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Chris McEneany
Chris McEneany has been writing about films for many years, providing in-depth coverage of cinema and Blu-ray releases, and CD film scores. He has a particular fascination for the horror genre, with an undying devotion to the classic chillers from Universal right through to the splattery excesses of Cronenberg, Romero and Fulci, and a downright embarrassing obsession with the 80's and the cult icons that the decade of delinquency gave birth to.
His life quite literally revolves around movies. When not watching films, he is listening to their soundtracks, and his house has become a veritable shrine to Hollywood, with props, replicas, posters and memorabilia filling all available space.
His long-suffering wife and kids have to put up with his expensive and cringe-worthy attempts to emulate his heroes, from costumes to hairdos, and his ceaseless quest to escape reality and responsibility.
If pushed he would probably cite his favourite films of all time as being Jaws, The Thing, Mad Max 2, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, Gladiator and Escape From New York … but, like his reviews, the list could go on and on.
Big Arnie gives a genuinely emotional performance in Maggie, a hauntingly melancholic tale of fatherly devotion in the aftermath of a zombie plague; whilst Universal/Lionsgate serve up a decent Blu-ray release.
Five men. One train carriage. No coincidence. Odeon release the classic inaugural Amicus horror portmanteau Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors in a splendid, shiver-packed limited edition steelbook. Tickets please!
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Movies & TV Shows
Dr Terror's House of Horrors Movie Review
by Chris McEneany
Five men. One train carriage. No coincidence. Odeon release the classic inaugural Amicus horror portmanteau Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors. Tickets please!
Arrow Video unleashes its long-awaited Hellraiser Scarlet Box limited edition set that contains the first three films in the series, all with fabulous new 2K restorations and a stunning wealth of incredible extras.
Third in the original trilogy of Clive Barker's most well known franchise isn't a patch on the previous two, but does Pinhead have what it takes to be a leading man?
Edgar Allan Poe’s classic tale of murder and moggies gets two extravagant Italian makeovers in this splendidly lavish double-bill of wicked desires and dark revenge.
Your Vice Is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key Movie Review
by Chris McEneany
'Vice' is a terrific little movie that successfully mingles sex and death with tempestuous psychology and marital anguish to deliver chills, mystery, arousal and twists.
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Movies & TV Shows
The Black Cat Movie Review
by Chris McEneany
Toned-down in terms of the excessive ultra-violence the approach suits this small-time tale of vengeful bedevilment and remains a stylish exercise in offbeat chills and suspense
Arrow Video's release of the infamous body-horror film Society includes picture, sound and extras that do justice to the stomach-churning effects.
6
Movies & TV Shows
Mad Max: Fury Road - Inspired Artists Movie Review
by Chris McEneany
The Mad Max universe is as broad as it is long and the illustrations that inhabit this wonderful collection capture the spirit and character of the story, as well as the sense of chaos that prevails throughout.
Famous for its orgy of grotesque assimilation, Society may have lost some of its audacity and vulgarity, but Brian Yuzna’s deliciously subversive horror satire still works in a gross-out Twilight Zone way.
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Miss Osbourne Blu-ray Review
by Chris McEneany
Walerian Borowczyk’s film interpretation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s most famous novel is ripe with fervent erotica and comes to vivid life on Blu-ray thanks to Arrow.
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Movies & TV Shows
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Miss Osbourne Movie Review
by Chris McEneany
Walerian Borowczyk’s film interpretation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s most famous novel is ripe with fervent erotica making it one of the most faithful “alternate universe” adaptations of the literary classic.
John Carpenter's dark and gritty Escape From New York gets a new US release on Blu-ray using difficult source material with an altogether brighter outlook.
8
Movies & TV Shows
Blood and Black Lace Movie Review
by Chris McEneany
Bava’s flamboyant direction and showboating visual invention smooth over Blood and Black Lace's limitations to create a hyper-stylish and hugely influential thriller that would set the template for the iconic Spaghetti genre to come.
Decent picture, sound and extras make this Region A Blu-ray of the little-seen but impressive werewolf film Late Phases worth seeking out.
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Movies & TV Shows
Late Phases Movie Review
by Chris McEneany
Great photography, a brooding score and a main character that inspires whilst never being played for sympathy ensure that Late Phases leaves a lasting impression and stands out from the pack.
Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger vividly bring the opera "The Tales of Hoffmann" to life and this Blu-ray release gives you the fullest version possible with the best picture and sound.
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Movies & TV Shows
The Tales of Hoffmann Movie Review
by Chris McEneany
Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger vividly bring the opera "The Tales of Hoffmann" to life - dramatising the three great romances in the life of the poet-hero, though her loses love he gains poetic inspiration.
Arrow Films sprinkle their usual high definition magic over Day of Anger, a Sergio Leone influenced Western about a gunslinger's creation turning on him.
The Sergio Leone influenced Day of Anger is an interesting take on the Frankenstein myth of a lost creation finding its path and turning upon its creator.
We look at Eureka's Masters of Cinema Blu-ray release of Man of the West; which does the best it can with limited source material and offers a better set of extras that the US release.
This Roger Corman/Vincent Price film is based on an Edgar Allen Poe interpretation of an HP Lovecraft story; so Gothic Horror at its finest even if it's a step away from Corman's usual fare.
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Movies & TV Shows
Man of the West Movie Review
by Chris McEneany
We look at the Gary Cooper starring Man of the West, which sets itself apart from the crowd by deliberately crafting a deeply psychological re-rendering of the clichés and becoming an 'existential western'.
We look at Arrow Film's Blu-ray disc of David Cronenberg’s second feature film about a vampiric plague that's best known as former porn star Marilyn Chambers’ first mainstream outing.
We look at David Cronenberg’s second feature film about a vampiric plague that stems from a quirky skin-graft operation though the film is probably best known as former porn star Marilyn Chambers’ first mainstream outing.
We dissect, disembowel and drool over Ennio Morricone's wonderfully evocative score for John Carpenter's best film, in an unashamedly spoiler filled appreciation of music and film that form the perfect whole.
We look at George Romero's and Stephen King's teaming up to bring King's novel of the same name to 'life' with varying degrees of success on High Definition
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Movies & TV Shows
The Dark Half Movie Review
by Chris McEneany
George Romero and Stephen King team up to bring King's novel of the same name to 'life' with varying degrees of success
In celebration of Suspiria's new limited edition German Blu-ray release, we can examine once again, and in greater detail, just how this dark and unusual horror classic has managed to maintain its reputation as one of the genre’s genuine masterworks