THEGAYUK

Author: Paul Szabo

  • THEATR REVIEW | Northern Ballet’s Cinderella – Leeds Grand Theatre

    ★★★ | Northern Ballet’s Cinderella

    In a magical retelling of Cinderella, the well-known story is transported to Imperial Russia, whereby following a shooting accident, Cinderella’s father dies and she falls victim to the wicked ways of her evil stepmother. But with Prince Charming looking for love, will Cinderella make it to the ball?

    Northern Ballet’s sumptuous production of this beautiful and original ballet is a festive treat and provides a fresh take on an established story. The story itself is familiar but there are a number of aspects which not only elevate this production but which also refreshes the classic fairy tale. The fairy godmother is replaced by a cunning magician, the coach is pulled by huskies and; with the transportation of the story to Russia, the ballet provided a number of scenes set outside the kitchen and the ballroom – including a graceful sequence set on a frozen lake, with the cast “ice skating” across the stage and a carnival scene allowing the stage to be awash with dancers performing a variety of magic and circus skills.

    The show was choreographed in beautiful fashion, with superb performances from the cast, all of whom were technically excellent in their dancing. Flashes of Russian dance inspired moves allowed the choreography to be relevant to the setting but never in a way which intruded on the traditional ballet. In terms of the cast, the highlight was Pippa Moore who gave a powerful and commanding performance as the wicked stepmother, portraying the character superbly, demanding the attention of the audience and coming across as icy and vindictive. The remaining cast had mastered a number of other skills, including stilt walking, juggling and acrobatic balancing for the carnival scene. The first act of the show was more narrative based, setting the scene for the second act, which was more focussed on the dancing, including a superb opening number in the ballroom and an elegant dance between Cinderella and the Prince.

    The original music was skilfully performed by the live orchestra, with the score ably portraying both the story and the emotions of the piece as it resonated around the opulent Leeds’ Grand Theatre. This production felt like not only a ballet, but also like a classical concert. As always the costumes were put together incredibly well and the whole production was filled with class. One of the strengths of Northern Ballet is their ability to convey the narrative of the story throughout the ballet which makes the whole thing accessible to all. Aside from the dancing, there are enough additional aspects to the show to hold the attention of those who are not necessarily the biggest fans of ballet.

    As a piece of theatre, this show was enchantingly staged and provided a delightful evening with a number of magical moments and an abundance of charm.

    Northern Ballet’s Cinderella is currently playing at Leeds Grand Theatre until the 4th January 2014. Tickets and more information can be found at http://northernballet.com/?q=cinderella

  • Pulp Fiction – The Gay Sleaze Novels of the 50’s and 60’s

    Back in the 50’s and 60’s, there was an abundance of pulp fiction – trashy novels which were cheap and infamous for their lurid and exploitative stories and their sensational cover art. The artwork was designed solely to tempt the reader into buying the book and actively encouraged the potential buyer to quite literally judge a book by its cover.

    What was noticeable was the amount of pulp fiction which was either aimed at or about gay men and women. Without having the opportunity to read the books themselves, it not easy to accurately see how the lifestyle of gay men and women were portrayed. However, the covers illustrate and suggest a mixture of attitudes towards the gay lifestyle, ranging from titles that suggest how unfulfilling a gay lifestyle is (“His Sex, His Problem”) or suggesting that gay sex was a sin (“Satan Was A Lesbian”). But there are also a number of books which suggest a much happier and sexually indulgent side of life. You only have to look at the adoring glances of the muscular characters on the covers and the wry smiles on their faces to see that they are thoroughly enjoying themselves.

    These books provide us with an interesting insight into the past, suggesting what attitudes people may have held towards gay men and women at the time and what perceptions people may have had of the gay community. They also show what common fantasies and stereotypes existed at that time and give us a clear picture of what people used to use for titillation in the days long before the internet provided such readily available stimulation. Oh, and they are also fun and a bit camp!

    This article was inspired by http://www.gayontherange.com/index.html and http://www.strangesisters.com/ and the pictures of the covers below are credited to them. So sit back and have a flick through these pulp fiction classics.

  • ALBUM REVIEW | The Overtones, Saturday Night At The Movies

    The Overtones are back with their third album, an upbeat take on a number of classic songs from the movies combined with a few others, including some original songs written for the album. Covering tracks from such films as When Harry Met Sally, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Dirty Dancing, the boys ably apply their vocal harmonies to a broad selection of songs.

    The first noticeable thing about the album is how instantly recognisable the track list is and on a quick glance you will probably recognise most of them. The title track is first on the album and sets the tone of what is to follow perfectly well. From thereon in, the album contains a number of classic songs such as “Moon River”, “Do You Love Me?” and “Pretty Woman” all of which are well executed and put together.

    Using their tight and polished vocals, the group reinvigorate the classic tracks and introduce us to some new ones – “Miss Hollywood” and “Superstar” in particular were unexpected pleasures. The album is mainly upbeat and catchy with you finding the songs feeling familiar even upon first listen. However, the group have managed to add something just different enough to the songs to ensure that the album never comes across as just straight covers, but equally that it does not stray too far from the originals to make them unrecognisable or overblown. There is also a pleasant balance between music and vocals, which allows the group’s vocal strengths to shine through.

    With the right mixture of upbeat numbers and slower ballads, this collection is easy to listen to and is, in the majority, likeable and fun. That said; there are a couple of songs which seem a little out of place and don’t really fit with the rest of the track list. Whilst “The Bare Necessitates / I Wanna Be Like You” and “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” are good enough as standalone tracks, they don’t seem to sit well with the rest of the songs and interrupt the flow of the album.

     

    Album highlights included “It Had To Be You”, “Runaway”, “Superstar” and “Shake A Tail Feather” and the whole thing was enjoyable enough. As with all music, you have to appreciate the style and genre of music, so this is not going to be an album that suits everyone. If you love your hard-core house or death metal, then you should steer well clear.

     

    However, if this is your kind of music, the overall flavour of the album is very much peppered with a 50’s tinge and fans of Do-Wop, rock ‘n’ roll and swing music will find a lot to enjoy in this album. It has a genuine feel of nostalgia to it and a pleasant, foot tapping, sing-along charm of its own.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

    ★★★ | Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

    Andrew Lloyd Webber’s biblical musical continues its national tour with this colourful, energetic and enjoyable production of the enduring and well-loved family show.

    This sing-though musical tells the story of Joseph and his eleven brothers. Joseph is favoured by his father and is given a Technicolor coat, which causes his brothers to become so jealous of his favourable treatment that they take him into the desert to kill him. However, seizing an unexpected opportunity to make some money, the brothers sell him into slavery instead and Joseph is taken to Egypt where his ability to interpret dreams is put to good use by the Pharaoh. The two hour show is jam packed full of songs that you can’t help but know the words to, including “Any Dream Will Do”, “One More Angel In Heaven”, “Close Every Door” and “Jacob and Sons”.

    This quality production was much better than anticipated with the staging of the show being very well put together. There’s good use of the set and scenery with the stage constantly looking full, but never overcrowded. The universally talented cast all performed very well and sounded excellent together. The sound produced by the ensemble cast (especially the brothers) when singing together was superb and their varied voices fitted perfectly together. The casting for the show, in terms of vocal performances was spot on. In particular, Andrew Bateup (making his professional debut) stood out for his enthusiasm and vivacious performance and Rob Wilshaw provided a notable performance in the role of Joseph, handling the show’s best known numbers with aplomb.

    Visually, the show was vibrant, colourful and full of an enthusiastic and energetic cast and effective choreography. As expected, the costumes, set and lighting were all awash with a variety of colours, and the whole thing came across as a fun and lively production which was professionally put together. The lighting in particular was incredibly well done. In terms of the production and performance of the show, there was very little to criticise.

    The main issue with the show was despite the fact that the production was updated, modern and well put together, the songs themselves have not aged as well as some of Rice/Lloyd Webber’s other early productions (such as Evita). Whether this is a result of over familiarity or just the way in which musical theatre has evolved over the years, the play itself felt a little dated. That said, the show, thankfully, didn’t take itself too seriously, with a couple of knowing nods to the audience, which was a welcome addition.

    Overall, if you are looking of an evening of pleasant and undemanding entertainment, then this is a show worth seeing. The show delivers on many levels, particularly in terms of production, but also in terms of nostalgia (most people of a certain age will remember doing this show as their school play), in terms of good family entertainment and in terms of enjoyable, if fairly cheesy, fun.

    Joseph is currently playing at Sheffield Lyceum until Saturday 30th November 2013. For information and tickets, visit www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk or visit the show’s official website at www.josephthemusical.com

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Slava’s Snowshow

    Slava’s Snowshow is set in a winter landscape and combines beautiful comic performances from a host of clowns each with their own individual personalities, with a dazzling assault on the senses, immersing the audience in a winter wonderland of wide eyed wonder.

    Slava’s Snowshow is a visually tantalising and immersive experience that is a world away from the big top clowning that we are so used to. Thankfully there were no buckets of glitter or a small car with the doors falling off anywhere in sight. This was much more intelligent humour that appeals to both adults and children and pleasingly rejects the slapstick tomfoolery that is so often seen performed by circus clowns.

    The show itself has no dialogue and no narrative, but is more a collection of set pieces, which overlap each other like a flow of consciousness or a surreal dream. The humour is subtle and gentle, but very funny, with the cast evoking laughter from the audience with nothing more than a facial expression, a subtle gesture or either a tiny or exaggerated movement. The whole show has an almost childlike innocence to it, which seemed to successfully regress the majority of the audience back to their childhood.

    The style of the piece was very reminiscent of the silent comedies of the 30’s and 40’s, and the performances by the cast were remarkable. Just by the raising of an eyebrow or by the widening of their smile, they were able to convey a variety of emotions to the audience and garner genuine empathy and warmth towards the characters. This is simple, non-offensive and innocent humour that is family friendly and based on a purely physical performance, coupled with perfect and precise comic timing.

    The set itself was very basic, but the use of smoke, lighting and various other techniques, including bubbles, paper snow and a simply stunning soundtrack, brought the whole thing to life in a beautiful and sometimes dramatic fashion. The audience were literally drawn into the show as the on stage performances extended out into the theatre itself, with everything from covering the audience in a huge spider’s web, walking over the top of the seats throughout the stalls and having snow fall from the roof, it ensured that those watching were very much a part of the show. You can’t help but find yourself sitting and wondering what will happen next. The ending of the show is not one that will be spoilt in this review, but it builds to a spectacular close that quite literally takes your breath away.

    Slava’s Snowshow is not a piece of theatre that is easy to categorise. You could define it as a clown’s equivalent to Cirque Du Soleil. You could class it as a piece of performance art, or as the embodiment of a well-crafted and traditional theatrical art form with a modern spin. It is not for everyone, and would no doubt be a very divisive piece of theatre. You are likely to either, really buy into it and love it, or you will not really connect with it and it will not be your thing. But, if you are looking for something that’s more of an experience than a show, or you simply want a change from the usual musicals or plays, then this would be ideal. Just allow yourself to be carried away in the piece and enjoy it.

    To get the best out of this show, book seats in the front half of the stalls and ensure that you stay around for the interval, as just because the show stops for a break, the clowning around in the theatre doesn’t!

    Slava’s Snowshow is currently at the Sheffield Lyceum until Sunday 24th November 2013 here
    before continuing on its national tour and heading for London. Details can be found on the show’s official website here.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | A Christmas Carol – Sheffield Lyceum and National Tour

    ★★★★ | A Christmas Carol – Sheffield Lyceum and National Tour

    Charles Dickens’ much loved Christmas tale is stunningly brought to life in this magical, colourful and beautifully performed ballet from the Northern Ballet Company.

    Ebenezer Scrooge is the meanest, grumpiest man in London, who is obsessed by money and greed, shows no love for his fellow man and has no Christmas spirit. One Christmas Eve, he is visited by the ghost of his late business partner, Jacob Marley, and subsequently by the ghosts of Christmas past, future and present. Scrooge is shown how his meanness lost him his true love in the past, how his miserly ways impact on those around him in the present and how he will not be missed in the future. But can the ghostly apparitions show Scrooge it’s never too late to mend his ways?

    This festive treat was a feast for the eyes and ears. A live orchestra played beautifully throughout the three act ballet and filled the theatre with the sounds of Christmas. The set lovingly recreated Victorian London and, despite its detail was well utilised and versatile throughout the show. The company added an unexpected twist to the proceedings with a few traditional carols sung by the company on stage, with their voices carrying an uplifting and almost angelic feel.

    The costumes were simply stunning with everything from Victorian dress coats and bonnets to beautiful dresses. The whole presentation oozed class and charm. But the costumes which particularly excelled were those of The Ghosts of Christmas. The Ghost of Christmas Future in particular was amazing, with the spirit gliding across the stage in a sinister mixture of floating fabrics and exposed skeletal bones.

    The staging of the production was of a very high quality, with not only the stage being well decorated and presented, but also being lit incredibly well, with a myriad of theatrical techniques which combined to present and atmospheric and versatile stage. Ghosts floated effortlessly in the darkness and a host of spectres filled the foggy stage. Visually, the piece was impressively put together.

    The choreography of the piece was very well done and told the (albeit well known) story incredibly well making it accessible to even a ballet novice. During the course of the show, the dancing went from set pieces awash with dancers to solo and duet pieces. When dancing together, the company were well timed and graceful and at times there was so much going off on stage that it was sometimes difficult to know where to look as you simply didn’t want to miss anything of interest. The dancers ably conveyed the emotions of the characters amongst their agile performances. The very large cast were all of a very high standard and singling any of them out would be a very difficult task, but Sebastian Loe who played Scrooge put in a flawless performance, pouring emotion into his role and effortlessly conveying the progression of the character.

    Having seen this production, there is little wonder why, when it comes to quality, Northern Ballet maintain the reputation that they have. The production was one which was very accessible and was a light and breezy ballet littered with subtle humour. If you have never seen a ballet before, this is an excellent starting point. The festive feel of the piece, especially at the end of the show was overwhelming and you could not help but get swept up in the festive spirit and the joyful feeling of the characters on stage. The show is a perfect way to start getting into the Christmas spirit or a great post gift shopping treat which leaves you feeling warm inside.

    A Christmas Carol is currently showing at the Sheffield Lyceum Theatre before continuing on its national Tour.
    Bookings and information can be found at http://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/event/a-christmas-carol-13/?tab=1#unit-production-dates and at http://northernballet.com/index.php?q=a-christmas-carol

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Love Your Soldiers, Crucible Theatre Studio, Sheffield

    ★★★★ | Love Your Soldiers

    In Helmand Province, two young soldiers have bonded like brothers in the midst of war, but when one of them is seriously injured, their relationship is tested even further when he is returned home and continues his affair with his best friend’s girlfriend.

    Ken is a soldier and is a fun loving guy who takes his girlfriend for granted. When his best friend, Roly, covers Ken’s patrol, he steps on a landmine, and loses both of his legs. Roly is returned to a rehabilitation centre in England. But unbeknown to Ken, his girlfriend, Gemma, and Roly have been having an affair and she is torn between the two of them. When Gemma announces that she is pregnant, she remains ambiguous about the father of the child and matters come to a head when Ken returns home on leave to both spend time with the woman he loves and to confront his guilt for allowing Roly to take his place on the patrol which led to his injuries.

    Love, betrayal, friendship, honesty and revenge are the themes of this touching, poignant and well produced and directed play. The first thing that strikes you as you enter the theatre is the set which envelopes the seating area and places the audience in the middle of the set itself. The production uses a number of interesting and well utilised video and audio effects, using giant screens and projectors to replicate the webcam exchanges of the central characters (which are acted out live on stage) and as background settings to the various scenes and locations. The use of smoke, lighting and loud exchanges of gunfire and explosions proved an assault on the senses, particularly in the battle scenes, invoking a genuine tension in the audience. There is very little to fault this play on in terms of its staging and direction and the director, Richard Wilson, has to be commended for such an excellent job.

    The story is one which is well written and is tender and touching, exploring the relationships between the soldiers, those left “at home” and those around them on the front line. There is some discussion around homosexuality and homophobia, although this is not the central theme of the play, instead, it focusses more on the impact of the situation of the three central characters on each other and on those around them.

    In a small cast, Chris Leask gave the standout performance as Ken and Jordan Bright as Roly performed well in his first professional role; with the rest of the cast giving competent support. But where the play comes into its on is in the story and the drawing in of the audience. The feeling you get when watching the play falls into two distinct categories. The scenes set in Afghanistan makes you feel, at times, like you are in the middle of an action film. The scenes set in England make you feel like you are in the middle of a high quality BBC drama. This was a thought provoking play and one which, with Remembrance Day approaching, is a timely reminder of the sacrifices made by those in the armed forces and their family and friends and is certainly one where the circumstances, themes and issues in the story stay with you long after the performance.

    Love Your Soldiers is currently showing at the Crucible Theatre and runs until the 23rd November 2013. For further information and to book tickets, visit

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, Sheffield Lyceum and National Tour

    Three drag queens “unplug their curling wands and go bush” to travel across the outback en route to a show in a casino in Alice Springs. Along the way, they bitch, bicker and laugh their way across the dessert, and continuously ensure that they are looking their best whilst “dressing up in women’s clothing and mouthing the words to other people’s songs”.

    Tick (Noel Sullivan), Bernadette (Richard Grieve) and Adam (Graham Weaver) buy a budget Barbie camper; christen it Priscilla and head into the outback to perform a show at a casino run by Tick’s wife in Alice Springs. Stopping off along the way, the trio make friends, get themselves into trouble, fall in love, strengthen their friendship and following the bus breaking down, pick up mechanic Bill who leaves his wife (who has an extraordinary talent which she shows off in the local pub) as they head to the middle of nowhere for the show of their life.

    Based on the film of the same name, this stage musical was excellent fun. Following the story of the film fairly closely (albeit it with some minor changes) it was a show which is unashamedly flamboyant. The show uses a combination of camp disco classics, opening with “It’s Raining Men” and including “I Will Survive”, “I Love the Nightlife”, “Go West” and “Finally”, which meant that the whole audience were clapping, cheering and laughing from the moment the curtain went up.

    In terms of the cast, Noel Sullivan (who is perhaps best known for being a member of “Hear’say”) was functional as Tick, but played the part with a little bit too much camp, watering down the interplay between the straight laced Tick and outrageous Adam. Richard Grieve was much better than expected as Bernadette. But Graham Weaver stood out with an enjoyable performance as Adam/Felicia. The supporting cast were, as you would expect, ludicrously attractive and beautifully toned and threw themselves into the musical numbers with energy and gusto.

    The whole thing was colourful, exuberant and thoroughly entertaining with a cleverly designed set (with the bus on stage) and a sharp, funny script with all of the characters that you know and love from the film. But where the show really came into its own was in the musical numbers, taking some from the film and some new ones introduced for the show, the routines were over the top, bold, brassy and ballsy, with costumes to match. The enthusiasm of the cast was clear and it was abundantly obvious that they were enjoying themselves as much as the audience.

    The costumes in themselves are worthy of a mention. Some were recreated from the film (flip flop dress, anyone?) and the others just added to the campness of the proceedings. Everything from dancing paintbrushes to dancing birthday cakes, hicks, lizards, Marie Antoinette’s, Ostriches and scantily clad, leather wearing dancers were all on stage in a dazzling spectacular.

    The only downside of this production was that the music was a little loud over the vocals on the odd occasion, but these are very minor quibbles when the show was as much fun as it was.

    The show is one which is perhaps best seen on a Friday or Saturday evening. Its two hour running time quite literally flew by with the whole thing never really slows down. Overall, this was a really great, fun show and a piece of feel-good, uplifting and ultimately heart-warming theatre which has its tongue firmly lodged in its cheek. It’s a real feast for the eyes, the ears, the heart, the soul and the funny bone.

    Priscilla Queen of the Desert is currently at Sheffield Lyceum theatre

  • 9 of the best films for Halloween

    * Contains descriptions and images which some readers may find upsetting *

    Now the clocks have gone back, there’s only one day left till Halloween. As the leaves are blown from the trees and dance across the road in the breeze, rain pelts against your windows and the wind howls, it’s the perfect time to settle in, open a bottle of red and creep yourself out with a good horror film. So in this special extended edition of Six of the Best, we have a few suggestions for something you can watch from behind the cushions…

    Halloween

    Let’s start with an absolute classic. Malevolent monster Michael Myers has become a horror icon, but it all started with this low budget slasher. Laurie Strode (played by Jamie Lee Curtis) is stalked by a seemingly unstoppable man who lurks in the shadows before attacking her and her friends on Halloween night. This film slowly winds up the tension by crafting a feeling of paranoia before culminating in a memorable ending. What makes this film so good is its urban setting and it’s “this really could happen” this story. Forget the inferior remake and stick with the original and best.
    Buy it here

    Maniac

    Elijah Wood gives a brilliant performance in this exceptional remake of an 80’s slasher flick. A young man struggles with his mental health which leads him to stalk and murder women on the streets of LA. But he falls in love with a beautiful young photographer, which slowly develops into an obsession. This excellent film is shot entirely from the point of view of the murderer and has an outstanding soundtrack, graphic violence and is beautifully filmed. This hidden gem is a more cerebral horror which plays on primal fears.
    Buy it here

    The Strangers

    A young couple (played by Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman) find themselves trapped in a nightmare when their home is invaded by a group of strangers in masks. Who they are and why they are terrorising the couple is unknown, but this film proves that you are not even safe in your own home. This tense film is full of suspense and will make you check you have locked the door before you go to bed.
    Buy it here

    The Descent

    In this claustrophobic British horror, a group of friends go caving and discover more than they could ever have imagined when they find themselves trapped following a tunnel collapsing. As they head deeper and deeper into the cave system, they are clearly not alone as they are set upon by something in the dark.
    Buy it here

    Trick ‘r’ Treat

    Four tales of Halloween are intertwined in one night of horror. A group of children play a trick on a young girl based on a local legend which goes horribly wrong, some teenage girls are stalked by a masked man through a Halloween street carnival, a school principal has a secret life and a man is terrorised by a very special Trick-or-Treater. The stories all combine in this enjoyable anthology horror.
    Buy it here

    Hocus Pocus

    In this camp classic, three witches are accidentally resurrected on Halloween by a group of teenagers. With the help of a talking cat called Binx, the friends battle the witches in an attempt to save the town. With the entire cast camping it up and Bette Midler singing “I Put a Spell on You”, this family film is great fun.
    Buy it here

    Frankenweenie

    When Sparky, a young boy’s beloved dog, dies, his grief stricken owner bring him back to life in his makeshift attic laboratory. But when his friends find out, the young boy is blackmailed into bringing other pets to life, which escape and cause havoc. Using beautiful stop motion animation, this gentle Tim Burton animation is both touching and funny. If you loved The Nightmare before Christmas, then you’ll love this too.
    Buy it here

    La Horde

    In this French new wave horror, a group of people are trapped at the top of a high rise building which is besieged by the living dead. Making their way down the levels, they are relentlessly attacked by the fast moving monsters. This film is like “28 Days Later” on speed and is full of gore, fast paced action and terrific set pieces.
    Buy it here

    The Hills Have Eyes (2006)

    In this modern remake of the 1970’s shocker, a family on a road trip across the dessert find themselves besieged by a group of cannibals. When their baby is stolen by the cannibals the family revert back to their own tribal instincts to fight back. This graphic and violent film is one of the better remakes of the last few years and has blood, guts and shocks aplenty.
    Buy it here

  • 6 Of The Best Torture Movies

    As it is #PleasureAndPain month here at TGUK, this month’s 6 of the Best looks at the genre of torture films.

    The genre has recently been subject to a resurgence in mainstream cinema, initially coming back to the attention of the masses with Eli Roth’s much publicised Hostel. The “torture porn” genre, as it is often known, has recently culminated in films such as The Human Centipede 2, which was the subject of much controversy and a “ban” by the BBFC until certain parts were cut from the movie. But the history of on screen torture is long standing with films like Marathon Man and A Clockwork Orange being considered cinema classics. So sit back, prepare to wince, hide that pair of pliers (just in case) and enjoy six of the best…..

    Hostel

    In Eli Roth’s genre setting film, a trio of American students on a back packing trip around Europe find themselves drawn to a Hostel in an unidentified Eastern European country, lured with the promise of sex and hedonistic pleasures. But the Hostel serves to provide young victims for a business which allows the rich to pay to have a private room in an abandoned factory, which is well equipped with every tool and torture device imaginable. The payment allows them to do whatever they want to poor, helpless victims. What follows is a nightmare of pain, graphic scenes of torture and wince inducing moments. For those who are not too keen on watching people have their kneecaps removed with an electric drill, there is always the beautiful looking Jay Hernandez to take your mind off the dank basement horror on display. Hostel was also rated in our most homoerotic horror movies.

    BUY IT FROM AMAZON

    The Tortured

    When his child is abducted and murdered by a paedophile, a young doctor takes matters into his own hands and kidnaps the maniac to exact his revenge. Keeping the killer chained up in his basement, he uses his medical knowledge to ensure that the maximum amount of pain is inflicted whilst keeping him the right side of consciousness. But as the torture continues, the doctor finds himself increasingly struggling with his morals, despite the fate of his child. Jesse Metcalf sheds his Desperate Housewives image with this brutal film which raises an interesting moral debate about how far you would go if someone hurt your loved one which is set against the cruel acts being perpetrated.BUY IT FROM AMAZON

    Martyrs

     

    This French Language film is one of the most notable films to come out of the French New Wave Horror Genre. A young girl seeks revenge on the people who held her captive and tortured her as a child. In her perusal of her captors, it leads her and her best friend, another victim of abuse, on a horrific journey which unfolds the mystery of who the organisation is and why they have a programme of systematic torture. This film is a disturbing mix of psychological horror and brutally realistic scenes of relentless torture, particularly in the latter half. This is extreme cinema and is certainly not for the faint hearted. If you have a low threshold in terms of screen violence, then this is a film you should avoid. If you have a strong stomach, then this film provides some original viewing. This is a good film but certainly not one for everybody.

    BUY IT FROM AMAZON

     

    Eden Lake

    A young couple head to Eden Lake, a beauty spot which will soon be turned into a gated community, for a romantic weekend together. After a run in with a group of hoodie wearing teens, whereby the gang leader’s beloved dog is accidentally killed, the couple find themselves on the run through the woods, relentlessly pursued by the youngsters. This tense British horror/thriller is an excellent film and is filled with realism and scenes which make you hold your breath and peek through your fingers. Michael Fassbender stars in this underrated and incredibly tense film. Watching a gang of youngsters torture the couple is uncomfortable viewing and if you ever wondered what it would look like to cut out someone’s tongue with a Stanley knife, then this is the film for you.

    BUY IT FROM AMAZON

    Hard Candy

    After three weeks of chatting on line, a thirty-two year old photographer arranges to meet a 14 year old girl in a coffee shop. After she shamelessly flirts with him, despite the age difference, she suggests going back to his house where she drugs him and ties him to a chair. She accuses him of being a paedophile and proceeds to try and extract a confession out of him. A deadly game of cat and mouse ensues, but has she got it wrong, and is his photographic project the real reason why he has met her, or is there something more sinister going on? This film raises a number of moral questions and has you guessing all the way through as to who is right and who is wrong; who is the victim and who is the villain. Once again featuring some moments to make you grimace, this thriller is a tense film which keeps you guessing.

    BUY IT FROM AMAZON

     

    I Spit On Your Grave

    In this remake of the classic 1970’s film, a writer heads to the solitude of an isolated cabin in the woods to cure her writers block. But after falling foul of a group of locals, she is sexually assaulted in a disturbing attack. Managing to escape, she rebuilds her strength and exacts her revenge on each of the gang, one by one, and in fitting ways to how they had treated her. This film is vicious at times and is one of the better remakes of old films of late. Despite the graphic violence on screen, you can’t help but find yourself root for the heroine as she gets one over on the gang who attacked her. And, if you have often dreamed of Chris Hemsworth naked and tied up in front of you, then look no further.

    BUY IT FROM AMAZON

  • GIG REVIEW | Alison Moyet – The Minutes Tour

    ★★★★★ Alison Moyet – The Minutes Tour

    From her early days as one half of Yazoo to her multi-million selling solo career, the last 30 years has seen Alison Moyet remain one of the most talented singers around. Her sultry voice has seen her take the guise of an electronica sensation, a husky jazz singer, a pop star and a huge voiced balladeer as she has ploughed her way through the years refusing to allow herself to be pigeon holed.

    Her current tour is to support the release of her latest album, The Minutes, with both the critically acclaimed album and the tour bringing Moyet back to her electronic roots. Seamlessly blending together a rich collection of songs from her current album with a range of classics from both her solo albums and her time with Yazoo, she provided a flawless set which is strangely both very retro and incredibly contemporary simultaneously.

    From the opening number, “Horizon Flame”, Moyet was in absolutely incredible voice, as she stood, flanked by two very talented musicians, in the centre of a stage awash with stars, creating an memorable opening and setting a high standard for the remainder of the concert. Her vocal performance throughout the set was simply outstanding and note perfect, never once sounding anything other than natural and unforced. She looked absolutely stunning and between songs, Moyet chatted casually with the audience coming across as warm, personable and genuine.

    The set list contained a good balance of her new material and her classic hits. A stripped back version of “Ordinary Girl” was a particular highlight, as was her haunting rendition of “This House” which made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. For long term fans, there were the inevitable (and welcome) renditions of “Love Resurrection”, “All Cried Out”, “Is this Love” and “Whispering Your Name”. Finally thrown into the mix were a number of songs from her partnership with Vince Clarke with the Yazoo classics “Nobody’s Diary”, “Don’t Go” and “Situation” amongst others. The tracks from her new album sounded incredible too, with excellent renditions of “Filigree” (which was simply beautiful), “Apple Kisses”, the dubstep infused “Changeling” and her latest single “When I Was Your Girl”. What was impressive was the reworkings of her older material which made the songs sound fresh, contemporary and up to date despite some of them being near enough 30 years old.

    This was a concert which was about quality music and vocals. But the lighting design brought the stripped back set to life in incredible ways, with some of the best, most immersive lighting I have seen at a concert for a number of years. The lighting designer and team deserve recognition and credit of their outstanding work, with the whole concert being enhanced by the brilliant designs. At time the whole stage (and audience) were awash with colour, had beams of coloured lights penetrating the smoky atmosphere and drew the audience almost onto the stage.

    Moyet’s vocals cannot be praised highly enough – she manages to sound even better live than she does on her albums, effortlessly demonstrating an incredible range and an ability to powerfully perform without the need for any infernal caterwauling and vocal gymnastics that so many of today’s singers seem to favour. Moyet could certainly teach the X-Factor generation a few things. Grab a ticket for this tour whilst you can and treat yourself to an evening of old school excellence which will blow you away.
    The Minutes Tour continues across the UK.

    Details can be found at http://alisonmoyet.com/?p=9751