<img alt="primate film" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" height="169" src="https://spaces.filmstories.co.uk/uploads/2026/01/primate-poster-300x169.jpg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear: both;" width="300" /><p>Hollywood has found its newest animal bogeyman &#8211; but why is chimp-related violence a particularly American fascination? You’ve stumbled across the Film Stories Newsletter! To get this sort of thing in your inbox every Friday,&#160;subscribe here. Hello! Primate swings into UK cinemas this week, and we&#8217;ve been talking to its director, Johannes Roberts. But why <a class="more-link" href="https://filmstories.co.uk/newsletters/the-american-nightmare-of-the-homicidal-ape/">...<span class="screen-reader-text"> The American nightmare of the homicidal ape</span></a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk/newsletters/the-american-nightmare-of-the-homicidal-ape/">The American nightmare of the homicidal ape</a> appeared first on <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk">Film Stories</a>.</p>

<img alt="Melania Trump in a still from Melania" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" height="124" src="https://spaces.filmstories.co.uk/uploads/2026/01/melania-2-300x124.jpg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear: both;" width="300" /><p>As Melania opens to empty cinemas, mainstream press were blocked from its premiere, where Melania Trump admitted that it isn&#8217;t a documentary. As we mentioned only the other day, Amazon has spent an exorbitant sum on Melania, a fluffy &#8216;documentary&#8217; about the wife of US president Donald Trump. Having spent $40m for the rights to <a class="more-link" href="https://filmstories.co.uk/news/melania-press-blocked-from-screening-director-defends-40m-budget-first-lady-admits-it-isnt-a-documentary/">...<span class="screen-reader-text"> Melania &#124; Press blocked from screening, director defends $40m budget, first lady admits it isn&#8217;t a documentary</span></a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk/news/melania-press-blocked-from-screening-director-defends-40m-budget-first-lady-admits-it-isnt-a-documentary/">Melania | Press blocked from screening, director defends $40m budget, first lady admits it isn&#8217;t a documentary</a> appeared first on <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk">Film Stories</a>.</p>

<img alt="Johannes Roberts Primate and Primate 2" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" height="169" src="https://spaces.filmstories.co.uk/uploads/2026/01/Behind-The-Scenes-Stories-2-3-300x169.png" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear: both;" width="300" /><p>Director Johannes Roberts reveals the watery inspiration behind his killer chimp horror, Primate, and says he&#8217;d be &#8220;surprised&#8221; if we didn&#8217;t get a sequel. Although the centrepiece of Primate is a rabid chimp in a crimson T-shirt, January&#8217;s hairiest horror film didn&#8217;t initially feature a simian at all. Talking to Film Stories, director Johannes Roberts <a class="more-link" href="https://filmstories.co.uk/interviews/primate-director-johannes-roberts-on-killer-chimps-and-the-likelihood-of-a-primate-2/">...<span class="screen-reader-text"> Primate &#124; Director Johannes Roberts on killer chimps and the likelihood of a Primate 2</span></a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk/interviews/primate-director-johannes-roberts-on-killer-chimps-and-the-likelihood-of-a-primate-2/">Primate | Director Johannes Roberts on killer chimps and the likelihood of a Primate 2</a> appeared first on <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk">Film Stories</a>.</p>

<img alt="Goodfellas" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" height="204" src="https://spaces.filmstories.co.uk/uploads/2022/07/Goodfellas.jpg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear: both;" width="300" /><p>Life After Goodfellas follows what happened to those who made Martin Scorsese&#8217;s 1990 mob classic. Independent filmmaker Lisa Downs already has a collection of films to her name, where she delves into the stories of what happened to creatives after they were involved in a hit film. Movies such as Life After Flash, Life After <a class="more-link" href="https://filmstories.co.uk/news/goodfellas-new-documentary-follows-what-happened-to-those-involved/">...<span class="screen-reader-text"> Goodfellas &#124; New documentary follows what happened to those involved</span></a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk/news/goodfellas-new-documentary-follows-what-happened-to-those-involved/">Goodfellas | New documentary follows what happened to those involved</a> appeared first on <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk">Film Stories</a>.</p>

<img alt="On This Day... 1776" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" height="168" src="https://spaces.filmstories.co.uk/uploads/2026/01/1776-300x168.jpg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear: both;" width="300" /><p>Caught Stealing director Darren Aronofsky has turned to generative AI for On This Day&#8230; 1776, a historical series beamed in directly from hell. Generative AI is &#8220;soup not slop&#8221;. That&#8217;s according to director Darren Aronofsky, referring to his tech company Primordial Soup, which aims to use Google&#8217;s AI software to &#8220;tell great stories.&#8221; The firm&#8217;s <a class="more-link" href="https://filmstories.co.uk/news/director-darren-aronofsky-goes-from-pi-to-ai-with-a-period-drama-from-the-uncanny-valley/">...<span class="screen-reader-text"> Director Darren Aronofsky goes from Pi to AI with a period drama from the uncanny valley</span></a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk/news/director-darren-aronofsky-goes-from-pi-to-ai-with-a-period-drama-from-the-uncanny-valley/">Director Darren Aronofsky goes from Pi to AI with a period drama from the uncanny valley</a> appeared first on <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk">Film Stories</a>.</p>

<img alt="chatroom" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" height="151" src="https://spaces.filmstories.co.uk/uploads/2026/01/chatroom-main-300x151.jpg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear: both;" width="300" /><p>Netflix UK has unexpectedly put up Chatroom &#8211; a deeply flawed yet fascinating internet horror with a before-they-were-famous cast. And the director of The Ring. Reefer Madness emerged in 1936 as an urgent warning about the dangers of smoking marijuana. The film’s histrionic tone soon made it infamous; “Women cry for it &#8211; men die <a class="more-link" href="https://filmstories.co.uk/features/chatroom-inside-the-2010-horror-curio-dredged-up-by-netflix/">...<span class="screen-reader-text"> Chatroom &#124; Inside the 2010 horror curio dredged up by Netflix</span></a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk/features/chatroom-inside-the-2010-horror-curio-dredged-up-by-netflix/">Chatroom | Inside the 2010 horror curio dredged up by Netflix</a> appeared first on <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk">Film Stories</a>.</p>

<img alt="John Carpenter&#039;s The Thing" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" height="147" src="https://spaces.filmstories.co.uk/uploads/2025/05/thing-fake-hand-300x147.jpg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear: both;" width="300" /><p>Inception, Clueless and John Carpenter&#8217;s The Thing are among a new selection of films chosen to be preserved at the US National Film Registry. The reception to John Carpenter&#8217;s 1982 sci-fi horror, The Thing, was so hostile that it actively damaged his career for years afterwards. Still, the filmmaker can at least be content that <a class="more-link" href="https://filmstories.co.uk/news/john-carpenters-the-thing-among-films-added-to-the-us-national-film-registry/">...<span class="screen-reader-text"> John Carpenter&#8217;s The Thing among films added to the US National Film Registry</span></a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk/news/john-carpenters-the-thing-among-films-added-to-the-us-national-film-registry/">John Carpenter&#8217;s The Thing among films added to the US National Film Registry</a> appeared first on <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk">Film Stories</a>.</p>

<img alt="frankenstein oscar isaac" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" height="200" src="https://spaces.filmstories.co.uk/uploads/2025/08/frankenstein-oscar-isaac-300x200.jpg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear: both;" width="300" /><p>Guillermo del Toro&#8217;s Oscar-nominated Frankenstein is getting a longer &#8216;all the stitches&#8217; cut, the filmmaker has confirmed. Nominated for nine Oscars, Frankenstein is the latest gothic delight from director Guillermo del Toro. But as the filmmaker has confirmed himself, the two hour, 30-minute horror epic will eventually get a longer cut than the one uploaded <a class="more-link" href="https://filmstories.co.uk/news/frankenstein-guillermo-del-toro-confirms-longer-all-the-stitches-cut/">...<span class="screen-reader-text"> Frankenstein &#124; Guillermo del Toro confirms longer &#8216;all the stitches&#8217; cut</span></a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk/news/frankenstein-guillermo-del-toro-confirms-longer-all-the-stitches-cut/">Frankenstein | Guillermo del Toro confirms longer &#8216;all the stitches&#8217; cut</a> appeared first on <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk">Film Stories</a>.</p>

<img alt="Gundam, not Sydney Sweeney" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" height="225" src="https://spaces.filmstories.co.uk/uploads/2025/04/gundam-300x225.jpg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear: both;" width="300" /><p>A live-action film adaptation of the classic anime, Gundam, is said to be heading to Netflix, with Sydney Sweeney and Noah Centineo among its human stars. Update: It&#8217;s been in the works for some five years now (see below), but the Gundam movie is still happening. The classic giant robot anime adaptation has been in <a class="more-link" href="https://filmstories.co.uk/news/gundam-sydney-sweeney-in-talks-to-star-in-a-giant-robot-movie/">...<span class="screen-reader-text"> Gundam &#124; Sydney Sweeney-starring giant robot movie to appear on Netflix</span></a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk/news/gundam-sydney-sweeney-in-talks-to-star-in-a-giant-robot-movie/">Gundam | Sydney Sweeney-starring giant robot movie to appear on Netflix</a> appeared first on <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk">Film Stories</a>.</p>

<img alt="Shelter review" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" height="169" src="https://spaces.filmstories.co.uk/uploads/2026/01/Shelter-2-300x169.png" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear: both;" width="300" /><p>Jason Statham braves the cold in Shelter, his first movie of 2026. And here&#8217;s our review of the new action thriller&#8230; Welcome to the continuing adventures of The Statham on the big screen. This time, our Jase is on a remote island in the Outer Hebrides. He sports a beard, and couples his warm hooded <a class="more-link" href="https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/shelter-review-the-statham-kicks-off-2026-in-the-cold/">...<span class="screen-reader-text"> Shelter review &#124; The Statham kicks off 2026 in the cold</span></a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/shelter-review-the-statham-kicks-off-2026-in-the-cold/">Shelter review | The Statham kicks off 2026 in the cold</a> appeared first on <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk">Film Stories</a>.</p>

<img alt="Dirty Dancing" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" height="205" src="https://spaces.filmstories.co.uk/uploads/2018/06/dirtydancing.jpg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear: both;" width="300" /><p>Almost 40 years after the original Dirty Dancing was released, along comes news of a sequel and/or reboot, with Jennifer Grey to again star as Baby. Have you ever woken up in the early hours of the morning, unable to get back to sleep again, and thought, &#8220;I wonder what Frances &#8216;Baby&#8217; Houseman&#8217;s up to? <a class="more-link" href="https://filmstories.co.uk/news/dirty-dancing-sequel-announced-jennifer-grey-to-return-as-star/">...<span class="screen-reader-text"> Dirty Dancing sequel announced, Jennifer Grey to return as star</span></a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk/news/dirty-dancing-sequel-announced-jennifer-grey-to-return-as-star/">Dirty Dancing sequel announced, Jennifer Grey to return as star</a> appeared first on <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk">Film Stories</a>.</p>

<img alt="Guy Ritchie" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" height="200" src="https://spaces.filmstories.co.uk/uploads/2019/10/guy-ritchie-1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear: both;" width="300" /><p>Guy Ritchie&#8217;s In The Grey is finally heading to cinemas this April, nearly a year and a half after its original release date. It&#8217;s been a long time since we&#8217;ve updated this story, given that it&#8217;s been a while since we&#8217;ve heard anything about the film itself. In The Grey was originally set to hit <a class="more-link" href="https://filmstories.co.uk/news/in-the-grey-guy-ritchies-next-film-loses-january-release-slot/">...<span class="screen-reader-text"> In The Grey &#124; Guy Ritchie&#8217;s film arriving 15 months late</span></a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk/news/in-the-grey-guy-ritchies-next-film-loses-january-release-slot/">In The Grey | Guy Ritchie&#8217;s film arriving 15 months late</a> appeared first on <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk">Film Stories</a>.</p>

<img alt="The Wrecking Crew" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" height="169" src="https://spaces.filmstories.co.uk/uploads/2026/01/The-Wrecking-Crew-300x169.jpg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear: both;" width="300" /><p>Jason Momoa. Dave Bautista. Action. Sex toys. Violence. But is Wrecking Crew an action film worth your time? A Wrecking Crew review. Men. They are manly, and the new action movie Wrecking Crew is very determined to show you this. It stars Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa, who started geographically in very different places. The <a class="more-link" href="https://filmstories.co.uk/news/wrecking-crew-review-a-manly-film-with-some-men-in-it/">...<span class="screen-reader-text"> Wrecking Crew review &#124; A manly film, with some men in it</span></a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk/news/wrecking-crew-review-a-manly-film-with-some-men-in-it/">Wrecking Crew review | A manly film, with some men in it</a> appeared first on <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk">Film Stories</a>.</p>

<img alt="Coffee image for Film Stories&#039; regular mental health column" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" height="212" src="https://spaces.filmstories.co.uk/uploads/2022/09/coffee.jpeg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear: both;" width="300" /><p>A few thoughts on how to talk and write about mental health and wellbeing &#8211; and I need your help please! It’s been a few weeks now since I last ran an article on mental health on this site, about the longest gap since the column started running. Those with long memories may remember this <a class="more-link" href="https://filmstories.co.uk/features/mental-health-wellbeing-matters-so-now-what/">...<span class="screen-reader-text"> Mental Health &#38; Wellbeing Matters &#124; So now what?</span></a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk/features/mental-health-wellbeing-matters-so-now-what/">Mental Health &amp; Wellbeing Matters | So now what?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk">Film Stories</a>.</p>

<img alt="Picture of BAFTA award trophies" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" height="200" src="https://spaces.filmstories.co.uk/uploads/2019/12/bafta-award.jpg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear: both;" width="300" /><p>The BAFTA nominations have been announced and, as suspected, One Battle After Another and Sinners are at the top of the list.&#160; The awards season is now well underway and following last week’s Oscar nominations, we now have the full list of BAFTA nominations.&#160; No major surprises in the list. As per usual, it tends <a class="more-link" href="https://filmstories.co.uk/news/one-battle-after-another-leads-the-bafta-2026-nominations/">...<span class="screen-reader-text"> One Battle After Another leads the BAFTA 2026 nominations</span></a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk/news/one-battle-after-another-leads-the-bafta-2026-nominations/">One Battle After Another leads the BAFTA 2026 nominations</a> appeared first on <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk">Film Stories</a>.</p>

<img alt="darkman" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" height="169" src="https://spaces.filmstories.co.uk/uploads/2026/01/darkman-300x169.webp" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear: both;" width="300" /><p>Sam Raimi is still working on a Darkman sequel, but financing is turning out to be an issue. More on that below. Sam Raimi is returning to horror with Send Help, heading into cinemas in February, but The Evil Dead director is also eyeing up a return to the world of superheroes.&#160; Raimi has been promising <a class="more-link" href="https://filmstories.co.uk/news/darkman-sequel-still-in-the-works-financing-is-an-issue/">...<span class="screen-reader-text"> Darkman sequel still in the works, financing is an issue</span></a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk/news/darkman-sequel-still-in-the-works-financing-is-an-issue/">Darkman sequel still in the works, financing is an issue</a> appeared first on <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk">Film Stories</a>.</p>

<img alt="Top Gun Tom Cruise" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" height="200" src="https://spaces.filmstories.co.uk/uploads/2021/09/Top-Gun-Tom-Cruise.jpg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear: both;" width="300" /><p>Tom Cruise will take to the skies again as Top Gun returns to UK cinemas this May for its 40th anniversary. Nothing makes us feel young like the reminder of how long it is that a movie came out. Obviously, I’m way too young (cough) to have enjoyed Top Gun when it arrived in cinemas <a class="more-link" href="https://filmstories.co.uk/news/top-gun-is-heading-back-to-cinemas-for-its-ulp-40th-birthday/">...<span class="screen-reader-text"> Top Gun is heading back to cinemas for its – ulp – 40th birthday</span></a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk/news/top-gun-is-heading-back-to-cinemas-for-its-ulp-40th-birthday/">Top Gun is heading back to cinemas for its – ulp – 40th birthday</a> appeared first on <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk">Film Stories</a>.</p>

<img alt="Melania Trump in a still from Melania" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" height="124" src="https://spaces.filmstories.co.uk/uploads/2026/01/melania-2-300x124.jpg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear: both;" width="300" /><p>Following the United States&#8217; first lady and costing $40m, Melania may be one of the most expensive documentaries ever made. Here&#8217;s how it compares to other films of its type. While the United States reeled at the shooting of a civilian by ICE agents in Minnesota and shivered at a snow storm sweeping the country <a class="more-link" href="https://filmstories.co.uk/news/melania-cost-40m-heres-how-that-budget-compares-to-other-documentary-films/">...<span class="screen-reader-text"> Melania cost $40m. Here&#8217;s how that budget compares to other documentary films</span></a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk/news/melania-cost-40m-heres-how-that-budget-compares-to-other-documentary-films/">Melania cost $40m. Here&#8217;s how that budget compares to other documentary films</a> appeared first on <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk">Film Stories</a>.</p>

<img alt="Send Help" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" height="169" src="https://spaces.filmstories.co.uk/uploads/2026/01/Send-Help-300x169.png" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear: both;" width="300" /><p>Rachel McAdams. Dylan O&#8217;Brien. Sam Raimi. Gore. Simon checks out an early 2026 treat, with a review of Send Help. On the press tour for Avatar: Fire &#38; Ash, writer/director James Cameron had a message for the section of his fandom keen for him to get back to what he was doing in the 1980s <a class="more-link" href="https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/send-help-review-does-sam-raimi-still-have-it/">...<span class="screen-reader-text"> Send Help review &#124; Does Sam Raimi still have it?</span></a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/send-help-review-does-sam-raimi-still-have-it/">Send Help review | Does Sam Raimi still have it?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk">Film Stories</a>.</p>

The sci-fi drama Klara And The Sun, adapted from Kazuro Ishiguro’s novel, will finally come out in 2026 says director Taika Waititi. As well as being quizzed about his still-at-large Star Wars movie, director Taika Waititi has also been asked about the status of another of his projects: sci-fi adaptation Klara And The Sun. Based ... Klara And The Sun out “this year for sure” says director Taika Waititi The post Klara And The Sun out “this year for sure” says director Taika Waititi appeared first on Film Stories.

Taika Waititi has talked about the tone he wants to strike in his long-gestating Star Wars project, saying he wants it to capture the “fun” of the original trilogy. It’s now well over five years since it was announced that director Taika Waititi had been hired by Lucasfilm to make a Star Wars movie, and ... Star Wars | Taika Waititi’s film will attempt to capture the ‘fun’ of the original trilogy The post Star Wars | Taika Waititi’s film will attempt to capture the ‘fun’ of the original trilogy appeared first on Film Stories.

A legal case led to changes to 1997’s The Devil’s Advocate for its home release – but not before a number of DVDs had made it onto the market. While Keanu Reeves garnered a new generation of fans with his John Wick movies, there were many of us in the trenches watching them all in ... The Devil’s Advocate and its very rare DVD release The post The Devil’s Advocate and its very rare DVD release appeared first on Film Stories.

The bizarre musical Paint Your Wagon, and Dexter Fletcher chatting about The Elephant Man, Alan Rickman and Christopher Walken… One of the more bizarre projects to come out of a Hollywood studio in the late 1960s, Paint Your Wagon felt like a turning point movie. Lee Marvin and Clint Eastwood – and they’re both singing? ... Podcast | Paint Your Wagon (1969), and Dexter Fletcher on The Elephant Man and more The post Podcast | Paint Your Wagon (1969), and Dexter Fletcher on The Elephant Man and more appeared first on Film Stories.

Warner Bros justifiably is happy with its 30 Oscar nominations. David Zaslav, its CEO, has been quick to jump in. Warner Bros Discovery boss David Zaslav is about to become even richer. It’s looking ever more likely that the storied old studio is going to become part of the Netflix empire, in a deal worth ... David Zaslav champions Warner Bros Oscar nominations The post David Zaslav champions Warner Bros Oscar nominations appeared first on Film Stories.

The Oscar-nominated Jacob Elordi has had meetings with Amazon MGM about playing James Bond according to one report. Jacob Elordi has just received an Oscar nomination for his performance in Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein. If the latest rumour is true – and this is a big if – then he could soon take on a ... James Bond 26 rumour: Jacob Elordi has had meetings about playing 007 The post James Bond 26 rumour: Jacob Elordi has had meetings about playing 007 appeared first on Film Stories.