Jamie Skinner

Alternative Christmas Film Advent Calendar 2025 – Trapped In Paradise

While The Grinch is the most famous example, from Hans Gruber to Willie Soke each year we return to stories of characters trying to steal Christmas. Amongst shopping busyness or ‘Closed for Christmas’ signs the season seems to be an ideal time to pull off a heist, or upfront robbery. So, this year’s Alternative ChristmasContinue reading “Alternative Christmas Film Advent Calendar 2025 – Trapped In Paradise”

Alternative Christmas Film Advent Calendar 2025 – Fitzwilly

LFF 2025: The Blue Trail – Review

Release Date – TBC, Cert – TBC, Run-time – 1 hour 26 minutes, Director – Gabriel Mascaro In the near-future the aging population are sent to remote, controlled living spaces. Not wanting this to be her fate, Tereza (Denise Weinberg) flees through the Amazon rainforest in the hope of achieving her dream to fly inContinue reading “LFF 2025: The Blue Trail – Review”

LFF 2025: The Devil Smokes (And Saves The Burnt Matches In The Same Box) – Review

Release Date – TBC, Cert – TBC, Run-time – 1 hour 37 minutes, Director – Ernesto Martínez Bucio When their parents don’t come back home, a group of siblings are left to fend for themselves, and their grandmother (Carmen Ramos), as being stuck in the house plays with their minds, or are their visions real?Continue reading “LFF 2025: The Devil Smokes (And Saves The Burnt Matches In The Same Box) – Review”

LFF 2025: Animal Farm – Review

Release Date – TBC, Cert – TBC, Run-time – 1 hour 36 minutes, Director – Andy Serkis A group of animals take control of their farm and start to run it for themselves, however their home of equality soon shifts into a corrupt power structure the more the pigs take greedy charge. In a pre-recordedContinue reading “LFF 2025: Animal Farm – Review”

Fackham Hall – Review

Cert – 15, Run-time – 1 hour 37 minutes, Director – Jim O’Hanlon To remain in Fackham Hall the Davenport sisters (Thomasin McKenzie, Emma Laird) must maintain tradition and marry a fitting suitor (and first cousin) (Tom Felton), however new hall boy Eric (Ben Eadcliffe) could change things. For those who have seen the openingContinue reading “Fackham Hall – Review”

Ella McCay – Review

Cert – 12, Run-time – 1 hour 55 minutes, Director – James L. Brooks Ella McCay (Emma Mackey) is promoted to state Governor, however familial tensions and pushes from party members cause immediate trouble. Set in 2008, described as a far less divided time; and seemingly one much easier to base a film in theContinue reading “Ella McCay – Review”

Eleanor The Great – Review

Cert – 12, Run-time – 1 hour 38 minutes, Director – Scarlett Johansson 94-year-old Eleanor (June Squibb) moves in with her family in New York after her Holocaust survivor best friend (Rita Zohar) passes away, however she finds attention, and friendship, when telling Bessie’s story as her own. I don’t entirely know what it isContinue reading “Eleanor The Great – Review”

LFF 2025: Balearic – Review

Release Date – TBC, Cert – TBC, Run-time – 1 hour 14 minutes, Director – Ion de Sosa Whole a group of teenagers are stranded in a pool surrounded by bloodthirsty dogs a group of wealthy friends get together for a summer party, where other disaster is nearing. Balearic’s downfall lies in the way thatContinue reading “LFF 2025: Balearic – Review”

LFF 2025: Reflection In A Dead Diamond – Review

Release Date – 5th December 2025, Cert – N/A, Run-time – 1 hour 27 minutes, Directors – Hélène Cattet, Bruno Forzani When his neighbour disappears a retired spy (Fabio Testi) finds himself reliving, and being caught up by, various iterations of his dangerous past. A 70s-style Bond homage told through the trippy 60s lens thatContinue reading “LFF 2025: Reflection In A Dead Diamond – Review”