REVIEW: Echoes of the Past Starring Max Von Sydow

There have been countless films made about "The Holocaust", but not so many films made about the genocides of other ethnic groups. On December 13, 1943 there was such a genocide, one you will probably never have heard of if you live outside of Greece.

Σφαγή των Καλαβρύτων (The Kalavryta Holocaust) and the massacre by Nazi troops is a dark day in the history of a great country.

Echoes of the Past tells two fictional stories side by side, but based on a very real historic event, a modern story about the Greek Government launching a claim against Germany for reparations and the story of Nikolas Andreou (played by Max von Sydow in the Modern era), as a child he managed to escape the massacre, and now is on his final days on this earth, haunted by the horrors he witnessed and escaped from.

Full Review at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2022/02/review-echoes-of-past-starring-max-von_21.html

REVIEW: Guntech 2 on Xbox

Guntech 2 is a retro style twin stick top-down view shooter. Reminiscent of classic games Thrust, Oids, Geometry Wars, and Asteroids.

Utopos Space Station was the new hope for humans. It failed. Never underestimate human greed.

Your job is to clean up the mess. Fight alien life forms, rescue scientists, deliver vaccines to combat a deadly pandemic. The asteroid belt is filled with wild space aliens, many of them results of failed human experiments to create life that survives in space. You will even find a dragon in space!

As is often the case in such games, you fly about, shoot the aliens, get to the end point and on you go. This game has that but also a nice little twist. There is a virus pandemic affecting the solar system, and giant viruses the same size as alien rockets are floating around, and you need to take them out.

In normal times such a twist in a game would seem silly or pointless, but in current times it fits in just about perfectly. The viruses can even attach to your ship and drain your power. Along with the giant viruses and aliens, there are also demons, dragons and all sorts to fight.

Full Review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2022/02/review-guntech-2-on-xbox.html

REVIEW: Shut In (2022) - Starring Rainey Qualley, Jake Horowitz, Luciana VanDette and Vincent Gallo

Former meth addict Jessica, (played by the fantastic Rainey Qualley) lives with her two young children, doing her best to survive with very little money, she wants to sell the family house that originally belonged to her Grandmother, so she can move away and start a new life.

By accident she managed to lock herself in her pantry, the heavy door was wedged open on a brick, and as she is inside, it comes loose and slams shut. Despite her best efforts, and that of her young daughter, Lainey, (played by the adorable Luciana VanDette), she remains stuck inside.

Unfortunately, it is at this time that Jessica's abusive drug addict ex Rob (Jake Horowitz) decides to turn up, along with his pedophile friend Sammy (Vincent Gallo) he lets her out at first, but after an argument, he throws her back in the pantry and nails it shut. He pushes a bag of drugs under the door too in the hope she will take some and revert back to being an addict like him.

Full Review at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2022/02/review-shut-in-2022-starring-rainey.html

Preview: Submerged: Hidden Depths on PC (Steam)

I have played Submerged: Hidden Depths for a good few hours and got a pretty good impression of the game. Now I never played the predecessor, Submerged, so I come at this game completely fresh and with no pre-conceived ideas.

Upon starting it becomes clear pretty quickly that this game is about relaxation and exploration. Relaxation for you the player, and exploration for the characters you control. There are no enemies as such to fight, so you really can just sit back and chill as you play.

The game is full 3D, you play as Miku and Taku, the game chooses different characters for you, swapping between each, as you explore a sunken city, surrounded by water. There are plenty of ruins, which you can travel to on boat, you will then find yourself climbing, swinging and jumping to different areas of each building, and collecting various items, both from these buildings but also from the surrounding sea. So that might be flowers, boat parts, diaries, and also detecting all creatures and cataloguing them.

Full Review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2022/02/preview-submerged-hidden-depths-on-pc.html

REVIEW: Beyond Existence - Starring Amelia Clay, Gary MacKay and Vincent Vermignon

I am always weary of reviewing films I have never heard of, films that have apparently won awards that I wasn't aware of, and films with a super low budget.

Capital Films have been very honest that they had basically a zero-budget, but understand that there is a difference I think between films that are churned out as low budget films, and films that are made with love from a low budget. I would like to think that Beyond Existence comes under the latter of those two options.

Amelia Clay plays Ellen, a Government agent type, think FBI but in England, Detective Inspector Burnside but with a more serious side. She tracks down a character known as "The Professor" played by Gary MacKay, and sadly not Sergio Marquina. The professor holds a deadly secret, both literally and figuratively. Who is he, what does he want, and what does he have in his briefcase! Ellen is under orders to help The Professor, and it seems that there is an immortal bounty hunter (Vincent Vermignon) who is after The Professor.

Full Review at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2022/02/review-beyond-existence-starring-amelia.html

Stonehouse, starring Matthew Macfadyen and Keeley Hawes - Coming soon to ITV

The life and times of disgraced Labour minister John Stonehouse will be dramatised for ITV by writer John Preston and Matthew Macfadyen, in the lead role and Keeley Hawes (Honour, It's A Sin) co-starring as Stonehouse's wife Barbara.

Stonehouse, a high-flying member of Harold Wilson's Government, vanished from the beach of a large luxury hotel in Florida in November 1974, leaving a neatly folded pile of clothes as he swam into the sea, intent on faking his own death. The three-part drama is directed by BAFTA-nominated Jon S. Baird (Stan & Ollie, Vinyl, Filth) with BritBox International as co-production partners.

Matthew Macfadyen:
"What happened to John Stonehouse is the stuff of legend.  I've always been intrigued by what motivated him to fake his own death, and leave behind the family he loved and doted upon and a promising political career. John Preston's script truly captures the man and his colourful life and I'm looking forward to taking on his character."

As a stunned public and media assumed he had drowned or been eaten by sharks, the MP for Walsall North left behind his loving wife Barbara and three small children.

Stonehouse had charmed Prime Minister Harold Wilson and Labour stalwarts from an early stage in his parliamentary career, radiating charm and bursting with confidence. He came from a working-class family, graduated from the London School of Economics, served in the Royal Air Force during WWII, and seemed like the perfect fit for a career in politics.

As the storey progresses, it becomes clear that his image as a dedicated family man was a lie, as he'd had an extramarital romance with his secretary, Sheila Buckley, and worked as a spy for the Czech Secret Service.

His complex financial status and relationships eventually took their toll, with Stonehouse deliberately stealing the identity of a recently deceased constituent. Stonehouse applied for a passport in the dead man's name and began to weave an elaborate conspiracy, seeking a new life in Australia. But his plans soon turned sour as Stonehouse was arrested by Australian police who had been under the mistaken impression that he was the fugitive peer Lord Lucan.

Brought back to the UK by Scotland Yard detectives, Stonehouse found that he was crucial to keeping the Labour government in power with its wafer-thin majority.

The drama will also star Emer Heatley (Showtrial) as Stonehouse's mistress Sheila Buckley, Kevin R McNally (The Crown, Unforgotten) as Harold Wilson, Dorothy Atkinson (All Creatures Great and Small, Mum) as Betty Boothroyd and Igor Grabuzov (Voskresenskiy, No Looking Back).

Doc Martin will hang up his stethoscope for the final time.

Martin Clunes returns to Cornwall in the last series of the phenomenally successful ITV show Doc Martin to reprise his role as the nation's favourite grumpy surgeon.

Martin Clunes will play as Dr. Martin Ellingham, a brusque general practitioner with a blood phobia, in eight new episodes of the popular drama produced by Buffalo Pictures and set in the picturesque hamlet of Portwenn in Cornwall.

Buffalo Pictures has announced that a Christmas special will be produced to bid farewell to Doc Martin.

Picturesque Port Isaac provides the beautiful backdrop for the series, with all the regular members of the cast reprising their roles.

Caroline Catz plays Doc Martin's wife, Louisa Ellingham, who resigned from her job as headmistress at the local school to pursue a new career in child counselling.

Also returning for the finale are Dame Eileen Atkins who plays Doc Martin's formidable Aunt Ruth. Ian McNeice is back to play Bert Large, with Joe Absolom as his son Al. John Marquez is PC Joe Penhale, Jessica Ransom is the doctor's receptionist Morwenna Newcross and Selina Cadell is pharmacist Mrs Tishell.

After having his medical career scrutinised by the General Medical Council because of his blood fear, Doc opted to leave as Portwenn's GP at the end of the previous series.

The Doc makes efforts to conquer his anxiety in this final series, and begins to question whether resigning was the correct option. He and Louisa have recently welcomed a newborn daughter, Mary Elizabeth, who will be a sibling to James Henry, who is four years old.

Because Louisa is pursuing her new job as a child therapist at his former practise, the Doc is left holding the infant and mending clocks on the kitchen table. But does he really want to go back to his previous job?

Martin Clunes:

"I have loved going to Cornwall to make Doc Martin over the last 18 years, and I have looked forward to returning to this beautiful county this year for the tenth and final series. The people of Cornwall, and Port Isaac in particular, have always been so helpful to us when we are making the series. We have some great story lines for the new series, and for the Christmas special, which I hope Doc Martin fans will love. I shall miss Cornwall, and all the lovely people we have worked with. But it is the right time to say farewell to the Doc, and Portwenn."

REVIEW: The 355 Starring Jessica Chastain, Penélope Cruz, Fan Bingbing, Diane Kruger, and Lupita Nyong'o.

I know what we need, an action spy film that has a piece of technology that can hack any computer in the world, and people chase after it!

Possibly the most overused plot line in spy films, but alas that is what we have here.

The 355 is directed by Simon Kinberg and stars Jessica Chastain, Penélope Cruz, Fan Bingbing, Diane Kruger, and Lupita Nyong'o. The women play various international spies who end up having to work together to stop the outbreak of WW3, after a special decryption program is created by a drug lord in Colombia. This device can hack any system on the planet.

The device is put up for sale, CIA tries to buy it, various bad guys try to buy it, it gets swapped out, stolen, and you pretty much can imagine the rest.

Full Review at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2022/02/review-355-starring-jessica-chastain.html

Interview with Paul Hyett

Ahead of Horror Channel's UK TV Premiere of PERIPHERAL, director Paul Hyett talks about directorial ambitions, twisted technology, and why aliens aren't interested in us.

How did you become attached to Peripheral?

The producer Craig Touhy and I had been friends for a while and we'd nearly done another movie together. He'd liked the claustrophobia and tension of The Seasoning House so we met up to discuss Peripheral. When he pitched it to me, very much a low budget, contained movie, in one apartment. I must say I was a little hesitant. I wanted to broaden my directing and do bigger scope. Craig persuaded me to at least read it. I did and loved the script. The story, the character of Bobbi, of this writer blocked, being forced to adjust to what is wanted of her, and having to succumb to a technology that ultimately fucks her in so many ways and being forced to write for a corporation that she hates. It all felt so very relevant.

Was the cast already in place and what's it like directing legends such as Jenny Seagrove and Tom Conti?

No we cast from the ground up, Jenny Seagrove was the first cast, I was so happy we got her. She loved the script and the character of Merlock. She was an absolute joy, so professional, so excellent and willing to discuss everything

Full Interview at

http://www.mastersofhorror.co.uk/2022/02/interview-with-paul-hyett.html

REVIEW: WarHunt (2022) - Starring Mickey Rourke, Jackson Rathbone and Robert Knepper

The year is 1945, a US military cargo plane has lost control and crashed behind enemy lines, deep in a German forest.

Major Johnson (played by the always strange looking Mickey Rourke) decides to send in a squad of top soliders on a top secret resuce mission, but not to rescue the lost soldiers, but to rescue the secrets that the cargo plane was transporting.

Leading the squad is the always impressive Robert Knepper as Sergeant Brewer, and make no mistake, for most of this film, Knepper is the star. Along with Walsh (Jackson Rathbone), the squad travel deep into the forest to look for the crash site.

Full Review at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2022/02/review-warhunt-2022-starring-mickey.html

E4’s Celebrity Cooking School - "Celebrity" line up revealed

Kerry Katona, Toby Aromolaran, Stevo The Madman, Sam Thompson, Zeze Millz, Laura Tott, Maeva D'Ascanio, Shaun Ryder, Paul Chowdhry and Kim Woodburn are your "celebrities" for Celebrity Cooking School.

Melvin Odoom, the radio and TV personality, is ready to unleash a brand-new gastronomic feast on E4 and All 4, as ten self-proclaimed "horrendous" home cooks compete in a gourmet competition series unlike any other.

Celebrity Cooking School (w/t) (8X60') tests whether any of our celeb cooks can be turned around when schooled by one of the best in the culinary business. All that most of the celebs will know about food to start with is how to order it, but working solo and matched in pairs, an intensive cookery crash course will have them sweating it out in the kitchen, as they hilariously tackle a series of complex cooking challenges well beyond their ability – leading to chaos in the kitchen.

They'll need to master crucial cookery techniques and gain confidence if they're to be crowned 'Best in Class' at the end of the series.  But if they don't impress, they'll get an F for Fail and leave the school for good.

Michelin-starred chef Giorgio Locatelli, who believes he can teach anybody to cook, will train and judge the celebrities. Poppy O'Toole, a Michelin-trained chef and TikTok star, will be assisting him in his endeavour. Along with Poppy, Locatelli will not only be determining who remains and who goes, but he will also be teaching the stars how to prepare and present world-class cuisine. However, when the celebrities try their hardest to impress their teacher, it isn't long before he realises he has his work cut out for him with these celebrity chefs.

Coming to E4 and All 4 later in 2022.

REVIEW: Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop - Starring Nathalie Cox and Kelsey Grammer

Brad Watson directs Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop, Elizabeth Willoughby a University professor, played by Nathalie Cox, has an insatiable appetite for investigation and is asked by some old family friends to investigate a series of hauntings at their antique bookstore.

Elizabeth Willoughby lost her parents at a young age, she is raised by a family friend Robert Thompson, (Kelsey Grammar) who is now her legal guardian, and we start off with Elizabeth Willoughby as a young child, being taught everything from literature, to chess, to self-defence and martial arts.

After some early scenes we fast forward to the present and Elizabeth Willoughby is now a grown woman. (Not really sure how old the character is supposed to be, perhaps a fair bit younger than Nathalie Cox is in real life) A successful career woman, a University Professor. After visiting her favourite bookstore, she meets up with Helen Deakin (Louise Bangay) and her husband Oliver Deakin (Steven Elder). Helen claims that the bookstore is haunted, as she keeps seeing her deceased father. Helen asks Elizabeth if she can help discover what is happening.

Read Full Review at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2022/02/review-miss-willoughby-and-haunted.html

REVIEW: The Legend of La Llorona (2022)

How am I back to reviewing another B movie horror film! This time it is The Legend of La Llorona, starring Autumn Reeser, Antonio Cupo, Danny Trejo, Zamia Fandiño, Josh Zaharia, Fernanda Aguilar, Nicolas Madrazo, Edgar Wuotto, and Angélica Lara.

The basic story revolves around a couple vacationing in Mexico, they discover that their son's disappearance is tied to a supernatural curse. Sounds good right!

The whole film is set in a dense, dark forest, and you know when things are dark from the start, it is a cover for some dodgy special effects.

Read full review at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2022/02/review-legend-of-la-llorona-2022.html

Max Von Sydow stars in 'ECHOES OF THE PAST' with an arresting final performance in this powerful historical drama arriving on digital 21 Feb

The late Max Von Sydow (The Exorcist, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Flash Gordon) gives a striking and tender-hearted final performance in Echoes of the Past, a poignant and powerful drama inspired by true events – one of the darkest moments in modern Greek history.

Helmed by lauded Greek director Nicholas Dimitropoulos (Alter Ego), Echoes of the Past is the first film to explore the Kalavryta Holocaust and the infamous massacre of Kalavryta by Nazi troops on December 13, 1943. The film opened in Greece in November 2022 to the #1 spot at the Greek Box Office and won the Youth Audience Award at Thessaloniki International Film Festival, now this moving and momentous feature is set to arrive on digital platforms on 21 February from Reel 2 Reel Films.

When the Greek government launches a multi-billion legal claim for war reparations, Caroline Martin (Astrid Roos – Dreamland) a high-flying lawyer representing the German government visits Kalavryta to investigate.

More info and trailer at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2022/02/max-von-sydow-stars-in-echoes-of-past.html

For Children's Mental Health Week, the Duchess of Cambridge will read a CBeebies Bedtime Story.

To commemorate Children's Mental Health Week, Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cambridge, will read a CBeebies Bedtime Story (7th-13th February). To coincide with this year's subject of 'Growing Together,' the Duchess has chosen to read Jill Tomlinson's The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark.

Children's Mental Health Week is a national event that highlights and recognises the mental health of children. This year, children and adults are encouraged to reflect on their emotional development, recognising that doing new things can help people move beyond their comfort zones, and that difficulties and disappointments can help them progress and adapt.

The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark, illustrated by Paul Howard, follows the story of Plop, a baby barn owl, who is helped by others to grow in confidence and overcome his fears.

The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark read by The Duchess of Cambridge will air at 6.50pm, Sunday 13 February.

Deep Heat - ITV2 commissions brand new comedy

Holly (Jahannah James), a disgruntled wannabe wrestler facing the battle of a lifetime, is the star of the 6 x 30" series. Holly's mother, Pam (Pippa Haywood), is heartbroken when her brother Nick Nitro (Richard Fleeshman) poaches all of Boss Pro's top wrestlers. It appears like the North West's oldest pro-wrestling firm is doomed. But, if Holly can assemble Boss Pro's surviving gang of misfits, the company might just make it...if Pam would only let Holly wrestle herself.

We join the Boss Pro crew as they look toward a summer of slams and self-discovery – can our underdogs come together and come out on top to put on the show of a lifetime?

Deep Heat boasts an impressive ensemble cast that includes: Jahannah James (The Self-Tapers), Pippa Haywood (Green Wing), Richard Fleeshman (Four Weddings and a Funeral), Paul Olima (Newcomer), Alistair Petrie (Sex Education), Max Olesker (W1A), Ivan Gonzalez (W1A), Sharon Rooney (My Mad Fat Diary), Sasha Desouza-Willock (Adult Material) and Abby Russell (Hang Ups) with guest appearances from Matt Lucas (Little Britain), John Thomson (Cold Feet), Ben Ashenden (Stath Lets Flats) and Carla Langley (There She Goes).

Louise Delamere and Stephen Mangan, Executive Producers said "We can't wait to unleash the wonderful Deep Heat on the world – a high-energy and joyous comic celebration of wrestling, glamour and tight spandex".

REVIEW: Nightmare Alley (2021)

Guillermo del Toro is back with Nightmare Alley, a film that is sure to get plenty of awards. Based on a 1946 novel by William Lindsay Gresham of the same name, stars Bradley Cooper as Stanton Carlisle, we first get introduced to Stanton as he is burning down his family home, and escaping whatever life he previously had. He visits a travelling carnival, and upon watching a few shows, he manages to convince the boss to give him work. He soon befriends Zeena the Seer played by the excellent Toni Collette, a fake psychic/clairvoyant. Early on in the film we get to see the secrets behind some classic psychic trickery, including a famous mentalism trick where by a code is used between two people to give the illusion of transmitting information psychically. She performs this trick with her husband Pete (David Strathairn), in front of Stanton, and just as it seems he is being convinced, they reveal how it is done. 

Stanton eventually asks Pete to teach him all the tricks of the trade, and we then get the birth of "Master Stanton", with his new assistant Molly played by the lovely Rooney Mara.

What follows is a fascinating and very high-quality film, whereas usually the monsters of Guillermo del Toro films are creepy and horrifying, the monsters in Nightmare Alley are very much the psychological evils of the people involved.

Full Review at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2022/02/review-nightmare-alley-2021.html

REVIEW: See For Me (2022) Stars Skyler Davenport and Jessica Parker Kennedy

See For Me is a great new film that looks at how a blind person could deal with a home invasion.

Sophie (played by Skyler Davenport, who is most famous for video game voice work) is a blind former skier, who lives with her mother. For work Sophie house sits, (cat sits) luxury houses in New York.

Early on, the film gives the Sophie character extra layers, outside the obvious layer of not being able to see. (Actress Skyler Davenport is partially blind in real life), by showing that Sophie is not your innocent young girl, when you see her stealing some expensive wine with the help of a friend who guides her.

Sophies mother encourages her to download an app called "See For Me", which connects you to someone who will help you if you are in trouble as a blind person.

After arriving at a house to house sit, Sophie accidentally locks herself out, she decides to use the app for help. Sophie ends up being connected to Kelly (Jessica Parker Kennedy who you might recognise from The Flash). Kelly is a former servicewoman, so gives straightforward easy to understand instructions to help Sophie get back in the house.

Full Review at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2022/01/review-see-for-me-2022-stars-skyler.html

REVIEW: The Amityville Uprising (2022)

I seem to be reviewing a lot of B movies recently, the latest one to come across my desk is The Amityville Uprising, released by Lionsgate. Not sure why Lionsgate are making and releasing B movies, they clearly don't need the small change that this film would make.

The film starts off with some terrible CGI showing a chemical blast at a military base. The general idea of the story is that this strange blast, creates a cloud of toxic acid rain. Most of the story takes place at a police station.

Now as I have mentioned before, there are Good Terrible movies and Bad Terrible movies. So where does this one fit in. Well its tough to say. The film is roughly 80 minutes long, HOWEVER, here is an awesome life hack I am going to give you right now. You can watch the entire film in 40 minutes! All you need to do is fast forward the first 40 minutes, and then start to watch from there.

Full Review at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2022/01/review-amityville-uprising-2022.html

REVIEW: War of the Worlds Annihilation

Streaming on Tubi TV, this is a disaster movie from the Kings of the B Movie, The Asylum.

All Asylum films are terrible, we know this, however there is good terrible, and bad terrible.

Good terrible films by The Asylum include the Sharknado franchise and The Megashark Franchise.

Bad terrible films, are pretty much everything else. Sadly, War of the Worlds Annihilation falls into the bad terrible list of films.

With that said, the film does star the one good Baldwin, in William Baldwin who plays General Skuller.

Full Review at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2022/01/review-war-of-worlds-annihilation.html

REVIEW: Antlers (2021) - Horror film starring Keri Russell, Jesse Plemons, Jeremy T. Thomas, Graham Greene, Scott Haze, Rory Cochrane, and Amy Madigan

I hadn't seen or heard pretty much any publicity for Antlers, so I expected this to be your run of the mill supernatural horror film, but I was pleasantly surprised by this rather engaging film.

Directed by Scott Cooper, and starring the excellent Keri Russell, probably best known for FX spy thriller series The Americans, as a school teacher, one of her students is seemingly suffering from personal problems at home, but what she doesn't know is that he actually has a dangerous secret in his house.

The film starts off with Frank Weaver who runs a meth lab out of an abandoned mine, one day Frank is attacked by some kind of creature, along with his son Aiden, they survive,  we learn later on that their condition got worse when home, so he ordered his older son Lucas to lock them up.

Full Review at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2022/01/review-antlers-2021-horror-films.html

Interview with Horror Writer R. W. K. Clark

When did you first become interested in writing?

I have been interested in writing since I was a teen. I remember being so excited on my first day of creative writing class. So many ideas just popped into my head, from a love story that I hoped would be a reality one day to the darkest thoughts within me. I sat down to write my first project, and the words just poured out of me. Looking back now, I realize I should have taken more time editing it before turning it in. When I got my story back from the teacher, it was covered in red marks. She even added little notes like, "this makes no sense," and "where are you going with this?" There were also a few not-so-nice things noted. Well, not nice to a teen with fresh hopes of becoming a writer. Some could consider it traumatizing in a way. I remember feeling so defeated that day that I honestly thought I'd never pick up another pen. Fortunately, due to my tenacity, I picked up another. I learned to take criticism, whether constructive or not, and try to understand the reasoning.

How did you get involved in so many genres?

I've always had an interest in the darkest thoughts people hide away. What makes a serial killer tick? Why would a sweet person suddenly turn dark? I know how that may seem, but it intrigues me. Most of my bestsellers are psychological thrillers. However, I do like to dabble in fantasy and sci-fi on occasion. The things we all want to believe in, but know deep down are all make-believe, like a Zombie apocalypse, are also appealing to me. No matter how many reiterations, it's still entertaining and thought provoking. Writing sci-fi gives my mind a much-needed break from some of my deranged characters, like Melvin from Mindless or Elliot Keller in Passing Through.

Read Full Interview at

http://www.mastersofhorror.co.uk/2022/01/interview-with-r-w-k-clark-by-david.html

REVIEW: Gold (2022) - Starring Zac Efron and Anthony Hayes

Gold is an "Australian Survival" film, directing by Anthony Hayes, who also stars alongside Zac Efron.

Zac Efron in what I can only assume is an attempt to be taken seriously as an actor, is all dirty in this film, dirty as in covered in dirt, dishevelled, grubby, however you want to describe it, it does seem that when an actor wants to move to that next level, if they are a woman, they "ugly themselves up" and if they are a man, they grubby themselves down.

Set in the Australian outback, Efron plays... erm.... "Man One", yes that is how he is billed, who is getting a lift from Hayes, (Man Two). The first 20 minutes is some of the dullest on-screen film I have ever seen.

Full Review at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2022/01/review-gold-2022-starring-zac-efron.html

REVIEW: Summertime Madness on XBOX

Summertime Madness is a single-player first-person puzzle game. The game starts off with a nice intro.

"The city of Prague was under siege, ravaged by war.

Buildings were falling, churches were burning, and everything was to be washed away forever.

A painter lived there, isolated from the outside world. The worse the terrors of war became, the more the artist obsessively painted beautiful landscapes as a contrast to the evil he had witnessed. One night, a mysterious figure appeared in the house seemingly out of nowhere. The stranger walked slowly around the room, inspecting the paintings. He then sat down in front of the artist; to offer him a deal.

The chance to enter one of his own creations, far away and free of war. But he would have to find his way back out before midnight, or else his soul would become trapped in the canvas forever. Feeling alone, on the edge of madness, terrorized by the scent of death creeping in from the streets, the artist shook the mysterious man's hand, accepting the deal.

A few moments later, the house was empty."

Full Review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2022/01/review-summertime-madness-on-xbox.html

Harder, hotter and tougher - The Bridge is back

The Bridge, Channel 4's gruelling reality competition, returns for a second season in a fresh tropical locale. There's double the drama and double the prize money on the line as two teams compete to be the first to win a £200k jackpot.

The eight-part series is hosted by AJ Odudu, and it follows 16 strangers who join together for the possibility to win a large financial award, but are unaware of the epic struggle that would be required to take the money home.

To take on the ultimate test of physical ability, mental talent, and teamwork, the candidates must set their egos and differences aside. In a race to reach the riches kept on top of 'Fortune Rock,' the teams must build a bridge over 1,000 feet of water in just 12 days. Will the first person to reach the money opt to share it with their teammates?

Coming soon.

REVIEW: Shattered (2022) - Starring Cameron Monaghan & Lilly Krug

Chris (Cameron Monaghan) is a retired tech millionaire, he wrote an app, sold it to google, and now he lives in a beautiful house with futuristic technology throughout. His wife (Sasha Luss) is divorcing him.

One late night he decides to go shopping, and meets a gorgeous blonde woman, Sky (Lilly Krug), she asks for his help in choosing some wine, her Uber cancels on her, and he ends up taking her back to his. This happens to me all the time! Really! Ok, apart from the hot blonde and I don't have a futuristic house, but the rest is spot on.

Chris and Sky start seeing each other, then one night when coming back to his car, someone is trying to break in, a scuffle ensues, and the criminal attacks Chris with a crowbar. Sky then steps in as a nurse for Chris to help him in his recovery.

Full Review at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2022/01/review-shattered-2022-starring-cameron.html

REVIEW: Sheltered 2 on PC (Steam)

Sheltered 2 is set 20 years after an apocalyptic event happened on Earth, wiping out most of the human race, what remains are splintered factions, all vying for their own land and resources.

At first look the game will remind you of Fallout Shelter, and although there are similarities, Sheltered 2 is quite different and much more of a hardcore survival game.

Your job is to run your shelter, grow your faction, all the while managing your resources, crafting items, exploring outside of your shelter, and generally trying to keep everyone alive.

Full Review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2022/01/review-sheltered-2-on-pc-steam.html

REVIEW: The King's Man - Starring Ralph Fiennes

Although it has been out about a month now, I finally got round to seeing The King's Man, a prequel of sorts to the Kingsman film series.

The film has some big-name actors in it, Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Rhys Ifans, Matthew Goode, Tom Hollander, Harris Dickinson, Daniel Brühl, Djimon Hounsou, and Charles Dance, and is set during World War I and covers the emergence of the Kingsman organization.

A collection of some of the worst "bad guys" from history have come together to plot a war to wipe out millions, and Orlando Oxford (Ralph Fiennes) is in a race against time to stop them.

Full Review at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2022/01/review-kings-man-starring-ralph-fiennes.html

The first look image for the second series of Sky Original comedy Bloods has been released.

Sky has released a sneak peek at the second season of the critically acclaimed comedy BLOODS. The quirky dream team Wendy and Maleek, played by BAFTA-nominated Samson Kayo and Golden Globe-nominated Jane Horrocks, return as we follow them and their paramedic colleagues in the life-saving realm of a south London emergency service. The series will be broadcast in two parts on Sky Comedy and the streaming service NOW, with the first five episodes premiering in March 2022.

The second season introduces a new source of friction for Wendy and Maleek in the form of Wendy's obnoxious son, Spencer (Nathan Foad). Katherine Kelly (Innocent, Liar) joins the cast as the acting therapist and listening ear at the ambulance station.

Coming in March

REVIEW: Dyna Bomb on Nintendo Switch

Dyna Bomb is an arcade style linear platformer, run or fly (using your jetpack, that conveniently has unlimited fuel) around a level, collect diamonds, bombs and a key, then exit the level. Do this before the time runs out, and avoiding enemies. There are 8 worlds with 8 levels in each world. So, plenty of levels to complete. Throw in portals to move around a level too, and you have a decent little arcade platformer.

Your character will start a level with 3 bombs that he or she can throw at enemies, you can collect more as well, but use your bombs carefully as they are strictly limited. And if you touch an enemy, level over.

Full Review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2022/01/review-dyna-bomb-on-nintendo-switch.html