G does Films
Just your average 27-year-old with a passion for anything put onto the big screen, small screen or onto the computer pages of a book.
- My Master Builder at Wyndham’s Theatre – ReviewImmediately as I sat down in my seat at Wyndham’s Theatre in London’s West End, I was struck by the unusual structure upon the stage. Resembling a transparent scaffolding, it seemed as if the actors would have little space to perform. The lights went down and on walked Ewan McGregor as a famed architect HenryContinue reading “My Master Builder at Wyndham’s Theatre – Review”
- Asa Butterfield’s poignant stage debut as…Harry Potter? A Review of his stage debut in ‘Second Best’Asa Butterfield is on his own. He sits on a chair on the stage of Studio 2 at Riverside Studios in London. He occasionally gets up to wander around and pass reflective glances at the audience shuffling into their seats. What follows is a story about missed opportunities, fate and family, told solely by ButterfieldContinue reading “Asa Butterfield’s poignant stage debut as…Harry Potter? A Review of his stage debut in ‘Second Best’”
- Nosferatu (2025) Review: Robert Eggers’ triumphantly terrifying return to vampiric formIt is unlikely that the director of Nosferatu (1922), F. W. Murnau, would’ve imagined 102 years later there would be a remake of his film which so closely recaptures the essence of the original. When I first watched Murnau’s original film, I was immediately struck by its captivatingly ominous atmosphere, despite the fact it isContinue reading “Nosferatu (2025) Review: Robert Eggers’ triumphantly terrifying return to vampiric form”
- Waiting for Godot at the Theatre Royal Haymarket – A Review“What are you waiting for?” “We’re waiting…for Godot.” Life hinges on asking questions. If we didn’t ask questions, we wouldn’t get anywhere in life. Playwright Samuel Beckett sussed this out when he wrote his surreal play, Waiting for Godot, in the 1940s. The play reflected the hopelessness and uncertainty in a post-WWII world, whilst theContinue reading “Waiting for Godot at the Theatre Royal Haymarket – A Review”
- Why I don’t watch movie trailers anymoreIf you’re early enough to the cinema you’ll be lucky enough to get a glimpse of previews of upcoming film releases, which is arguably one of the biggest selling points for movies. Usually they’ll be for films you haven’t heard of, or films you have heard of but have not yet seen the trailer. Some films sometimes even warrant viewing the trailer when it is releasedContinue reading “Why I don’t watch movie trailers anymore”
- Civil War review: The scariest movie of the year so farAlex Garland doesn’t want you to know why they’re fighting. He wants you to know how it’s affected regular people. He wants you to know what it’s like to be forced to be neutral because it’s out of your control. He wants you to know what’s happened to a country in which a full-scale civilContinue reading “Civil War review: The scariest movie of the year so far”
- Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank: Romeo and Juliet at the Globe Theatre – An exciting, visceral take on a romantic classicThe company of ‘Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank: Romeo and Juliet’ want you to know it isn’t a run-of-the-mill Shakespeare production. There’s graffiti on the walls of Shakespeare’s Globe, a mini skatepark in the centre of the yard, murals to victims of knife crime, and the beginning of the play is signified by a masked hoodlumContinue reading “Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank: Romeo and Juliet at the Globe Theatre – An exciting, visceral take on a romantic classic”
- Late Night with the Devil review: Demonic possession…on a talk show!?Demonic possession is a sub-genre of horror which has arguably been done to death at this point. From The Conjuring franchise to last year’s disappointingly mediocre It Lives Inside and The Exorcist: Believer, the idea has ranged from reasonably frightening to downright underwhelming. That is until writer-director duo Colin and Cameron Cairnes conjured up theContinue reading “Late Night with the Devil review: Demonic possession…on a talk show!?”
- Imaginary review: Another great concept from Blumhouse…?Imagination is one of the foundations for establishing horror. Watch almost any horror film, and at some point, they’ll be a moment when it forces the audience’s imagination do the work. In Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 classic Psycho, it’s when Norman Bates looks into the camera with a menacing smile on his face, letting the audienceContinue reading “Imaginary review: Another great concept from Blumhouse…?”
- The Zone of Interest review: A haunting perspective on blissful ignoranceWhat do you hear from your house? What noises can you identify from the outside? A dog barking? A lawnmower? Probably nothing beyond mundaneness of everyday life. Now imagine instead of those noises, you hear sounds from the Auschwitz concentration camp from 1943. That is the overall tone of director Jonathan Glazer’s new film, TheContinue reading “The Zone of Interest review: A haunting perspective on blissful ignorance”
- London Through My LensStarting this blog off strong, I recently took a trip to London by myself. I decided to go on a whim as it was my day off of work and I didn’t want … London Through My Lens
- Why experimental horror ‘Skinamarink’ is scarier than you thinkAs the great John Carpenter once said, horror is a universal language. We are all born afraid. Fear can be attributed to a lot of every day actions. We get to work on time in fear of being late. We attend social events in fear of missing out. Even those who have supposedly mastered fearContinue reading “Why experimental horror ‘Skinamarink’ is scarier than you think”
- Stranger Things: The First Shadow – A non-spoiler reviewNetflix’s golden goose franchise, Stranger Things, has a new chapter. Set over 20 years before the start of the series, it is effectively an ‘origin story’ for Henry Creel, and what sets him on his journey to become the series’ big bad, Vecna. Henry’s time at Hawkins High School overlaps with that of some familiarContinue reading “Stranger Things: The First Shadow – A non-spoiler review”
- Does the Conjuring franchise need to end?Nowadays, when you’re debating what films to stick on to get in the mood for the spooky season, The Conjuring or one of its many spin-offs will likely be amongst the first suggested. The 2013 film, directed by the horror mastermind behind the Saw and Insidious franchises James Wan, was given an R-rating by theContinue reading “Does the Conjuring franchise need to end?”
- I finally watched some Hitchcock…As a shameless ‘film bro’ and an avid horror fan, I felt like it was my duty to experience the work of a man who is often regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers in history. I’m referring to, of course, the ‘master of suspense’ Alfred Hitchcock. I got hold of a boxset of fourContinue reading “I finally watched some Hitchcock…”
- Every Spider-person Everywhere all at Once: A non-spoiler review of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse If there’s one thing that aggravates me, it’s when I hear people say, ‘I don’t fancy watching that one Spider-Man film because it’s animated’. If you’re so quick to rule out animation as an accessible means of visual storytelling, then just let an unapologetic 24-year old Spider-Man fan tell you about Sony’s Spider-Verse films. NotContinue reading “Every Spider-person Everywhere all at Once: A non-spoiler review of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse “
- Movies about movies: Why have they been popping up so much recently?What defines a movie about movies? They remind us of the beauty of film, the appeal of the cinematic world, and the reason we go to see them on a big screen. A lot of movies reference movie-making in some way, but that doesn’t mean they are about movies. For example, King Kong is aboutContinue reading “Movies about movies: Why have they been popping up so much recently?”
- Why Halloween (1978) is the perfect horror film
- A modern-day ghost story 0n-stage: 2:22 A Ghost Story – A Review
Are ghosts real? This is the question on which playwright Danny Robins’s 2:22 Ghost Story hinges. In the spirit (no pun intended) of the holiday season, I went to see the play at the Criterion Theatre in London’s West End. The play incited many scary and humorous moments, and questions about the existence of theContinue reading “A modern-day ghost story 0n-stage: 2:22 A Ghost Story – A Review” - From Shakespeare to Star Wars: A conversation with local actor Simon Paisley Day
Simon Paisley Day is a local actor from Whitstable who has had roles in Sherlock, The Crown, Doctor Who, and even Star Wars. He also has had an extensive theatrical career, consisting mostly of Shakespeare, spanning from Measure for Measure to Macbeth. I got the opportunity to chat with him over zoom about film, TV,Continue reading “From Shakespeare to Star Wars: A conversation with local actor Simon Paisley Day“ - 100 years of horror – Does Nosferatu still hold up?Horror classic Nosferatu (1922) recently turned 100 years old – a milestone most films have yet to reach. I recently watched this centennial film in all its glory on Amazon Prime, making it the oldest movie I’ve ever watched. But as a 24-year-old film enthusiast indoctrinated into films by superheroes, CGI and animation, how doesContinue reading “100 years of horror – Does Nosferatu still hold up?”
- Why are modern day films and TV obsessed with popular 80s music?There’s something delightfully nostalgic about watching a gratuitous fight scene to Bonnie Tyler’s 1984 hit ‘Holding out for a Hero‘ or a tense dance off between two groups of super humans to Kenny Loggins’s foot-tapping ‘Footloose‘ (both coincidentally recorded for the soundtrack to the film Footloose). The 1980s blessed pop culture with a colourful varietyContinue reading “Why are modern day films and TV obsessed with popular 80s music?”
- Quentin Tarantino’s novelisation of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood – A ReviewOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood is one of my favourite films. From the colourful visual textures which capture the retro aesthetic of 1960s film, to the captivating performances of its stars (Leonardo DiCaprio as actor Rick Dalton, Brad Pitt as stunt double Cliff Booth, and Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate). The film encapsulates 1960’sContinue reading “Quentin Tarantino’s novelisation of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood – A Review”
- ‘Bullet Train’ Review: Move over Thomas, there’s a new No.1 train in townWhat do you get if you cross the slick action of John Wick, the comedic timing of Deadpool, and the fastest train in the world? No, not a bad dad joke, but Deadpool director David Leitch’s action comedy film Bullet Train. This film is exactly what it sets out to be, a (literal) bullet trainContinue reading “‘Bullet Train’ Review: Move over Thomas, there’s a new No.1 train in town”
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the closest thing to real-life magicWhen Deathly Hallows was published in 2007, if you’d have told a nine-year-old Gareth that the next Harry Potter story would be a stage play, I most likely would’ve been flabbergasted. Seeing the magic come to life on the big screen is one thing, but to see it come to life completely on stage isContinue reading “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the closest thing to real-life magic”
- Lightyear review: Pixar takes Buzz to infinity and beyondYou can see the sweat on Buzz Lightyear’s face as he propels through the stars at hyper speed. You can hear the retro-style sci-fi sound effects scattered throughout the adventure. The shot of a lone space ranger floating through space shows the terrifying magnificence of the universe. More than anything, Lightyear shows the cosmic wonderContinue reading “Lightyear review: Pixar takes Buzz to infinity and beyond”
- ‘Batman: Unburied’ Review: An auditory adventure through Gotham CityAudio drama is one of the most unique styles of entertainment. It is one of the only ways of telling stories which relies on only one of the senses. It shows how much we rely on sound and audio to be entertained and to be told a gripping story. Batman: Unburied is the first inContinue reading “‘Batman: Unburied’ Review: An auditory adventure through Gotham City”
- New Daredevil series in the works: What to expect and what to be wary ofWith the news that Marvel have all but officially confirmed that a new series of Daredevil is on the way, I am nothing short of thrilled, not at all surprised, and only a little bit wary. According to Variety.com, NBC drama writers Matt Corman and Chris Ord are set to write and executive produce aContinue reading “New Daredevil series in the works: What to expect and what to be wary of”
- ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ review: The MCU’s darkest, maddest film yetWhen I first heard Sam Raimi would be directing Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, my first thought was – yes, he is exactly what the MCU needs. I knew we would be in for something substantially different to anything we’ve experienced so far in the MCU. Raimi’s history in both the superhero andContinue reading “‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ review: The MCU’s darkest, maddest film yet”
- From hot tea to hospital sets: My experience being a film extra in Sam Mendes’ new film, Empire of LightMay 4th is known to many as International Star Wars day (‘May the 4th be with you’). I could never have imagined that I would be spending Star Wars day reading an article about The Empire Strikes Back in a 1980s-hospital ward. On May 4th 2022, I lay in a hospital bed with an intravenousContinue reading “From hot tea to hospital sets: My experience being a film extra in Sam Mendes’ new film, Empire of Light”
- ‘Suspicious Minds’ book review: An enticing prequel to Netflix’s Stranger ThingsI love Stranger Things. To me, it simply has it all. A slick 80s setting, a stylish, retro soundtrack, undeniably likeable characters, and intriguing sci-fi mystery that even Doctor Who could take notes from. So when I picked up Gwenda Bond’s ‘Suspicious Minds‘ I was hoping for a similarly enjoyable level of sci-fi mystery writtenContinue reading “‘Suspicious Minds’ book review: An enticing prequel to Netflix’s Stranger Things”
- ‘The Northman’ review: An epic tale of vikings, valour and vengeanceI don’t think the word ‘Viking’ is uttered once in the entirety of The Northman. This appropriately epitomises the authentic Norse feel of the film, as you don’t always need words to convey a feeling in filmmaking. Director Robert Eggers absorbs us in a brutal yet ancient world which runs red with the blood ofContinue reading “‘The Northman’ review: An epic tale of vikings, valour and vengeance”
- What does Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore mean for the future of the Wizarding World?When Warner Bros announced that they would be making a Harry Potter prequel series based on JK Rowling’s book, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, I was ecstatically intrigued. As with most young adults, Harry Potter has a special place in my heart having grown up with the films and the books. It hasContinue reading “What does Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore mean for the future of the Wizarding World?”
- Marvel’s ‘Morbius’ is not as bad as you thinkVampires have always been one of the most intriguing aspects of supernatural fiction. Ever since Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula, vampires have been one of the foremost aspects of the horror genre. With the rise of superhero comics in the 1960s and 70s, it wasn’t long before the wizards at Marvel created a character whichContinue reading “Marvel’s ‘Morbius’ is not as bad as you think”
- Is the ambiguity of ‘Shutter Island’ a blessing or a curse?The polarising nature of Martin Scorsese’s ‘Shutter Island’ left me somewhere between utterly bewildered and undoubtedly mesmerised. I couldn’t decide whether it left me with more questions than answers. The concept of a seemingly sane man gradually going insane in an environment isolated from society isn’t something particularly new in film, so Shutter Island hadContinue reading “Is the ambiguity of ‘Shutter Island’ a blessing or a curse?”
- A Comprehensive Essay on ‘The Man Without Fear’: What makes ‘Daredevil’ one of the most intriguing characters in the Marvel UniverseIt’s the early 1960s. The Marvel comics industry has already produced a colourful variety of iconic characters such as Hulk, Thor, Iron Man and Spider-Man, still within the first few years of their creation. Then one day, comic legends Stan Lee, Bill Everett and Jack Kirby decide – “Hey, what if we created a disabledContinue reading “A Comprehensive Essay on ‘The Man Without Fear’: What makes ‘Daredevil’ one of the most intriguing characters in the Marvel Universe”
- ‘The Batman’ is everything Batman should be and moreEver since the dawn of cinema, filmmakers have continually utilised the power of using ‘the’ in their film titles. Especially in horror, films such as The Shining, The Thing, The Exorcist, The Birds, all use ‘The’ in their titles to creating an ominous feeling of dread; something that overshadows everything and incites fear of theContinue reading “‘The Batman’ is everything Batman should be and more”
- Why ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ could be the MCU’s craziest outing yetThe official trailer for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness sets the stakes for something of truly epic proportion. Everything from the ominous soundtrack to the stunning visuals of mysterious new worlds suggests we’re in for an outing that has never been seen before in the cinematic history of Marvel. Beginning with Strange wakingContinue reading “Why ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ could be the MCU’s craziest outing yet”
- A Return to the Golden Age? What we can expect from Russell T Davies’s return to Doctor WhoWhen it comes to the 21st century revival of Doctor Who, many regard the run of Russell T. Davies as executive producer, showrunner and head writer as the show’s ‘golden age’. His run lasted from 2005 to 2010; kicking off the revival series with the introduction of Christopher Eccleston’s incarnation of the Doctor in ‘Rose’,Continue reading “A Return to the Golden Age? What we can expect from Russell T Davies’s return to Doctor Who”
- How The Lighthouse (2019) shows filmmaking is an art form“Why’d ya spill yer beans?“ In 2019’s The Lighthouse, director and writer Robert Eggers shows how little is required to create an intriguing and effective film. I use the word ‘effective’ because I believe a film can still be good without being effective. For example, if you watch a film at the cinema for aContinue reading “How The Lighthouse (2019) shows filmmaking is an art form”
- Spider-Man: No Way Home (Spoiler) Review*SPOILER WARNING AHEAD* It has now been a good few weeks since the release of Spider-Man: No Way Home, so I decided it was about time I went into some more depth about the film which has not only redefined the story of Spider-Man, but also Marvel movies as a whole. Over the past fewContinue reading “Spider-Man: No Way Home (Spoiler) Review”
- Let’s settle this: What makes a Christmas movie?Being the passionate movie-goer that I am, there is nothing better I enjoy more than watching Christmas flicks back-to-back to get into the festive spirit. Stories of children, elves, and Grinches learning the true meaning of Christmas never fails to bring warmth to my heart and cause my lip to quiver. The 24th and 25thContinue reading “Let’s settle this: What makes a Christmas movie?”
- Spider-Man: No Way Home is a love letter to everything SpideyThe day was Wednesday 15th December, 2021. The time was approximately 21:42. A young man had just walked out of one of the first screenings of Spider-Man: No Way Home. This young man had been a Spidey fan ever since he was a young boy climbing in trees and collecting Spider-Man figures from Sam Raimi’sContinue reading “Spider-Man: No Way Home is a love letter to everything Spidey”
- How Ghostbusters: Afterlife is fan service done rightFan service is a hard thing to nail. When dealing with a beloved classic like 1984’s Ghostbusters, there’s a very thin line between using fan service just to make a movie good and encapsulating the nostalgia which made the original such a cultural phenomenon. 2016’s Ghostbusters directed by Paul Feig undoubtedly leans more into theContinue reading “How Ghostbusters: Afterlife is fan service done right”
- From Spaced to Soho: The Underrated Brilliance of Edgar WrightMost film directors have a particular signature style. Spielberg does the heartfelt family films with a fantasy element, Tarantino does the tight dialogue and paints the set with fake blood, and Kubrick seemingly does whatever he wants no matter how weird and wonderful. Now these directors (and any other big names you may think of)Continue reading “From Spaced to Soho: The Underrated Brilliance of Edgar Wright”
- Why Halloween (1978) is the perfect horror filmLet me just start by saying John Carpenter’s 1978 Halloween is not a perfect movie. Some of the acting is a little choppy and the characters do make some pretty illogical cliché horror movie decisions which don’t do them any favours. Nonetheless, the movie was of its time and it has created some of theContinue reading “Why Halloween (1978) is the perfect horror film”
- Venom: Let there be Carnage is absolute carnage (in a good way)‘Eddie Brock is you, and I’m the suit, so call me VENOMMMM’ as Eminem so eloquently put it in his 2018 song ‘Venom’ – this is how I felt walking out of Venom: Let there be Carnage. My hat (or symbiote) goes off to Andy Serkis. For a man highly respected for his career ofContinue reading “Venom: Let there be Carnage is absolute carnage (in a good way)”
- From Dr. No to No Time to Die: My experience watching all 25 Bond filmsOn 5th October 1962, Dr. No was released in cinemas and kick started a global phenomenon and an integral part of British pop culture. 59 years later, on 5th October 2021, yours truly went to the cinema to watch the 25th James Bond film; No time to Die. Obviously you’d have to be very luckyContinue reading “From Dr. No to No Time to Die: My experience watching all 25 Bond films”
- How Netflix’s Sex Education masterfully explores human connection, sexuality and social identityWe don’t deserve a series like Sex Education. I have not seen a TV series so perfectly address the fundamental every day aspects of the human psyche. The characters and story subvert almost every stereotype and cliché set by American teen dramas. The characters feel like real people with real connections and real problems, andContinue reading “How Netflix’s Sex Education masterfully explores human connection, sexuality and social identity”
- The Spider-Man PS4 game IS the reason Spider-Man is my heroI love Spider-Man. As if the picture isn’t enough to scream that, I’ve loved Spider-Man as long as I can remember. I remember the despair I felt when I was 8 years old and lost my Spider-man 2 Doctor Octopus figure at school. I remember climbing up trees around my village and posing like theContinue reading “The Spider-Man PS4 game IS the reason Spider-Man is my hero”
- Why everyone should be watching Seth MacFarlane’s Orville and why we should be talking about itEvery Wednesday Disney’s streaming service, ‘Disney+’ surprises me with new shows and movies I wouldn’t have expected to be on there. I guess I can count Disney’s acquisition of Fox a blessing because Wednesday 15th September 2021 was no exception. Within a week I had watched both seasons of Orville and I’d cried a totalContinue reading “Why everyone should be watching Seth MacFarlane’s Orville and why we should be talking about it”
About me
I’m Gareth, a Kent-based movie buff who enjoys expressing passion for pop culture through writing. Whilst I do credit the big franchises as the reason for my love of all things pop culture, I’m open to any film, TV show, game or book. I’m a regular cinema-goer and TV-binger, and I love getting absorbed into the fantasy worlds and realms of the pages of a book. I’ve also recently completed a Master’s degree in Social Psychology following an undergraduate Psychology degree. I’m also an actor – having performed in several plays with my local amateur theatre group and currently undergoing training to further my craft. I hope you enjoy my posts and have as much fun reading them as I did writing them!
G does Films 