Golden Halloween decorations

What’s Your Movie Checklist This October?

Words by Carys Williams Halloween is fast approaching, and I have been getting into the spooky mood by watching soul-scaring shows and films. But for me, getting ready for Halloween isnÔÇÖt just about watching your classic horrors – itÔÇÖs a wide spectrum of viewing material, from childhood clich├®s to true crime dramas.┬á┬á┬áFirstly, the nostalgic features on my watch-list are┬áHocus Pocus,┬áCoraline┬áand┬áMonster House. IÔÇÖd imagine that the … Continue reading What’s Your Movie Checklist This October?

Contributing WriterOctober 31, 2023October 31, 2023

The Power of Unity: Why Unionionised film crews are essential to the industry

Words by Katie Storrie Have you ever wondered how certain films can become so successful? Or how do films become nominated for awards? This is due to the power of unity in the industry. The power of working in unity brings success in the film industry, as it allows for the honour and achievements of people to be recognised. Unity promotes a positive environment in … Continue reading The Power of Unity: Why Unionionised film crews are essential to the industry

Contributing WriterMarch 10, 2023February 19, 2023

50s Gowns in Paradise

Words by Amy Wild The psychological thriller Don’t Worry Darling has had its fair share of controversy since it came out in late September last year, from rumours of drama between its star-studded cast to only getting two stars on rotten tomatoes. The film was directed by Olivia Wilde, who also directed Booksmart and starred in Don’t Worry Darling as Bunny. It follows Alice (Florence … Continue reading 50s Gowns in Paradise

amywildFebruary 9, 2023February 6, 2023

Spotlight Recommends: Your Favourite Media Discussing HIV And Aids

Tick Tick Boom Set in the theatre district of 90s New York City, HIV and AIDs is an unwelcome and threatening backdrop in Lin Manuel-MirandaÔÇÖs directorial debut: Tick TickÔÇª Boom! Based on the semi-autobiographical musical by the late, great, Jonathan Larson (portrayed by Andrew Garfield), Tick TickÔÇª Boom! embodies the dread of getting old and running out of time, only emphasised by close friends who … Continue reading Spotlight Recommends: Your Favourite Media Discussing HIV And Aids

Contributing WriterDecember 12, 2022December 12, 2022

Subs or Dubs

Words by Amy Wild With the success of films such as Parasite and Squid Game, it is a good time to be in the business of dubbing and subtitles. As the global market grows, streaming is expanding the reach TV and films in foreign languages. English is no longer the sole domain of the industry, and to watch films and TV in languages you can’t … Continue reading Subs or Dubs

Contributing WriterOctober 27, 2022October 27, 2022

2021 in Film and TV: A Retrospective

Help (Channel 4) By Pui Kuan Cheah There were so many films I considered mentioning here, but I have to give this to Help, the timely TV movie released on Channel 4. Following Sarah, who starts working at a care home in Liverpool in early 2020, Help intimately presents the heartbreaking realities of the crises care homes around the UK faced during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic. … Continue reading 2021 in Film and TV: A Retrospective

Contributing WriterJanuary 1, 2022January 1, 2022

Review: Stath Lets Flats

At this current time, we have a huge wealth of comedic talent coming through and performing in Britain. This talent is predominantly demonstrated through TV shows. In recent years, we have seen wonderful shows such as Fleabag, This Country and Lovesick charm our screens, to name a few. Many of these shows are not only featuring outstanding British talent but also have been written by … Continue reading Review: Stath Lets Flats

hannahryanAugust 10, 2018

Review: You Were Never Really Here

Mere minutes into Lynne RamseyÔÇÖs You Were Never Really Here, you are completely aware that this is a violent, difficult film. This is a film very much concerned with death, trauma and an uneasy mental state. Joe, (Joaquin Phoenix) a troubled gun for hire, traverses the grimy underbelly of New York (├á la Taxi Driver) to rescue a missing teenage girl from a ring of … Continue reading Review: You Were Never Really Here

mollyjacksonMay 25, 2018May 25, 2018

Review: The Greatest Showman

The Greatest Showman follows the crazy imagination of American businessman, politician and importantly, a showman. The box office success celebrates PT Barnum and his show business through a whirlwind of music, dancing and sensation. Quench contributors wrote their thoughts… Right from its foot-stomping opening number, The Greatest Showman is a riot of colour, charm and razzmatazz, that cements Hugh JackmanÔÇÖs status as one of the … Continue reading Review: The Greatest Showman

mollyjacksonMay 24, 2018May 24, 2018

Review: Black Panther

Black Panther has set world records, smashed the box office and started a cultural phenomenon. We asked Quench contributors to tell us their thoughts too… Directed by Ryan Coogler, the film follows TÔÇÖChalla (Chadwick Boseman) as he takes his place as king of Wakanda following the death of his father. T’ChallaÔÇÖs rule is not an easy one, however, as he faces discontentment in the form … Continue reading Review: Black Panther

mollyjacksonMay 24, 2018

WoW Festival Review: Mary and the Witch’s Flower

The Wales One World festival celebrates eclectic worldwide cinema and has been since 2001. This rich selection of film, adventures across Welsh cinemas every March and aims to bring people together in the reflection of the wonders of moving pictures from around the world. WoW films prioritise the echoing of the ways of our world and the ways in which we ultimately live in – … Continue reading WoW Festival Review: Mary and the Witch’s Flower

mollyjacksonApril 24, 2018May 24, 2018

Film & TV, LGBT+

BFI Flare 2018: Love, Simon

A light-hearted romantic comedy is as essential to adolescent life as heartbreak and rebellion. Yet, for years, the only romcoms found in the mainstream were dominated by straight characters and their stories. From the classics, such as ÔÇÿWhen Harry Met SallyÔÇÖ to the modern features, like ÔÇÿLove and Other DrugsÔÇÖ, the number of romcoms out there with a heterosexual romance at their center are too … Continue reading BFI Flare 2018: Love, Simon

mollyjacksonApril 18, 2018

NIFF 2018: Pop Aye

A story as foreign in location as it is in concept, Pop Aye relates the journey of a disillusioned Thai architect who one day while strolling the streets of Bangkok, purchases an elephant he┬árecognised from his childhood. Distressed by the demolition of his lifeÔÇÖs architectural work in a shopping mall redevelopment and by the distance shown by his wife, Thana (Thaneth Warakulnukro) sets off on … Continue reading NIFF 2018: Pop Aye

mollyjacksonApril 8, 2018

NIFF 2018: The Silent Child screening and Q&A with Julie Foy

Things got up and running on the second day of Newcastle International Film Festival with a matinee screening of the Oscar-winning short film The Silent Child, and an enlightening Q&A with associate producer Julie Foy. IÔÇÖm certain the extended queue outside the Cineworld screen was buzzing with excitement, although you couldnÔÇÖt hear it as most of the audience were communicating their excitement (I hope) through … Continue reading NIFF 2018: The Silent Child screening and Q&A with Julie Foy

mollyjacksonApril 8, 2018

NIFF 2018: Get Carter screening and Q&A with Mike Hodges

Newcastle at the moment isnÔÇÖt quite a city known for its film moments. Sure there have been occasions; Transformers filmed some blockbuster-style action on Grey Street last year, I, Daniel Blake gave a harrowing account of the UKÔÇÖs benefits system, but otherwise, a Northern representation is lacking. The kicking off of Newcastle International Film Festival last night (29th March) seemed to suggest this was changing. … Continue reading NIFF 2018: Get Carter screening and Q&A with Mike Hodges

mollyjacksonMarch 29, 2018April 8, 2018

Review: Downsizing

Alexander Payne embarks on his latest cinematic journey in a transformative tackling of ever-present social, moral and political issues through an accessible, entertaining, bitesize medium. At a first glance, the film would appear as a standard Hollywood comedic throwaway with an interesting twist; Norwegian scientists have created a manner through which the human body can be shrunk down to a mere 5ÔÇØ, the process of … Continue reading Review: Downsizing

mollyjacksonMarch 4, 2018

Awards Season 2018: Oscars Expectations

“There are a lot of great movies that have won the Academy Award, and a lot of great movies that haven’t. You just do the best you can.” – Clint Eastwood, Best Director, Million Dollar Baby, 2004 ItÔÇÖs Oscars time! The marmite of the festival season; you either love it or hate it. Known for its particular criteria and controversy for its snubs and #OscarsSoWhite, … Continue reading Awards Season 2018: Oscars Expectations

mollyjacksonMarch 4, 2018

Review: God’s Own Country

God’s Own Country is the film Hollywood forgot about. Move over Jon Snow, thereÔÇÖs a new brooding protagonist in town. Meet Johnny, (Josh OÔÇÖConnor) the son of a disabled sheep farmer (Ian Hart), living a rather monotonous life in the rural moors of Yorkshire, consisting of drinking, puking and casual hook-ups with random men. But this is all turned upside-down with the arrival of Romanian … Continue reading Review: God’s Own Country

mollyjacksonFebruary 22, 2018February 22, 2018

Review: The Shape of Water

Guillermo Del ToroÔÇÖs latest escapist fantasy tells a familiar fairytale of freak love between human and creature. However the director’s fastidious eye for the darkly fantastical, juxtaposed with an even darker reality, along with intelligent, era-specific social commentary which helps contextualise and ground its narrative, and nuanced, expertly written characters make this tale more akin to the esoteric lovechild of Amelie and Creature from the … Continue reading Review: The Shape of Water

mollyjacksonFebruary 20, 2018February 20, 2018

Review: I, Tonya

Everyone thinks they know what happened when figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was attacked and injured right before the 1994 Olympics. Turns out, not even the people involved really knew what was going on, least of all volatile opponent Tonya Harding. Supposedly. Based on ÔÇÿirony-free, wildly contradictoryÔÇÖ interviews conducted by director Craig Gillespie, I, Tonya is a darkly humorous biopic that just keeps throwing punches. Literally. … Continue reading Review: I, Tonya

mollyjacksonFebruary 18, 2018