“The Platform,” directed by Galder Gaztelu-Ursutia

Movie, 2019 Allegorical, almost religious science-fiction about a man who essentially subjects himself to a cut-throat, authoritarian nightmare. Debauchery, gore, cannibalism and a very un-English regard for canines abound, though while they’re played for horror, scenes at the beginning of film are constrained and only introduce an element of gratuity when the full horror and madness become apparent. A hint of over-acting here and there … Continue reading “The Platform,” directed by Galder Gaztelu-Ursutia

“A Quiet Place”, directed by John Krasinski

Movie, 2018 Vaguely prescient alien film in which family threatening beasts from the cosmos track sounds and use them to hone in and prey on human beings. Some great ideas and great atmospheric build-up, with some wonderfully shot locations. The film is a little overdone here and there with a little too much ‘Alien’ influence and some plot holes I’d usually forgive; but seem a … Continue reading “A Quiet Place”, directed by John Krasinski

"The Man Who Ate the World", by Frederik Pohl

Fiction, 1979 Science-fiction stories from the late 1950s. A curious blend of humour, sharp writing, good ideas and impenetrable stodge. Which means that some stories are light, others lose their thread somewhat; in The Waging of Peace, for example, there’s some smart satire on the consumer economy, snuffed and stuffed with some period representation of women, then a boys’ own battle, both of which get … Continue reading "The Man Who Ate the World", by Frederik Pohl

“The Body Stealers”, directed by Gerry Levy

Movie, 1969 Low budget British science-fiction thriller from the end of the 1960s. Some real cardboard acting and wooden heroics from a square jawed male nympho played by Patrick Allen. There’s pretty much no redeeming features in this film, other than spotting various British character actors trying their best to tread water rather than drown in it. A couple of plot surprises here and there, … Continue reading “The Body Stealers”, directed by Gerry Levy

“Downsizing”, directed by Alexander Payne

Movie, 2017 A film which flits between genres, coming on as a satirical dystopia, romance, comedy and a few other mixes and things besides, but never quite hitting the mark or convincing in any one particular area. It’s at its best in the sci-fi opening section, where ideas are set up and the tone is uncomplicated and humourous. After that, the injection of the more … Continue reading “Downsizing”, directed by Alexander Payne

“Blade Runner 2049”, directed by Dennis Villeneuve

Movie, 2017 Flawed, but visually stunning sequel to Blade Runner. A story which tries to twist and turn and put new slants on the questions of being and belonging, and some set pieces which verge on the comically overdone. Overall, however, a compelling watch with some decent performances. Deckard’s presence may or may not be shoe-horned in, but Harrison Ford adds some gnarl to the … Continue reading “Blade Runner 2049”, directed by Dennis Villeneuve

“Ex Machina”, directed by Alex Garland

Movie, 2014 Science-fiction looking at the AI/human interface. While this is a good looking film, there’s a coldness, which while coming with the territory, is hemmed in and relentless. Characters butt up against each other and big philosophical questions raised, though the nod towards cold war creepiness and similarities to films like Solaris don’t help the film, which struggles to get over a sense of … Continue reading “Ex Machina”, directed by Alex Garland

“Fugue for a Darkening Island”, by Christopher Priest

Novel, 1972 A hugely problematic book, where a story of survival and the destruction of the narrator’s family and way of life is set against a backdrop of racial unrest. This is a post-apocalyptic world in which cosy communities just don’t exist like they do in similar novels, and where Africans solely exist in barbaric, largely de-humanised militias, with a back story very quickly dropped … Continue reading “Fugue for a Darkening Island”, by Christopher Priest

“The Day the Earth Caught Fire”, directed by Val Guest

Movie, 1961 Ecological disaster film, which skillfully drives atmosphere and captures a feeling of desperation and panic, largely through the familiar settings, economic use of effects and subplots, which threaten to plod, but never do. This is a film which is instantly gripping and which ratchets up the tension as Planet Earth is battered by a mankind seemingly intent on self-annihilation. Some robust acting – … Continue reading “The Day the Earth Caught Fire”, directed by Val Guest

“Night of the Big Heat,” directed Terence Fisher

Movie, 1967 British character actors struggle to create suspense, with limited props in a science-fiction horror set on a remote, over-heating island. A film which could be worse, though which could be a lot, lot better, with a miscast here, an impenetrable character there, not meshing as well as they do in similar genre pictures. Even the plot, which should be key, is lost under … Continue reading “Night of the Big Heat,” directed Terence Fisher