 | Schock 1977 The latest cinematic chapter of the Italian master Mario Bava, Shock, presents itself as a farewell to his directorial career, emerging from a decade marked by a rebirth of Italian cinema imbued with anger, ambiguity and a fascination for the macabre. The film, a cross between giallo, thriller and horror, is a testimony to that essential contribution of Bava, which had already inspired entire generations of directors.
In this work, however, one senses the loss of that personal imprint: the meticulousness in the photography, a distinctive sign that had made the director famous, as well as that bitter irony capable of mocking... Read More |
 | Cube 1997 I couldn't wait to talk about this extraordinary Canadian film, which I consider without hesitation one of the best horror films of all time, so much so that it is in my personal top 5 of the genre. The director, Vincenzo Natali, is often unfairly underrated, but with Cube he has demonstrated a visionary talent that deserves full recognition.
This is his first feature film, the film that made him a household name, and despite an extremely low budget (around $350,000), it manages to give the impression of a much more ambitious and refined work than one might expect. Its strength lies in a simple but incredibly effective basic... Read More |
 | Repulsion 1965 The film is a thriller full of tension, especially in the scenes where the protagonist experiences hallucinations. The horror atmosphere, with a touch of surrealism, is really intense. Although it may seem crude, this is intended by the director, who wants to show the harsh reality of the protagonist's life. The story tells of a woman in crisis, who no longer feels comfortable with the old values of society. This leads her to confront a harsh and chauvinistic reality, where she feels the weight of being a woman. The protagonist is alienated and desperate, aware that the world is changing, but remains tied to traditional values. Her... Read More |
 | Magic 1978 A disturbing psychological thriller that mixes horror and tension, with a sinister puppet and a young Anthony Hopkins in one of his most intense performances. To get into the role, the British actor immersed himself in the study of ventriloquism techniques, giving his character a tormented and vulnerable depth. His hypnotic gaze and his ability to convey complex emotions make the performance unforgettable.
Behind the camera, Richard Attenborough orchestrates the story with almost surgical precision, enhancing every detail and giving the story an unusual realism for the genre. The relationship between the ventriloquist and the... Read More |
 | Lord of Misrule 2023 Bland horror that mixes paganism, thriller and folklore of British popular traditions. The story recalls the 1973 film "The Wicker Man" with Christopher Lee
but is much less exciting, due to a watered down script and a perhaps improvised direction even if it must be said that the real and the supernatural mix in an interesting crossover and the atmosphere is fascinating, especially the sequences in the woods during a lunar eclipse. Ultimately a disappointing film but one that is worth watching. |
 | What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? 1962 Based on the novel by Henry Farrell released in 1960, the film is considered the progenitor of the psycho-biddy subgenre where the protagonists are mentally unstable elderly women, ready to terrorize the unfortunate ones on duty. Playing the disturbing sisters in this psychological thriller, a small jewel of genre cinema, are an unforgettable Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, great Hollywood stars now in their twilight years. Despite being free of bloody or macabre scenes, the film is a hallucinatory journey through sadism, madness and family resentments... Claustrophobic, having shot in black and white makes the face of the great... Read More |
