Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 152 i SciFi Now

Much has been made of the DC movie universe’s transitional phase in the wake of Justice League’s disappointing box office and moustache-related headaches. There are endless rumours about actors leaving (maybe someday we’ll find out if Ben Affleck is going to play Batman again or if Henry Cavill has indeed said goodbye to Kal-El), there have been constant director changes, and there are films that may have dropped off the schedule altogether (all we’ll say is that it’s been a very long time since anyone last talked about a Cyborg solo movie). However, it feels as though things are finally starting to come together. Joker is shooting, Birds Of Prey has got a great cast coming together, and even Flashpoint is looking more likely than ever. Hell, James Gunn might…

Pennyworth (TV series) EXPECTED RELEASE Hopefully soon Ever wondered what Batman’s butler Alfred Pennyworth got up to before he became Batman’s butler? Wonder no more! ROLES YOUNG ALFRED PENNYWORTH: Male, 20-35 years old, Caucasian. A boyishly handsome, cheerful, charming, clever ex-army young man from London who grows up to be Batman’s butler. THOMAS WAYNE: Male, 20-35 years old, Caucasian. A fresh-faced billionaire, and a younger version of Batman’s dad. BET SYKES: Female, 30-40 years old, any ethnicity. A spirited, sadistic villain. We’re fancying a pop star for some reason. LORD HARWOOD: Male, 40-55 years old, British. A confident, fancy villain who matches his debonair nature and wealth with a nasty mean streak. Your textbook posh bastard. DAVE BOY: Male, 20-35 years old, any ethnicity. Scottish. Alfred’s Scottish old army friend…

Anticipation is building for the Arrowverse’s annual crossover event as always, but it’s a bit more powerful than usual what with the shows’ plan to bring in some DC Comics royalty: Ruby Rose (Orange Is The New Black) has joined the cast as Kate Kane, AKA Batwoman. For those unfamiliar with the character, Batwoman made her comics debut in July 1956 in Detective Comics #233 with her alter ego Kathy Kane, but was reintroduced as Kate in 52 #7 in September 2006 and started operating in Gotham City as the modern Batwoman during Batman’s absence. She was written as an openly gay woman of Jewish descent in an attempt to diversify the DC Comics and connect with a modern audience. The fan response to Rose’s casting has been somewhat mixed,…

When we interviewed James Wan, he talked about Momoa’s tendency to adlib on set, once he had locked down a version of the scene as written. Sometimes, Wan tells us, it leads to utter nonsense, and sometimes it leads to some weird gems. “He says really dumb things sometimes. I’m like: ‘That’s really dumb, but it’s funny, so I’m going to put it in the film,’” says Wan. During our interview, we got some insight into exactly what Wan meant. Momoa is funny, personable – and comes out with some excellently random lines. On the challenges of being Aquaman: “I’m fucking Aquaman, and there’s nothing you can say about it. I mean, what are you going to do, dude? You’re going to be wet.” On working with both Wan and…

BATWOMAN (KATE KANE) Created in: 2006 Coming to screens in: 2019 Okay, so the original Batwoman was created back in 1956, but it’s actually the Kate Kane version of the character who was created just 13 years ago in 2006, who is getting her very own CW TV show and will played by Ruby Rose. X-23 Created in: 2004 Came to screens in: 2017 Wolverine’s stabby little sort-of clone made a huge impact when Dafne Keen played her in the brilliant Logan in 2017 – only 13 years after the character debuted. CASSANDRA CAIN Created in: 1999 Coming to screens in: 2020 Okay, it will have taken the former Batgirl 21 years before she will be hitting our screens, but in comic book terms that’s really not that long at…

Eagle-eyed fans of the books may notice from the marketing that while Mortal Engines has hardly been turned into some sleek Star Trek-esque vision of the future, the somewhat steampunk elements of the dystopian world’s design have been altered a tad from what many might be expecting. “Steampunk’s an interesting thing,” says Jackson. “I like steampunk, though I’m not really sure, to tell you the truth, what the actual dictionary definition of steampunk is. The way that I imagine it is like Victorian science fiction. It’s like Jules Verne, very Victorian. For us, there seemed to be no need to do that because our story’s set, as the book in fact is, three-and-a-half thousand years in the future. There’s no reason to have any Victoriana design influence in it, really,…

The film is peppered with mysterious voices, chiefly the ‘white voices’ a number of black characters adopt throughout the film in order to progress in their careers. Here’s a guide to who those voices belong to: Cassius Green: David Cross The Arrested Development actor provides the lead character with his ‘well HOT DOG!’ of a white voice. Mr _______: Patton Oswalt The ever stylish Mr _______ (yes, that is his given name in the film) speaks with Patton Oswalt’s voice, even though he’s played by Omari Hardwicke. Detroit: Lily James Tessa Thompson’s Detroit goes one level more with her white voice, adopting the English tones of Lily James. The elevator: Rosario Dawson The film also boasts a creepily over-complimentary lift, voiced by Rosario Dawson.…

Theseus Scamander (Callum Turner) Like his younger brother Newt, Theseus attended Hogwarts, eventually becoming an Auror who is assigned to capture Grindelwald after he escapes from prison. He has a strained relationship with Newt not only because he can’t accept his brother’s reluctance to conform but also because he’s engaged to Newt’s former love, Leta. Nicolas Flamel (Brontis Jodorowsky) We’re sure you’ve heard of Nicolas Flamel. Famous for creating the Philosopher’s Stone and from it, the Elixir of Life; a potion that lengthens the life of whoever drinks it, he was a close friend of Dumbledore’s. Flamel and his wife lived to be around 660 years old until the stone had to be destroyed to stop Voldemort getting hold of it in the mid-Nineties. Yusuf Kama (William Nadylam) Of all…

There are more genre musicals out there than you might think… Phantom Of The Paradise (1974) Brian De Palma’s riff on The Phantom Of The Opera, though pre-Andrew Lloyd Webber take, features killer songs by the legendary Paul Williams, who also plays the villain. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) The cult musical’s exact genre qualifications might be questionable, though that it features aliens and opens with a number called ‘Science Fiction/ Double Feature’ sounds good enough. Forbidden Zone (1980) Richard Elfman’s fantasy oddity features music by his brother, Danny Elfman. Billy The Kid And The Green Baize Vampire (1987) Alan Clarke’s oddity was described by the BFI as “undoubtedly the only vampire snooker musical in cinema history.” The Happiness Of The Katakuris (2001) It’s a musical comedy horror directed…

Release 16 November Director Gregory Plotkin Cast Reign Edwards, Bex Taylor-Klaus, Tony Todd Distributor Vertigo Certificate 18 Anyone who’s ever been to a horror maze event knows the scariest thing about it is the length of the queues. Luckily this group of tragic teens know an insider who has landed them VIP bracelets, unfortunately for them there is a masked serial killer lurking in the titular travelling theme park. This tense slasher pays homage to Eighties horror, with its neon lights and invincible stalker but director Gregory Plotkin’s (Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension) uninspired camera work makes this ride feel only intermittently thrilling, nightmarish and fun. There’s not much of a plot to describe, with the film briskly introducing a group of six frisky friends before whisking them off to…

Release 3 December Director Peyton Reed Cast Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer Distributor Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Certificate 12 Where Ant-Man was a classic heist movie, Ant-Man And The Wasp is a race against time. With only a few days left of his two-year house arrest, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) just wants to behave. But his freedom might have to wait as he’s involuntarily dragged out on a mission by his first-film colleagues Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) to save Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) from the quantum realm. The relationships between Scott, Hope and Hank continue to carry the film, and any combination of the three is entertaining and worthwhile. The stakes aren’t that high in either Ant-Man story, especially…

Release Out now Director Stefan Ruzowitzky Cast Matt Smith, Natalie Dormer, Stanley Tucci Distributor Sony Pictures Certificate 15 Format Originally due for a theatrical release over two years ago, modest sci-fi thriller Patient Zero has finally arrived on DVD with absolutely no fanfare and while there are some nice ideas and some decent performances in the movie, it certainly feels like something that really belongs on the small screen. Matt Smith stars as Morgan, a key figure in humanity’s final stand against a rabies outbreak that has decimated the global population thanks to his ability to communicate with the infected. Working from a bunker, he and Dr Rose (Natalie Dormer) are hunting for patient zero to create a cure when an infected but chatty professor (Stanley Tucci) arrives. The set-up…

Release Out now Director Colin Eggleston Cast John Hargreaves, Briony Behets Distributor Second Sight Certificate 12 Format Eco horror is not as en vogue as it perhaps should be, but we are starting to see more films exploring the idea of the Earth is turning against us. It’s unnerving when done well and Colin Eggleston’s Australian chiller, Long Weekend, is a highlight. John Hargreaves and Briony Behets play Peter and Marcia, a bickering suburban couple who drive off for a short break in the great outdoors. Peter is more excited than Marcia, who makes no secret of that fact. Once they arrive, their squabbling continues alongside their littering, insecticide spraying and occasional animal death. How long before the nature decides it’s had enough? Long Weekend doesn’t fit neatly into any…

Release 19 November Director Sergio G. Sánchez Cast George MacKay, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Heaton, Mia Goth Distributor Entertainment One Certificate 15 Format Sergio G Sánchez’s directorial debut finds The Orphanage writer on pretty familiar ground, with a group of siblings confronting a sinister spirit haunting their home. George MacKay (11/22/63) takes the lead in the movie as Jack, who has been taking care of his siblings since their mother passed away shortly after they fled their abusive father to America. When a lawyer comes sniffing around, buried secrets will come to the surface… Sánchez uses the rural setting and cavernous home to good effect and the group of young actors (including Charlie Heaton and Mia Goth) all put in strong work to create a believable and sympathetic family dynamic. If…

Release Out now Showrunner Erik Oleson Cast Charlie Cox, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, Vincent D’Onofrio, Wilson Bethel Distributor Netflix Certificate 15 Format The release of the third season of Daredevil was somewhat overshadowed thanks to being promptly followed by the cancellation of Iron Fist and Luke Cage. It’s a shame as there’s a lot to like about Matt Murdock’s return though admittedly, many of the old problems still linger. The 13 episode format continues to result in repetition and overlong and over-dull subplots, but new showrunner Erik Oleson makes the most out of forcing Matt to start from scratch, alone and angry. It also brings Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin right back to centre stage and his performance continues to be a highlight, not just of the series but of comic…

1. The Road “The Road. For all the reasons. #BookClub” @Tom_ Wookiee 2. The Power “I enjoyed The Power and Nod. #BookClub” @b3n3llis 3. Jennifer Government “Jennifer Government by Max Barry. It brings to life post-Brexit dystopia where the UK is controlled by giant USA corporations. The free world consists of the EU and China.... The rest belongs to USA. There are machine gun posts outside McDonalds. #BookClub” @brightsuit “THE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPED TO HELP US HAS LED TO OUR PLAUSIBLE CREEPING RUIN” 4. The Truth Machine “The Truth Machine by James L Halperin. #BookClub” @Betamax857 5. Brave New World “George Orwell’s 1984 or Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. #BookClub” @ja1eg2eb3ge43…

“Just starting Buffalo Gals & Other Animal Presences by Ursula K Le Guin. #BookClub” @Sacelaon “Iron Gold by Pierce Brown. #BookClub” @uniquetoybox “Currently reading Heart-Shaped Box by @joe_hill great ghost story. #BookClub” @philbooty “Currently reading 11.22.63 by @StephenKing, not too far in, but love the concept of going back in time to purposefully change the future. #BookClub” @Cascararogue “Bay City Monsters by @duncanjayr which is mad crazy and an absolute delight then onto The Ember Blade by Chris Wooding. #BookClub” @andyangel44 “Bucking the trend and reading scifi near Halloween. Going with near-future nano espionage tale Nexus by Ramez Naam. #BookClub” @ParsonsFiction “Reading Bloody Rose by Nicholas Eames. Takes a while to get going but once the table is set, fantastic feast...for anyone who loves #DnD. #BookClub” @GuruEden “ The Necronomicon…

Details Author: Louisa Hall Publisher: Corsair Price: £16.99 Released: Out now Few men could claim to have had as large an effect on geopolitics as the scientist, Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atom bomb. He stands at the centre of Louisa Hall’s novel, Trinity, which is comprised of seven testimonials from fictional people who encountered Oppenheimer during his lifetime. Each has their own perspective on the controversial figure and his activities, as well as exploring the way in which their interactions with him help them come to terms with aspects of their own lives. Hall’s novel keeps the man himself at arm’s length. Due to its first person nature, Oppenheimer is presented through various perspectives, adding to the unknowable quality of the character. It works well for Hall’s thematic…

SINCE ITS RELEASE in 1974, Dungeons & Dragons has been a staple in the lives of genre fans. That’s over 40 years of bringing people together to dive into fantasy realms. While it’s not going anywhere, that’s a lot of history to explore which is why any self-respecting D&D player needs to get their hands on this stunning illustrated history: Dungeons And Dragons Art And Arcana: A Visual History. Looking at D&D’s evolution through over 700 pieces of artwork, from the core books and magazines to adverts and merchandise, it also has plenty of never-before-seen material. The authors were given access to private collectors’ personal collections and the archives of the Wizards Of The Coast, and at 448 pages it is more than comprehensive. Dungeons And Dragons Art And Arcana:…

Tasha Suri’s wonderful debut novel Empire Of Sand sweeps the reader into the Ambhan Empire, where the ruling classes bitterly resent the magical abilities of the Amrithi people and persecute them mercilessly. Mehr is half-Amrithi but she’s also the daughter of a very powerful politician, which keeps her protected until she practices a rite in public during a storm. Suddenly she has attracted the attention of the Emperor, who forces her into an arranged marriage with one of his servants and plans to use her gifts for his own nefarious purposes… How did the idea for Empire Of Sand come about? I’ve wanted to write a fantasy influenced by Indian history and mythology for a long time, but I just didn’t really know where to begin. Then I began reading…

How Supergirl’s Selena shapes up next to other female foes in the original cinematic franchise URSA ( SUPERMAN AND SUPERMAN II) The benchmark for feline villainy, Ursa’s fierce loyalty to General Zod is matched only by her hatred of all other men, along with her considerable Kryptonian super strength that makes her a powerful force to be reckoned with. Just don’t ask her to blow you a kiss! Threat factor: 9/10 EVE TESCHMACHER ( SUPERMAN AND SUPERMAN II) This gorgeous, morally-minded assistant and girlfriend of arch antagonist Lex Luthor, has a considerable crush on Supes, and even ends up foiling Luthor’s plans to save the man in blue from Kryptonite. However, she would later on help Lex escape from prison, so her allegiances are indeed questionable. Threat factor: 6/10 VERA…

” MOST OF THEM DIED INSTANTLY, BUT A FEW HAD TIME TO GO QUIETLY NUTS.” DR MARK HALL “THERE’S A FIRE, SIR.” CAPTAIN MORTON “I HAVE RISKED DROWNING IN THAT FOUL BATH! I HAVE BEEN PAR-BOILED, IRRADIATED AND XENON-FLASHED…” DR RUTH LEAVITT “ENEMY? WE DID IT TO OURSELVES!” DR CHARLES DUTTON “ESTABLISHMENT GONNA FALL DOWN AND GO BOOM.” DR RUTH LEAVITT “FAST? THESE PEOPLE WERE CUT DOWN IN MID-STRIDE!” DR MARK HALL “THIS COMMUNICATION IS BEING MONITORED. THE CONNECTION HAS BEEN BROKEN FOR REASONS OF NATIONAL SECURITY. YOU WILL BE BRIEFED AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION, MRS STONE.” VOICE ON PHONE “THE DEFENCE SYSTEM IS PERFECT, MARK. IT’LL EVEN BURY OUR MISTAKES!” DR JEREMY STONE “EXPERIMENT WITH YOUR OWN LIVES, DAMN IT!” DR CHARLES DUTTON “I’LL…

Q. Which MCU character would you like to see get their own TV show? Jonathan Hatfull Editor A. Wong Forget Doctor Strange, I want to see more of Wong off the clock. So much we don’t know. Abigail Chandler Deputy Editor A. Lady Sif ‘Where In The World Is Lady Sif?’ Touring realms like a multi-dimensional Xena, righting wrongs. Poppy-Jay Palmer News Editor A. Mantis It would be a talk show and she would make people cry. Marcus Faint Art Editor A. Happy Hogan Mockumentary in the style of The Office, where we follow Happy day-to-day around Stark Industries. Rachael Harper Sub Editor A. Luis An episodic comedy following Luis getting into many unfortunate situations and adventures.…

HUGH CULBER Okay, so we’ve been promised that the good doctor’s journey is far from over, that the shockwaves from his death will be properly explored, and that he will be back… somehow. Come on, we need Dr Hugh. EMPEROR GEORGIOU As much as we loved awesome mentor Michelle Yeoh, badass evil Empress Michelle Yeoh was much better. She did her part in taking out Lorca at the end of Season One and we can’t wait to see what role she’ll play this year. L’RELL Now that the Ash/Voq storyline is out of the way, we’re very excited to see what’s in store for Mary Chieffo’s Klingon, who is now the Chancellor of the Klingon High Command and will be struggling with the patriarchal society.…

It’s been a bit of a strange month for Netflix’s Marvel universe to say the least. On one hand, Hell’s Kitchen satisfied hungry Daredevil fans when Season Three landed. On the other hand, Netflix confirmed that neither Iron Fist nor Luke Cage will be getting a third course. Culinary puns aside, both shows have been cancelled, meaning their second seasons were their last. In all honesty, we’re not that gutted over the cancellation of Iron Fist. We were more surprised that it actually made it to a second season than anything. What we are annoyed about is the lack of a Daughters Of The Dragon series given how ace Jessica Henwick’s Colleen is. In a statement, Netflix and Marvel said: “We’re thankful to the fans who have watched these two…

Aquaman might be directed by James Wan, but the foundations had been lain for the character and his world across Zack Snyder’s last two DC movies. Snyder is the one who cast Jason Momoa, and chose to take Aquaman in a very different direction to his comic book counterpart. But Wan has already changed things up – while Snyder showed Atlanteans speaking within air bubbles underwater, Wan just has them talk. After all, these are magical creatures, we don’t need to think too much about how exactly they speak underwater. Momoa and Heard were both directed by Snyder initially – do they have a favourite? “I love working with James,” Heard says. “I didn’t spend as much time on Justice League, but Zack’s great. I mean, Zack’s the first person…

IT TOOK PETER PARKER 40 YEARS TO MAKE IT TO THE BIG SCREEN. Miles Morales has done it in just seven. He’s yet to take a live action bow – although his Uncle Aaron appeared in Spider-Man: Homecoming, played by Donald Glover – but Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse is his big-budget animated movie debut. Created by Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli, Miles began life as the Spider-Man of Marvel’s Ultimate universe. He was an immediate success, and was soon moved to Marvel’s main universe, and has already appeared in a couple of animated TV shows – Ultimate Spider-Man and Spider-Man. Shameik Moore, the actor who plays Miles in Into The Spider-Verse, was only 16 when Miles made his first comic book appearance, and he literally grew up with the…

Robert Sheehan has a surprising story on the Mortal Engines’ casting process: “Leila George, who plays Katherine, and I went to San Francisco to Peter Jackson’s hotel room, and we sat around chatting and taped over four hours because the camera battery kept dying. So, we’d do a take and then he’d go off and he’d sit it in charge for a bit and we’d have another natter and show each other YouTube videos. “I’m remembering that day in San Francisco,” he continues, laughing. “Peter asked me: ‘Have you seen this guy on YouTube with Tourette syndrome?’ We were talking about the film I’d done, The Road Within, where I played someone with Tourette syndrome. And there’s a guy with a YouTube channel from Belfast with Tourette syndrome and he…

Apparate Apparition is a form of teleportation. Wizards or witches focus their mind on a specific location, then suddenly disappear from where they are at present and end up where they want to be instead. Augurey Augureys are gloomy-looking bird-like creatures that are native to Great Britain and Ireland. It is said that if an Augurey cries it can either mean that it is about to rain or worse, a death is imminent. Auror Essentially, an Auror is a kind of magical police officer. They specialise in hunting down those who practice the Dark Arts and typically work for their country’s government body. Boggart Young witches and wizards usually encounter a boggart for the first time in school, while being taught how to protect themselves from Dark Magic. Boggarts are…

WHEN THE FIRST SEASON OF SKY ATLANTIC’S FORTITUDE BEGAN, IT WAS SOLD AS A FROSTY ARCTIC MYSTERY, A NEW SPIN ON THE NORDIC NOIR PHENOMENON WITH A STAR-STUDDED CAST AND JUST A DASH OF HORROR. Two seasons, a discovery of prehistoric monster wasps, potential demonic activity and several beheadings later, and the show has revealed itself to be one of the most beguiling, shocking and fascinating series around. With Fortitude entering its third and final season, the gloves are off. “The guns are all loaded,” enthuses creator Simon Donald. “Everybody knows who everybody is and I think the audience has been quietly growing because all of us as time passes are getting more and more contact from people going ‘I’ve just discovered Fortitude and it’s fantastic,’ so I think there’s…

A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971, dir. Stanley Kubrick) Pretty much every film Kubrick ever directed was shocking, but his sexually violent adaptation of Anthony Burgess’ 1962 book caused the most outcry. IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES (1976, dir. Nagisa Oshima) The explicit sexual violence (including unsimulated scenes between the actors) still makes for disturbing viewing some 40 years after it was released. NATURAL BORN KILLERS (1994, dir. Oliver Stone) The film’s extreme violence was said to have provoked copycat crimes, and was banned entirely in Ireland until 1998. FUNNY GAMES (1997, Michael Haneke) Haneke’s fourth feature saw two young men terrorise a family. Although the director called it a response to violence in the media, audiences were shocked. IRRéVERSIBLE (2002, Gaspar Noe) Gaspar Noe seems to exclusively make films that…

Release 23 November Director Sam Levinson Cast Odessa Young, Hari Nef, Suki Waterhouse, Abra, Bill Skarsgård, Joel McHale Distributor Universal Certificate 18 The fact that Sam Levinson’s stylish, energetic and violent parable is set in Salem, Massachusets should give you some clue as to the levels of nuance at play but criticising Assassination Nation for being unsubtle would be like levelling the same accusation at a brick. This is an angry, heavily stylised piece of work that takes aim at toxic masculinity, double standards and the patriarchal sense of entitlement, and it’s certainly got an impact. The film follows four high school girls as their small town explodes around them when citizens’ private phone data starts being leaked. It starts with the bigoted mayor being exposed as a cross-dresser, but…

Release Out now Director Gareth Evans Cast Dan Stevens, Michael Sheen, Lucy Boynton, Mark Lewis Jones, Bill Milner Distributor Netflix Certificate 18 The prospect of The Raid director Gareth Evans making a gory period cult horror is an enticing one, especially given his incredible V/H/S/2 segment ‘Safe Haven’. While the 1905-set Apostle sees the filmmaker on undeniably bold and ambitious form, the 129-minute result may be more of a slow-burn than fans of his work may expect. It’s certainly violent, brooding and filled with deliciously nasty ideas and imagery, but it’s also a combination of inspirations and interests that don’t all mesh well. Dan Stevens is on intense form as Thomas Richardson, a psychologically and physically scarred former missionary who heads to a remote island to rescue his sister, kidnapped…

Release 19 November Director Reed Morano Cast Peter Dinklage, Elle Fanning Distributor The Movie Partnership Certificate TBC Format VOD/Digital Download In the majority of post-apocalyptic stories, when there’s seemingly a lone survivor, one of the major struggles the character tends to face is loneliness. I Think We’re Alone Now differs from this in that its lead is content in their solitude. When it turns out more of humanity survived than they thought, it’s actually an inconvenience. After the rest of humanity, as far as he knows, dies from an unknown cause, Del (Peter Dinklage) is alone in the world, but he maintains purpose and routine. Each day, he methodically goes from house to house, tidying up and scavenging useful items. He also buries the dead he finds. A night shift…

Release Out now Director Harry Kirkpatrick, Umberto Lenzi Cast Nicholas De Toth, Sarah Buxton, John Saxon, Michael Parks Distributor 88 Films Certificate 18 Format The question of who exactly directed this 1989 teen slasher is kind of cleared up in a Q&A with Italian schlocker Umberto Lenzi, which is included in 88 Films’ Blu-ray booklet, although it’s very clear he’s not really dying to take credit for the movie. The director of Cannibal Ferox may or may not have called the shots on Nightmare Beach, a silly Spring Break horror in which co-eds are picked off by a biker with an electric chair on the back of his hog. That biker might be the revived corpse of executed murder Diablo, but the local authorities (including mean chief of police John…

Release 19 November Director Giuliano Carnimeo Cast Edwige Fenech, George Hilton, Paola Quattrini, Giampiero Albertini Distributor Shameless Films Certificate 18 Format It’s impossible to talk about this 1972 giallo without first mentioning the fact that its Italian title translates as What Are Those Strange Drops Of Blood On Jennifer’s Body, an overly elaborate clue to the excess and comical bemusement that infuses Guiliano Carnimeo’s film, given a glorious Blu-ray reissue by Shameless Films. Genre icon Edwige Fenech plays Jennifer Lansbury, a beautiful model trying to put her sex cult past behind her when she moves into an apartment building where promiscuous women are being gruesomely murdered. It’s impossibly stylish (Fenech’s costumes are stunning), graphically violent and surprisingly funny thanks to the comedy cops and Jennifer’s clueless roommate (Paola Quattrini, interviewed…

Release Out now Showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa Cast Kiernan Shipka, Lucy Davis, Miranda Otto, Michelle Gomez, Richard Coyle Distributor Netflix Certificate 15 Format The goofball comedy of Ninties show Sabrina The Teenage Witch is a world away from what Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa has created. That’s not to say his Sabrina lacks comedy but you can’t help wonder what it might have been if he was allowed to let rip with the horror, and turn that 15 rating into an 18. Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina is a coming-of-age story, but this 16-year-old is half-human half-witch, torn between signing the Dark Lord’s Book and going to prom with her boyfriend Harvey. Sabrina wants it all and must fight to get it – much to the chagrin of her strict aunt Zelda (Miranda Otto), Father…

Details Author: Rio Youers Publisher: Titan Books Price: £7.99 Released: Out now Paradise has a price in Rio Youers’ first novel, but rather than spin a mystery about what’s really going on under the surface of a seemingly idyllic retreat, Halcyon lays its cards on the table pretty much from the get-go. We’re confronted with the horrifying truth early on, and the author wrings every bit of tension from setting a ruthless cult leader and a grieving family on a collision course. Martin Lovegrove and his family are just beginning to get to grips with their daughter Edith’s psychic gift when they suffer a cataclysmic tragedy, so the idea of putting America in their rear-view and relocating to an island with no communication with the outside world and no trappings…

“WE’RE NEVER ALLOWED TO FORGET THE DANGER” Taking inspiration from the Mughal Empire, Tasha Suri’s fantasy debut (and the start of a new series) is a well-crafted story about a young woman forced into service and finding a way to survive and stay true to herself. Mehr is the daughter of a powerful politician, but because her mother was Amrithi, a nomadic tribe with the power to conjure and control spirits, she will never be truly accepted. After venturing out into a storm and practicing one of the Amrithi rites, Mehr suddenly finds herself targeted by the Emperor and married off to one of his servants. The land’s ruler is greedy for the power at Mehr’s disposal and plans to use it to further his own selfish desires, but she…

Details Author: Maria Dahvana Headley Publisher: Scribe UK Price: £12.99 Released: Out now In The Mere Wife, Maria Dahvana Headley captures a seething female resentment through its two main female characters, united in their motherhood and opposed in just about everything else. Both are rigid in their own ways, but Willa and Dana have been forged in a patriarchal society that has little time for women. Willa is a suburban wife and mother whose pride and joy is her son, Dylan, with a philandering husband whose name is connected to the estate on which they live. Dana is a former soldier, presumed dead, living in the mountain above that estate with her son, Gren. When Gren ventures down from the mountain to befriend Dylan, the boys set tragic events in…

Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie are comics innovators. Between them they’ve redesigned Captain Marvel, created two of the definitive comic series of the century with Phonogram and The Wicked + The Divine and murdered a chunk of the Rebel fleet. We spoke to them about Star Wars, design and the industry as seen through the lens of annual Leeds-based comics show, Thought Bubble, which they had just come home from: “It’s a great celebration of everything comics can do – from small press photocopied zines to the superhero stuff,” says McKelvie. Gillen doesn’t dance around the issue either: “It’s the best comic convention in the UK.” After their initial cult hit with the excellent ‘music as magic’ series Phonogram, Gillen and McKelvie went on to produce Young Avengers for Marvel…

At the start of Death Note, high-school boy Light Yagami sees a mysterious black notebook falling on the ground, as if it’s just dropped out of the heavens. That’s pretty much the case, except for the ‘heaven’ part. The book was actually dropped from a shadow realm by a demonic black-winged heavy-metal type called Ryuk, a toothy death god or shinigami, who’s out to make mischief. And what mischief! The book is a Death Note, and as it says in bone-white writing on its cover: ‘The human whose name is written in this note shall die.’ Light has been given the stationary equivalent of a plague or an A-Bomb; he just has to break out his pen, open the Note and start writing. If he knows the target’s name and…

British author Jonathan Clements has written the newest adaptation of Death Note, a 12-hour audio adaptation that uses the anime as its starting point, but reinterprets the story its own way. “There are significant divergences and even some all-new characters,” says Clements. As of writing, it’s only been recorded in German (you can buy episodes to download at amazon. de), published by LÜbbe. However, an English-language version is also planned. The audio version is thoroughly updated to 2018, and also beefs up the support cast, a priority for Clements. “Unfortunately, in the anime, Ryuk and a bunch of other characters ended up with little to do except sit around and listen while Light and L go at it,” he says. “I wanted to involve the characters a lot more in…

WESTWORLD (1973) 1 Crichton made his directorial debut working from his own script about a Wild West robot theme park that goes horribly wrong when the androids start shooting back at the humans. COMA (1978) 2 Okay so this entry is cheating a bit as Crichton actually adapted Robin Cook’s novel for his directorial debut, but the medical conspiracy movie is a consistently underrated thriller. JURASSIC PARK (1933) 3 Steven Spielberg gave us one of the greatest sci-fi films ever with his stunning adaptation of Crichton’s dino novel, and sparked a new wave of interest in his work. CONGO (1995) 4 Admittedly this is one of the worst adaptations of Crichton’s work, but Tim Curry hams it up gloriously and the other choices were Sphere and Timeline. ER (1994) 5…

THERE’S A MOMENT in the trailer for How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World that got every Toothless fan the world over cooing in adoration – yep, the Toothless-woos-a-lady bit. Well, having seen a sneak peek of footage from the film, we can confirm that that scene is even funnier and more adorable in its entirety. But this is the finale of the beloved How To Train Your Dragon trilogy – yes, there will be laughs, but there will be tears too. When writer and director Dean DeBlois presented the footage of the film for a load of excited film journalists in London, he told us that his idea for the film came from talking to Cressida Cowell – the author of the How To Train Your Dragon books…

HOPE MIKAELSON (Danielle Rose Russell) Tribrid (witch, werewolf and vampire) daughter of Niklaus Mikaelson and Hayley Marshall-Kenner. ALARIC SALTZMAN (Matt Davis) The headmaster of the Salvatore school with a deep hatred for Hope’s father. JOSIE SALTZMAN (Kaylee Bryant) One of Alaric’s twin daughters with supernatural powers and ties to the Gemini Coven. LIZZIE SALTZMAN (Jenny Boyd) The other Saltzman twin. Lizzie also possesses powers, but is prone to going off the rails. LANDON KIRBY (Aria Shahghasemi) Sweet and shy when he debuted in The Originals but resents the other Salvatore students. MILTON “MG” GLADSTONE (Quincy Fouse) A non-original vampire who has had to suppress his personality in the past. RAFAEL WAITHE (Peyton Alex Smith) The charismatic…

1 Ariel Species: Mermaid. Amphibious? She can breathe out of water but she can’t get far without legs. Special skills: Got a pretty impressive set of lungs on her, considering she, you know, probably doesn’t have lungs. But, like Aquaman, she doesn’t have gills either… Could she take Aquaman in a fight? Ariel’s not one of life’s fighters. 2 Ursula Species: Sea witch. Amphibious? She can transform herself into a human whenever she wants, so yeah. Special skills: Sure, she can do magic, but her real talent lies in her quality salesmanship. Could she take Aquaman in a fight? Oh, Ursula would THRASH Aquaman. Sorry Aquaman. 3 Abe Sapien Species: Ichthyo sapien. Amphibious? He needs a water tank covering his gills if he’s going to be out of the water…

Inspiration for Ralph Breaks The Internet has come from all sorts of places over the years the film has been in development, sometimes from surprising places. A film directors Rich Moore and Phil Johnston asked the filmmaking team to watch was, rather weirdly, Superbad, the Jonah Hill and Michael Cera-starring buddy comedy from 2007. But Moore and Johnston had their reasons. “Superbad is about two friends who are best of friends; peas in a pod who diverge and have different dreams and different goals, but manage to find their way back to loving each other at the end,” says Johnston. “We looked at hundreds of movies, but that’s one that we came back to several times because it felt like the closest comparison to Ralph and Vanellope in terms of…

Mahershala Ali was fresh off his Oscar-winning turn on Moonlight when he was approached about Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, and director Bob Persichetti tells us he was nervous ahead of their meeting. “It was one of those projects where if we got someone in the room and we could show them the visuals we were trying to achieve and we could pitch them the story, that we could convince them to do it,” he explains, but nonetheless he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to persuade Ali to take the role. “He came in and his agent was with him and I said ‘hey, pleasure to meet you, we want to walk you through this movie and tell you who you’re going to play,’ and we showed him a bunch…

Intended as a comedic curve ball question, we point out to Robert Sheehan that Mortal Engines is his second fantasy film adaptation of a book with ‘mortal’ in its title, after The Mortal Instruments: City Of Bones in 2013, and ask what’s behind his fascination with mortals. With nary a pause for bemusement, though, the actor immediately delves into serious pondering about the newer film’s title. “I didn’t really realise I had this fascination with mortals,” he says, “but clearly, I do. It’s interesting because ‘mortal engines’ is from the mouth of a lesser known English writer called Mr William Shakespeare. I don’t know where ‘mortal instruments’ comes from, but ‘mortal engines’, in the context of him speaking about it, is him speaking about us. We are the mortal engines,…

"Why would I need a safe house in Paris?" Eddie Redmayne’s Newt Scamander asks Jude Law’s Albus Dumbledore in the final trailer for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald. “Should things, at some point, go terribly wrong,” the not-quite-yet- Hogwarts-headmaster begins to reply. “It’s good to have somewhere to go for a cup of tea.” Yes, there may still be Nifflers – baby ones, at that – in the upcoming sequel, but the cutesy tone of the first Harry Potter spin-off has been replaced by a much darker one. A cauldron of trouble is brewing, and it’s about to spill over… Just a few months ago, Newt and new friends Porpentina ‘Tina’ Goldstein, her sister Queenie and No-Maj (that’s American-speak for muggle) Jacob Kowalski handed villain Gellert Grindelwald over to…

BY ALL ACCOUNTS, Anna And The Apocalypse would appear to be the world’s first feature-length zombie comedy musical set in high school... and at Christmas... in Scotland. Shot around the likes of Port Glasgow, Greenock and Falkirk, the film premiered to considerable buzz at last year’s Fantastic Fest in the US and is now making its way into cinemas nationwide to unleash some festive fear. The basic plot is that teenage Anna (Ella Hunt) is keen to escape her sleepy hometown of Little Haven, but on the night of her school’s Christmas concert, a zombie apocalypse kicks off. With no understanding of the whys and hows of what’s going on, Anna and pals venture across town to save loved ones trapped in the school, killing zombies, breaking into song, and…

Fortitude is described in the first season as a town with no crime, but that certainly changed in a hurry. It’s a series that kills off big name stars, delivers legions of plot twists and confronted viewers with jaw-dropping gory shocks. We asked Simon Donald if there had been any scenes in the show that had prompted a particularly high level of appalled feedback… “There’s two really so far,” he tells us. “There’s Shirley Allerdyce clocking her mum over the head with an ornament and gouging her chest open with a spoon and vomiting inside her, that was like ‘fucking hell!’ and the self-castration of Vladek Klimov, the shaman in the shower [who used a soldering iron to cauterise the wound], was another one. “It’s really interesting, because both of…

Release Out now Director Lasse Hallström, Joe Johnston Cast Mackenzie Foy, Keira Knightley, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren Distributor Walt Disney Studios Certificate PG In Disney’s new movie, The Nutcracker And The Four Realms, Clara (Mackenzie Foy) is mourning the death of her mother when she accidentally stumbles into another world filled with dolls who have come to life, only to learn that her mother was once their queen. While there, she befriends Captain Phillip (Jayden Fowora-Knight) who accompanies her as she delves deeper into the four realms. Once in the four realms, Clara meets many weird and wonderful characters, including the likes of Mother Ginger (Helen Mirren), Shiver (Richard E Grant) and Sugar Plum (Keira Knightley). With bright and intricate costumes and make-up, these characters already feel larger than life.…

Release 10 December Director Jon Turteltaub Cast Jason Statham, Li Bingbing, Rainn Wilson Distributor Warner Home Video Certificate 12 Expectations should never be set too high for films about giant sharks on people-eating rampages. The Meg gives exactly what it promises: Jason Statham doing all he can to stalk and kill a Megalodon for two hours while said Megalodon in turn stalks and kills anything with a pulse. However, the ‘exactly what it says on the tin’ cliche isn’t quite accurate. The Meg is a hell of a lot more fun than it has any right to be. The cast is average but the Megalodon is the star, and although the film is pretty violent at times, a lot of excited giggling goes very well with waiting for it to…

Release Out now Director Stephen Norrington Cast Sean Connery, Stuart Townsend, Peta Wilson, Jason Flemyng Distributor Fabulous Films Certificate 12 Format • It has been 15 whole years since The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen, the much maligned film of Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill’s incredible comic hit cinema screens. So, has the passage of time done Stephen Norrington’s disaster-hounded mega-flop any favours at all? Well, not really, but as an artefact it’s kind of fascinating, if not particularly entertaining. There are clear signs of ‘too many cooks’ and a growing sense of panic as the film takes the characters and some of the plot essentials from the comic, adds a couple more and crams them into a CGI-heavy, murky, under-plotted mess that careers from one identical set piece to another.…

Release Out now Director George A Romero, Dario Argento Cast Adrienne Barbeau, Harvey Keitel, Ramy Zada, Madeleine Potter Distributor 88 Films Certificate 18 Format George A Romero and Dario Argento’s Edgar Allen Poe-inspired two-hander gets a rather lovely HD upgrade thanks to 88 Films, and while it’s not really a highlight for either movie legend, there is still some genuine fun to be had with Two Evil Eyes. Admittedly, most of that fun is located in George A Romero’s ‘The Facts In The Case Of Mr Valdemar’, as Adrienne Barbeau’s gold-digger tries to swindle her dying husband with the help of her doctor lover (Ramy Zada) only to find that they have unfortunately caught the attention of the world beyond. This is a horrid, witty and genuinely creepy tale that…

Release Out now Director Stanley Kubrick Cast Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester, Daniel Richter, Leonard Rossiter Distributor Warner Bros Home Entertainment Certificate 12 Format Hot on the heels of the film’s un-restored re-release, Stanley Kubrick’s sci-fi landmark has been given a 4K upgrade in a handsome new re-release. Given that Kubrick films often get a new Bluray release, the question is: do you need this? And the answer is: yes, don’t be a fool. Any chance to see 2001 in higher definition should be grabbed, and this new reissue is loaded with extras. It also looks stunning in the 4K remaster and you will be able to tell the difference from the previous Blu-ray release. In terms of extras, it’s all ported over from the previous release, with documentaries…

Release Out now Showrunners Ivan Raimi, Sam Raimi, Tom Spezialy Cast Bruce Campbell, Dana DeLorenzo, Ray Santiago, Lucy Lawless, Arielle Carver-O’Neill Distributor 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Certificate 18 Format • Given that Ash Vs Evil Dead was an unlikely show in the first place, the fact that it ran for three seasons is still hard to believe. While fans were sad to see it cancelled last year, there’s comfort to be had in that it maintained a high level of quality throughout. Season Three picks up with Ash running his own hardware store. But no sooner does he find out he’s got a long lost daughter, Brandy (Arielle Carver-O’Neill) than evil finds a way back and he and Brandy are in Ruby’s (Lucy Lawless) crosshairs. Meanwhile, Pablo’s (Ray Santiago)…

Details Author: Matthew Binder Publisher: Black Spot Books Price: £14.99 Released: 4 December So many of the near future dystopias we see at the moment are set in the aftermath of a cataclysmic event. Whether it’s environmental, viral or nuclear, the vast majority of depictions of our futures have us clinging to survival as we move through the ruined wastelands of our world. Matthew Binder’s The Absolved is just as troubling as those worlds but far less drastic. Set in 2036, the novel follows a wealthy disaffected doctor as he drifts through his seemingly pointless life. The horrors to be found here are more along the lines of Black Mirror than Bird Box, as the technology that was developed to help us has in fact led to our entirely plausible…

Details Author: Ling Ma Publisher: Text Publishing Company Price: £10.99 Released: Out now What would the end of the world mean? If everything that keeps us going on a daily basis – work, family, all the systems of the modern world – were gone, what would it mean to stay alive? And what’s the point of life, anyway? The plot of Ling Ma’s post-apocalyptic novel Severance sounds familiar enough at first glance. The outbreak of a mysterious disease sweeps across the globe, starting from Shenzhen in China but rapidly spreading until civilisation crumbles and survivors are left to pick their way through the ruins, ending up hiding out inside an abandoned shopping mall. It’s a zombie story in all but name, but if it were a zombie film, it’d be…

Details Author: Joanne M Harris Publisher: Orion Books Price: £12.99 Released: 15 November Once upon a time, a girl fell in love with a man from the sea. But selkies are hard to tie down unless you steal their skins, and fairy tale romances aren’t always all they’re cracked up to be. The Blue Salt Road is like the darkest possible timeline of The Little Mermaid. Flora McCraiceann is a stubborn, ambitious girl who doesn’t want the life of a fisherman’s wife, so she decides she’ll marry a prince. A tip from her grandmother leads her to summon a selkie, a shape-shifting seal-man, and though his wildness captivates her, when she falls pregnant she’s determined to keep him. So she does – by taking both his sealskin and memories. Coigreach McGill,…

We all want to get away from it all, don’t we? The world is in a terrible place and the idea of just running away to somewhere remote, somewhere where you and your family can be safe… well, doesn’t that sound kind of appealing? Of course, leaving aside the fact that running away from your problems never worked out for anyone, the island community that the Lovegrove family head to after a traumatic event turns out to be run by a very dangerous woman. Mother Moon doesn’t just have strict rules for Halcyon, she’ll do whatever it takes to reach her paradise of Glam Moon and cause however much pain she needs to. What was the starting point for you with Halcyon? I had planned to write a novel about…

Let's talk about your new book with Stephanie Hans and Clayton Cowles, DIE. What's the premise? Well, our two-word pitch is ‘Goth Jumanji’. That tends to cut to the chase. Back in 1991 a group of teenagers sat down to play an RPG. They disappeared. Two years later, they were found, wandering around in a forest, unable to ever explain where they had been. No-one ever worked it out. Everyone just thought it was lucky they'd escaped. It’s 2018, and the teenagers are now adults, and are about to discover that no-one ever really escapes… It's a big, serious, horror-fantasy about RPGs and regrets, with the most beautiful secondary world comics has seen in forever. It’s a hell of a time. That sounds brilliant. The fact it’s ongoing is intriguing…

The anime was made by the prolific Madhouse studio, which already had a track-record in far grislier horror fare, like Ninja Scroll and Perfect Blue. It was one of the first big credits for director Tetsuro Araki, who would later helm another dark anime saga – Attack On Titan, though it was made by a different studio. Araki directed the original Titan series in 2013; he’s still credited on the later seasons, although now dubbed ‘Chief Director’ alongside another director. Interviewed by MyM Magazine, Madhouse founder Masao Maruyama remembered choosing Araki for Death Note. “We’d been working together for about five years, on things like Di Gi Charat and Galaxy Angel [both cute comedy anime]. Araki was talented, he drew well, he had good instincts. He had a very strong…

For father and son producers, Alexander and Ilya Salkind, the Superman template appeared to be in place: cast a likeable unknown in the title role and surround them with established stars with considerable pulling power for support. It was a method that worked with the original 1978 Superman movie, so why shouldn’t it work for Supergirl’s first cinematic outing too? While not a total disaster, Superman III brought in diminishing box office returns for the franchise during its release in the summer of 1983, and certainly appeared to be more of a comedic showcase for its co-star Richard Pryor than a bonafide entry for the Man Of Steel. Spinoff Supergirl was an attempt to refresh the franchise with a new face that might appeal to a different demographic. “Tapping into…

When an American satellite returns to Earth in a small town in New Mexico, a military team is scrambled to retrieve it, little realising that it is carrying a deadly microscopic alien life form. The government begins their emergency preparations, assembling a small team of scientists to retrieve a sample and bring it back to an underground research facility. As they race to find a way to fight the organism, the politicians debate whether or not to drop a nuclear payload on the town, and all the while, the alien is evolving……

“Loved it. When I think of s ci-fi fi lms, this is the archetype for me. Saw it as a child and haven’t been able to forget it. It was one of the influences on my novel Rosewater (and I left some shout outs in there). So, yeah, thumbs up.” @tadethompson “Good novel and movie. The TV reboot (2 episodes) was quite good too.” @ChasingMobyDick “One of my favorite movies of all time, as well as one of my favourite books and authors!” @shorrai “Works great as both a science fiction film and a period piece. Stylish visuals, excellent score.” @sci_fictional “The first movie I remember being complete terrified and fascinated by the science, but more importantly perhaps how a soundtrack can crank the tension and ‘alien-ness’. Since then I’ve…

THE ADDAMS FAMILY (1964-1966) 1. Who created the Addams Family TV series? 2. Who played Gomez and Morticia Addams in the series? 3. How tall was Ted Cassidy when he played the Addams’ butler Lurch? 4. Whose sister is Ophelia Frump? 5. What kind of disembodied body part is Thing? THE ADDAMS FAMILY (1991) 6. How long has Uncle Fester been absent at the beginning of the film? 7. What is the name of Gomez’s lawyer? 8. What does Wednesday dress up as for Halloween? 9. Which American former talk show host appears in the film as herself? 10. Where did Uncle Fester first go missing? ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES (1993) 11. What is the name of the summer camp that Pugsley and Wednesday attend? 12. Who plays Wednesday’s love interest…

16-20 MORTICIA It doesn’t matter if you’re in a dungeon or the Taj Mahal, you’re always the most glamorous and refined person in the room. Your constant composure is your best quality. You keep your cool when everyone else loses their heads. 11-15 GOMEZ If something doesn’t smell right, you’re always leading the investigation to find out what’s up. However, you have been known to let your emotions get the better of you. You can’t help it; you’ve got a lot of love to give. 6-10 FESTER No one knows what it is about you, but you manage to get into sticky situations. You tend to panic, but your friends and family always have your back. However, you do sometimes manage to catch a break. 0-5 LURCH As a person…