Writer. Editor. Film Scholar. Script Consultant
It was a pleasure to be part of the Cheval Noir jury at the Fantasia International Film Festival. I particularly enjoyed Vincent Must Die (Vincent doit mourir), a smart and inventive update of the zombie film that nods to Jean-Luc Godard's Weekend - we gave it a well-deserved Special Jury Mention. Pic credit: Vincent doit... Continue Reading →
I contributed a video appreciation of Jean Rollin's The Shiver of the Vampires (1971) to Indicator/Powerhouse's beautiful 4K release. Available from the Powerhouse website.
I'm looking forward to introducing Luis Buñuel's The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972), one of the last few films he made, at BFI Southbank tonight. Tickets available on the BFI Southbank website.
The short film I have written and directed, THE PETTING ZOO, is now finished. It's a ghost tale about five friends who go to the woods on Halloween and get lost in a local legend. I had invaluable help from the hugely talented Jonathan Zaurin and was lucky to work with a brilliant team of... Continue Reading →
I'm very happy to have contributed an introduction + a commentary alongside the brilliant Kat Ellinger to Radiance Films' release of A Woman Kills (La femme bourreau), directed by Jean-Denis Bonan, a one-time Jean Rollin associate, in 1968. Lost for 40 years, A Woman Kills is a radically odd serial killer story that was shot... Continue Reading →
In this episode of the Straight On Till Morning radio show, I host a discussion on Korean horror film with Kim Newman, author of Nightmare Movies, and film critic Anton Bitel in the aftermath of the London Korean Film Festival. https://www.koreanfilm.co.uk/https://johnnyalucard.com/https://projectedfigures.com First broadcast on 29th November 2022. Pic credit: The Anchor (Dir. Jeong Ji-yeon, 2022)... Continue Reading →
Listen to the annual podcast round-up of the Arrow FrightFest festival with Kim Newman, Anton Bitel and me: This year's themes were: Influencers Religious cults Unwelcome guests New women Tight spots Films mentioned include: Deadstream Follow Her Sissy Something in the Dirt Candy Land New Religion The Leech Who Invited Them Torn Hearts Piggy Family... Continue Reading →
ORCHESTRATOR OF STORMS : THE FANTASTIQUE WORLD OF JEAN ROLLIN will have its European premiere at ArrowFrightFest on Friday 26 August 2022 at 3:50pm. There will be a Q&A after the film with the formidable Brigitte Lahaie and me. Directed by Kat Ellinger and Dima Ballin, produced by Kier-and Jonathan Zaurin. Book tickets: http://frightfest.nuwebgroup.com/events/21472
I had the great pleasure to contribute to the unprecedented documentary on Jean Rollin directed by Kat Ellinger and Dima Ballin, which will premiere at the Fantasia Festival on Saturday 16th July. Here's the Fantasia Festival's description of the film by Mitch Davis: Has there been a genre artist more fundamentally misunderstood and inappropriately discussed... Continue Reading →
I reviewed Mark Jenkin's follow-up to Bait for the Sight&Sound website in May 2022. The review was published in the Winter 22-23 issue of the Sight&Sound magazine. An oblique take on 1970s folk horror, Enys Men creates a genuinely haunting experience rooted in the Cornish landscape. Synopsis: A middle-aged woman (Mary Woodvine) lives alone on... Continue Reading →
Virginie Sélavy 