Owen Van Spall

After years working in comic book publishing, Owen retrained and began freelancing as a journalist. He has written film, TV and culture pieces for The Guardian, New Statesman, local papers like the South London Press, plus other sites and magazines. He is currently studying for a Master's degree in Film History at Birkbeck, University of London. You can read more of his writing over at his own blog smokescreenlondon.com.

We have 239 reviews by Owen Van Spall in the database: read them here

Latest Film Reviews

Late Night
A late-night talk show host’s world is turned upside down when she hires her only female staff writer. Originally intended to smooth over diversity concerns, her decision has unexpectedly hilarious consequences as the two women separated by culture and generation are united by their love of a biting punchline.
Hail Satan?
A look at the intersection of religion and activism, tracing the rise of The Satanic Temple: only six years old and already one of the most controversial religious movements in American history. The Temple is calling for a Satanic revolution to save the nation’s soul. But are they for real?
The Nightingale
A young convict in a penal colony seeks revenge.
Corporate Animals
Disaster strikes when the egotistical CEO of an edible cutlery company leads her long-suffering staff on a corporate team-building trip in New Mexico. Trapped underground, this mismatched and disgruntled group must pull together to survive.
The Farewell
A headstrong Chinese-American woman returns to China when her beloved grandmother is given a terminal diagnosis. Billi struggles with her family’s decision to keep grandma in the dark about her own illness as they all stage an impromptu wedding to see grandma one last time.
Apollo 11
A purely archival reconstruction of humanity’s first trip to another world, featuring never-before-seen 70mm footage and never-before-heard audio from the mission.
They Shall Not Grow Old
Archive, colourised footage tells the story of the First World War.
Shadow
The story of a great king and his people, who will be expelled from their homeland and will aspire to claim it.
Support The Girls
The wild story of one day at a traditional American sports bar.
Bisbee '17
An old mining town on the Arizona-Mexico border finally reckons with its darkest day: the deportation of 1200 immigrant miners exactly 100 years ago. Locals collaborate to stage recreations of their controversial past.

Features

Article about the Korean Film Festival programme launch 2018
18 Sep 2018
An in-depth look at this year's line-up
Q&A with Brian Helgelland about the Kray twins and Legend
14 Sep 2015
Brian Helgeland and Chris Lambrianu discuss the Kray twins and Legend.
Article about the East End Film Festival 2014
13 Jun 2014
What to watch out for at this year's East End Film Festival.
Interview with Matt Johnson about The Dirties
05 Jun 2014
Matt Johnson on making The Dirties.
Alex Gibney interview about Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence In The House Of God
19 Feb 2013
Alex Gibney talks about documentary Mea Maxima Culpa.

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News Stories

Soho prepares for Zipangu
10 Sep 2012
A different take on Japanese film.

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