To even skim one’s memory of Sam Neill is to realise that he truly was a totemic presence in cinema, not just for New Zealand, but for the global cinema community. Sir Sam Neill 14 Sept 1947 - 13 July 2026 He was, in the eyes of the public, both an actor and a movie … Continue reading Under His Spell: Sam Neill’s Horror Movies
Author: Simon Kingsley-Holmes
Simon Kingsley-Holmes is a writer and stand-up who has reviewed movies for The Critic and Radio One 91FM in Dunedin. He is currently writing his first book all about New Zealand horror movies.
Kinji Fukasaku’s final completed feature is perhaps an outlier on this website, since it could be argued it’s more sci-fi due to its dystopian future setting, or maybe more of an action thriller, but the cracked leather skin that wraps it all up is horror. Although this is a Japanese film, it’s on a completely … Continue reading Review: Battle Royale
With the release of writer/director Taratoa Stappard’s debut feature, Mārama, we have seen the potential emergence of a new movement in horror. Debuting at TIFF on September 5th last year, it became the first truly Māori-centric horror film. While previous films have touched on Māori history or been produced, written, or directed by Māori filmmakers, … Continue reading Mārama: A New Benchmark in Māori Horror
Don’t you hate it when you find a recipe online and the writer gives you their life story before you get to the actual meat of it all? Well, I’m about to do that. Sorry. I grew up in the UK in the wake of the Video Nasties scare. Disgusting, corrupting, depraved movies were finally … Continue reading Review: Evil Dead – The Raimi Trilogy
Release Date: 28 May 2026 Directed By: Kane Parsons Run Time: 110 min REVIEW What’s going on? Why is Hollywood making the best horror films right now? Hollywood is meant to turn up late, copy what someone else did, balls it all up and sweep up all the undeserved money. Whatever happened to studios snapping … Continue reading Backrooms: A Fresh Take on Horror Cinema
I actively avoided seeing The Weed Eaters at last year’s NZIFF, put off by the quotes: “… riotous NZ horror comedy. Four holidaying friends come across a strain of weed that gives them the most extreme case of the munchies ever recorded”. A no-budget horror-stoner-comedy? A wry take on the horror genre by a group … Continue reading In Praise of: The Weed Eaters on Tour