Dave McAllister
@davefilmblog.bsky.social
Film enthusiast. My reviews at www.davefilmblog.com
At 90 years old, Peter Watkins death yesterday was hardly unexpected but it’s still sad that such an astonishing and bold film maker is still on the margins in our culture. His intelligent, often challenging and innovative films are unique. Here’s an obit: www.bfi.org.uk/features/pet...
October 31, 2025 at 7:36 PM
At 90 years old, Peter Watkins death yesterday was hardly unexpected but it’s still sad that such an astonishing and bold film maker is still on the margins in our culture. His intelligent, often challenging and innovative films are unique. Here’s an obit: www.bfi.org.uk/features/pet...
Andrew an interesting critic with a deep knowledge of horror so this should be good.
Do you like WE’RE ALL GOING TO THE WORLD’S FAIR? 👀
How about BEYOND THE BLACK RAINBOW? 👀
Do you like a horror of stillness, dissociation and dread, like the worst trip you’ve ever had? Hurrah! come to @miskatonicihs.bsky.social in London on September 30th (payday!) and gaze into the abyss with us. 😱
How about BEYOND THE BLACK RAINBOW? 👀
Do you like a horror of stillness, dissociation and dread, like the worst trip you’ve ever had? Hurrah! come to @miskatonicihs.bsky.social in London on September 30th (payday!) and gaze into the abyss with us. 😱
Shoegaze Horror: Bad Vibes, Liminal Loops and Deadly Dissociation (London) - The Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies
Enter the dreamlike, destabilising world of Shoegaze Horror, where cinema trades story for sensation and transforms atmosphere into dread.
miskatonicinstitute.com
September 9, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Andrew an interesting critic with a deep knowledge of horror so this should be good.
For the past few years, I've been enjoying some of the film courses by Matthew Asprey-Gear. There's a couple coming up. The Latin American cinema has a lot of underseen gems. From 13th September: matthewasprey2.wordpress.com/2025/07/26/o...
Online course: A Panorama of Latin American Cinema (starting September 13)
A 12-WEEK ONLINE FILM STUDIES COURSE(September – December, 2025) This original film studies course, presented online via Google Meet, will give a comprehensive survey of the best of Latin America…
matthewasprey2.wordpress.com
August 10, 2025 at 11:28 AM
For the past few years, I've been enjoying some of the film courses by Matthew Asprey-Gear. There's a couple coming up. The Latin American cinema has a lot of underseen gems. From 13th September: matthewasprey2.wordpress.com/2025/07/26/o...
A thrill to meet Alex Cox and Nick Freand Jones after an event discussing Moviedrome, the BBC film programming that turned me on to the weird and wonderful in cinema. I even found my old Moviedrome booklets and got them signed!
July 4, 2025 at 9:37 PM
A thrill to meet Alex Cox and Nick Freand Jones after an event discussing Moviedrome, the BBC film programming that turned me on to the weird and wonderful in cinema. I even found my old Moviedrome booklets and got them signed!
Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead at the Royal Albert Hall complete with London Philharmonic Orchestra was brilliant. Lots of tie dyes in the audience. The only performance in Europe.
June 21, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead at the Royal Albert Hall complete with London Philharmonic Orchestra was brilliant. Lots of tie dyes in the audience. The only performance in Europe.
Here’s hoping this year’s Grateful Dead Meet Up At The Movies returns to the UK. Picturehouse did a great job hosting the last two. You can sign up for updates here: www.meetupatthemovies.com
The Grateful Dead Movie
Sign up for more information on the official website. For a limited time only in theaters & IMAX® August 14
www.meetupatthemovies.com
June 18, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Here’s hoping this year’s Grateful Dead Meet Up At The Movies returns to the UK. Picturehouse did a great job hosting the last two. You can sign up for updates here: www.meetupatthemovies.com
David Cronenberg’s THE SHROUDS is surprisingly effective as both a personal meditation on grief and also an almost absurdist comedy. Like the best of speculative sci fi, it’s a reflection of contemporary concerns, and is very much a film about ideas.
June 16, 2025 at 10:46 PM
David Cronenberg’s THE SHROUDS is surprisingly effective as both a personal meditation on grief and also an almost absurdist comedy. Like the best of speculative sci fi, it’s a reflection of contemporary concerns, and is very much a film about ideas.
This nugget says a lot: “in keeping with its idiosyncratic way of operating, they’ve had to call in a ghost hunter to investigate the source of a mystery flood that has been blighting the building. It turns out that the cinema is home to numerous ghosts, but none are responsible for water damage.”
An interesting article covering the @princecharlescinema.com’s current challenges with its landlord. Great that the recent petition inspired Westminster to declare it an ” asset of community value” but the threat is stop there and the landlord is price gouging www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
‘The city is being hollowed out’: the billionaire landlord locked in a David v Goliath battle for London’s West End
Dubbed ‘Britain’s meanest landlord’, Asif Aziz is fighting it out with a tiny cinema that counts Christopher Nolan, Paul Mescal and other Hollywood heroes as fans. How did the capital’s cultural landm...
www.theguardian.com
June 15, 2025 at 2:48 PM
This nugget says a lot: “in keeping with its idiosyncratic way of operating, they’ve had to call in a ghost hunter to investigate the source of a mystery flood that has been blighting the building. It turns out that the cinema is home to numerous ghosts, but none are responsible for water damage.”
An interesting article covering the @princecharlescinema.com’s current challenges with its landlord. Great that the recent petition inspired Westminster to declare it an ” asset of community value” but the threat is stop there and the landlord is price gouging www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
‘The city is being hollowed out’: the billionaire landlord locked in a David v Goliath battle for London’s West End
Dubbed ‘Britain’s meanest landlord’, Asif Aziz is fighting it out with a tiny cinema that counts Christopher Nolan, Paul Mescal and other Hollywood heroes as fans. How did the capital’s cultural landm...
www.theguardian.com
June 15, 2025 at 2:08 PM
An interesting article covering the @princecharlescinema.com’s current challenges with its landlord. Great that the recent petition inspired Westminster to declare it an ” asset of community value” but the threat is stop there and the landlord is price gouging www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
A brilliant day at bfi Film On Film festival today, well worth hiding from the sunshine! Preminger’s ADVISE & CONSENT, Iranian film A MOMENT OF INNOCENCE, Hitchcock’s 1934 version of THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH and Georgian film PIROSMANI. More tomorrow.
June 14, 2025 at 10:07 PM
A brilliant day at bfi Film On Film festival today, well worth hiding from the sunshine! Preminger’s ADVISE & CONSENT, Iranian film A MOMENT OF INNOCENCE, Hitchcock’s 1934 version of THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH and Georgian film PIROSMANI. More tomorrow.
A Sunday afternoon treat at the Garden Cinema. My DVD of the wonderful Fishing with John has never been able to play the first Dennis Hopper episode. Eventually I got to see it! Next in this double bill is the UK premiere of a mythical doc called Tarpon.
June 8, 2025 at 5:21 PM
A Sunday afternoon treat at the Garden Cinema. My DVD of the wonderful Fishing with John has never been able to play the first Dennis Hopper episode. Eventually I got to see it! Next in this double bill is the UK premiere of a mythical doc called Tarpon.
As a violin player, I'd ask you please consider signing the petition to save Newark musical instrument school, the last string instrument making school in the UK. It's not just about making new instruments, it's about having skilled people who can do repairs. www.change.org/p/save-the-n...
Sign the Petition
Save the Newark School of Musical Instrument Crafts!
www.change.org
June 8, 2025 at 12:29 PM
As a violin player, I'd ask you please consider signing the petition to save Newark musical instrument school, the last string instrument making school in the UK. It's not just about making new instruments, it's about having skilled people who can do repairs. www.change.org/p/save-the-n...
For those who need translation of the last scene when the subtitle projector packed in at the ICA's rare screening of Jacques Rivette's HISTOIRE OF MARIE ET JULIEN:
Julien: What time is it
Marie: Pretty early
J: I mean … what are you doing here, who are you? How did you enter?
(cont...)
Julien: What time is it
Marie: Pretty early
J: I mean … what are you doing here, who are you? How did you enter?
(cont...)
May 29, 2025 at 10:37 PM
For those who need translation of the last scene when the subtitle projector packed in at the ICA's rare screening of Jacques Rivette's HISTOIRE OF MARIE ET JULIEN:
Julien: What time is it
Marie: Pretty early
J: I mean … what are you doing here, who are you? How did you enter?
(cont...)
Julien: What time is it
Marie: Pretty early
J: I mean … what are you doing here, who are you? How did you enter?
(cont...)
The BFI have announced a Moviedrome season starting July!!!!
As a teen, I religiously tuned in every Sunday night to watch these weird, cult movies introduced by Alex Cox.
Now I’ll see them on the big screen with Cox and producer Nick Freand Jones introducing!
whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/defau...
As a teen, I religiously tuned in every Sunday night to watch these weird, cult movies introduced by Alex Cox.
Now I’ll see them on the big screen with Cox and producer Nick Freand Jones introducing!
whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/defau...
Moviedrome: Bringing the Cult TV Series to the Big Screen | BFI Southbank
whatson.bfi.org.uk
May 27, 2025 at 4:32 PM
The BFI have announced a Moviedrome season starting July!!!!
As a teen, I religiously tuned in every Sunday night to watch these weird, cult movies introduced by Alex Cox.
Now I’ll see them on the big screen with Cox and producer Nick Freand Jones introducing!
whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/defau...
As a teen, I religiously tuned in every Sunday night to watch these weird, cult movies introduced by Alex Cox.
Now I’ll see them on the big screen with Cox and producer Nick Freand Jones introducing!
whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/defau...
Le Cinema Club is spoiling us again. Kelly Reichard’s marvellous debut RIVERS OF GRASS available to watch free for one week. www.lecinemaclub.com/now-showing/...
RIVER OF GRASS a film by KELLY REICHARDT
RIVER OF GRASS a film by KELLY REICHARDT. 1994. USA. 76 min.
www.lecinemaclub.com
May 23, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Le Cinema Club is spoiling us again. Kelly Reichard’s marvellous debut RIVERS OF GRASS available to watch free for one week. www.lecinemaclub.com/now-showing/...
UK premiere of David Cronenberg's THE SHROUDS!! This is now on sale to Members (any remaining tickets on sale to public tomorrow lunchtime). I know it's had mixed reviews, but I can't wait.
Another BLEAK WEEK addition.
David Cronenberg's THE SHROUDS.
Monday 16th June.
Tickets on sale next week.
David Cronenberg's THE SHROUDS.
Monday 16th June.
Tickets on sale next week.
May 20, 2025 at 1:24 PM
UK premiere of David Cronenberg's THE SHROUDS!! This is now on sale to Members (any remaining tickets on sale to public tomorrow lunchtime). I know it's had mixed reviews, but I can't wait.
For the next six days you can watch Bi Gan’s debut film KAILI BLUES for free at Le Cinema Club. His latest film RESURRECTION will debut shortly at Cannes. www.lecinemaclub.com/now-showing/...
Le Cinéma Club | KAILI BLUES
A free, curated platform streaming one film every week.
www.lecinemaclub.com
May 17, 2025 at 10:24 AM
For the next six days you can watch Bi Gan’s debut film KAILI BLUES for free at Le Cinema Club. His latest film RESURRECTION will debut shortly at Cannes. www.lecinemaclub.com/now-showing/...
I picked this up from the BFI today and can’t wait to dive in. Murch is a fascinating guy and I’d strongly recommend ‘The Conversations’ and ‘In The Blink Of An Eye’.
May 11, 2025 at 5:24 PM
I picked this up from the BFI today and can’t wait to dive in. Murch is a fascinating guy and I’d strongly recommend ‘The Conversations’ and ‘In The Blink Of An Eye’.
The first of four performances over two days of The Necks at @cafeotodalston.bsky.social this afternoon. As mesmerising as always, the two long sets seemed barely to last an instant.
May 10, 2025 at 6:26 PM
The first of four performances over two days of The Necks at @cafeotodalston.bsky.social this afternoon. As mesmerising as always, the two long sets seemed barely to last an instant.
I enjoyed watching Errol Flynn in swashbuckling romp CAPTAIN BLOOD, a template for action films such as PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN. My thoughts here: wp.me/p8BjDL-1Ii
Captain Blood (1935)
“Aloft! There’s no chains to hold you now. Break out those sails and watch them fill with the wind that’s carrying us all to freedom!”
wp.me
May 1, 2025 at 12:34 PM
I enjoyed watching Errol Flynn in swashbuckling romp CAPTAIN BLOOD, a template for action films such as PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN. My thoughts here: wp.me/p8BjDL-1Ii
I just discovered this happy yawning fellow on the 4th floor balcony of an Art Nouveaux building in Riga, Latvia. It’s said to resemble film director Sergei Eisenstein, who was the son of the building’s architect Mikhail.
April 26, 2025 at 1:41 PM
I just discovered this happy yawning fellow on the 4th floor balcony of an Art Nouveaux building in Riga, Latvia. It’s said to resemble film director Sergei Eisenstein, who was the son of the building’s architect Mikhail.
There's a lot more than STAR WARS in the BFI's Film on Film Festival this summer - I'm particularly intrigued by HUD, PIROSMANI, Q THE WINGED SERPENT, THE WIND, LAST SUMMER, STRONGROOM and A MOMENT OF INNOCENCE. I made a @letterboxd.social
list of all that's been announced so far. boxd.it/FULv8
list of all that's been announced so far. boxd.it/FULv8
BFI Film on Film 2025
Films included in the BFI Film on Film festival 12-15th June 2025
boxd.it
April 11, 2025 at 5:51 PM
There's a lot more than STAR WARS in the BFI's Film on Film Festival this summer - I'm particularly intrigued by HUD, PIROSMANI, Q THE WINGED SERPENT, THE WIND, LAST SUMMER, STRONGROOM and A MOMENT OF INNOCENCE. I made a @letterboxd.social
list of all that's been announced so far. boxd.it/FULv8
list of all that's been announced so far. boxd.it/FULv8
I received a little badge for donating blood 25 times. That's the equivalent of donating all of the blood in my body two and a half times. Although that fast-track method doesn't seem too appealing.
April 11, 2025 at 1:33 PM
I received a little badge for donating blood 25 times. That's the equivalent of donating all of the blood in my body two and a half times. Although that fast-track method doesn't seem too appealing.
I listened to the new Waterboys album entirely devoted to Dennis Hopper, with Bruce Springsteen and Steve Earle guesting! References to Easy Rider, The Last Picture, Orson Welles, and of course Frank Booth. It's sincere and fun - I like it. youtu.be/N6o9HsvbekQ?...
The Waterboys - Hopper's On Top
YouTube video by TheWaterboysVEVO
youtu.be
April 11, 2025 at 10:52 AM
I listened to the new Waterboys album entirely devoted to Dennis Hopper, with Bruce Springsteen and Steve Earle guesting! References to Easy Rider, The Last Picture, Orson Welles, and of course Frank Booth. It's sincere and fun - I like it. youtu.be/N6o9HsvbekQ?...
I’ve been really enjoying the Jacques Rivette season at the ICA and today’s treat Pont Du Nord was another highlight. A conspiracy mystery set in Paris (what else?), this had a spritely wit and inventiveness that made it a joy from start to finish.
April 6, 2025 at 7:23 PM
I’ve been really enjoying the Jacques Rivette season at the ICA and today’s treat Pont Du Nord was another highlight. A conspiracy mystery set in Paris (what else?), this had a spritely wit and inventiveness that made it a joy from start to finish.