The Strangers: Prey at Night ***
The rest is a generic, blood-curdling, body-slashing, squelching fest with the requisite ‘dead-not-dead’ horror moment that renders the threat almost supernatural.
Category: Horror
Alien: Covenant ***
Covenant does inject new blood and purpose into the Alien series with the focus on character rather than effect. It’s still just a nail biting.
Within ***
As a generic, ‘leap out of your seat’, popcorn-spilling offering at the cinema, Within ticks all the boxes – just don’t expect to be challenged any further.
Ouija: Origin of Evil ***
Has enough eyeball rolling and gymnastics to satisfy the horror fan. It’s just events get very complex.
The Conjuring 2: The Enfield Case ****
Just as powerful at the first film, possibly because of the catch-all ‘based on a true story’ promise. Even so, without the same team behind this one as with the first, this could have fallen flat.
LFF 2015: The Witch ****
There is a world of doubt and terror to experience in this art-house horror. The key is this is self-perpetuating as a present-day viewer – if you relinquish to the lifestyle experience you are witnessing, rather than have the scares delivered on a plate, as is the usual horror diet.
LFF 2015: Bone Tomahawk ****
An immensely satisfying offering that will appeal to both Western and Horror camps and it looks great, production-wise. With some great acting and thoughtful directing, it certainly is one of the most refreshing Western off-shoots in a long time.
The Hallow **
There is nothing very remarkable about The Hallow – it makes no real mark, even though it leaves matters open to a possible sequel.
The Messenger ***
The Messenger could have been more succinct in its delivery and still kept the ambiguity. In the end, it will be remember more as a vehicle moving in the right direction for Sheehan’s career.