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Reviews
Dragon Knight (2022)
DRAGON KNIGHT! 6 (but could have been an 8)
I normally watch 4Digital / High Flier fantasy / sci fi films on Amazon for fun. Same way that I watch Asylum sci-fi channel creature flicks. This fantasy film from Scotland was actually surprisingly good. Don't let the generic name put you off as it's a bit more interesting than that.
The production value was quite professional with really nice render work on the dragon. Mixed acting like you'd expect, but overall not as bad as you'd expect. Weapons and armor looked great, and so did the locations.
So why a 6 and not a 10? I'm just not such a fan of the comedy bits. When the film is serious and more horror like, that's when it shines. If the whole film was like that, it would be a 8 from me.
The story itself is pretty simple, but it feels like it can be developed further and I have a feeling this will be a series. If so, then it just needs to fix those bits that don't work. If they do, then this could be a great series to watch alongside something like Mythica.
Edit - Pfft... some of the critique I've read is unfair. Perhaps fair if you're comparing it to Lord of the Rings but... for indie fantasy this is one of the best I've seen for years.
Automata (2019)
Automata is one of the most exciting indie-horror films I've seen in years
Automata is one of the most exciting indie-horror films I've seen in years, precisely because it's so different from the minimalist/naturalism that has defined arthouse/horror for the last 5 years.
Written and Produced by Sarah Daly, she tells a heartfelt story that explores the objectification of women and sexual abuse. This is told via a Gothic / Giallo style often associated with titillation. The way the film examines abuse, and how easy it is for innocent relationships to fall prey to corruption really resonated with me. I'm an abuse survivor myself as is the actor Jonathan Hansler who plays a horrifying villain in the film whose performance stood out to me as horrifying and charismatic. Just... as a real abuser can be.
For a complex and sophisticated film that bravely presents a powerful and subversive feminist perspective, I heartily recommend Automata.
The Unkindness of Ravens (2016)
Creepy and Disturbing psychological horror
My copy of The Unkindness of Ravens arrived yesterday and I watched it that night. It's a film I've waited about a year to arrive, since supporting it on Kickstarter. Expectations were high... But I can say without a doubt that this is the most disturbing and intense indie horror film I've seen for years.
It follows an ex-soldier who tries to take time out from his personal demons by taking off to live in the wilderness. As you can imagine he doesn't quite escape them. These demons reveal themselves as Ravens and at times as Raven headed warriors which can best be compared to something like the Cenobites from Hellraiser or demons from medieval art.
I'm not ashamed to admit there were scenes that brought a tear to my eye. It's not often that you watch a horror movie that makes you feel so much for the character and makes you root so hard for him to win. This is because the character deals with mental issues that affect real people.
Compared to Lord of Tears this has a different tone, it's more like The Wicker Man than a haunted house movie, but for my money that makes it a far far superior movie, with big improvements to the acting and writing. There is a huge talent behind Lord of Tears and The Unkindness of Ravens which is missing from the industry today and I can't wait to see what Laurie Brewster and Sarah Daly make next.