John Llewellyn Probert
@johnlprobert.bsky.social
Curator of the House of Mortal Cinema. Author of The Frightfest Guide to Mad Doctor Movies plus lots more film writing, as well as 19 books of horror fiction (so far). Blu-ray contributor and aspiring Jason King of horror. Magnus the Staffy keeps me fit.
"...a movie where restraint has gone firmly out of the window." Ti West's MAXXXINE gets the posh 4K @secondsightfilms.bsky.social box set treatment, out on Monday @aimpublicity.bsky.social : johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/maxx...
Maxxxine 4K UHD (2024)
Second Sight Films are releasing, in both limited and standard 4K UHD editions, the final film in writer-director Ti West's 'X' trilogy. The...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:21 AM
"...a movie where restraint has gone firmly out of the window." Ti West's MAXXXINE gets the posh 4K @secondsightfilms.bsky.social box set treatment, out on Monday @aimpublicity.bsky.social : johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/maxx...
"...unlike any other movie from this decade, and perhaps even this century." Ti West's (and Mia Goth's) PEARL gets the 4K whistles and bells @secondsightfilms.bsky.social treatment, out next Monday @aimpublicity.bsky.social : johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/pear...
Pearl 4K UHD (2022)
''Ti West and Mia Goth's Best (So Far)?" Second Sight Films are releasing both standard and posh whistles and bells 4K UHD editions of P...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:56 AM
"...unlike any other movie from this decade, and perhaps even this century." Ti West's (and Mia Goth's) PEARL gets the 4K whistles and bells @secondsightfilms.bsky.social treatment, out next Monday @aimpublicity.bsky.social : johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/pear...
"...cultivates an admirable atmosphere of creeping strangeness for over half its runtime" Really rather good Brazilian horror A MOTHER'S EMBRACE is out on Digital on Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/a-mo...
A Mother's Embrace (2025)
"Seriously Decent Brazilian Horror" After its world premiere at Sitges followed by its UK premiere at the Glasgow Film Festival in March...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:24 AM
"...cultivates an admirable atmosphere of creeping strangeness for over half its runtime" Really rather good Brazilian horror A MOTHER'S EMBRACE is out on Digital on Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/a-mo...
"...a 1930s animated short given a live action 1990s makeover" THE MASK gets a 4K release from Arrow on Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-...
The Mask (1994)
Arrow Video are releasing, in limited edition Blu-ray and UHD sets, a 4K restoration from the original camera negative of the film that ceme...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:45 AM
"...a 1930s animated short given a live action 1990s makeover" THE MASK gets a 4K release from Arrow on Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-...
"More than just HIGH NOON on a moon." Peter Hyams' OUTLAND gets a 4K UHD release from Arrow on Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/outl...
Outland 4K UHD (1981)
Arrow Films are releasing writer-director Peter Hyams' 1981 'space western' in a limited edition 4K restoration from the original 35mm negat...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
November 1, 2025 at 9:14 AM
"More than just HIGH NOON on a moon." Peter Hyams' OUTLAND gets a 4K UHD release from Arrow on Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/outl...
"...here in the UK, the films were released by Palace Pictures through the Odeon circuit, with new Graham Humphreys artwork for most of the posters" Time for a walk down memory lane as I review Warners' new 4K set of the NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET films: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/a-ni...
A Nightmare On Elm Street: Seven Film 4K Collection (1984 - 1994)
Warner Bros. have released a box set of the first seven NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET films on 4K UHD. That's because Warners currently own New Li...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
October 30, 2025 at 7:10 AM
"...here in the UK, the films were released by Palace Pictures through the Odeon circuit, with new Graham Humphreys artwork for most of the posters" Time for a walk down memory lane as I review Warners' new 4K set of the NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET films: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/a-ni...
The Indonesian CABIN IN THE WOODS? My thoughts on THE DRAFT, which came out yesterday from Blue Finch : johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
The Draft (2025)
THE DRAFT is getting a digital release through Blue Finch and has been described as 'the Indonesian CABIN IN THE WOODS', which means that, l...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
October 21, 2025 at 8:58 AM
The Indonesian CABIN IN THE WOODS? My thoughts on THE DRAFT, which came out yesterday from Blue Finch : johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
Nottingham's Mayhem Film Festival ended last night! Here's my write up for the day's films, with the rest accessible on my site: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/diar...
Diary of a Mayhem 2025 Day 4 - Sunday
Bone Lake A couple book a romantic getaway in a lavish country house next to a lake in the middle of nowhere. Another couple turns up claimi...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
October 20, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Nottingham's Mayhem Film Festival ended last night! Here's my write up for the day's films, with the rest accessible on my site: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/diar...
"...has its own unique feel, right down to the climax..." Harry Kumel's DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS gets a 4K release from Radiance Films a week on Monday @aimpublicity.bsky.social : johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/daug...
Daughters of Darkness 4K (1971)
Harry Kumel's classic, highly regarded vampire tale set in gloomy Belgian locations is getting a 4K UHD and Blu-ray dual format limited edit...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
October 16, 2025 at 7:35 AM
"...has its own unique feel, right down to the climax..." Harry Kumel's DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS gets a 4K release from Radiance Films a week on Monday @aimpublicity.bsky.social : johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/daug...
Cheap new book on sale at Waterstones with me in it alert. I have a story in THE THIRTEENTH FLOOR, based on the old Maxwell Towers strip in the comic Scream! If you order from the link I'm posting by Friday you get 25% off!
October 15, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Cheap new book on sale at Waterstones with me in it alert. I have a story in THE THIRTEENTH FLOOR, based on the old Maxwell Towers strip in the comic Scream! If you order from the link I'm posting by Friday you get 25% off!
"...you'll be chortling merrily one minute and then be genuinely horrified the next" Chris Smith's SEVERANCE is out on 4K UHD & Blu-ray from Icon next Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/seve...
Severance (2006)
Icon are releasing SEVERANCE, the horror comedy Bristol-born film-maker Christopher Smith made in between CREEP (2004) and TRIANGLE (2009), ...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
October 15, 2025 at 8:42 AM
"...you'll be chortling merrily one minute and then be genuinely horrified the next" Chris Smith's SEVERANCE is out on 4K UHD & Blu-ray from Icon next Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/seve...
A Review A Day Every Day for October (phew!) continues with the BFI's new 4K restoration of Georges Franju's EYES WITHOUT A FACE, out on Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/eyes...
Eyes Without a Face (1960)
The very first film I wrote about for House of Mortal Cinema gets a sparkling 4K restoration release on UHD, Apple TV and Amazon Prime court...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
October 14, 2025 at 8:02 AM
A Review A Day Every Day for October (phew!) continues with the BFI's new 4K restoration of Georges Franju's EYES WITHOUT A FACE, out on Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/eyes...
"...threw down a gauntlet of 'follow that' in the mid-1990s that nobody had the slightest inclination of picking up." John Carpenter's classic IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS gets the Arrow 4K treatment, out a week today: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/in-m...
In the Mouth of Madness 4K UHD (1995)
"I Think Therefore You Are - In 4K!" Arrow Films are releasing a special 4K edition of the third in John Carpenter's loosely themed 'Lov...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
October 13, 2025 at 7:56 AM
"...threw down a gauntlet of 'follow that' in the mid-1990s that nobody had the slightest inclination of picking up." John Carpenter's classic IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS gets the Arrow 4K treatment, out a week today: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/in-m...
Producer Peter Ho-Sun Chan's two Asian horror anthology pictures THREE... and THREE EXTREMES are getting a double disc Blu-ray release from Arrow a week tomorrow. Here's what I thought: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/thre...
Three and Three...Extremes (2002 & 2004)
Arrow are releasing a double disc Blu-ray set of producer Peter Ho-Sun Chan's two Asian horror anthology pictures, both of which contain wor...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
October 12, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Producer Peter Ho-Sun Chan's two Asian horror anthology pictures THREE... and THREE EXTREMES are getting a double disc Blu-ray release from Arrow a week tomorrow. Here's what I thought: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/thre...
This morning, my thoughts on Eureka's new Blu-ray release of Jess Franco's DIABOLICAL DR Z. And no, I don't know why they didn't ask me to do the piece on mad doctor movies: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
The Diabolical Dr Z (1966)
It's time for a welcome release of some more Jess Franco on UK Blu-ray as one of the best films from his early black and white period gets a...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
October 11, 2025 at 8:04 AM
This morning, my thoughts on Eureka's new Blu-ray release of Jess Franco's DIABOLICAL DR Z. And no, I don't know why they didn't ask me to do the piece on mad doctor movies: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
"...a rich gothic work that may well have influenced similarly strange and eccentric movies" My attempts to post a new review a day for the month of October continue with Harry Kumel's MALPERTUIS, out from Radiance Films on Monday @aimpublicity.bsky.social : johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/malp...
Malpertuis (1971)
"The Belgian Gormenghast?" Radiance Films are releasing on Blu-ray, in a gorgeous limited edition complete with book and slipcase, a 4...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
October 10, 2025 at 8:24 AM
"...a rich gothic work that may well have influenced similarly strange and eccentric movies" My attempts to post a new review a day for the month of October continue with Harry Kumel's MALPERTUIS, out from Radiance Films on Monday @aimpublicity.bsky.social : johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/malp...
The BFI are releasing Volume Four of their Short Sharp Shocks collections next Monday. Here's what I thought of everything that's in there: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/shor...
Short Sharp Shocks Volume 4 (1948 - 1980)
It's time yet again for the BFI to dig deep into the vaults and provide us with a two disc Blu-ray collection of short subjects of...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
October 9, 2025 at 7:39 AM
The BFI are releasing Volume Four of their Short Sharp Shocks collections next Monday. Here's what I thought of everything that's in there: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/shor...
"...as the credits role you'll be asking all the right kinds of questions" Adrian Lyne's JACOB'S LADDER gets a very nice 4K upgrade from @studiocanal.co.uk, out on Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/jaco...
Jacob's Ladder 4K (1991)
"Worth Watching at Least Twice" Studio Canal are releasing, on UHD, Blu-ray and Digital, a new 4K restoration of writer Bruce Joel Rubin...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
October 8, 2025 at 8:09 AM
"...as the credits role you'll be asking all the right kinds of questions" Adrian Lyne's JACOB'S LADDER gets a very nice 4K upgrade from @studiocanal.co.uk, out on Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/jaco...
"...as we get to the end he seems to be either quite tired or possibly under the influence of something." Eric Roberts and his luxurious mullet star in Larry Cohen's THE AMBULANCE, getting a Blu-ray release from Eureka next Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
The Ambulance (1990)
"Larry Cohen Strikes Again!" Independent cult director (and hugely prolific screenwriter) Larry Cohen's THE AMBULANCE is getting a limit...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
October 7, 2025 at 8:27 AM
"...as we get to the end he seems to be either quite tired or possibly under the influence of something." Eric Roberts and his luxurious mullet star in Larry Cohen's THE AMBULANCE, getting a Blu-ray release from Eureka next Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
"This is a man who has done everything from SPLIT SECOND to CBeebies". Can you guess who I'm talking about, as one of my favourites gets a 4K release from Arrow next Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
The Return of the Living Dead 4K (1985)
One of the best zombie movies of all time is getting a 4K release from Arrow Films in both UHD and Blu-ray editions, with two discs in eac...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
October 6, 2025 at 8:18 AM
"This is a man who has done everything from SPLIT SECOND to CBeebies". Can you guess who I'm talking about, as one of my favourites gets a 4K release from Arrow next Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
1985 Hong Kong comedy horror THE ISLAND gets a release from Eureka a week tomorrow: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
The Island (1985)
"The Hill Have Eyes: Chuckle Brothers Edition" Eureka are releasing Northampton-born director Po-Chih Leong's TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE-in...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
October 5, 2025 at 8:07 AM
1985 Hong Kong comedy horror THE ISLAND gets a release from Eureka a week tomorrow: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
A low budget snow plough chase with some charming model work. DELIVERY RUN is out on digital on Monday @aimpublicity.bsky.social : johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/deli...
Delivery Run (2024)
"Like DUEL with a Snow Plough...a Bit" After its UK premiere at last year's Grimmfest, director (and co-writer) Joey Palmroos' Minnesota...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
October 4, 2025 at 8:29 AM
A low budget snow plough chase with some charming model work. DELIVERY RUN is out on digital on Monday @aimpublicity.bsky.social : johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/deli...
Alain Robak's French horror comedy BABY BLOOD gets a 4K release next Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/baby...
Baby Blood (1990)
"If Frank Henenlotter and Peter Jackson had a French Baby" Studio Canal are releasing Alain Robak's funny, gory French horror picture in...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
October 3, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Alain Robak's French horror comedy BABY BLOOD gets a 4K release next Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/baby...
A bunch of post-civil war confederate soldiers steal a stack of cash to help the South rise again in Sergio Corbucci's THE HELLBENDERS, out on Blu-ray in a 4K transfer from Studio Canal on Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
The Hellbenders (1967)
"Great Downbeat Western from the Director of DJANGO" Studio Canal are releasing a 4K restoration on Blu-ray, with extras and a set of ar...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
October 2, 2025 at 8:04 AM
A bunch of post-civil war confederate soldiers steal a stack of cash to help the South rise again in Sergio Corbucci's THE HELLBENDERS, out on Blu-ray in a 4K transfer from Studio Canal on Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
It's October! And to help celebrate the start of the season, here's what I thought of Hammer's forthcoming massive six disc set of THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, out a week on Monday @dnapruk.bsky.social : johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
The Curse of Frankenstein 4K (1957)
"Ultimately Irresistible for Fans" The latest in Hammer Films' ongoing series of releases of definitive collector's editions of the ...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
October 1, 2025 at 8:13 AM
It's October! And to help celebrate the start of the season, here's what I thought of Hammer's forthcoming massive six disc set of THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, out a week on Monday @dnapruk.bsky.social : johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...