Fantasy Island (2020) – A Quick Capsule Review

Fantasy Island (2020) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Fantasy Island (or Blumhouse’s Fantasy Island to give it its full title) is a rare miss from the usually super reliable horror studio.  Okay so it’s FAR from terrible but it is a confused mess that never really finds the direction it wants to go in or the story it’s try to tell.  It also doesn’t hold up when all the pieces are put together, leaving you feeling a big bucket of so what after all is said and done. But it’s got a great cast, some nice set pieces (the revenge one especially) and Kim Coates  – which always means an extra star.

Best Bit: Party!

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: Get Out, Happy Death Day, Halloween (2018)

★★★★★★★★★★

 

Follow us on Social Media:

 

 

Hell Fest (2018) – A Quick Capsule Review

Hell Fest (2018) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Hell Fest takes the standard slasher tropes we’ve seen a hundred times before and does absolutely nothing new with them.  Like not a thing. Nadda. Zip. It’s like Scream never happened. Okay so, to be fair,  it does set the events at a horror theme park which is kinda different but save for a few moments doesn’t really make the most of it.  Honestly in a way I kinda like the lack of post modernness about it all but this is very much a by-the numbers slasher film that only really worth watching for a few decent & gory kills.

Best Bit: It’s gory

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: Halloween (2018), Happy Death Day, The Final Girls

★★★★★★★★★★

 

Follow us on Social Media:

 

 

Countdown (2020) – A Quick Capsule Review

Countdown (2020) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Released in the UK in 2020, this 2019 American horror tries to aim for a Blumhouse feel but sadly lacks the wit, intelligence or scares of that studios superior work.  Instead Countdown plays like a film that didn’t realise Final Destination was a thing (and then stopped being a thing), once again going for the trying to cheat certain death tropes that we’ve seen before numerous times.  And often much, much better.  In short Countdown just does nothing new, nothing interesting and nothing that really makes it worth your time.

Best Bit: The final hospital scenes

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Avoid

If You Liked this Try: Final Destination, Happy Death Day, Unfriended 

★★★★★★★★★★

 

Follow us on Social Media:

 

 

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review & Friends: The 36 Must See Films Of The Decade (2010-2019)

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review & Friends: The 36 Must See Films Of The Decade (2010-2019)

by Phil's Quick Review 2019: In Review Other Cr*p Quick Review Year In Review

So this is it: Phil’s Quick Capsule Review & Guests (including podcasters Mike Parkin & Josh Morris, Filmmaker Ross Boyask and Phil’s Quick Capsule Review writers Will Strong & Matt Duddy) LONG list of the 36 must see films of the Decade (2010-2019)

This list will also form the basis of our vote for the Essential Films of the Decade (2010-2019)

So how many have YOU seen?

Avengers Assemble
Avengers Endgame
Avengers Infinity War
Cabin in the Woods
Captain America: Winter Soilder
Deadpool
Ex Machina
Green Room
Happy Death Day
How To Train Yoru Dragon 
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
Inception
John Wick
Kings Of Summer
Kubo and the Two Strings
Mad Max Fury Road
Mission Impossible Rogue Nation
Misson Impossible: Fall Out
Nightshooters
Operation Red Sea
Pitch Perfect
Skyfall
Social Network
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Star Wars: Rogue One
Super 8
T2 Trainspotting
The Greatest Showman
The Signal
The Way Way Back
The Wolf Of Wall Street
Toy Story 3
Warrior
What We Do in the Shadows
Whiplash
Guardians of the Galaxy

 

Check back in the next few days for our final list or take the QUIZ HERE  to see how many you have seen!

Podcast: Ross And Phil Talk… Their Favourite Horror Films: A 31 Films Of Halloween Special

Podcast: Ross And Phil Talk… Their Favourite Horror Films: A 31 Films Of Halloween Special

by RossAndPhil Ross and Phil Talk Movies The Podcasts

On this episode of the podcast, and in honour of #31filmsofhalloween, we talk about our favourite (not best) Horror Films from the past five decades.  From slasher films to found footage, we give to you the horror films that really connected with us.

Hosted by Award winning filmmaker Ross Boyask and blogger/writer/failed former filmmaker Phil Hobden.

Discussed: Invasion of The Body Snatches, Dawn of The Dead, Alien, Jaws, Day Of The Dead, Gremlins, The Thing, EviL Dead 2, Threads, The Blair Witch Project, Scream, Candyman, Zombieland: Double Tap, Breaking Bad, IT Chapter 2, Darkman, Happy Death Day, Happy Death Day 2U, Bloodline, Parasite, Piranha, The Omen, Halloween, American Werewolf In London, Friday The 13th Part 6: Jason Lives, The Fly, Chopping Mall, Event Horizon, Arrowverse, Tremors, Braindead, Nightbreed, Army Of Darkness, From Dusk ’Till Dawn, Night Of The Living Dead (1990), The Frighteners, Night Of The Living Dead, 28 Days Later, Saw, Dawn of The Dead (2004), Shaun of The Dead, Ginger Snaps, Final Destination, The Mist, Wild Things, Drag Me To Hell, Jeepers Creepers, Dog Soldiers, The Descent, Raw, Cabin In The Woods, The Babadook, Your Next, Get Out, A Quiet Place, Train To Busan, Piranha 3D, Dead Set

For more on Ross Boyask search @RossBoyask on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. Also check out @EvoFilmsUK online.

For more on Phil Hobden check out www.philhobden.co.uk , Twitter (@PhilQuickReview) and Instagram (RossAndPhilTalkMovies

#RossAndPhil #RossAndPhilTalkMovies #MoviePodcasts #Podcasts

Spotify

GoogelPlayMusic Button

 

 

Follow us on Social Media:

 

 

Happy Death Day 2U (2019) – A ’31 Films Of Halloween’ Quick Capsule Review

Happy Death Day 2U (2019) – A ’31 Films Of Halloween’ Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
I was a massive fan of the original Happy Death Day – a smart idea, well executed that played it as much fore fun as it did for fears.  A quickly turned around sequel doesn’t always guarantee it will be able to replicate the success but, er, happily, I can report that Happy Death Day 2U is great fun.  A bit more sci-fi than horror focused, this Blumhouse produced sequel turns the crazy up to eleven and, through a very clever introduction, sets up its pace and tone which takes it closer to Primer levels than Friday 13th.  The cast are fun (again) , the direction solid and the film doesn’t hang around.  Well recommended.

Best Bit: The opening

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: Happy Death Day, Primer, Get Out

★★★★★★★★★★

 

Follow us on Social Media:

 

 

MA (2019) – A ’31 Films Of Halloween’ Quick Capsule Review

MA (2019) – A ’31 Films Of Halloween’ Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Blumhouse has a sickening good track record of modestly budgeted but highly successful horror films.  From Happy Death Day, Halloween and The Purge films (and many, many more) the name Blumhouse tends to denote at worst a highly watchable film. At best… well just take a look at the Oscar nominated Get Out.   MA is no different – another original, fun and highly watchable horror thriller from the uber horror studio.  Hatched from a conversation with lead Octavia Spencer where she told director Taylor she was “sick of only being offered the same role and never getting to be a lead”, MA is pretty messed up… even by Blumhouse standards.  But it’s also a lot of fun.  That said without Octavia Spencer at its core the film would be very different – her performance is fully unhinged and all the more enjoyable for it.  She rates at least an 8 on the Jack Torrance scale.  So  fan of Blumhouse, horror or just well paced sub 100 minute films… then MA is for you.

Best Bit: Old flame

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: Happy Death Day, Get Out, Truth Or Dare

★★★★★★★★★★

 

Follow us on Social Media:

 

 

The Babysitter (2018) – A ’31 Films Of Halloween’ Quick Capsule Review

The Babysitter (2018) – A ’31 Films Of Halloween’ Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
The latest Netflix original horror film delivers two surprises… the first that it’s actually really quite excellent and the second that it comes from the directorial “talent” that is McG.  Yes Charlies Angels McG.  I know right.  That aside, The Babysitter is funny, smart and gory.  Okay so it lacks almost any actual scares but with a quick run time, great script and spirited performances this is another must see from Netflix.

Best Bit: Toy Car, Stairs, glass

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream (Netflix)

If You Liked this Try: Happy Death Day, Tucker And Dale Vs Evil, The Final Girls

★★★★★★★★★★

 

Follow us on Social Media:

 

 

Happy Death Day 2U (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

Happy Death Day 2U (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
I was a massive fan of the original Happy Death Day – a smart idea, well executed that played it as much fore fun as it did for fears.  A quickly turned around sequel doesn’t always guarantee it will be able to replicate the success but, er, happily, I can report that Happy Death Day 2U is great fun.  A bit more sci-fi than horror focused, this Blumhouse produced sequel turns the crazy up to eleven and, through a very clever introduction, sets up its pace and tone which takes it closer to Primer levels than Friday 13th.  The cast are fun (again) , the direction solid and the film doesn’t hang around.  Well recommended.

Best Bit: The opening

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: Happy Death Day, Primer, Get Out

★★★★★★★★★★

 

Follow us on Social Media:

 

 

Truth or Dare (2018) – A Quick Capsule Review

Truth or Dare (2018) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Truth or Dare is another fairly typical Blumhouse production.  It’s safe, it’s sold and it flies by.  And none of that is a criticism by the way… for the most part Blumhouse films are good time passers, with Truth or Dare being a prime example of a film that’s fun to watch but one that won’t stay with you for a second after you leave the cinema. The cast are good, the direction keep’s you guessing and the deaths inventive.  A great time passer!

Best Bit: Snap Chat Faces!

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: Happy Death Day, Unfriended Dark Web, Halloween 2018

★★★★★★★★★★

 

Follow us on Social Media: