another year, another december of daily hallmark films down. here's my list in order of how much i enjoyed watching them (sincerely or otherwise)

a dream day at hyde park picturehouse yesterday, racing through the fast and furious franchise in 12 hours!!

CLASS OF 1999 (1990) was a lot of fun. somewhere between ROBOCOP and THE WARRIORS, teens have become so unruly that militarised robots replace their teachers.

a few too many gunfights but some goofy fun to be had! particularly enjoyed the robot bragging about its 1000 megabytes of power

planning my december hallmark movie marathon and where do you even start with this quantity?

this is *just* new 2024 releases

i can see why THE LAST DANCE has resonated with so many - particularly in its vignette moments that give glimpses into different kinds of grief

found the main narrative nicely measured in its nuance and complexity around mourning and the various old/new tensions going on. (1/3)

STALKED BY MY DOCTOR: THE RETURN (2016) was like someone smushed the first film around a bit and added a new coat of paint and more gaslighting.

full marks. not quite as balls-to-the-wall bonkers as 1 but i'm locked in for the continued adventures of this cardiologist

WATERSHIP DOWN (1978) on the big screen this morning made me realise child-me never watched it all the way through.

still harrowing aspects in the opening but more notable for its varied animation and violent swings between bleak and hopeful ideas of community

STALKED BY MY DOCTOR (2015). now we are TALKING. i loved this.

eric roberts as a surgeon who begins stalking a teen patient in a film that REALLY goes places. one of those made-for-tv films which deals with very serious subject matter in utterly ludicrous ways. get some pals round and get on it!

never enjoyed watching FRIGHT NIGHT (1985) as much as i enjoy looking at its poster. it feels like what was a novel premise in 1985 has been iterated on so much since that it's lost a bit of its spark

still, a good palate cleanser after this year's SALEM'S LOT remake

CAMPFIRE TALES (1997) is a silly anthology horror that feels like a kid's film with occasional spikes of grisly violence. i had a grand old time

studded with 90s b-listers and cautionary tales of internet strangers, mothmen, and sexy ghosts.

rewatching 2 FAST 2 FURIOUS ahead of our day school next week (hpph.co.uk/films/fast-f...)

never noticed this kazuma kiryu cosplayer before

DOLLMAN (1991). A 33cm-tall space cop Brick Bardo travels through a portal into the Bronx and a hokey drug war.

Not as good as TRANCERS and there's a lot more phallic anxiety but i do enjoy these stupid Charles Band sci fi films.

finally watched it after a pal's recommendation and BABY ASSASSINS (2021) is a very good time!

a look into a really likeable young friendship that also includes occasional action sequences. that kind of charismatic low-budget filmmaking that japan seems great at fostering

pleasantly surprised by HERETIC. sophie thatcher and chloe east both amazing in another 2024 critique of sexism and the religious right - tho a little more russel brand this time

(also a reminder of how insufferable we were as undergrad religion/philosophy students 😅😬)

part contraceptive, part critique of misogynist psychiatric methods, i really enjoyed THE BROOD (1979) and seeing cronenberg working through his divorce.

decided to watch GHOST PUNTING (1992) which was as sexist and mediocre as one would expect from a late-stage lucky stars film!

as a teen i loved the 1st 3 films in this series, but can really see why stanley fung has disowned them. still - i'm always here for richard & sammo

november's offering from the ever-amazing Taiwan Film Festival Edinburgh kicks off tonight at the GFT, followed by screenings everything thursday for the rest of the month!