Neon Camera Reviews

Texas Chainsaw Massacre By Calum Whitfield  A trashy, c-tier slasher movie that completely misses what made the original a classic, but those in search of some mindless, silly gore can still get a kick.  2.5/5 Cameras 🎥🎥.5 Directed by: David Blue Garcia Starring: Sarah Yarkin, Elsie Fisher, Mark Burnham, et al Where to find it: Netflix  No Copyright Infringement Intended  The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) is a horror classic. Often seen as one of the original slashers, its dirty, video nasty look, coupled with an unsettling and shocking (certainly for the time) concept led to a film that still holds up today as an intense watch despite a, at least in my opinion, fairly weak final 20 minutes. Over the years there have been a million sequels, remakes, rip-offs, and the like, but none have really lived up to the original, misfiring when trying to hit the tone and feel that made the original such an unsettling watch. Has someone finally managed it? Not by a long shot...

Last Night in Soho By Calum Whitfield  Edgar Wright’s foray into thrillers is a vintage delight, blending a 60s style with a 70s tone in one tight modern package. 4/5 Cameras 🎥🎥🎥🎥 Directed by: Edgar Wright  Starring: Thomasin Mackenzie, Anya Taylor-Joy, Matt Smith, Diana Rigg, and Terrence Smith  Where to find it: Buy or Rent on Amazon Prime No Copyright Infringement Intended Edgar Wright is one of my favourite directors. Known for quirky comedy which he masterfully blends with other genres to create brilliant, fast-paced, kinetic movies in my opinion he hasn’t put a foot wrong so far in his film career. Last Night in Soho marks him moving into new, darker territory; does his winning streak continue? Last Night in Soho follows Eloise (Thomasin Mackenzie), a girl with a particular interest in 60’s music and culture from a small town in Cornwall where she lives with her Grandmother following her mother’s suicide when Eloise was young, who moves to London to pursue her ...

The King's Man By Emily Hubbard  A prequel that fails to live up to the high expectations placed upon it. 2.5/5 Cameras 🎥🎥.5  Directed by: Matthew Vaughn  Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Rhys Ifans, et al  Where to find it: Disney +  No Copyright Infringement Intended  Whenever a movie or franchise becomes successful, it’s almost inevitable that an origin story, also known as a prequel, is going to be on the cards. Prequels can often be a dangerous road to travel down, with the end results often either being surprisingly good, such as X-Men: First Class, or disappointingly bad, such as The Scorpion King. Sadly, despite the promise bestowed by the original two movies, The King’s Man falls on the latter half of the spectrum. The King’s Man sees the return of director Matthew Vaughn and is set in the early 20 th Century, namely in and around the First World War, and details how the iconic Kingsman agency was formed. The film follows original memb...

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy By Emily Hubbard A masterclass in ensemble comedy that’s as ridiculous as it is hilarious  4.5/5 Cameras 🎥🎥🎥🎥.5  Directed by: Adam McKay Starring: Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, et al  Where to find it: Sky Cinema/ Now TV  No Copyright Infringement Intended  Adam McKay is somewhat of a legend when it comes to comedy. Having started his career in the 1990s as a head writer for Saturday Night Live, the filmmaker has gone on to make some of the funniest movies of recent years, including Step Brothers and The Other Guys, along with 2022 Best Picture Nominee Don’t Look Up. However, it’s his feature film debut, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, that cemented him as a true star in the increasingly crowded world of comedy blockbusters. Set in the 1970s, and a tongue-in-cheek commentary on attitudes in that era, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy follows its’ titular character, played by Wil...

Scream By Calum Whitfield Sharp, witty meta-slasher that manages to feel fresh and exciting despite being a bit of a re-hash. 3.5/5 Cameras 🎥🎥🎥.5 Directed by: Matt Bettinelli and Tyler Gillet Starring: Melissa Barrera, Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Courtney Cox, et al Where to find it: In Cinemas Now  No Copyright Infringement Intended  Scream is one of my favourite film franchises. The original is a ground-breaking classic that revolutionised the slasher, and two of its three sequels have been pretty excellent meta-slashers themselves (we don’t talk about Scream 3). Needless to say, I was excited at the prospect of a new entry, even without the late great Wes Craven or original writer Kevin Williamson. The blow of these two being out was helped a lot by Matt Bettinelli and Tyler Gillet signing on as directors, with the two of them having been responsible for Ready or Not a couple of years ago, an extremely fun and joyously violent horror-comedy that hits just the tone you...