Reviews by David Graham

Order by: Date, A–Z

• 
  House At The End Of The Street (2012)

  Review preview for House At The End Of The Street

  The fact that this isn't the screamer it appears to be is both pleasantly surprising at the outset and deeply disappointing by the end.

  Moving in next door to a house where a girl murdered her parents proves a bad idea.
• 
  The Hunter (2011)

  Review preview for The Hunter

  While the script wraps up its ambiguities a little too neatly in the end, the themes it wrestles with are sensitively handled for the most part and resonate long after the credits have rolled.

  A biotech company hires a hunter to track down the last Tasmanian tiger.
• 
  Immortals (2011)

  Review preview for Immortals

  Immortals could and should have been so much more.

  Theseus is a mortal man chosen by Zeus to lead the fight against the ruthless King Hyperion, who is on a rampage across Greece to obtain a weapon that can destroy humanity.
• 
  I'm So Excited (2013)

  Review preview for I'm So Excited

  The sexual and gender politics that course through Almodovar's best work are in evidence here but there's a distinct lack of focus, leaving the film a somewhat forced flight of fancy.

  When a plane is imperilled the passengers try to forget their plight but in the process discover the dangers of openness.
• 
  The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013)

  Review preview for The Incredible Burt Wonderstone

  An odd mix of affectionate satire and jarringly brutal slapstick, the former more successful than the latter except for when an unhinged Jim Carrey is on the prowl.

  A magician tries to salvage his flagging act with a daring stunt when facing off against a rival
• 
  In The Realm Of The Senses (1976)

  Review preview for In The Realm Of The Senses

  Despite all the outrageous and mostly un-simulated activity, there is a real sensuality to the couple's contact, as well as a sad undertow to their sadistic influence upon each other.

  A man begins an affair with one of his servants.
• 
  I Am Bruce Lee (2012)

  Review preview for I Am Bruce Lee

  Behind the chop-socky onscreen madness there is a bigger story that will probably only be familiar to his most devoted fans.

  The stoy of screen legend Bruce Lee and the people he inspired.
• 
  Insidious Chapter 2 (2013)

  Review preview for Insidious Chapter 2

  Dropping the demonic angle in favour of a more clichéd serial killer back-story proves a major mistake – it scuppers all ambiguity and feels like a step back from the bedlam of the original.

  A haunted family seek to discover the secret of why they are so vulnerable to malicious spirits.
• 
  Isn't Anyone Alive? (2011)

  Review preview for Isn't Anyone Alive?

  A conflicting and frustrating experience, enlivened by enthusiastic performances and some delightfully deadpan moments of tragic hilarity.

  Multiple unexplained deaths inspire absurd comedy.
• 
  I Want Your Love (2012)

  Review preview for I Want Your Love

  The emphasis on pretentious bohemian characters robs the film of some of its potential appeal.

  A gay man spends his final night in San Francisco before moving back to the Midwest.
• 
  Jane Eyre (2011)

  Review preview for Jane Eyre

  This is one of the most visually ravishing period dramas ever.

  A neglected young woman struggles to assert herself in 19th century England, finding love in the process.
• 
  Killers (2014)

  Review preview for Killers

  Its shock tactics never feel cheap and its cerebral bent should see it transcend the torture porn ghetto.

  An accomplished but bored serial killer takes a journalist who is drawn to murder under his wing.
• 
  Killing Them Softly (2012)

  Review preview for Killing Them Softly

  It's hard not to recommend Killing Them Softly as there is plenty of Tarantino-esque vim to its icy world of contracts and crims, but the mix of styles and muddled message ultimately rob the film of greatness.

  Things turn nasty when the mob feels cheated over a gambling racket.
• 
  Kill Your Darlings (2013)

  Review preview for Kill Your Darlings

  Krikodas should be wary of letting his style run rampant over material that could have been both resonant and disturbing given some restraint.

  A murder brings together the young writers of the beat generation.
• 
  King Of Devil's Island (2010)

  Review preview for King Of Devil's Island

  Holst's film takes on a truly tragic tone that some will find too much to handle, but it's a massively engaging effort that should reward those that stick out its hefty running time.

  A group of young inmates fight for their right to freedom.
• 
  Kes (1969)

  Review preview for Kes

  Kes is one of those films that's perhaps dwarfed by its reputation; it's a deeply personal and humble little film at its core.

  A young, English working-class boy spends his free time caring for and training his pet falcon.
• 
  Kidnapped (2010)

  Review preview for Kidnapped

  A lethal little stab at a well-worn template.

  Criminals subject a family to a night of terror.
• 
  King Of New York (1990)

  Review preview for King Of New York

  Overall, King Of New York is distinguished from similarly themed films by its willingness to embrace the gangster genre's exploitative nature; it's as shallow as a puddle but it's riveting viewing all the same.

  A drug lord aiming for redemption sparks a mob war.
• 
  Knightriders (1981)

  Review preview for Knightriders

  Knightriders represents the venerable director’s most personal and intimate work.

  The head of a mediaeval re-enactment troupe begins to lose his grip on reality.
• 
  Last Days On Mars (2013)

  Review preview for Last Days On Mars

  A stunning doom-laden score manages to imbue even underwhelming moments with a sense of both unease and unexpected pathos.

  Astronauts working on Mars gradually fall prey to a mysterious force.
• 
  The Last Exorcism Part II (2013)

  Review preview for The Last Exorcism Part II

  Ashley Bell is outstanding once more.

  Down and out in New Orleans, young Nell discovers she is still being followed by a demon.
• 
  The Last Stand (2013)

  Review preview for The Last Stand

  Schwarzenegger wisely tones down his previous big-screen persona and slips into a sort of late-in-the-day charm.

  A small town sheriff is the only one who can prevent the leader of a drug cartel from escaping justice.
• 
  The Legend Of Hercules (2014)

  Review preview for The Legend Of Hercules

  It’s all so straight-faced and humourless as to feel redundant, especially with such a bland protagonist.

  The legendary hero is torn between love and the duty to fulfill his destiny.
• 
  Legend Of The Guardians: The Owls Of Ga'hoole (2010)

  Review preview for Legend Of The Guardians: The Owls Of Ga'hoole

  The story is absolutely barking, but it comes alive in many moments of fine detail.

  A young owl undertakes a perilous quest to alert the legendary guardians who can save his people from the evil army of Metalbeak.
• 
  Let Us Be Golden (2011)

  Review preview for Let Us Be Golden

  Given how well they've already done, the notion of 'making it' seems a bit moot for this lot.

  Three acts. Three sounds. Three attitudes. One goal – a career in music.
• 
  Life In A Day (2011)

  Review preview for Life In A Day

  The cinematic equivalent of coffee table literature.

  Clips of real life from all around the world as experienced on the 24th of July 2010.
• 
  Little Deaths (2011)

  Review preview for Little Deaths

  Overall, each film boasts strong acting and well-written dramatic scenes, and a very polished look that belies what must have been very tight budgets.

  A triptych of disturbing tales exploring interrelated themes of sex and death.
• 
  The Last Circus (2010)

  Review preview for The Last Circus

  The Last Circus is worth a watch for the unbridled imagination on display but ultimately it falls apart as much as its main protagonist.

  Two clowns become embroiled in a tug of war for the heart of an acrobat.
• 
  The Lincoln Lawyer (2011)

  Review preview for The Lincoln Lawyer

  McConaughey works above and beyond his usual remit to remind us that he can also convey a formidable intensity and subtle sensitivity.

  A hot-shot lawyer finds he may be out of his depth with his latest client.
• 
  A Lonely Place To Die (2011)

  Review preview for A Lonely Place To Die

  A thoroughly thrilling and unpretentious little flick that takes its genre by the scruff of the neck and drags it kicking and screaming through Scotland's menacing undergrowth.

  Mountain climbers become caught up in a game of cat and mouse after discovering a kidnapped girl buried in the wilderness.
• 
  Lore (2012)

  Review preview for Lore

  Where it would have been easy to soften Lore, Shortland refuses to get sentimental, keeping us hanging on the edge with her as events grow more traumatic.

  Teenager Lore and her four younger siblings are left to fend for themselves after her Nazi SS parents are taken into Allied custody.
• 
  Lockout (2012)

  Review preview for Lockout

  An occasionally agreeable whiff of fromage isn't enough to excuse such amateurish film-making.

  A wrongly convicted man is offered his freedom if he can rescue the president's daughter from space prison rioters.
• 
  Lords Of Salem (2012)

  Review preview for Lords Of Salem

  Lords Of Salem is probably the director's most (ahem) 'mature' work yet - that being said, maybe next time he should give someone else's script a chance.

  Three radio DJ are drawn into danger after listening to a mysterious record.
• 
  Machete Maidens Unleashed! (2010)

  Review preview for Machete Maidens Unleashed!

  While the documentary doesn't shy away from some of the more unscrupulous practices it works as a love letter to a period where all bets were off and anything could happen.

  A documentary celebrating the Filipino exploitation films of the Seventies and Eighties, where lax health and safety regulations led to remarkable thrills.
• 
  Mama (2013)

  Review preview for Mama

  While there are plenty of lush gothic flourishes, there are also too many ridiculous horror tropes, but the quality of the acting - especially from child leads Megan Charpenter and Isabelle Nelisse - leads to several genuinely emotional scenes that distin

  Two feral children recovered from the forest are placed in the care of their aunt and uncle. But something has been caring for them, and it wants them back.
• 
  Maniac (2012)

  Review preview for Maniac

  It’s flashy and glossy where the original was fetid and grubby, winking at the audience where Lustig wallowed in the misery to memorable effect.

  First-person perspective chiller about a serial killer with a fetish for scalping.
• 
  Magic Mike (2012)

  Review preview for Magic Mike

  Frank, funny and immensely entertaining, Magic Mike is a brilliantly bittersweet cautionary fable.

  A peek inside the world of male strippers.
• 
  The Man With The Iron Fists (2012)

  Review preview for The Man With The Iron Fists

  A hugely likeable caper.

  A humble blacksmith must defend his village when the arrival of treasure hunters leads to trouble.
• 
  Melancholia (2011)

  Review preview for Melancholia

  An occasionally fascinating but generally alienating study of clinical depression and reactionary panic.

  Two sisters' relationship is examined as a planet threatens to bring about the apocalypse.
• 
  Men In Black III (2012)

  Review preview for Men In Black III

  Whether the stars will align for the rejuvenated franchise is unclear, but for now there's a surprising amount of extraterrestrial fun to be had here.

  Time travelling shenanigans with our alien scum protectors
• 
  Mother's Day (2010)

  Review preview for Mother's Day

  Funny and frightening from start to finish, with a set of memorable characters and powerful performances that do them the justice they deserve.

  Brothers fleeing a bank robbery invade a yuppie housewarming party at their mother's recently foreclosed home and sadistically attack the guests, but when mother arrives, events take a still nastier turn.
• 
  My Friend From Faro (2008)

  Review preview for My Friend From Faro

  It's the sort of film that doesn't do anything particularly new, or even anything especially well, but it does have a lot of heart and soul.

  Androgynous Mel adopts a new identity based on a charismatic boy she meets, which complicates her tentative romance with a pretty girl.
• 
  Mondomanila, Or: How I Fixed My Hair After A Rather Long Journey (2010)

  Review preview for Mondomanila, Or: How I Fixed My Hair After A Rather Long Journey

  Khavn always remembers to lace his anarchic jamboree with socio-political concern as well as a vibrant affection for his subjects.

  A gang of friends get in and out of trouble in Manila's vibrant and bizarre slums.
• 
  Monstro! (2010)

  Review preview for Monstro!

  Uninspired, with an anticlimactic siege proving too little, too late to save this lumpen garbage from sinking to the depths.

  A trio of man-eaters encounter a deadly creature from the deep.
• 
  Mourning For Anna (2010)

  Review preview for Mourning For Anna

  Martin's approach, which skilfully avoids melodrama and keeps a respectful distance from her subject, is complemented by Guylaine Tremblay's finely nuanced central performance.

  A meditative and hypnotic meditation on grief and loss.
• 
  Next Goal Wins (2014)

  Review preview for Next Goal Wins

  Next Goal Wins will hit the back of the net with even footie-phobic viewers.

  The world's worst football team shoots for the stars.
• 
  The New York Ripper (1982)

  Review preview for The New York Ripper

  Lucio Fulci's audaciously sleazoid slasher is designed to provoke as much outrage as possible, but it also just about cuts it as a classically-styled giallo thriller.

  The surviving victim of a serial killer becomes embroiled in a dangerous game of cat and mouse.
• 
  No One Lives (2012)

  Review preview for No One Lives

  Sealing the deal is a bravura turn from Evans, always charismatic but here downright deadly, acing his American accent and conveying ice-cold menace throughout.

  Robbers on the run carjack a killer with a hostage on board.
• 
  Oblivion (2013)

  Review preview for Oblivion

  The slow-burning two-hander first half gives way to a revelation-heavy final hour, where every new sub-Shyamalan surprise only confirms how much Oblivion is ripped off from superior sci-fi that knows its game better.

  One of the few humans left after alien atacks on Earth begins to question his misson.
• 
  One.Two.One (2011)

  Review preview for One.Two.One

  A tight script and convincing performances.

  Through a series of episodes, set in locations ranging from a skin-treatment clinic to a fortune-teller’s salon to a prison visiting room, a narrative of love, loss and renewal unfolds, centering on a beautiful woman who has been disfigured in an accident.