while we’re on that, it also ties into another film from back in 2009 called Chloe... not only because it falls within the same more adult themed genre, but also because they both star Amanda Seyfried. Starting with the 2025 offering from director Paul Feig, The Housemaid follows Millie Calloway (Sydney Sweeney) as she desperately seeks employment after a yet undisclosed difficult past. Falling into a seemingly perfect job as a housemaid for the wealthy Winchester family, Nina (Seyfried), Andrew (Brandon Sklenar), and daughter Cece (Indiana Elle), live in a gargantuan posh house on the edge of New York.
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Top 25 Films of the Decade: 2000s
January 7, 2026Back in 2020, I decided that it would be a good idea to post a top ‘25 Films of the Decade’ list to celebrate some of the best films of the 2010s... it took some tinkering (lots of crossing this one off and adding that one) – but I’ve got to say, the response made it absolutely worth it. With all that feedback, many asked if I could do the same for the decade before... it has taken longer than expected, but good things come to those who wait. So, without further ado, here are the best of the 2000s ... with a short description as to why each film made the cut.
