Books Times of London: The Panharmonion Chronicles Review
Split across the 19th and 21st century a ‘bridge’ between the two times is uncovered and sought after by a clandestine organisation.
Books 
Cinema The Nun II Review: Deserves to be thrown on a funeral pyre for its sins
Taissa Farmiga is on form reprising her role as Sister Irene but that isn’t enough to save the ninth film in The Conjuring universe.
Piper review at FrightFest: An uncanny intersection of fantasy and reality
Anthony Waller’s Lower Saxony-set modern fairytale confounds the psychological and the supernatural while disinterring an old legend
Farang review at FrightFest: Revenge-fuelled rampage
In Xavier Gens’ Thai-set hyperviolent revenger, an eternal outsider must fight to escape his criminal past and recover a normal family life.
Transmission review at FrightFest: Seeking answers in the Void
Michael Hurst’s multimediated metamovie switches between different nighttime TV programmes all telling the same apocalyptic story.
Hostile Dimensions review at FrightFest: Scary, funny sci-fi on a budget
Graham Hughes’ found-footage multiverse mystery sends documentarians on a quest to find a missing woman and a better world
Doctor Jekyll review: Social drama and possession horror
Joe Stephenson’s campy gothic adaptation is equally class- and self-conscious, transitioning from social drama to possession horror
The J-Horror Virus review: Delving into a cultural phenomenon
Sarah Appleton and Jasper Sharp’s cross-cultural documentary traces the origins and influences of a Japanese horror genre.
Cinema The Dive Review: A deep dive story of survival in extremis
Maximilian Erlenwein’s breathless thriller traps an experienced diver under water, with her estranged sister her only lifeline.
Cinema Blue Beetle Review: Superheroes get their mojo back – but is it too late?
You’re in for a pleasant surprise with DC’s latest superhero flick. Our review of Blue Beetle…
New Life review at Fantasia: A tense, breathless chase movie
In John Rosman’s genre-inf(l)ected chase movie, the future of humanity may depend on an ordinary woman turned fugitive.
Cinema Haunted Mansion Review: Head back to Gracey Manor
Twenty years after our first trip to Gracey Manor, Haunted Mansion has another adaptation. Our review…
It Lives Inside review at Fantasia: Cross-cultural identity, assimilation and absorption
In Bishal Dutta’s horror hybrid, It Lives Inside, an adolescent Indian-American risks losing her own soul to cultural conformity
Pandemonium review at Fantasia: A dark and grotesque (divine) comedy
Quarxx’s eschatological epic confronts its sinful characters with the Hell waiting just on the other side of the door.
Eight Eyes review at Fantasia: A heady love letter to 70s exploitation cinema
Austin Jennings’ feature debut tells a contemporary tale – with retrospective stylings – of American tourists entrapped in local ritual
What You Wish For review: A generous serving of social allegory | Fantasia
With this taut culinary thriller, Nicholas Tomnay serves up a darkly comic allegory of the moral iniquities of global economics.
Cinema Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Mayhem review: Gleeful sewer-surfing action
New York City. Mutated by ooze, four sewer-dwelling martial-arts proficient teenage turtles decide to battle evil to win the approval of humans – but find the major threat to the city comes from Superfly, another mutant.
T Blockers review at Fantasia: Monstrous metamovie explores trans experience
Alice Maio Mackay’s monstrous metamovie explores trans experience through alien parasitic invasion plotting.
River review at Fantasia 2023: Looping sci-fi adventure
In Junta Yamaguchi’s second looping SF feature, an inn’s staff and residents, frozen in a recurring two minutes, desperately seek a future.
The Sacrifice Game review at Fantasia: A whole world of diabolical desire
Jenn Wexler’s Seventies-set school invasion horror lets Manson-esque cultists and abandoned pupils raise some hell together
