Table of contents for No. 129 in SciFi Now

Nothing announces your arrival quite like swatting an army helicopter out of the sky with a tree. And so King Kong was born anew on the big screen, only this time a whole lot larger in anticipation of his eventual Godzilla brawl, and with the likes of Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson and Samuel L Jackson for company. But if you think you know the full story then think again. Kong: Skull Island isn’t going to end with the King of the Apes plummeting to his death from the top of the Empire State Building; Kong – and Warner Bros – are in this for the long haul. Expect to learn more about him than you ever thought you would. As evidenced by the above, shared universes are all the rage…

“I DROWNED IN MOONLIGHT, STRANGLED BY MY OWN BRA”CARRIE FISHER It’s inescapable: Carrie Fisher will forever be remembered as Princess Leia Organa, an instantly iconic character in the pantheon of science fiction. While there are undoubtedly worse legacies to be had, this role doesn’t sum up Fisher’s many skills, or just how much of a loss she is. The daughter of singer Eddie Fisher and actress Debbie Reynolds, Fisher was always destined for a career in showbusiness – indeed, Star Wars was only her second role after Shampoo in 1975, with her subsequent reprisals of the Princess Leia role in The Empire Strikes Back in 1980 and Return Of The Jedi in 1983 cementing her iconic status. Whether it was A New Hope’s white gown, or that gold bikini in…

For a long time I’d really wanted to make like a haunted house Phantasm type of movie; something in the vein of the Eighties supernatural adventure horror movies, which we haven’t really seen in a while,” Beyond The Gates director and co-writer Jackson Stewart tells us. It’s a throwback horror with heart that pits estranged brothers John (Chase Williamson) and Hank (Graham Skipper) and Hank’s girlfriend Margot (Brea Grant) against a malevolent VCR horror game, hosted by an icy spirit (Barbara Crampton, who also produces). “I met with [co-writer] Stephen Scarlata and he pitched me this idea about a VCR board game that leads to another dimension. As soon as I heard that, I was like ‘That’s the perfect engine for this thing!’” “I wasn’t familiar with those games,” Crampton…

Bolton Comic-Con 18 February Macron Stadium NorthWestComicCons.co.uk Price: £7 Convention lovers on a budget will feel at home at this geeky get-together. Capital Sci-Fi Con 18-19 February Meadowbank Sports Centre, Edinburgh CapitalSciFiCon.co.uk Price: £5-£18 This pop culture celebration is being organised by fans for fans. Digi-Con 3 25-26 February Doncaster Deaf Trust Digi-Fest.co.uk Price: £5-£25 This convention comes from a pair of lovers of sci-fi, Disney, Ghibli, anime and Harry Potter. Dunfermline Comic Con 11 March Pittencrieff Park’s Glen Pavilion LittleShopOfHeroes.co.uk Price: £5-£7.50 This year, the con has decided to adopt a Little Shop Of Heroes theme. Majikkon 11 March Huddersfield Leisure Centre Majikkon.com Price: £3-£10 This colourful convention is the perfect playground for northern fans of manga and anime. MCM Liverpool 11-12 March Exhibition Centre, Liverpool www.fantomfilms.co.uk/events/eventsmain.htm Price: £15-£20…

EVER SINCE KING KONG’S LEGENDARY PICTURES ORIGIN MOVIE WAS ANNOUNCED AT SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON IN 2014, MOST OF US HAVE BEEN PATIENTLY WAITING FOR ONE THING: KONG AND GODZILLA IN A FIGHT TO THE DEATH ON A DARK, STORMY NIGHT, hopefully over Tokyo, and with lots of collateral damage. The bigger and more brutal, the better. Kong: Skull Island looked like it was going to be a two-hour set-up for the kaiju battle of the century, but it’s more than that. Instead of going down the usual root of bringing in the big guns like JJ Abrams and Shane Black to reboot massive franchises, Kong: Skull Island hired indie director Jordan Vogt-Robert (previously responsible for 2013 life-affi rming comedy The Kings Of Summer) to take on the project, which ought…

Composer Alan Menken is only one half of the team that brought us the music of Beauty And The Beast way back in 1991. His writing partner was, of course, the late, great lyricist Howard Ashman. However, he ended up having a much bigger impact on the film than only providing the music, and not just because he was also serving as an executive producer. Having already been working on Disney’s Aladdin, Ashman rather reluctantly joined Beauty And The Beast after being called in while the film’s production team was struggling. Ashman learnt that he had contracted the AIDS virus shortly before starting work on Beauty And The Beast, and so production was moved from London to New York, Ashman’s home state, in order to accommodate him. In order to…

THE KEEP (1983) In Michael Mann’s unloved film, he plays a scientist forced out of his depth by a group of Nazis. It goes badly. LAST ACTION HERO (1993) Used to playing formidable figures, McKellen outdoes himself here by playing the Grim Reaper himself. THE SHADOW (1994) McKellen plays Dr Reinhardt Lane, a nuclear scientist forced to use his powers for bad. THE GOLDEN COMPASS (2007) The voice of Iorek Byrnison, a warrior polar bear with a hefty right paw. Don’t get on his bad side.…

“PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DYING TO SEE THIS CLAWED CHARACTER UNLEASHED”JAMES MANGOLD SPIDER-MAN Well, I was raised by my aunt and uncle after my parents were killed, and although they were great, I was bullied a lot. I thought everything would get better after a radioactive spider bite gave me superpowers, but Uncle Ben was gunned down in the street, and… it was kinda my fault (*Amazing Fantasy #15). I worked much harder at taking responsibility, but I still couldn’t stop the death of Gwen Stacy (*Amazing Spider-Man #121), Aunt May keeps ending up in villains’ crosshairs, I had a daughter that died during a super-confusing confusing clone saga (*Sensational Spider-Man #1-11), and Doc Octopus swapped bodies with me for a bit (*Amazing Spider-Man #698). That guy’s crazy. JESSICA JONES I…

“MOVIES ABOUT FEMME FATALES USUALLY HAVE THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE MAN” ANNA BILLER WE DON’T SEE A LOT OF FILMS LIKE THE LOVE WITCH. IT’S SHOT, LIT AND DESIGNED TO LOOK LIKE A GOLDEN-ERA HOLLYWOOD FILM. BUT THERE’S also substance below the surface, with one of the most beguiling and complex genre heroines in recent memory. It’s the story of Elaine (Samantha Robinson), a beautiful witch who’s determined to find love using every tool at her disposal, but her quest proves more difficult than she expected… A NEW TAKE ON OLD MAGIC Elaine isn’t like other witches we’ve seen on the big screen. She’s powerful, seductive and driven, but also romantic and damaged. “Witches are a figure of great hysteria in terms of what they represent about men’s…

DR MOREAU’S ANIMAL RESEARCH FACILITY, SOUTHERN PACIFIC “Tropical creature comforts” “Loved the tropical climate, although the locals were a bit touchy and there were screams in the night. The Doctor was a generous host, although he does ramble on a bit. We made the mistake of wandering off from the compound, and we did feel a little unsafe, but we have to say, the saying of the law ceremony is unmissable. We would have liked to see more of the animals, though, apparently they were all in surgery…” DR GENESSIER’S BED AND BREAKFAST, PARIS “Face the day refreshed!” “I was looking for a room near Paris on a limited budget, and was lucky enough to find this thanks to the very kind intervention of a woman named Louise. It’s out…

SAVIORS They have all the weapons, and they have the numbers. Then again, Carl and Jesus were able to casually able to sneak into their base, and there’s division in the ranks, what with Dwight enabling Daryl’s escape. And with everyone else mobilising against them, it looks like Negan has a fight on his hands. RICK’S GROUP That cowardly Gregory will likely do what he can to prevent war from breaking out, although with half the gang having mobilised at the Hilltop, it’s safe to say that he’s getting ignored. Tactically it’s probably the best defence point as well – if they have to choose a last stand then it’ll be here. EZEKIEL’S GROUP Some of them are up for a fight, but King Ezekiel’s going to take some persuading…

Details 12 // 86 mins // 13 January Directors Alex Helfrecht, Jörg Tittel Screenwriters Alex Helfrecht, Jörg Tittel Cast Lorenzo Allchurch, Jonathan Pryce, Agyness Deyn, Fiona Shaw Distributor Signature Entertainment The White King, based on György Dragomán’s novel of the same name, may be set in a dystopian future, but it’s unlike those we’ve grown to know over the last couple of years. The whole thing not only feels like something that could happen, but also like something that could happen very soon. On the surface the setting is idyllic, with the beautiful Hungarian countryside as the film’s backdrop. But as with all dystopian futures, it soon transpires that not everything is as it seems. There are films that do ‘sinister fascist future’ a lot better, but The White King…

FILM INFO Released Out now Certificate 12A Director Justin Kurzel Screenwriters Michael Lesslie, Adam Cooper, Bill Collage Cast Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Charlotte Rampling Distributor 20th Century Fox Running Time 115 mins When it was announced in 2014 that Justin Kurzel was to direct an adaptation of Ubisoft’s thrilling videogame that married real history with fantasy, it suddenly became a very exciting prospect. His debut feature, Snowtown, which told the true story of the bodies-in-barrels murders, was stomach-churningly good. His second film was a visceral, visually daring and haunting adaption of Macbeth starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard, who also feature as the two leads in Assassin’s Creed. The decision for Kurzel to direct made sense. His knack for knockout violence and conjuring an atmosphere of menace are…

Details 12 // 115 mins // 2016 // Released Out now Director Scott Derrickson Cast Benedict Cumberbatch, Rachel McAdams, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tilda Swinton, Mads Mikkelsen, Benedict Wong Distributor Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Is Marvel really good at creating a shared cinematic space for its characters, or is it just really good in relation to DC? It’s a question that can be debated on and on, but in Doctor Strange it can boast another solid addition to its roster. It’s a perverse beast, truth be told. Visually it’s far and away one of the most breathtaking films of the decade, but peel that away and there’s not a huge amount to take away from it. Benedict Cumberbatch is fine in the lead role (despite the ill-fitting American accent), and…

Details 15 // 84 mins // 2016 // Released Out now Director Babak Anvari Cast Narges Rashidi, Avin Manshadi, Bobby Naderi, Ray Haratian, Arash Marandi Distributor Signature Entertainment One of our favourite films of last year, Under The Shadow plunges its characters from one nightmare into another. It’s just as well that it’s now available to watch on Netflix – talk about the perfect late Christmas present. Taking place among the nightmarish backdrop of the Iran-Iraq War, Shideh (Narges Rashidi) has just seen her medical aspirations go up in smoke, and must contend with a terrified child and a husband who has gone off to fight. But as it turns out, these are the least of her worries. Pedalling the unspoken fears of the setting alongside the nightmarish nature…

Details 18 // 108/98 mins // 1998/2001 // Released Out now Director John Carpenter Cast James Woods, Daniel Baldwin, Sheryl Lee, Natasha Henstridge, Ice Cube, Jason Statham Distributor Powerhouse Films Latter-period John Carpenter tends to get a bad rep, but by the time we reach Vampires and Ghosts Of Mars , we are only seeing flashes of greatness. Vampires hit cinemas in 1998, and gave Carpenter what is, to date, his final box-office success. It feels like the filmmaker’s having a lot of fun, indulging in his love of westerns with hard-bitten heroes, desert sunsets, showdowns and chases. The first 15 minutes are a stylish delight, but things slow right down once Jack and co hit the road. The world of Vatican-sponsored monster killers is full of great potential,…

Details 18 // 400 mins // Out now Creators Zal Batmanglij, Brit Marling Cast Brit Marling, Patrick Gibson, Phyllis Smith, Jason Isaacs, Emory Cohen, Alice Krige, Scott Wilson Distributor Netflix If you’ve seen Brit Marling’s previous genre work Another Earth and Sound Of My Voice, you’ll have some idea of what to expect from her latest collaboration with her co-writer and director Zal Batmanglij. The OA sees the duo take an ambitious step into long-format storytelling while retaining their authorial voice to create something that’s bold, moving and thrilling in its confidence and sheer unpredictability. Marling plays Prairie, who abruptly reappears after being missing for seven years. She has also inexplicably regained her sight, and calls herself The OA. Her parents (Alice Krige and Scott Wilson) bring her home,…

Details PG // 390 mins // Out now Creators Mark Hudis, Barry Sonnenfeld Cast Neil Patrick Harris, Patrick Warburton, Malina Weissman, Louis Hynes, K Todd Freeman, Joan Cusack, Aasif Mandvi Distributor Netflix If you enjoyed the Series Of Unfortunately Events books, Netflix’s new series is a dream, bringing to life the characters and stories in a way that the disappointing 2004 film version should be jealous of. If you’re not at all familiar with them then you’re still in for a brilliant treat. The series’ opening song suggests you look away to save yourself the unpleasantness that is waiting on the other side of the title card, but that’s obviously the last thing you should do. Don’t look away, not for a second. Every scene in this charming and dismal…

Armada (2015) Cline’s second novel doesn’t quite hit the heights of Ready Player One, but it’s fun enough. Showing a young boy being hand-picked to help defend Earth from an alien menace that are suspiciously similar to those seen in a popular videogame. It keeps you guessing right until the end. Seveneves (2015) While Snow Crash is Neal Stephenson’s best novel, we’re recommending this one, in part because Cline does. Like in Ready Player One, the world is in dire straits following the unexplained destruction of the Moon, but unlike in the former, mankind actually decides to do something about it. Neuromancer (1984) An obvious choice, perhaps, but it was an inspiration for Cline, and it shows. The sheer level of prescience on display from author William Gibson – who…

1. Gateway “Maybe Gateway by Frederik Pohl? That’s the one that sticks in my mind for making space seem bleakest/scariest! #BookClub” @cjlines 2. Voyage “Stephen Baxter’s Voyage. Testament to humanity’s ingenuity as well its ability for self-sabotage, but still hopeful. #BookClub” @beckygracelea 3. 2001 “It always comes back around to Arthur C Clarke. Several of his books focused on this, but 2001 was the most profound. #BookClub” @ParsonsFiction 4. Mars Trilogy “The Mars trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson. @Hayley Elise 5. The Martian “I like how Mark Watney has to overcome all the obstacles of Mars alone and has good humour throughout. #BookClub” @PasmineJalmer…

“Just finished @FantasticBeasts screenplay, better than cursed child. Now reading George Lucas: A Life by @brianjayjones, excellent. #BookClub” @indianamulder “Reading Night School, the new Jack Reacher. Love a flashback story if it means more Neagley! Next up, new @davidjmoody #BookClub” @GaryRenton2 “Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, pretty good so far! #BookClub” @BeardedWhovian “Foundation series!! Loving it, after 30 years it’s as good as I remember!! #BookClub” @RichardDeakin1 “I’m in the middle of The Princess Diarist. What a legend. #BookClub” @LegoHannibal “Just finished the second Expanse book, Caliban’s War – really great and need to get the next one from the library now! #BookClub” @strickers79 “I just finished Madd Adam by Margaret Atwood. Absolutely brilliant book. Was tearing up by the end. #BookClub” @Pussinabox “Currently reading Lair…

Details Author: Katie Khan Publisher: Doubleday Price: £12.99 Released: Out Now Carys and Max live in a world where love is banned. Daring to defy their society, they fall in love under the watchful eye of Europia. But when they become stranded in space with only 90 minutes of air left, what truths will they discover about themselves and their world? A debut novel from Katie Khan, this story is an unique take on the usual dystopic fictions littering the shelves. At first glance the world seems idyllic, with each member of society contributing in the name of themselves, not government nor religion. Every three years, each citizen of Europia rotates to a new country to discourage romantic relationships and continue to better themselves to become the ideal citizen. Only…

Jen Williams’ Copper Cat trilogy was an absolute joy, an action-packed fantasy adventure with unforgettable characters, pirates and dragons. Now, the author is tackling a different world with her latest novel, The Ninth Rain. The once mighty Eboran race is dying out, poisoned by their blood-drinking habits and abandoned by the mighty tree god that helped them to repel each successive invasion by the monstrous Jure’lia. Pleasure-seeking Eboran Tormalin decides to abandon the kingdom and go out into the world, where Lady Vincenza ‘Vintage’ De Grazon gives him a job as a bodyguard. She’s determined to study the remains of the Jure’lian monsters and find a reason for the ever-expanding darkness in the country, and with the help of Noon, a young witch on the run from her jailers,…

Details Writer: Frédéric Brrémaud Artist: Federico Bertolucci Publisher: Magnetic Press Price: £15.99 Released: Out now The fourth volume of the French bandes dessinée series steps outside the world of contemporary wildlife by some several million years. The primordial swamps of the Cretaceous Period provide the setting for the dramas and dilemmas of a small dinosaur trying to make it through the day, as those around him eat or are eaten in the lavishly painted pages. Entirely wordless, this is a masterclass in the storytelling power of sequential art, and a uniquely accessible comic for all readers. Panel transitions are seamless, with the small dino providing a welcome linking thread throughout. Gore is kept to a minimum, making it friendly for younger dinosaur fans, and Bertolucci infuses genuine natural behaviour with…

“SHE’S A HERO ON PAR WITH SUPERMAN, AND SHE’S UNAPOLOGETICALLY FEMALE” In his fourth decade of comics work spanning the greatest of superheroes, his own award-winning Astro City, and his latest hit Autumnlands, we sat down with prolific writer Kurt Busiek to discuss one of his favourite heroes – Wonder Woman. The Legend Of Wonder Woman, a recently resurrected fan favourite by Renae de Liz, was first published back in 1986, co-written by Busiek with the legendary underground artist Trina Robbins – a real return to her original feminist roots. It has skipped over chapters in Diana’s history… until now! What originally attracted you to write on Wonder Woman? I think the surface appeal of Wonder Woman is the mythological setting – it’s the easy context that makes her clearly…

THE EXORCIST (William Friedkin, 1973) The horror genre was turned upside down by the success of this legendary spine-tingler in the early Seventies, which finds Linda Blair’s Regan MacNeil haunted and possessed by an ancient demonic spirit. After sundry painful-looking medical experiments, the luckless teenager succumbs to a lengthy exorcism – which, depending on your point of view, is either a garish thrill-ride of guts and gore or a serious theological undertaking. Putting all controversy aside, The Exorcist has stood the test as one of the best horror movies of all time, and remains the ultimate must-see. THE EXORCIST II: THE HERETIC (John Boorman, 1977) The problem with ultra-bore The Exorcist II is highlighted the minute Blair walks onto the screen. Not only has she grown into a photogenic young…

Generations of genre fans have a special place in their hearts for Annette O’Toole. She was Beverly Marsh in the nightmare-inducing TV miniseries of Stephen King’s It , she starred in Paul Schrader’s beguiling Cat People remake, and appeared as both Lana Lang in Superman III and Martha Kent in Smallville . We have recently seen O’Toole pop up in excellent TV like 11.22.63 and Halt And Catch Fire , and she’s superb in upcoming indie horror We Go On. She plays Charlotte, the protective mother of a man offering a reward to anyone who can prove that there’s an afterlife. From writer-director duo Jesse Holland and Andy Mitton, it’s a slow-burn with a welcome emphasis…

Packed full of snapshots of the world’s most iconic horror film studio, The Hammer Vault is a repository of blood-red brilliance that all gore hounds will want to own. Here, we look through some of the images from the updated edition, complete with notes from the book… RELIVING THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN Val Guest (centre) directs Peter Cushing and Forrest Tucker on the snowscape set at Pinewood Studios. ABBY’S REVENGE Filming the scene in Let Me In in which the tormented Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee) is almost drowned by Kenny’s brother (Brett DelBuono) and his fellow bullies. Abby will come to his rescue, cementing their mutual devotion. “There’s a dark implication of what the future could be,” says director Matt Reeves. “Some people think…

EYES WITHOUT A FACE (1960) 1 The surgical effects aren’t as advanced as they are today, but that doesn’t make it any less horrifying. And mask is horrible too. PROMETHEUS (2012) Creepy C-sections are one thing, the fact that Elizabeth Shaw performed the extra-terrestrial C-section on herself made this scene even grizzlier. AMERICAN MARY (2012) 3 The revenge-fuelled medical procedures featured here ensured that we would never knowingly piss off Katharine Isabelle, and you shouldn’t either. ISLAND OF LOST SOULS (1932) 4 Outlandish movie operations aren’t outlandish enough if they don’t involve animals in some way. Dr Moreau took things too far. BRAZIL (1985) 5 Surgery isn’t a massive part of Brazil, but that visual of Ida having her face stretched by Dr Jaffe isn’t leaving our minds in this…

It’s nearly here. Admittedly, it has been a bit longer than the 25 years that we were promised, but David Lynch and Mark Frost will be taking us back to Twin Peaks in just a few months for 18 hours, and we’re happier than Special Agent Dale Cooper enjoying a midnight-black cup of coffee and a slice of damn fine cherry pie. “I see it as a film,” Lynch said, “And film in parts is what people would experience, and it was a joyful, fantastic trip with this great crew and great cast, and this word ‘expect’ is a magical word, and people expect things, and their expectations are met, hopefully, when they see the thing.” The filmmaker was taking questions at the TCAs, and as you’d expect, he was…

The Green Lantern Corps team seem intent on confusing everyone, as Ryan Reynolds has reportedly been shortlisted for a role. PLANET HULK Hulk and the God of Thunder will face off in Thor: Ragnarok Good news, X-Files fans: there will be another season. Bad news, X-Files fans: it won’t be until 2018. 4 The number of characters returning for Deadpool 2 (Colossus, Negasonic Teenage Warhead, Dopinder and, erm, Deadpool). MUSIC MEISTER The confirmed identity of the villain in the Supergirl/The Flash musical crossover. Kind of apt, really. Casting is yet to be announced. Studio Ghibli is living on (sort of) via Goro Miyazaki’s Amazon adaptation of Ronja, The Robber’s Daughter 19 MARCH The return date of AMC’s post-apocalyptic hit Into The Badlands starring Daniel Wu, Orla Brady and Sarah…

From Jurassic World to stealing the show as Wilson Fisk in Marvel’s Daredevil, Vincent D’Onofrio is fast becoming one of the most eye-catching actors around. We spoke to him about his newest role in The Wizard Of Oz reimagining, Emerald City… What can you tell us about Emerald City and your take as The Wizard? The Wizard has manipulated the people of Oz into thinking he is a wizard by the sheer demand of wanting to be called ‘The Wizard’, and because he has bought electricity to this world. It’s a world where if you weren’t a Witch you couldn’t turn a light on. The Wizard changed that, but he’s a total fake, and he takes on this image to mask his true self and his…

IT’S GOT A GREAT CAST Playing the mute bartender, known as Leo Beiler, is the brilliant Alexander Skarsgård, which is alone enough to make us want to watch Mute. It also stars Paul Rudd as a surgeon, Justin Theroux as his best friend, Seyneb Saleh as Leo’s missing girlfriend, and Sam Rockwell. DUNCAN JONES IS DIRECTING We’re big fans of Duncan Jones’ work, even if his 2016 effort Warcraft: The Beginning left a lot to be desired. But seeing as Jones has described Mute as a “spiritual sequel” to his 2009 masterpiece Moon, easily his best film, we’re hyped to see what he’s got in store. THE CONCEPT IS INTRIGUING Mute is called Mute because it revolves around the struggles of a mute bartender. Those struggles begin to develop after…

THE CHARACTER 1 Boba Fett has always been a character that has a certain mystery about him. We only see him briefly in the movies, but he always has a presence about him, which makes us not take our eyes off of him. I remember having loads of different action figures of him when I was young, and just thought he was this really cool character who wore an awesome helmet and had this amazing armour. THE COSTUME 2 The majority of this costume is made from EVA foam. I started creating templates for the armour and tried different techniques when deciding how to put it together.The helmet was a resin kit that I purchased, I had to paint it and smooth it down to a point where I was…

ALAN TUDYK Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (K-2SO) I, Robot (Sonny) Alan Tudyk finally got back on the mo-cap horse after a 12-year break for the sassy droid K-2SO in Rogue One, and we’re so glad he did. LIAM NEESON A Monster Calls (The Monster) We knew Liam Neeson had an incredible voice, but we never knew quite how majestic he could be until he played a giant, sentient tree. TOBY KEBBELL Warcraft (Durotan) Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes (Koba) As an established actor and up-and-coming mo-cap artist, we’re excited to see what Toby Kebbell will play next. But it’ll probably be hairy. TERRY NOTARY Kong: Skull Island (Kong) Warcraft (Peon) Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes (Rocket) The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Goblin) Rise Of…

KING KONG RELEASED : 7 April 1933 THE CREW Directors: Merian C Cooper, Ernest B Schoedsack Starring: Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot PREPARE YOURSELF FOR… A voyage to Skull Island from New York City with ambitious fi lmmaker Carl Denham and his team, with star of tomorrow Ann Darrow! Prepare to discover a world that time forgot, where tremendous monsters of history still roam free, ruled over by the Eighth Wonder Of The World himself: KONG! THE JOURNEY King Kong was a true labour of love for Merian C Cooper, drawn from his lifetime of fascination with stories of giant gorillas emerging from the jungle to stun explorers. Not only did the work of the great Willis O’Brien and his team change creature effects forever as they were forced…

JUDY GARLAND AS SNOW WHITE (Snow White, 1937) The triple threat had been acting long before her breakout role in 1939’s The Wizard Of Oz. She would have livened up the classic tale and brought a little extra star quality. GRACE KELLY AS CINDERELLA (Cinderella, 1950) The future Princess of Monaco added flair and, um, grace to everything she did – acting, dancing, speaking, breathing – which makes her a perfect choice for Disney royalty. JANE FONDA AS AURORA (Sleeping Beauty, 1959) The Barberalla star hasn’t really had a heyday. Her life is her heyday, which is why Jane Fonda would have been marvellous as Aurora, and probably given her some personality, too. MOLLY RINGWALD AS ARIEL (The Little Mermaid, 1989) There are very few actresses as Eighties and redhead…

“ WHEN THOSE COME OUT ... DOES IT HURT ? ” “ EVERY TIME” IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME, AND THOSE CLAWS HAVE SEEN A LOT OF ACTION. BACK IN 2000, HUGH JACKMAN BROUGHT WOLVERINE TO THE BIG SCREEN AND TOOK THE CHARACTER FROM FAN FAVOURITE TO GENRE ICON. The quality of the films may have varied as much as the character’s screen time (a solo movie here, a surprise cameo there), but Jackman’s Logan has endured. Emerging at the forefront of the comic-book movie boom, he predates two Batmen, three Spider-Men and every single one of the Avengers. Only Wesley Snipes’ Blade boasts a longer screen life, and that only counts if he ever makes good on those rumours the actor keeps starting. Jackman is bound to the…

OLD MAN LOGAN (2008-09) WRITER: Mark Millar ARTIST: Steve McNiven The inspiration for Logan, and one of the most memorable superhero end-of-days tales in recent history. Simply put, the villains finally realised their numerical advantage, and wiped out most of the heroes, carving the US into territories ruled by Red Skull, Doctor Doom, Magneto, Hulk et al, with Logan now a retired pacifist, who is dragged out on one last mission by a blind Hawkeye. Featuring a fittingly bleak aesthetic – the giant corpses of Loki and Hank Pym still litter the landscape – and a take on Wolverine that proved so popular he was recently resurrected in the Secret Wars crossover, this is one apocalypse we wished would never end. THE DEATH OF WOLVERINE (2014) WRITER: Charles Soule ARTIST:…

“WHAT JAWS DID FOR A DAY AT THE BEACH, GORE WANTS TO DO FOR A DAY AT THE SPA” DANE DEHAAN IT’S NOT OFTEN THAT A FILM COMES ALONG YOU JUST CAN’T CATEGORISE – OR EVEN REALLY TALK ABOUT – WITHOUT RUINING IT. SO BEAR WITH US HERE. A CURE FOR Wellness is a film by Gore Verbinski, staring Dane DeHaan, Jason Isaacs and Mia Goth. It’s set in a very strange health spa. It’s a… horror? DeHaan can’t decide if it’s a horror or a psychological thriller, but Isaacs thinks it’s neither. “It’s a creeper,” he tells us when we catch up with him. “There’s something very creepy and a feeling of dread that comes over you when you watch it. It’s deeply uncomfortable.” But it’s not a horror.…

FILM INFO Released Out now Certificate 15 Director M Night Shyamalan Screenwriter M Night Shyamalan Cast James McAvoy, Anna Taylor-Joy, Haley Lu Richardson Distributor Universal Pictures Running Time 117 mins Since bursting onto the scene with The Sixth Sense, making its director graduate of the class of 1999, that year when Hollywood and American cinema gave us loads of amazing films, M Night Shyamalan has had a very bumpy career. Yet such was the clout of his third and fourth movies (he made two forgotten indie dramas before hitting the big time), he has rode out critical derision like a gnarly surfer dude, and not given two hoots. Why? Because while critics have routinely eviscerated his work – sometimes fairly – his films have either scraped back enough money not…

Details 15 // 96 mins // Out now Director Stacy Title Screenwriter Jonathan Penner Cast Douglas Smith, Lucien Laviscount, Cressida Bonas, Carrie-Anne Moss, Doug Jones Distributor Entertainment Film The rules are simple in Stacy Title’s long-delayed chiller: don’t think it, don’t say it. If that sounds familiar, there’s a lot about The Bye Bye Man that does. The whole film feels like a mid-Noughties horror that has been found in a vault at New Line or Dimension: a tagline-friendly hook, a hooded bogeyman, ropey CGI, a clunky script and an implausibly cavernous off-campus house. We’ve got a soft spot for that kind of thing, but only up to a point. Elliot (Douglas Smith) is the unfortunate student who moves into the aforementioned big old creepy place with his saintly girlfriend…

Details 15 // 107 mins // 2016 // Released Out now Director Nic Mathieu Cast James Badge Dale, Max Martini, Emily Mortimer Distributor Netflix Shot back in 2015, it has taken a while for supernatural-attack thriller Spectral to reach the screen, with the rights shifting from Universal to Netflix during this time. It quickly becomes clear why there wasn’t much confidence from the studio on this one, but look a bit closer and there’s a certain charm to be found. Setting out its stall as an Earthbound Aliens, the US military are brought into Moldova upon the discovery of ghostly, humanoid apparitions that possess the power to kill with a single touch. After quickly seeing most of their unit massacred, DARPA researcher Mark Clyne (James Badge Dale) and CIA…

Details 15 // 111 mins // 2016 // Released Out now Directors Colm McCarthy Cast Sennia Nanua, Gemma Arterton, Paddy Considine, Glenn Close Distributor Warner Home Video A masterclass in how to make a big studio-backed project look like an indie production, The Girl With All The Gifts came out of nowhere to become one of the best films of 2016, and it loses none of its power on the small screen. With author MR Carey on board as screenwriter, it’s no surprise that this rings true to the atmosphere of the novel in its singular depiction of the monstrosity and innocence of childhood, set against the backdrop of the zombie apocalypse. You’re never quite sure whether to accept Melanie (Sennia Nanua) as aggressor or victim, but ultimately not…

Details 15 // 90 mins // 2017 // Released Out now Director Adam Randall Cast Bill Milner, Maisie Williams, Miranda Richardson, Rory Kinnear, Charley Palmer Rothwell Distributor Netflix When Tom’s (Bill Milner) high-school crush Lucy (Maisie Williams) is assaulted in her home, he finds himself staring down the barrel of a gun. A shameful fight-or-flight response leaves Tom in the hospital with a head injury, and it’s not long before he realises that pieces of his broken phone had accidentally found themselves embedded into his brain, with no chance of removal. It’s not all bad though; after his accident, it transpires that Tom has developed the power to control technology with his mind. Not wanting Lucy’s mysterious attackers to get away with it, Tom uses his newfound powers to…

Details 15 // 90 mins // 2016 // Released Out now Directors Jesse Holland, Andy Mitton Cast Clark Freeman, Annette O’Toole, Giovanna Zacarías, John Glover Distributor Shudder This slow-burn horror from co-directors (and writers) Jesse Holland and Andy Mitton picked up some good buzz from genre festivals before making its UK debut on Shudder, and deservedly so. Clark Freeman gives a compelling performance as Miles, a man scared of pretty much everything who uses a sudden windfall to offer a reward to anyone who can prove that there’s life after death. Accompanied by his protective mother, Charlotte (Annette O’Toole), he meets a series of people who claim to speak to the dead, but will he find what he’s looking for? Holland and Mitton take their time developing Clark’s character…

Details 15 // 552 mins // // Out now Creator Frank Spotnitz Cast Alexa Davalos, Rupert Evans, Luke Kleintank, DJ Qualls, Joel de la Fuente, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Rufus Sewell, Bella Heathcote Distributor Amazon While the first season of The Man In The High Castle was a worthwhile investment for those who didn’t lose patience with the at times galactically slow pace, there was always a bit of doubt surrounding its future considering the lack of a) source material, and b) a showrunner. In spite of these hurdles, Season Two manages to be even better than what came before it. Even if the ending of Season One was frustratingly open-ended, it offered clear storyline directions for its leads: Juliana (Alexa Davalos) is on the run after trading her safety for Joe’s…

Details 18 // 557 mins // Out now Creator Neil LaBute Cast Kelly Overton, Jonathan Scarfe, Christopher Heyerdahl, David Cubbit, Rukiya Bernard, Trezzo Mahoro, Tim Guinee Distributor Netflix Van Helsing’s premise is intriguing: in 2019, a descendent of Bram Stoker’s famed vampire hunter Abraham Van Helsing, Vanessa, is resurrected from a coma in a post-apocalyptic world in which villainous vampires rise from their underground homes to plague the surface of Earth. Soon after, she takes on the responsibility of leading a resistance group with the hopes of reaching the bloodsucking menaces and defeating them for good. However, the intrigue quickly ends halfway through the first episode, which does a stellar job of setting the scene and then shutting that shit right down with the arrival of an extremely boring Walking…

“ROBINSON SEAMLESSLY BINDS TOGETHER CHARACTERS AND NARRATIVE STRANDS” Details Authors: Kim Stanley Robinson Publisher: Orbit Price: £22.79 Released: 14 March Good stories about New York always have a certain grandeur about them, and the best elevate the narrative and characters to the mythical heights of its subject. In New York 2140, Kim Stanley Robinson’s latest vision of the future, the Big Apple has been submerged by waves of catastrophic climate change, heralding a new world order and a transformed way of living. One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is politics and human nature, so as we jump between the various viewpoints of the many different characters in Robinson’s big, big story, we see that despite history trying its absolute worst to teach us a lesson, it may not be enough…

Details Author: Jen Williams Publisher: Headline Price: £14.99 Released: 23 February Kickstarting a new trilogy, Jen Williams’ The Ninth Rain finds us in a place ravaged by war and fearful of potential conflict on the horizon. Ebora, a city long since left to decay by the world around it, used to be a fearsome stronghold, and some conspire to see it succeed once more. In the midst of it all are Vintage, a lady explorer; Tormalin, a hard-drinking Eboran in exile; and Noon, a runaway witch, who are initially questing for ancient artefacts, but instead find themselves caught up in something bigger. Williams trusts the reader to keep up with the political landscape of her world, whether it’s in the decaying city of Ebora or the dank corridors of the…

“AS WELL AS BEING AN INTELLIGENT SCI-FI STORY, IT’S ALSO A LOVE STORY, AND KIND OF A MONOMITH” Details Author: Elan Mastai Publisher: Michael Joseph Price: £14.99 Released: Out now We were supposed to have jet packs by 2016. And flying cars, and medical scanners, and food synthesisers, and all the rest of that stuff from Sixties sci-fi. It wasn’t meant to be fiction. It should have been real. So why isn’t it? Because Tom Barren climbed into a time machine and messed everything up. All Our Wrong Todays sees Tom stranded in a version of 2016 he barely recognises. Following an accident in his timeline, he ignores protocol and travels back to the moment when a famous scientist (in his reality, anyway) switches on the experimental machine that changes…

“Nanny Ogg, always. It’s a close thing, because I love Terry Pratchett’s Witches novels, and Granny Weatherwax is easily a hero of mine, but Nanny Ogg practically feels like a relative – although of course I wouldn’t want to be one of her put-upon daughters-in-law. Wydrin Threefellows, the central hero of the Copper Cat novels, has more than a touch of Gytha Ogg in her DNA, particularly the young, hell-raising Gytha Ogg. What a legend.”…

Details Writer: Rick Remender Artists: Jerome Opeña, Matt Hollingsworth Publisher: Image Price: £8.99 Released: 21 February Image Comics has long dominated sci-fi and fantasy, and a new series from the same writing desk as the incredible Black Science and Deadly Class came with a sense of hype. Alas, this doesn’t hit the same dizzy heights as those long-running comics. Even so, Seven To Eternity does hold great potential, not least due to the pulp-style art and colouring. Based heavily in the themes of family, redemption and the unseemly reality of weighty moral decisions, Jerome Opeña lets his imagination fly loose, conjuring up all manner of beast and background for the kingdom of Zhal. Adam Osidis travels from exile to the seat of power in order to save his family when…

Astro City: Life In The Big City (1995) Kurt Busiek, Brent Anderson, Alex Ross The first volume of the epic superhero anthology series, originally published by Image Comics and completely removed from all previously known superhero worlds. Marvels (1994) Kurt Busiek, Alex Ross A view of the Marvel universe through the camera lens of the man on the street with beautifully painted pages from Ross, whose art continues to impress and be unlike anything else in the graphic novel market. Superman: Secret Identity (2004) Kurt Busiek, Stuart Immonen Growing up with the name Clark Kent is a bummer with everyone’s Superman jibes, but Kent’s life changes for real when he wakes up with his powers. The Autumnlands: Tooth And Claw (2015) Kurt Busiek, Ben Dewey, Jordie Bellaire A high-fantasy epic…

As with any big Hollywood success story, The Exorcist inspired a small cottage industry of possession films – and, perhaps unsurprisingly, some of the most memorable came from such Catholic countries as Italy and Spain. Italy was already in the midst of a horror film revolution, of course, so when the colourful Beyond the Door (1974) appeared – starring genre veteran Richard Johnson (Zombie Flesh Eaters) – few should have been surprised. Warner Bros, however, sued the film for plagiarism, only to lose and see the Euro-romp notch up further big box office on the back of such welcome free publicity. Indeed, in 1974 money, Beyond The Door grossed $15 million – and, to this day, remains one of the more enjoyed Exorcist rip-offs (it is also miles better than…

Ask any genre buff to name some of the essential Italian horror films from the golden age of the country’s splatter movie boom, and chances are that alongside such classics as Dario Argento’s Suspiria and Mario Bava’s Black Sabbath , Lucio Fulci’s The Beyond will come up. Despite being released in its native Italy to critical disdain, and winding up heavily censored – and then banned – in the UK as a ‘video nasty’, the surrealist masterpiece gained an almost unrivalled fan following as the years progressed. Indeed, while Fulci himself – who passed away in 1996 at the age of 68 – never lived to see The Beyond obtain its stellar reputation, he predicted…

“SECONDS IS A CHARACTER STUDY, WHILE ALSO BEING A NOIR THRILLER” John Frankenheimer’s Seconds has become something of a phenomenon over time, but for a bizarre reason. After its release in 1966, the film was a massive failure. Its reviews were pretty regular – some critics liked it, and some panned it – but hardly anyone saw it. It made little to no impact, and fell off the film radar for years. However, it is now often considered a masterpiece and a cult classic. It went from failure to iconic without ever being a success. Watching it now, it’s easy to see why Seconds has finally managed to earn its cult classic status. Even with advancements in filmmaking, it’s extraordinary. Frankenheimer explores the themes of identity…

“Masterpiece on every level. Wild, scary, funny, piercingly smart. All-round classic.” @TomHuddleston_ “Great James Wong Howe black and white cinematography, and a fantastic opening sequence.” @SSheil “It’s superb – Rock Hudson way out of his comfort zone Frankenheimer on form. I keep recommending it to people and telling them to read nothing about it beforehand for maximum impact.” @mattround “It’s an amazing, if disturbing, film. Hudson is brilliant. Love it.” @ms_mjolnir “A rare five stars from me. It’s like Mad Men S2 in the Twilight Zone.” @cjlines “AWESOME. AMAZING. OUT OF THIS WORLD. WAY AHEAD OF ITS TIME. If you haven’t watched it... WATCH IT!!!” @HahnShoLobo…

FINAL RESPECTS Not every cast member is back for Season Three, and some of their absences are explained in the book. Pete Martell (Jack Nance) and Andrew Packard (Dan O’Herlihy) died in the bank explosion – with Audrey Horne (Sherilyn Fenn) the only survivor, and Hank Jennings (Chris Mulkey) is murdered in prison. RUN OF THE MILL Following the death of her brother and husband, Catherine Martell (Piper Laurie) becomes recluse, closing the mill and selling the land to Benjamin Horne (Richard Beymer) – who seems to have survived his fall – devastating the local economy. Whether the town recovers in the time following remains to be seen. THE FATE OF DALE Garland Briggs (Don S Davis), – revealed at the end of the book as the author – was…

POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE (1987) A semi-autobiographical take on Fisher’s own life, this was later adapted into a film – with the analog Fisher being played by Meryl Streep. AMAZON WOMEN ON THE MOON (1987) An under-watched anthology parody of Fifties B-movies, Fisher features in one segment – well worth checking out. THE ’BURBS (1989) Fisher starred alongside Tom Hanks in Joe Dante’s memorable tale of spooky small-town suburbia. THE PRINCESS DIARIST (2016) Published shortly before her death, she sheds light on the filming experience on A New Hope.…

1 Fighting the undead The last time we saw Eoin Macken in our pages was as Sir Gwaine on Merlin. Now, he is returning in Resident Evil: The Final Chapter as Doc, a new character they meet along the way back to Hive.“On her way, [Milla Jovovich’s Alice] comes across a small band of survivors,” he tells us.“My character is the respectable leader of these survivors. He’s trying to keep a little bit of hope alive. He’s a bit knackered, and they’re on edge with each other. Doc is just trying to keep everybody from dying!” 2 Playing the game “I used to love playing it!” Macken tells us of the Resident Evil games.“It used to scare the crap out of me. I didn’t actually enjoy playing them, because it…

Welcome to Memory Bank, where we shuffle through the dusty archives of the SciFiNow vault, and have a look back at what we got right, what we got wrong, and who we were all obsessed with for that particular month. This month, we’re flicking through issue 83, which featured on the cover one of TV’s greatest love triangles: Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder as Elena, Stefan and Damon of The Vampire Diaries. The feature in question was for Season Five, all those years ago, before Dobrev made her exit, before Elena had enrolled at university and the show’s spin-off, The Originals, had even started airing. Weirdly, Season Five only aired in 2013, but it feels like a lot longer than that. Issue 83 also featured our Kick-Ass 2…

“We said goodbye to all our actors last night, and there were a lot of tears and a lot of heartfelt talks,” says David Greenwalt, co-creator of Grimm. After celebrating its 100th episode last season, the supernatural series inspired by Grimms’ Fairy Tales was renewed by NBC last April. The 13-episode order hinted, however, that Grimm’s sixth season may be its last. Thus, the cancellation announcement was not a shock, according to co-creator Jim Kouf. “I think that we had a good run, and we did what they needed us to do for that long period of time. I think it was the right time. We wrapped up the series in a meaningful way that pays homage to the beginning of the series. It’s the right way to go out.”…

NAVIGATOR WANTED Weyland-Yutani is looking for mechanics and navigators to embark on a trucking expedition into deep space. Salary is dependent on experience. Bonus situation not open to discussion. Contact HR@weyland-yutani.net ASTRONAUT POSITION AVAILABLE The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is accepting applications from experienced scientists to join the team on the Discovery One for a Jupiter-bound mission. The operations will be controlled by NASA’s failsafe, state of the art HAL 9000 computer. To demonstrate levels of scientifi c and astronomical . knowledge, candidates should send a portfolio of research to the address below. Space awaits! Dept. of Human Relations NASA Headquarters Washington DC 20546-0001 PLEASE HELP Looking for spelunking experts for a cave descent. These bastards got me once, and I’m not going to let them get me again.…

WHEN DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST HIT CINEMAS IN 1991, IT INSTANTLY BECAME THE STUDIO’S MOST SUCCESSFUL ANIMATED release. It’s a timeless tale, after all: Belle spent her life reading, dreaming and hoping for adventure in the great wide somewhere. She eventually found what she was looking for, only in a different shell to what she was expecting. Add to that catchy songs, dance numbers and marvellous hand-drawn animation, and it really comes to life. It’s not hard to figure out why the upcoming Beauty And The Beast remake has been surrounded by hype since it was first announced three years ago. The film’s teaser trailer set the record for most views in its first 24 hours, and then the first full-length trailer went and topped it a few months…

“I’M THRILLED THAT BILL CONDON ASKED ME. WHEN HE SENDS YOU A SCRIPT, YOUR HEART LIFTS”IAN MCKELLEN WHILE MUCH OF THE AD CAMPAIGN FOR BEAUTY AND THE BEAST HAS CENTRED AROUND ITS TWO LEADS, IT ALSO BOASTS AN IMPRESSIVE supporting cast, with Ewan McGregor as Lumiere, Emma Thompson as Mrs Potts, Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Plumette, and – most remarkably – Sir Ian McKellen as Cogsworth. It’s names like McKellen’s that have drawn such a huge interest to this live-action adaption. Not only does it have the legacy of the existing animation to uphold, but with the acting chops being plied into it, there is another layer of pressure. But for a stalwart like McKellen it won’t be much of a problem. He’s been an active film actor since 1964, with…

BAR-FIGHT INTRO Fans of the comics were forced to explain to X-Men newcomers that Wolverine wasn’t actually the main character after this incredible introduction. Logan barely keeps himself in check during a brutal cage-fight, and when we finally see those claws extended in the subsequent argument… it’s unforgettable. “MY NAME IS LOGAN.” Having decided not to throw Rogue out of his truck, Logan gruffly bonds with the runaway. It’s a brilliantly written scene that’s perfectly performed by the two actors, with both their defences coming down just a little. When she finally asks if unsheathing his claws hurts, he simply replies, “Every time.” “YOU’RE A DICK.” What can we say about this moment from the first X-Men? Although in fairness it should be noted that Cyclops’ equally concise “Okay” response…

THE AGE OF APOCALYPSE Created when Legion accidentally kills Charles Xavier, Apocalypse wakes up early to subjugate mankind – wiping out large swathes of the world and earning the enmity of Magneto in the process. DAYS OF FUTURE PAST Another nightmarish X-reality in which mutant-destroying Sentinels have run amok, enslaving mankind in the process. Like Age Of Apocalypse, there’s no fi xing this reality; there’s only escaping it. EMPEROR JOKER The Joker gains the reality-warping powers of Mr Mxyzptlk, offi ng the entire world bar Batman – who he keeps to repeatedly kill and resurrect – and Superman, the only one strong enough to resist his infl uence.…

LUCIUS MALFOY (HARRY POTTER) Perhaps more weaselly than menacing, there’s no doubting the elder Malfoy’s villain status. His treatment of house elves and silver-blonde locks are a dead giveaway. HAP (THE OA) You could argue that the twisted doc was just doing what he thought was best for humanity, but that’s no excuse for kidnapping people and forcibly flatlining them. THE INQUISITOR (STAR WARS: REBELS) When you need someone to bring evil English tones to your Star Wars villain, you call Jason Isaacs and his silky-smooth voice. This merciless killer is stone cold. CAPTAIN HOOK (PETER PAN) This definitely isn’t our favourite take on JM Barrie’s classic story, but we love Isaacs’ moustache-twirling take on everyone’s favourite one-handed piratical villain. DEMARCO (ELEKTRA) We’re really only including this because we forgot…

IT JUST GOES TO SHOW: EVEN THE DARKEST SHOWS HAVE A BIT OF LIGHT SOMETIMES. AND IT HAS PROVED TO BE THE CASE WITH SEASON SEVEN OF THE WALKING DEAD. After eight episodes of unremitting misery, commencing with the deaths of Glenn (Steven Yeun) and Abraham (Michael Cudlitz), the mid-season fi nale showed the gang coming together once and for all, both due to recognising that they would never be safe while Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) was around, and that his actions in Alexandria – murdering Spencer (Austin Nichols), ordering the death of Olivia (Ann Mahoney) and taking Eugene (Josh McDermitt) – had fi nally crossed a line. More than anything else though, it was the reunion of Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Daryl (Norman Reedus) that gave us most cause…

Details 12A // 116 mins // Outnow Director Morten Tyldum Screenwriter Jon Spaihts Cast Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Pratt, Michael Sheen, Laurence Fishburne Distributor Sony Pictures Passengers takes the idea that humans were not designed to be solitary beings and begins in a similar manner to Duncan Jones’s Moon, or more recently The Martian, with Chris Pratt as engineer Jim Preston, following in the footsteps of the brilliant Sam Rockwell and Matt Damon as lone men lost in space. Unfortunately, this romantic sci-fi adventure featuring two of Hollywood’s biggest stars ends in disaster thanks to a creepy plot point. When Jim’s hibernation pod on the Starship Avalon malfunctions on his way to a new planet 30 years into what was supposed to be a 120-year stasis, he freaks out, but soon…

Details TBC // 97 mins // 21April Director Michael O’Shea Screenwriter Michael O’Shea Cast Eric Ruffin, Chloe Levine, Larry Fessenden Distributor SodaPictures A lonely teenage boy named Milo living in Queens, New York bonds with the physically abused Sophie over vampires. She’s a fan of Twilight and True Blood, but he’d rather be watching Let The Right One In. Tomas Alfredson’s vampire flick is a big influence on this low-budget indie from first-time filmmaker Michael O’Shea, who explores themes of grief, despair and poverty. Milo’s obsession with vampires leads him to think he is one, and after the death of his mother he disappears into his imagination. He’s a daywalker who doesn’t stalk his prey, instead taking any opportune moment to feed. We first meet him sucking on the neck…

Details 15 // 89 mins // 2016 // Released 16 January Director Adam Wingard Cast James Allen McCune, Callie Hernandez, Brandon Scott, Valorie Curry, Corbin Reid, Wes Robinson Distributor Lionsgate Home Entertainment Despite receiving mainly negative reviews upon its release, we’re going to nail our colours to the mast in our support of Adam Wingard and Simon Barrett’s surprise sequel to The Blair Witch Project. To be honest, we can’t quite work out what people’s issues with it are. Sure, it abandons a lot of the original’s slow-burning scares in favour of more outright shocks and a side helping of body horror, but did everyone really want the exact same film over again? Maybe they did, but that’s neither here nor there. It might be slightly different in…

Details PG // 110 mins // 2001 // Released 13 March Director Rintaro Cast Yuka Imoto, Kei Kobayashi, Koki Okada Distributor Eureka Not to be mistaken for Fritz Lang’s expressionist 1927 classic (although this version is based on the 1949 anime that was inspired by the original Metropolis), Osamu Tezuka’s memorable 2001 hit is available once again on Blu-ray. The similarities with this and Lang’s masterpiece are obvious: Duke Red is a more malevolent Fredersen, Dr Laughton this world’s Rotwang, the carefree Kenichi and psychotic Rock two sides of the same Frederson coin, and Tima an ersatz Maria, far more innocent and ultimately more vulnerable than her inspiration. The setting seems more advanced too: while this Metropolis is also an intimidating behemoth of classic architecture and foreboding skyscrapers, this world…

Details 15 // 118 mins // 2016 // Released 20 February Director Yeon Sang-ho Cast Gong Yoo, Kim Su-an, Jung Yu-mi, Ma Dong-seok Distributor Studiocanal Korean action horror Train To Busan has been unstoppable, charging into the hearts of genre fans and a lot of ‘Best of 2016’ lists. It’s certainly a highly entertaining, moving and topical movie, and despite being a little overlong, you’re definitely going to want to catch up with this. White-collar exec Seok-Woo (Gong Yoo) agrees to take his young daughter Soo-an (the brilliant Kim Su-an) from Seoul to Busan to reconnect with her mother. Just as the train leaves the station, a zombie outbreak begins, and the passengers must fight for their lives. Writer-director Yeon Sang-ho (The King Of Pigs) is best known…

Details 15 // 700 mins // 30 January Creator Max Landis Cast Samuel Barnett, Elijah Wood, Hannah Marks, Fiona Dourif, Jade Eshete Distributor BBC America/Netflix Adapting Douglas Adams isn’t easy, and to his credit, Max Landis takes the bull by the horns. There’s an obvious love of the source material, but the results are mixed. Todd Brotzman (Elijah Wood) isn’t living his best life when he’s fired from his job as a hotel bellboy after discovering a crime scene, and he’s deeply confused after catching a glimpse of his doppelganger. When a chatty British oddball named Dirk Gently (Samuel Barnett) tries to recruit him as his assistant in solving this mystery, Todd is forced to face the fact that there is more going on the universe. What makes Landis…

Details PG // 598 mins // Out now Creator Guillermo del Toro Cast Anton Yelchin, Charlie Saxton, Lexi Medrano, Jonathan Hyde, Kelsey Grammer, Amy Landecker, Steven Yeun Distributor Netflix It has always been clear that Guillermo del Toro has an affinity with monsters, but less apparent whether he could showcase this in a kid-friendly setting – as great as Pan’s Labyrinth, Cronos etc are, they aren’t exactly suitable for all. Now we’ve seen Trollhunters, we can confirm that his range has officially been expanded. Drawing from Del Toro’s YA book series he co-penned with Daniel Krauss, it sees a boy named Jim (Anton Yelchin, adding extra poignancy in one of his last ever roles) become the first human to be assigned the mantle of ‘Trollhunter’, setting the scene for…

“BEYOND ITS ENCHANTING SHEEN, READY PLAYER ONE CAN BE ENJOYED ON SO MANY LEVELS” Classic science fiction isn’t necessarily timeless. Much as the likes of HG Wells’ The War Of The Worlds and John Wyndham’s Day Of The Triffids are clearly rooted in the time in which they were written due to the relative antiquity of their settings, so too will Ready Player One one day be outdated thanks to the litany of pop-culture references that adorn its pages. Then again, we doubt that author Ernest Cline is too bothered by this, as his debut novel is so transparently a love letter to pop culture of the 20th century that it was always destined to inhabit its own time capsule. Born in 1972, he was five when Star Wars was…

Details Author: Jaroslav Kalfar Publisher: Sceptre Price: £16.99 Released: 16 March A man being propelled into the unknown is forced to confront himself in Jaroslav Kalfar’s incredible debut novel. Spaceman Of Bohemia blends personal and political history with sci-fi elements to create something that feels both epic and grounded. It’s witty, it’s strange, it’s moving and it’s very, very difficult to put down. The story begins in 2018, with Czech astronaut Jakub Prochazka hurtling through the Earth’s atmosphere into space to retrieve samples from a mysterious new gas cloud. Alone for weeks, Jakub remembers when his world was turned upside down by the Velvet Revolution, as his Communist informer/torturer father died in an accident shortly before he was due to stand trial. Growing up with his grandparents, Jakub struggles to…

Details Author: Tim Lebbon Publisher: Titan Price: £7.99 Released: 21 March Tim Lebbon writes about loss and strange goings-on with a perceptive eye and great relish in the first book of a new trilogy about a freelance relic hunter. Set in London in the present day, Lebbon uses the concrete landscape, disused buildings and underground tunnels as the backdrop to navigate how brutal and anonymous living in the big city can be. But with his main characters, Lebbon builds a warmer mood as he navigates the lengths some will go to in the name of devotion. Angela and Vince are in a loving relationship. She spends her days at home studying criminal behaviour and writing her doctorate, occasionally meeting with her best friend Lucy for lunch, and casually messaging Vince…

How would you describe the Rupert Wong stories to a newcomer? Gory, I guess, would be the very first word I’d use. The Rupert Wong series is about a technically immortal ex-Triad member who doesn’t know when to keep his mouth shut, despite the fact that he lives in a world fetid with omnipotent beings. He suffers for it. Also, the Rupert Wong stories are equal parts food porn and gore – lots of gore. The new book takes Rupert to London. Was that always something you had in mind? Not actually, no. My day job causes me to travel a lot, and over the last six years or so I’ve been pretty much everywhere. Whenever I find myself living somewhere for an extended period of…

Details Author: China Miéville Publisher: Picador Price: £14.99 Released: 23 February Paris is not as we know it in China Miéville’s alternate history/ fantasy mash-up, a celebration of the vital power of art and a fascinating SF tale all at once. In 1950, Surrealist survivor Thibaut fights for his life among the Nazis, the roaming ‘manifs’ conjured from the imagination of Surrealist artists and the demons that the Nazis summoned from hell to combat them. Meanwhile, in 1941, an American scientist is about to uncover the means for a world-changing event. From the opening image of a woman riding Leonara Carrington’s ‘The Amateur Of Velocipedes’ away from Nazi troops on Parisian streets, Miéville conjures a fascinating cityscape filled with the impossible creations of the Surrealists, made beautiful, terrifying and unknowable…

Details Writer: Brian Michael Bendis Artists: David Marquez, Justin Ponsor Publisher: Marvel Price: £11.89 Released: 15 February Marvel’s first Civil War crossover was proof that superhero comics don’t always need solely comprise bashing and smashing – although some is still perfectly fine. Crafting a conflict that gave that ‘with great power comes great accountability’ quote real weight, it remains one of its best storylines in recent years. Civil War II attempts to replicate this formula, although instead the source of conflict is a recently powered-up Inhuman called Ulysses, who can predict and project the future, allowing the Avengers to pre-emptively deal with the threats he foreshadows, much to the misgivings of Iron Man. When his pal War Machine is killed during one mission, he breaks ranks finally, positioning himself…

Details Writer: Rob Davis Artist: Rob Davis Publisher: SelfMadeHero Price: £12.99 Released: Out now The British Comic Award-winning and Eisner Award-nominated The Motherless Oven landed in 2014 to great acclaim. This, then, is the sequel to that surreal and unique dark tale, a world in which parents don’t make children; children make parents. Scarper Lee’s father is wind-powered with a sail, his mother is a Bakelite hair dryer, and Scarper knows his upcoming deathday – only his is in three weeks, and on that adventure he asks, “Who the hell is Vera Pike?” Vera Pike is the Can Opener’s Daughter, and this is her story. Daughter too of the Weather Clock, the omnipotent, ruthless and megalomaniacal Prime Minister of Chance, Vera is sent to St Sylvia’s School of Bleak Prospects…

“ONE OF THE BEST MONSTER MOVIES EVER MADE”JOHN LANDIS Ask anyone to name the best horror film of all time, and there’s a good chance that William Friedkin’s 1973 shocker The Exorcist will be mentioned. Released to censorship battles, outrage, Oscar nominations and critical acclaim and disdain, it fast cemented itself as a modern legend, with stories of audiences fainting – and reports of church attendance increasing – greeting its cinematic debut. How much of The Exorcist was ballyhoo became a topic of discussion, with recently deceased author William Peter Blatty, a dedicated Catholic, spearheading the blossoming box-office takings by affirming that yes, it was really based on a true story. Meanwhile, young star Linda Blair became a household name, and in the UK, campaigner Mary…

After The Exorcist, Linda Blair was probably the most famous 14-year old on the planet. As a result, paparazzi followed her every move and her gradual evolution into adulthood was documented in newspapers and magazines across the planet. Having been nominated for an Academy Award (for Best Supporting Actress) for The Exorcist, and notching up a Golden Globe (in the same category), it seemed as if everything was going very smoothly for the young thespian. Unfortunately, it would not last. A role in the blockbuster sequel Airport 1975 (released, erm, in 1974) saw her profile spiral even further – and her leading-lady spin in the same year’s hit television movie Born Innocent indicated she was at the top of Tinseltown. Another made-for-TV success, Sarah T – Portrait Of A Teenage…

LIZARD IN A WOMAN’S SKIN (1971) 1 Deliriously arty oddball giallo horror film about an upper-class, London-based lady whose sexual repressions may or may not have caused a murder spree. This is Fulci at his creative peak, with aesthetic splendour to spare and some gorgeous art nouveau set dressing. ZOMBIE FLESH EATERS (1979) 2 The notorious ‘video nasty’ that made Fulci a horror household name. Shark vs zombie. Eyeball vs splinter of wood. It’s a little confusing because it’s called Zombie on IMDb, was originally called Zombi 2 , and known as Zombies elsewhere. THE BEYOND (1981) 3 Still considered one of Fulci’s most mesmerising masterworks, its ambitiously nonsensical and non-linear approach to horror would typify much of the gore auteur’s later cinematic output as well. MANHATTAN BABY (1982) 4…

ARRIVEDERCI 1. How old was John Connor in the pilot episode? 2. What year was Cameron sent back from? 3. What is the name of the FBI Special Agent who pursues Sarah Connor in Season One? 4. Who is revealed to be Skynet’s target for termination in the episode ‘Self Made Man’? 5. Who sells Sarah fire arms and is later killed by Cameron? AUF WIEDERSEHEN 6. Whose identity did Cameron assume before being reprogrammed? 7. Who is Derek Reese’s younger brother? 8. What model Terminator is Cromartie? 9. What kind of building did Charley Dixon use as a safe house? 10. Who does Cameron give her processor chip to in the series finale? SAYONARA 11. Whose love interest is Riley Dawson? 12. What is the name of the high-tech…