Author: Sabastian Astley

Review

‘Peninsula’ – Humanity at its Most Triumphant and Terrifying

When Train to Busan premiered in 2016, it was like lightning in a bottle. It re-animated the zombie genre and brought life into the dying undead. It’s praised as one of the greatest modern zombie horrors, both for its terrifying depictions of the undead and the complex themes that run through it. It’s a remarkable piece of cinema through and through, and its prestige casts … Continue reading ‘Peninsula’ – Humanity at its Most Triumphant and Terrifying

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Review

‘Patrick’ – Grief is Laid Bare in this Emotional Tragicomedy

We’ve all lost something from time and time and tried to retrace our steps. A lot of the times it’s little things, like keys, or your phone – you walk back through your own memories, but ultimately you realize the hopelessness of doing so, and you conclude your search. Then you turn around and your keys are on your desk. This is a surprisingly good … Continue reading ‘Patrick’ – Grief is Laid Bare in this Emotional Tragicomedy

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Interview

FrightFest 2020 – Interviewing ‘Woman of the Photographs’ Director Takeshi Kushida

I was given the chance to interview the director behind one of the greatest films at FrightFest 2020, ‘Woman of the Photographs.’ Takeshi is an incredibly insightful director and a joy to interview, and he gave some very thought-provoking answers on his work and his greater views on life in the social media age. How would you describe your film taste – what’re some films or directors … Continue reading FrightFest 2020 – Interviewing ‘Woman of the Photographs’ Director Takeshi Kushida

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Festival, Review

FrightFest 2020 – ‘Hosts’: Home for the Horror-days

I’m sure we’ve all had those Christmases where you’re forced to meet your extended family – cousins you’ve never met, uncles that seem entirely unrelated, family friends that you’ve never heard of until that moment. Navigating the awkward social niceties of these events can be the bane of one’s existence, and for good reason – Christmas is a time for spending it with your loved … Continue reading FrightFest 2020 – ‘Hosts’: Home for the Horror-days

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Festival, Review

FrightFest 2020 – ‘Woman of the Photographs’: The First Masterwork of the Decade

I have problems with my appearance. I don’t always feel this way – some days, I think I look great. Some days, I can’t stand to look at myself in the mirror. Sometimes I have an issue with stomach fat; other times, it’s the porosity of my skin. Somehow, the issue always changes. The person reading this probably has problems with their appearance. Not liking … Continue reading FrightFest 2020 – ‘Woman of the Photographs’: The First Masterwork of the Decade

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Festival

The Slice at FrightFest 2020

The spooky season is upon us. FrightFest 2020 has promised us a fine and frightening selection of features from across the world, each with their intriguing tale to entwine and trap us within, like a spider to a fly. I got the chance to cover the festival for the first time, which has always been a dream of mine – and I wasn’t disappointed with … Continue reading The Slice at FrightFest 2020

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Festival, Review

FrightFest 2020 – ‘Alien on Stage’: A Chestburstingly Heartwarming Journey

Many of you may have heard of the high school in America that performed Alien as its own stage play, garnering a global media buzz that led to universal praise for the cast and crew. However, this was not the first endeavor into transforming Alien from terrifying sci-fi horror to the stage; that honor goes to a group of bus drivers in Dorset, and their … Continue reading FrightFest 2020 – ‘Alien on Stage’: A Chestburstingly Heartwarming Journey

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Review

Review – ‘Nocturne’: Sydney Sweeney’s Sinister Symphony

Welcome to the Blumhouse has produced their first quadtych of features for us to consume and enjoy this Halloween season, with an interesting mixture of stories and actors. Personally, I found Nocturne to be the most appealing and interesting of them all – seeing Sydney Sweeney venture into Horror ensured a curiosity, and the idea of sacrificial art always hints at a great avenue for … Continue reading Review – ‘Nocturne’: Sydney Sweeney’s Sinister Symphony

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Review

Review – ‘Herself’ Showcases the Emotional Resilience of Motherhood

The beauty of film comes in its ability to translate the untranslatable – emotion can be such a fickle and loose thing, where we know exactly how we’re feeling but simply cannot find the words. There’s a raw power to emotion that can overwhelm us at the best of times, making it impossible to present what you’re feeling in a concise and clear way whilst … Continue reading Review – ‘Herself’ Showcases the Emotional Resilience of Motherhood

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Review

Review – ‘Saint Maud’: Penance Has Never Been So Pleasing

Idolatry is a very dangerous thing – we see it constantly within the modern day, through influencer cult-like adoration, ‘stan accounts’ for celebrities; it has seeped into the DNA of entertainment. What becomes difficult when dissecting this modern-day idolatry is the intentions behind such reverence – why exactly do these people feel as though the individuals they look up to are worthy of such praise … Continue reading Review – ‘Saint Maud’: Penance Has Never Been So Pleasing

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Interview

Discussing The Attention Economy and ‘Logan Paul Moments’ with ‘Spree’ Director and Co-Writer Eugene Kotlyarenko

Earlier in August, I got the chance to watch Spree, an incredibly dark and inventive satire on the infectious desire for social fame, and I expressed how amazing I thought it was here. I reached out to Eugene over Twitter, and he was very graceful to let me interview him in the midst of handling Spree’s marketing and promotion. Sab Astley: Firstly, how’re you? Eugene … Continue reading Discussing The Attention Economy and ‘Logan Paul Moments’ with ‘Spree’ Director and Co-Writer Eugene Kotlyarenko

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