Geek of Oz

What’s that, a wacky high-concept single-camera almost one-take feeling movie? Well that must be our boy Steven Soderbergh doing what he does. His latest Presence didn’t entirely work for me, but it’s not without its charms.  Presence skillfully positions the audience into the perspective of an ethereal being, which is attached to a particular house by way of traumatic events. We witness a young family move into the home and go about their daily lives. Soon after, it’s apparent that the family is dealing with a series of ongoing issues. Although novel, these relationships aren’t that compelling to watch unfold.  So why didn’t this work for? Simply put, I found the perspective more of a distraction than an aid to the storytelling. I kept catching myself being too aware that there’s a camera person in the scene, effectively breaking that magical bond we’re all seeking with movies. It was a constant reminder of the artifice of it all. Notwithstanding that, I appreciate the swings...

Katie, a freelance video editor in desperate need of work, receives a high-paying offer to edit a cryptic and bizarre video from an anonymous employer. Strapped for cash and facing eviction, Katie eagerly accepts the gig. The video depicts people being tortured and even killed on camera — surely just elaborately staged fiction. But when the first job leads to even more lucrative work, and more disturbingly realistic snuff films, Katie’s life begins to crumble. Strange figures in her apartment, horrific nightmares keeping her awake, and a mysterious illness plaguing her cat. It’s only when Katie decides to finally quit the job that she learns just how cruel her anonymous employer really is, and to what bloody lengths she herself will go to get out of her contract. To celebrate the release of Freelance, we're giving away 2 tickets to the Sydney Premiere!! The premiere will include a Q&A with the filmmakers. To go in the draw to win a double pass, simply head to our Facebook page...

Over the past few years I’ve had my hands full with a couple of small life milestones. You know, having our first kid and completing a law degree. Now with a smidge more time on my hands, I’d like to get back to jotting down some thoughts on the films I watch. Far from an in-depth analysis, more just contemporaneous notes to figure out if I liked it or not. Better Man from director Michael Gracey ( The Greatest Showman ) details the life and escapades of everyone’s favourite former-bad-boy Robbie Williams.  Having Robbie Williams represented as a CGI monkey in a biographical movie probably shouldn’t work, but ultimately it does. More on that later. Although the visual effects border on patchy now and then, the concept thankfully papers over the shortcomings of Better Man .  Unlike the obscenely sanitised Bohemian Rhapsody, Better Man doesn’t shy away from the darker corners of Williams’ story. We’re treated to every pint sculled, line snorted, relationship trashed and the res...

One cold, stormy night in New York City, a mysterious object falls from the sky and smashes through the window of a rundown apartment building. It is an egg, and from this egg emerges a strange little spider… The creature is discovered by Charlotte, a rebellious 12-year-old girl obsessed with comic books. Despite her stepfather Ethan’s best efforts to connect with her through their comic book co-creation Fang Girl, Charlotte feels isolated. Her mother and Ethan are distracted by their new baby and are struggling to cope, leaving Charlotte to bond with the spider. Keeping it as a secret pet, she names it Sting. As Charlotte’s fascination with Sting increases, so does its size. Growing at a monstrous rate, Sting's appetite for blood becomes insatiable. Neighbours’ pets start to go missing, and then the neighbours themselves. Soon Charlotte’s family and the eccentric characters of the building realise that they are all trapped, hunted by a ravenous supe...

  From Blumhouse, the genre-defining masterminds behind FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S and M3GAN , comes an original horror that taps into the innocence of imaginary friends – and begs the question: Are they really figments of childhood imagination or is something more terrifying lying just beneath? When Jessica (DeWanda Wise) moves back into her childhood home with her family, her youngest stepdaughter Alice (Pyper Braun) develops an eerie attachment to a stuffed bear named Chauncey she finds in the basement. Alice starts playing games with Chauncey that begin playful and become increasingly sinister. As Alice’s behaviour becomes more and more concerning, Jessica intervenes only to realize Chauncey is much more than the stuffed toy bear she believed him to be. Lionsgate and Blumhouse present, a Tower of Babble production.  In Cinemas March 7th   #ImaginaryFilm  To celebrate the release of Imaginary the champions at STUDIOCANAL have given us 10 double passes (admit 2...

Following the death of her estranged father (Peter Mullan), Iris (Freya Allan) learns she has inherited a run-down, centuries-old pub. She travels to Berlin to identify her father's body and meet with The Solicitor (Ned Dennehy) to discuss the estate. Little does she know, when the deed is signed, she will become inextricably tied to an unspeakable entity that resides in the pub's basement - Baghead - a shape-shifting creature that can transform into the dead. Two thousand in cash for two minutes with the creature is all it takes for desperate loved ones to ease their grief. Neil (Jeremy Irvine), who has lost his wife, is Iris' first customer. Like her father, Iris is tempted to exploit the creature's powers and help desperate people for a price. But she soon discovers breaking the two-minute rule can have terrifying consequences. Together with her best friend Katie (Ruby Barker), Iris must battle to keep control of Baghead and figure out how to destroy her, before ...