Of all the filmmakers working in Hollywood today, Guillermo del Toro is one of the most fervently followed. The cult of interest that springs up around any project he’s attached to is well earned: smaller scale Spanish language classics (Cronos, Pan’s Labyrinth) are offset against mega-budget Hollywood blockbusters (Hellboy, Pacific Rim) in his back catalogue, … >
In 2008, Scottish writer John Niven published his first full-length novel, Kill Your Friends: a hilarious, horrifying satire on the music business during the Britpop-saturated 1990s. Based in part on the author’s experiences working in the industry – although to what degree is between him, his conscience and his lawyer – the book chronicles the … >
The fifth episode of Downton Abbey’s final season opens as Daisy helps Mr. Mason move into Yew Tree Farm. Mrs. Patmore supplies a hamper of refreshments and is soon serving tea to a grateful Mr. Mason. We suddenly see – as does Daisy – that Mr. Mason and Mrs. P are perfect for each other. … >
Before this point, Orphan Black has been a show that is happy to subject its central characters to all kinds of emotional pain and agony, but it has not been a show that has pulled the trigger on killing anybody in a main role. Of course, there are many shows where this is not necessary, but arguably this one … >
The Walking Dead isn’t messing around this season, following up last week’s strong, visually inventive premiere with a thoroughly violent siege thriller. ‘JSS’, unusually, began with a quiet first act that doesn’t seem to be building too much. There’s the sympathetic, if disposable prologue, which fleshes out Enid, an ancillary character at best, and a … >
The Vikings gave us a lot of words that we use in common English. I saw it on a Horrible Histories once so it’s true. One of them was ‘happy’. That’s fortunate, because it’s a great word to apply to ‘The Girl Who Waited Died’ – 45 minutes of Saturday-morning style fun that should make … >
Following his successful run of ‘Dark Eyes’ box sets, the Eighth Doctor returns for another series of linked releases. ‘Doom Coalition’ will unfold over four volumes, each comprised of four hour long tales. In Matt Fitton’s opener, an ill-advised prison visit results in the escape of one of Gallifrey’s most notorious criminals, ‘The Eleven’. As … >
“I’m going to find who caused a pain that’s very much alive today. Who took his life, who took hers? And I want to punish them. Thirty-nine years later.” Thus speaks DI Cassie Stewart (Nicola Walker) at the start of part 2 of The Unforgotten. We immediately realise Cassie has an emotional connection to the … >
As you would expect of a popular story that was first written nearly 130 years ago, the strange tale of Dr Jekyll and his evil alter-ego Mr Hyde has been retold numerous times. For instance, the last version on British TV was only back in 2007, when Sherlock co-creator Steven Moffat gave us BBC One’s … >
About three seconds. That’s how long it takes from Dara O Briain’s first appearance on stage to his having the audience in his total command. He crams more belly laughs into every ten minutes than other acts might manage in a full sixty minute set, which is even more impressive when you realise he’s on … >