Friday, 29 October 2021

REVIEW: Green Hell - PS4

Green Hell is an open world survival game from developers Creepy Jar.

Played from a first-person perspective, you play as a researcher called Jake Higgins, you find yourself in the jungle in the amazon, your partner Mia left to visit a tribe in the jungle, she is a linguist and decided to make first contact with a tribe known as the Yabahuca. Now she is gone, you are alone, and you need to not only find her, but you need to survive.

And this is the main idea of the game, survival. You will start off by learning how to do simple things, like building and starting a camp fire. You will need to learn how to craft items by collecting the raw materials, and combining them. But of course, things are a bit more complicated than that, you need to keep an eye on your health, not just physical but mental. As the environment around you changes, so will your need to build camps, find places to sleep. Everything you do matters. Find yourself thirsty and you decide to drink some water from a river, great if the water is clean, not so great if it is dirty. You will only make yourself more ill.

Full review at

REVIEW: The Black Heart on PC (Steam)

The Black Heart is a gothic horror 1 vs 1 fighting game, think original Streetfighter 2 but with aesthetics from Mortal Kombat and you get the idea.

Originally released on the "M.U.G.E.N engine" which was a freeware 2D fighting game engine, whereby "authors" would port characters from other fighting games into the engine, Andrés Borghi took a different route, by creating totally original characters and stages for his game The Black Heart

Although moving on from that engine, it still plays in a similar way. And now gets an all-new official release on Steam with updated HD graphics and soundtrack.
 
The controls are as you would expect, directional control over your character and 4 buttons for punching and kicking.

Read full review at

Blonde. Purple - Poster and Trailer - Starring Julian Moore-Cook, Elle Bindman, Adam J Bernard and Jennifer Lee Moon.

Purple will be heading to Digital Download from 30th November.

Directed by Marcus Flemmings (Palindrome, Six Rounds), the film stars Julian Moore-Cook, Elle Bindman, Adam J Bernard and Jennifer Lee Moon.

An out of his depth criminal is stuck in a bank after a heist goes wrong. With only a gun and a 16 year old girl as a hostage, how will he get out?

His life prior to this incident forces him to face truths about himself that he has been avoiding all his life.

BLONDE. Purple's writer and director, Marcus Flemmings, was thrilled to confirm the release. He said "Being a British filmmaker I am extremely elated to have the film been so warmly received by US distributors. After a thrilling bidding war it was my absolute pleasure to sign with 1091 Pictures - they are an incredibly forward thinking and diverse brand who have, over the years, been behind some wonderful releases. The incredible cast and crew who helped me get my vision out there by filming during the lockdown in the UK were simply incredible and deserve maximum credit."

BLONDE. Purple will be available on Digital Download from 30th November

Watch Trailer at

REVIEW: Ragtag Racing on PC (Steam)

Ragtag Racing is a cheap, small file size, racing game on Steam, it is a super simple 3D Motorsport type game.

You can play in two separate views, in the driver's seat, or from above/behind. I have never liked playing games from the driver's perspective, so straight away I chose the above/behind viewpoint.

Race on a track, try to get from the back of the pack to the front and progress to the next track. Sounds simple! Well, it is and it isn't. The most important part of the game is your fuel level. Run out of fuel and you are done.

Full review at

REVIEW: RAYZE on PC (Steam)

RAYZE is one of the first games I am familiar with that comes under the "Aim Racer" genre. Put simply an Aim Racer game is a simplified game when by you select points on the screen with your left mouse button, and upon clicking on a target point you will move towards that point, as you move towards that point you will need to click on another target to move towards that, the ultimate aim to reach an end point of the level.

In RAYZE things are complicated by the fact that a successful hit of a target accelerates you, and a miss slows you down, hit a wall due to you not clicking on a target quick enough, and you die, level over, you have to start again. Find yourself going too fast and you can right click the mouse button and that also slows you down. Look for yellow areas to left click on to accelerate. (First speed you will reach is 120, and adds 60 for each new target you click on) Right button to slow down, and pressing the scroll wheel will restart the level. You can also adjust the sensitivity of the mouse too, which you will need to do, to find a speed of movement you are comfortable with.

More at

Father of Flies - Poster and Trailer - Starring Camilla Rutherford & Sandra Andreis

Psychological horror Father of Flies, will have its UK Physical Premiere at Raindance Film Festival on 6th November.

Shot in Suffern - upstate New York, the film stars Camilla Rutherford (Gosford Park, Phantom Thread), Sandra Andreis (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Davi Santos (Tell Me a Story), Page Ruth (Shameless), and Nicholas Tucci, the star of cult horror film 'You're Next' who unfortunately has since passed away. This was one of the final films Nicholas had completed on.

The film is written and directed by Ben Charles Edwards who The British Film Institute said 'has crafted distinctive, admirable work that seems to have emerged from the unseen margins of British cinema.' He was also recently nominated for 'The Discovery Award' 'Outstanding Achievement in Craft' and 'Newcomer Discovery Award' at the British Independent Film Awards.

Co-written by Edwards' writing partner Nadia Doherty, the film is based on a story Edwards had written as a child, a haunting tale of family life. A vulnerable young boy finds his mother pushed out of the family home by a strange new woman, and he must confront the terrifying supernatural forces that seem to move in with her.

Father of Flies will have Physical Premiere at Raindance Film Festival with a general UK release in 2022

Watch Trailer

Friday, 22 October 2021

Bella Thorne stars in new thriller HABIT Coming to Digital Download 22nd November

Habit, will be coming to all major digital download platforms from 22nd November.

Habit, the directorial debut for Janell Shirtcliff, showcases an incredible cast throughout the film. It features performances from model and actress Bella Thorne (Midnight Sun, Shake It Up!), as well as Michael Jackson's daughter and American Horror Story star Paris Jackson and Bush's lead singer Gavin Rossdale.

When a drug deal goes wrong, street smart party girl Mads (Bella Thorne) and her best friends find a possible way out by masquerading as nuns...

Watch Trailer at

REVIEW: Energy Cycle Edge on Nintendo Switch

Some years ago, a simple puzzle game was released called Energy Cycle, well Energy Cycle Edge is a sequel to that game, if you played the original, then this new version will feel instantly familiar. The concept is the same as the original. You have different coloured "cells", when you activate one it changes colour, along with all adjacent cells in the same line as the one you activated. The aim is to make all cells on the screen the same colour, sounds easy right? WRONG. Think of how you would solve a Rubiks Cube, now instead of just having 9 blocks on one side to worry about, you have many more. Just when you think you have Energy Cycle Edge mastered, you will face a more complicated puzzle.

Not only will you have a number of cells to activate on one side, things go fully three dimensional in Energy Cycle Edge, and you can change to a different side. Again, think of a Rubiks Cube and you get the idea.

Read Full Review at

Tuesday, 19 October 2021

REVIEW: Dune 2021 - Starring Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Jason Momoa, Javier Bardem

Dune is the kind of film that you will enjoy more on a second watching. I say that because the film itself is quite disjointed, and the characters in general are quite unlikeable, and the two characters you will take an interest in, those being Dave Bautista as Glossu Rabban, and Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho, aren't in the film that much. I don't understand why you would have such big name actors, and then not really use them.

If you are unaware of the Dune story, Timothée Chalamet plays Paul Atreides, the heir of House Atreides. A brilliant and gifted young man, destined for great things. He has to travel to a dangerous desert planet called Arrakis, also known as Dune. This planet has a substance on it called "Melange", also known as "Spice". This is a drug that can give humans longer life spans, and increase brain capacity.

The drug is collected by huge machines that scrape the planets surface, of course life isn't so easy and there are giant sand worms that are a constant threat, as well as deadly storms.

After a betrayal Paul and Lady Jessica, played by the gorgeous Rebecca Ferguson cross the desert to find the Fremen, natives of the planet Arrakis who they hope will help them.

Read full review at

Monday, 18 October 2021

REVIEW: Halloween Kills

Review by Jon Donnis
Michael Myers is back! Sadly he is back in a paint by numbers, generic cash in of the Halloween franchise.

Nothing is added to the story of Michael. The kills are nothing special. It's not very scary.

You'll watch it once and forget about it.

Poor 5/10

Synopsis
Minutes after Laurie Strode (Curtis), her daughter Karen (Judy Greer) and granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak) left masked monster Michael Myers caged and burning in Laurie's basement, Laurie is rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, believing she finally killed her lifelong tormentor.

But when Michael manages to free himself from Laurie's trap, his ritual bloodbath resumes. As Laurie fights her pain and prepares to defend herself against him, she inspires all of Haddonfield to rise up against their unstoppable monster.

The Strode women join a group of other survivors of Michael's first rampage who decide to take matters into their own hands, forming a vigilante mob that sets out to hunt Michael down, once and for all.

Evil dies tonight

Michael Caine will receive this year’s Raindance Icon Award

Academy Award, BAFTA and BIFA winning actor Michael Caine will receive this year's Raindance Icon Award as part of the 29th Raindance Film Festival. It's a double cause for celebration, as the festival is set to open 27 October with the gala UK theatrical premiere of Michael Caine's latest film, BEST SELLERS (dir: Lina Roessler, Canada), in which he stars alongside Aubrey Plaza as a cranky retired author who reluctantly embarks on a final book tour to help out a young publisher. Best Sellers will have a Raindance gala screening at Curzon Mayfair, followed by a party at The Dorchester.

Born in Rotherhithe, south-east London in 1933, Michael Caine is a bona fide film legend. He's one of just a handful of actors nominated for an Academy Award for acting in five consecutive decades, winning Oscars for Hannah and Her Sisters and The Cider House Rules. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in the 2000 Birthday Honours List in recognition for his contributions to the cinema.

Full Details at

REVIEW: Happenlance on PC (Steam)

Happenlance is a pole-vaulting, jousting, climbing, fighting game.

When you first start to play Happenlance, your first thought will be that this is just another climbing game, using your jousting lance to pole vault yourself and get as high as possible, and yes that is a major part of the game, but as you complete levels you will realise that there is much more to the game than just reaching as high as possible.

As well as climbing mountains, and buildings, you will also face traps that need to be avoided, seemingly impossible climbs that will need you to pick up or throw objects like boxes or balls, which you can then use as a base to fling yourself up high. You will also come across enemies trying to shoot arrows at you, a nice firm stab with your pole will take care of them. You can even defend yourself from the flying arrows by using your pole to knock them out of the air.

Read More at

REVIEW: Journey - PS4

Journey is a hard to describe game, but "Indie-Adventure" seems to be the common description used. Co-developed by Thatgamecompany and Santa Monica Studio, it was originally released on PS3 back in March 2012, and then re-released in July 2015 for the PS4. It has since been ported to Windows and iOS in 2019.

You play as a mysterious robed figure, you find yourself in a huge desert, the only thing you know to do is head towards a mountain in the distance. You will see other players also on their own journey, but you can't communicate with them. As you play you will soon figure out that you need to "activate" seemingly dull pieces of cloth, into vibrant colourful ones. You will collect things that will allow you to jump, and almost fly for short periods, you will run along desert landscapes, and then find yourself almost surfing down the other side of a hill. When I say it is hard to describe, it really is.

Read More at

Doctor Who series 13 guest actors and monsters revealed

The trail for the show's thirteenth series, entitled Doctor Who: Flux, has revealed a first look at the guest actors and monsters that will feature across the six-episode serial.

Joining cast members Jodie Whittaker, Mandip Gill, John Bishop and Jacob Anderson are:

Robert Bathurst (Cold Feet, Toast Of London, Downton Abbey), Thaddea Graham (The Irregulars, Us), Blake Harrison (The Inbetweeners, A Very English Scandal, World On Fire), Kevin McNally (Pirates of the Caribbean, Designated Survivor, Downton Abbey), Craig Parkinson (Line of Duty, Intergalactic, The English Game), Sara Powell (Unforgotten, Damned), Annabel Scholey (The Split, Britannia), Gerald Kyd (Cold Feet, Britannia) and Penelope Ann McGhie (The Crown, Harry Potter).

The trail also offered a preview of returning monsters - Sontarans, Weeping Angels, Cybermen, and the Ood, as well as a range of new monsters, one of whom is named Karvanista.

Matt Strevens, Executive Producer, says: "I can't wait for the audience to come on the Flux ride with us. It's our biggest adventure yet with so many brilliant new characters to fall in love with. We had a blast making it."

Robert Bathurst says: "People say Doctor Who is science fiction. Fiction? No it's all real, and it's as scary to do as it looks. Great to be part of it."

Thaddea Graham says: "The whole cast/ crew welcomed me with open arms into the iconic Doctor Who family of which it is an absolute privilege to be part of. It's a real honour to share the magic of this universe with them and, of course, our wonderful audience this October!"

Blake Harrison says: "It's a pleasure to be a part of this huge show that has such a passionate fan base! I hope all the Doctor Who fans enjoy the new series and my role in it."

Kevin McNally says: "I am thrilled to be helping the Doctor put the universe to rights in the latest season of Doctor Who."

Craig Parkinson says: ''I feel tremendously lucky to have joined the Doctor Who family this season. Chris' scripts are witty, intelligent and full of light and shade, making my job as an actor extremely enjoyable! My son loves the show and as long as he gives me his seal of approval I'll know I've done it justice!"

Sara Powell says: "A role in Doctor Who is top of any actors wish list. To say I leapt at the chance is something of an understatement. Working with Jodie Whittaker - an iconic Doctor and actor - was also on my list. She was a legend. As were the cast and crew: indoors, outdoors, in winter, in Wales in the rain and mud, everyone wearing masks and being tested every 5 minutes: I loved stepping onto their ship and riding with them for a while."

Annabel Scholey says: "I am absolutely thrilled to be a part of the 13th series of Doctor Who. It was a lot of fun to film and I enjoyed every minute I spent with the amazing cast and crew...Halloween will be that little bit more spooky this year!"

Gerald Kyd says: "I absolutely adored being a part of such an iconic show. There's nothing like it. The history, the stories, the utter devotion of the fanbase. I am honoured to now count Doctor Who as a credit. Oh, and the highlight amongst highlights was working with the wonderful, hilarious and irrepressible Jodie Whittaker."

Penelope McGhie says: "Doctor Who was a total joy to work on. Everyone was so welcoming and generous that I really felt part of the team. Having watched the show from behind the sofa over fifty years ago, and then again with our daughter when the series was revived, I can't believe how lucky I am to be part of the adventure!"

Watch Trailer at

Monday, 11 October 2021

REVIEW: World CHAMPIONS: Decathlon

Back in 1983 we were introduced to a game called Track and Field. Fast forward to 2021 and we have World CHAMPIONS: Decathlon. A true homage to not only Track and Field, but all of the Olympic type sports arcade games of the 80s.

The graphics are full retro style, and the sounds are as if you were stood in an arcade in the 80s.
We are back to button bashing greatness.

There are ten events to choose from, which you can take part in one at a time, as well as all ten in succession in the Decathlon mode.

You have...100 metres, Long jump, Shot put, High jump, 400 metres, 110 metres hurdles, Discus throw, Pole vault, Javelin throw and 1500 metres.

Read More

REVIEW: Super Kickers League on PC (Steam)

Super Kickers League is a fun, arcade style football game. This is about as far from FIFA as you can get, this is not in any way a simulation, this is an arcade game, there are no referees to give you a yellow card, there are virtually no rules, other than who scores the most goals wins. This is the kind of old-fashioned arcade football game you could imagine playing for 10 minutes in an airport, or in an arcade on the side street of your town, (when they still existed). These days you can download them off the internet in a few minutes.

Read More

Last Night in Soho - Poster and Trailer

In acclaimed director Edgar Wright's psychological thriller, Eloise, an aspiring fashion designer, is mysteriously able to enter the 1960s where she encounters a dazzling wannabe singer, Sandie. But the glamour is not all it appears to be and the dreams of the past start to crack and splinter into something far darker.

Director: Edgar Wright

Cast: Anya Taylor-Joy, Thomasin McKenzie, Matt Smith, Terence Stamp, Diana Rigg, Rita Tushingham, Michael Ajao, Synnøve Karlsen

In Cinemas 29th October 2021

Watch Trailer

Michael Sheen & Anna Lundberg to join the Celebrity Gogglebox sofa for Stand Up To Cancer

The multi award-winning Gogglebox returns once again with a very special celebrity edition for Stand Up To Cancer. Actor Michael Sheen and his partner Anna Lundberg will be sharing the famous sofa as part of Channel 4 and Cancer Research UK's Stand Up To Cancer spectacular on Friday 15th October.

This very special edition of the ever-popular TV review programme will see Michael & Anna join other famous faces as they pass judgement on a vast array of TV goodness. Between their own cutting remarks, tears and laughter will be the views of Britain's favourite opinionated viewers; the regular Gogglebox households including best friends Jenny and Lee, Blackpool brother and sister Pete and Sophie, South London partners Marcus and Mica and the Siddiqui family.

Michael Sheen & Anna Lundberg said, "Supporting a brilliant cause like Stand Up To Cancer means such a lot to us both. The fact that we can sit on the sofa and watch TV – some of it slightly questionable – is a definite bonus. We had such fun filming and are delighted that we can join the Gogglebox families in playing our part this year."

Gogglebox: Celebrity Special for Stand Up To Cancer is on Channel 4 on Friday 15th October from 8.30pm  

Friday, 8 October 2021

DECRYPTED - New Trailer and Poster - Starring Sophia Myles, David Hoflin and Amanda Abbington

You won't be able to keep this a secret... The all-star, outrageously dark, comedy feature DECRYPTED is getting its world premiere on 1 November 2021 courtesy of Bright Spark Productions.
Get ready to go underground and delve deep into the world of cryptocurrency and unscrupulous government agencies in this provocative film from father and son writing/directing duo Mick Sands and Tom Sands and producer Phil Harris, the team that that brought us Rupert, Rupert & Rupert and The Holly Kane Experiment.

When an extremely mismatched team of National Security Agency operatives take on a covert mission to kidnap the creator of Bitcoin – Satoshi Nakamoto – to extract, by any means necessary, the information they need to destroy cryptocurrencies, things go wildly wayward in this raucous romp.

The botched NSA interrogation forces together a homophobic field agent, a feminist technical adviser, a transgender asylum seeker, a crypto-anarchist, a racist Brexiteer and an inclusionist MI5 agent. Of course sparks start to fly when their opposing beliefs clash in major way. But a truth drug reveals a newfound honesty with riotous consequences…

Decode the devilishly debauched Decrypted, it will crack you up.

Released on digital Monday 1st November

Starring Sophia Myles, David Hoflin, Amanda Abbington, Kevin McNally, Clive Francis, Talisa Garcia, Akie Kotabe, Don Gilet and Sophie Barker.

Watch Trailer at

Dune - Official Final Trailer (2021) Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac

A mythic and emotionally charged hero's journey, Dune tells the story of Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet's exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence—a commodity capable of unlocking humanity's greatest potential—only those who can conquer their fear will survive.

Starring
Timothée Chalamet
Rebecca Ferguson
Oscar Isaac
Josh Brolin
Stellan Skarsgård
Dave Bautista
Stephen McKinley Henderson

Watch Trailer at

Wednesday, 6 October 2021

REVIEW: Effie on Nintendo Switch

Loading up Effie I suddenly felt transported back to the time of the Nintendo 64, and some of the classic 3D action-Adventure games of the day. The kind of game that you could just play without needing to think too much, just a fun easy playing experience.

Now despite the game being called Effie, she is in fact your daughter (or granddaughter, not sure), and you are telling her the story of what happened to you. How you were cursed by a witch when you were young, cursed with old age, and all because you never helped the witch out, mainly because you were lazy and then how you went off on a quest to recover your youth, by getting rid of all the black magic.

Read Full Review

Sunday, 3 October 2021

REVIEW: Lake on Xbox One

Lake is what I would call a pallet cleanser game. It is a story driven game, whereby you play as Meredith Weiss, a graduate from MIT who has come back to her hometown of Providence Oaks, Oregon in 1986 to help out her father while he is on vacation. And how do you help out? well, you take over his job for a few weeks as postman (Mailman/Mailwoman) to the town that surrounds the lake.

From working in the big city at a software company, to a sleepy town, driving a mail truck, and talking to the locals. That is the game.


Read full review at

Saturday, 2 October 2021

Famous fugitives confirmed for return series of "Celebrity" Hunted for Stand Up To Cancer

Celebrity Hunted, will return to Channel 4 next year for a brand-new fourth series as eight more famous faces go on the run as fugitives, hoping to evade capture by the Hunters.

The celebrity fugitives taking part in the series for Stand Up To Cancer are confirmed as:

Olympic silver medallist Iwan Thomas and two-time Paralympic gold medallist Richard Whitehead
Made in Chelsea stars Ollie and Gareth Locke
Actress Chizzy Akudolu and queen of UK garage Lisa Maffia
Drag Race UK winner The Vivienne and international reality TV star Chloe Veitch.
The eight celebrities will attempt to stay off the radar and remain at large for two weeks as a new crack team of hunters try and hunt them down. With former police officers, intelligence, and army personnel hot on their tail and faces recognisable across the UK, will they be able to remain undetected?

The celebrities will be taking part for Stand Up To Cancer, the joint national fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4.

REVIEW: The Fix (2024 Sci-Fi Thriller Film) Starring Grace Van Dien, Daniel Sharman and Keenan Arrison

Kelsey Egan's "The Fix" is an ambitious science fiction thriller set in a dystopian future dominated by corporate greed and ...