Frankenstein (2025) is not for fans of the book

Hello readers! Last week I watched Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, which released on Netflix on the 7th of November. The film has received very positive reviews from audiences and critics alike – but now that it has breached containment and is reaching people beyond the del Toro fanbase, I am sensing a shift in opinion. … Continue reading Frankenstein (2025) is not for fans of the book

Amazon’s War of the Worlds: so bad it’s good advertising

Hello readers! I’m a bit late to the party on this one, so I suspect that many of you are already familiar with this cinematic travesty… But, for those of you who dwell outside the YouTube and Letterboxd bubbles, it is with deep regret that I must inform you about Amazon’s recent film adaptation of … Continue reading Amazon’s War of the Worlds: so bad it’s good advertising

Van Helsing (2004) is worse than I remembered

Hello readers! Do you remember the film Van Helsing, from 2004? It starred Hugh Jackman as a legendary vampire-slayer, and also had Kate Beckinsale in it. Count Dracula was the main villain, but there were plenty of other enemies. Frankenstein was in it. So was the Wolf Man. Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde had a … Continue reading Van Helsing (2004) is worse than I remembered

The blog is two years old!

Hello readers! On the 27th November, this blog reached its second anniversary. We now have two whole years of miscellaneous waffle in the post archives, all tangentially related to fantasy and science fiction. This week I’m taking the opportunity to look back over the last twelve months, picking out my favourite posts and acknowledging some … Continue reading The blog is two years old!

Reading into ratings – what do they mean?

Hello readers! Have you ever wondered what a star rating really means? Our online purchasing choices are often guided by tiny rows of stars, but their meaning isn’t as clear as their simplicity would suggest. Ratings are everywhere, whether they are individual scores given by respected critics, or mean values harvested from thousands of users … Continue reading Reading into ratings – what do they mean?

Event Horizon (1997) is better than I expected

Hello readers! I recently watched Event Horizon, a science-fiction horror film from 1997. It has been largely forgotten, and a quick Google search unearths a host of unflattering reviews. The film was received poorly by critics and was a box office flop – and it didn’t make much of an impact on popular culture. However, … Continue reading Event Horizon (1997) is better than I expected