What to Watch on Shudder: Maniac Cop and More

This week’s picks of what to watch on Shudder features Maniac Cop, Lake Bodom, and He Took His Skin Off For Me…

What to Watch on Shudder: Maniac Cop

1988’s Maniac Cop feels like a quintessential 1980s picture. It is a bona fide cult classic. Director William Lustig (who also helmed 1980’s Maniac) combines a thriller with a slasher aesthetic that is very much of its era. The film is about a killer dressed in police uniform who murders people on the streets on New York. There is plenty to like about the film – the shifting point of view, the silent killer, the mystery surrounding the identity of the title character. The film stars horror nobility Bruce Campbell as an officer accused of being the culprit, as well as Tom Atkins and Laurene Landon as police officers trying to find out the identity of the killer. In March 2017, it was announced that Nicolas Winding Refn’s remake of Maniac Cop had been greenlit, so see the original before the remake hits the big screen.

What to Watch on Shudder: Lake Bodom

2016’s Lake Bodom has just been added to Shudder, and it is well worth a watch. The film, which screened at the 2016 BFI London Film Festival, is a horror-thriller which entertains throughout. A group of teenagers visit the site of an unsolved multiple murder which occurred decades before, hoping to recreate the murder scene. The aspect that elevates Lake Bodom above some other campsite horrors is the way director and co-writer Taneli Mustonen pulls the rug from under viewers. The twist injects life into what would have been a run-of-the-mill horror. The result is most welcome. Read a full review of Lake Bodom here.

What to Watch on Shudder: He Took His Skin Off For Me

Director Ben Aston’s 2015 short He Took His Skin Off For Me is a subversive fairy tale. With the story told by narration, the film is about a man who takes his skin off to please his partner, and the consequences of this action. The film works because of the contrast between the mundanity of the setting, and the macabre premise. Based on a short story by Maria Hummer, He Took His Skin Off For Me is a twisted idea which is well executed by director Aston.

To find out more and to sign up to Shudder, visit https://www.shudder.com.

LFF 2016 Highlights Part 2

The BFI London Film Festival has come to a close after another year of some striking and wonderful films. Some brilliant films have already screened in the first week. Here is part 2 of the LFF 2016 highlights…

LFF 2016 Unmissable

Nocturnal Animals

Tom Ford’s Nocturnal Animals is a sumptuous and tense film. The director keeps viewers captivated throughout. Ford’s wonderful directorial debut A Single Man would have many keen to know what he would do next in the cinematic sphere. Despite the recess, this sophomore picture does not disappoint. READ MORE

Brimstone

Martin Koolhoven’s film is unrelenting and unforgiving. Brimstone can be difficult to watch, but it enthrals nevertheless. Brutish and bruising, Brimstone is a thriller that does not know when to quit. But make no mistake, this is a good thing. READ MORE

Lion

Garth Davis’ Lion is a genuinely emotional drama with great performances from its cast. Lion is an affirming story which does not shy away from some harsh realities. A fantastic watch. READ MORE

LFF 2016 Best of the Rest

Elle

Paul Verhoeven’s Elle absorbs, entertains, and intrigues. After a lengthy break, Verhoeven reminds viewers exactly why he is a great filmmaker. Based on the novel by Philippe Dijan, Elle is a curious and rewarding feature. READ MORE

Free Fire

After the disappointing High-Rise, Ben Wheatley impresses with Free Fire. The film is contagiously fun. Writer-director Ben Wheatley and co-writer Amy Jump have created a very entertaining film with Free Fire. READ MORE

Prevenge

Alice Lowe’s black comedy Prevenge is a fun watch. A quirky premise is transformed into an entertaining film. Writer, director, and star Alice Lowe has created an off-the-wall dark comedy with Prevenge. The premise is original and amusing, and the film itself follows suit. READ MORE

Lake Bodom (Bodom)

Lake Bodom (Bodom) is a very entertaining horror-thriller. The film defies expectations, in a tantalising way. Director and co-writer Taneli Mustonen has created an interesting horror thriller with Lake Bodom. READ MORE

The BFI London Film Festival ran from 5th-16th October 2016.

Film Review: Lake Bodom (Bodom)

Lake Bodom (Bodom) is a very entertaining horror-thriller. The film defies expectations, in a tantalising way.

In 1960, a group of teenagers were stabbed to death whilst sleeping in their tent. The crime was never solved, which led to speculation and urban legend. Years later, another group of teenagers visit the site, hoping to recreate the murder scene and discover what really happened that night…

Director and co-writer Taneli Mustonen has created an interesting horror thriller with Lake Bodom. The film is set up as a campsite horror, in the same vein as Friday The 13th and The Blair Witch Project. There is an element to the story that makes gives it a contemporary twist. Other than this, the film feels like a formulaic horror in the first quarter.

As the film progresses, viewers may begin to speculate how the narrative will turn out. At this point, Mustonen pulls the rug from under viewers. The twist in the film is neat, and injects life into the narrative. The film transforms from a horror to a thriller, in an unexpected but welcome way. The filmmakers skilfully bend the narrative so it is about something other than the original murders. Later in the film, there are more twists; each of these conveyed in a plausible yet engaging fashion.

Tension in Lake Bodom arrives in peaks dotted throughout the duration. There is sufficient mystery to capture the attention. This is heightened by the later transformations in the plot. The film is gory without being gratuitous. Production values are good throughout. Characters are depicted with enough personality to stoke interest. The obligatory red herrings are necessary in a film of this nature. Nelly Hirst-Gee delivers a believable performance as Ida.

Lake Bodom is a favourable twist on the campsite horror movie. Highly recommended for genre fans.

Lake Bodom (Bodom) is being screened at the BFI London Film Festival in October 2016.