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What are the 100 greatest movies of all time? Well, that’s an incredibly difficult question to answer. After all, art is subjective and tastes vary incredibly across the globe. But, I’ve taken on the impossible task and gathered the 100 movies that I think constitute the 100 greatest movies of all time! Take a look below.

Related “I look forward to making great movies together”: Tom Cruise Might Have Hinted Mission Impossible Retirement After Latest Deal With WB for New Franchise The 100 Greatest Movies of All Time 100. Being John Malkovich (1999) A scene from Being John Malkovich (1999) Directed by Spike Jonze

In 1999 acclaimed actor John Malkovich took on the difficult task of playing himself in Spike Jonze’s incredibly bizarre, self-referential comedy. With John Cusack and Cameron Diaz playing against type as bumbling losers who find a doorway into the consciousness of Malkovich, this ground-breaking comedic effort feels fresh and hilarious upon repeated viewings.

Today, BritBox and the BBC announced the cast of Riot Women, the brand-new drama series from the multi-bafta award-winning writer Sally Wainwright.

Leading the cast and the Riot Women band are Joanna Scanlan as Beth, Rosalie Craig as Kitty, Tamsin Greig as Holly, Lorraine Ashbourne as Jess, and Amelia Bullmore as Yvonne.

Anne Reid (The Sixth Commandment) will play Nancy, Holly and Yvonne’s mother, with Sue Johnston (The Royle Family) as Jess’s Aunt Mary. Peter Davison (Doctor Who), Claire Skinner (Outnumbered), and Angel Coulby (Merlin) also join the cast.

In Riot Women, we dive headfirst into the world of five women who, along with two riotous backing singers, come together to create a makeshift punk-rock band in order to enter a local talent contest, but in writing their first original song, soon discover that they have a lot to say – and this is their way to say it.

Exclusive: Australian actress Markella Kavenagh (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power) will star alongside Tom Blyth and Sophie Wilde in New Regency’s suspense thriller Watch Dogs, based on the bestselling Ubisoft video game franchise, which wrapped production over the summer.

Details as to Kavenagh’s role are under wraps. Little is known about the film’s plot, other than that it will feature an original story set within the popular game universe.

Mathieu Turi, the esteemed French genre helmer behind 2023’s The Deep Dark, directed from a script by Victoria Bata, which was based on a story by Christie LeBlanc. New Regency’s Chairman and CEO Yariv Milchan and President of Motion Pictures and Television, Natalie Lehmann, produced alongside Margaret Boykin, Head of Content at Ubisoft Film & Television.

Debuting in 2014, Watch Dogs is an action-adventure game immersing players in the world of skilled hackers who...

Hulu has revealed the official trailer for Last Days of the Space Age, an eight-part series that will premiere on the streaming service on October 2, 2024.

Starring Radha Mitchell and Jesse Spencer, Last Days of the Space Age is a dramedy series set in 1979 Western Australia, when Perth was at the center of the world’s headlines.

A power strike threatens to plunge the region into darkness while the city hosts the iconic Miss Universe pageant and the US space station, Skylab, crashes just beyond the city’s suburbs.

Against this backdrop of international cultural and political shifts, three families in a tight-knit coastal community find their marriages, friendships, and futures put to the test.

The series is led by Radha Mitchell (Olympus Has Fallen) and Jesse Spencer (Chicago Fire) as wife and husband, Judy and Tony Bissett. Deborah Mailman (Total Control) and Linh-Dan Pham (The Beat That My Heart Skipped...

With six Oscar nominations under his belt, Australian-born director Peter Weir has firmly established himself as one of our most respected filmmakers thanks to a number of visually striking, narratively ambitious movies. But how many of his titles remain classics? Let’s take a look back at all 13 of his movies, ranked worst to best.

Born in 1944, Weir helped usher in the Australian New Wave of cinema with “Picnic at Hanging Rock” (1975), “The Last Wave” (1977), “Gallipoli” (1981) and “The Year of Living Dangerously” (1983). He brought his unique brand of filmmaking to Hollywood with the romantic mystery “Witness” (1985), which brought him his first Oscar nomination for Best Director. He earned a subsequent bid in the category for the inspirational teacher drama “Dead Poets Society” (1989), competing once again for the media satire “The Truman Show” (1998) and the swashbuckling epic “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World” (2003), for which he also contended in Best Picture.

“SOULM8TE,” another entry in the newly established “M3GAN” cinematic universe, has cast “Evil Dead Rise” breakout star Lily Sullivan as its lead character, TheWrap has learned.

In the Kate Dolan-directed thriller, Sullivan will play an artificially intelligent android purchased by a male character in the hopes that she will help alleviate the grief he feels after the death of his wife. Dolan also rewrote an original version of the script penned by Rafael Jordan (“Salvage Marines”), off a story by Jordan, James Wan and Ingrid Bisu.

“SOULM8TE” is slated for January 2026, and will follow direct sequel “M3GAN 2.0,” which is set to premiere June 27, 2025.

The official logline is as follows: “A man acquires an artificially intelligent android to cope with the loss of his recently deceased wife. In an attempt to create a truly sentient partner, he inadvertently turns a harmless lovebot into a deadly soulmate.”

Aussie actress Sullivan...

Exclusive: After finding a breakout film role last year in New Line’s Evil Dead Rise, Australia’s Lily Sullivan has landed a lead in SOULM8TE, Atomic Monster and Blumhouse’s new film out of the M3GAN universe.

Sullivan will portray the gorgeous, artificially intelligent android that a man acquires to help him cope with the loss of his recently deceased wife. In an attempt to create a truly sentient partner, the man inadvertently turns a harmless lovebot into a deadly soulmate.

While the film is part of the M3GAN universe, sources stress that it’s a great deal more risqué than the original horror thriller. Following a different story and characters, it falls in the tradition of ’90s domestic thrillers but with a modern, technological twist.

Kate Dolan (You Are Not My Mother) will direct after rewriting the original draft from Rafael Jordan (Salvage Marines), which was based...

It’s showtime!

Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” will open the 81st annual Venice Film Festival, IndieWire has confirmed. The film will be screened out of competition on Wednesday, August 28 at the Sala Grande, marking its world premiere. Warner Bros. will release “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” in theaters September 6.

The full Venice lineup will be announced July 23.

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” stars Michael Keaton as the titular ghoul who is summoned by the Deetz family once again. This time, Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) and her daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega) realize that the portal to the afterlife has been accidentally opened. Catherine O’Hara returns, and is also joined by newcomers Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, and Willem Dafoe.

The original “Beetlejuice” came out in 1988.

“‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ marks the long-awaited return of one of the most iconic characters of Tim Burton’s cinema, but also the happy confirmation of the extraordinary visionary talent and the masterly realization...

The world premiere of Mitzi Peirone’s horror film “Saint Clare” will open the Taormina Film Festival, this year celebrating its 70th anniversary edition. The adaptation of Don Roff’s novel stars Bella Thorne, Ryan Phillippe, Frank Whaley and Rebecca De Mornay. It’s the first of four world premieres to screen at the outdoor Teatro Antico in the Sicilian town, which looks out towards Mount Etna, an active volcano, to the West.

Lee Isaac Chung’s highly anticipated remake/sequel “Twisters,” distributed by Warner Bros. in Italy, is blowing into town for its local premiere. Starring “Normal People’s” Daisy Edgar Jones and “Hitman” star Glen Powell, the “Minari” director’s film is a reupping of Jan de Bont’s mid-90s classic, with a James Cameron-esque title promising to multiply the mayhem.

Marco Mueller, who has taken over as the festival’s artistic director (see interview), commented...

Veteran festival director Marco Mueller was only hired to take over as the artistic director of the Taormina Film Festival in April this year. “I’m stressed out,” he told Variety, two weeks ahead of the festival opening, but he is philosophical. “The history of this island is one of people trying to conquer Sicily, but Sicily has always ended up conquering the conquerors. We are conquered not only by the beauty of the place, but also the local customs, not to mention the food and wine, of course.”

Mueller, who has previously headed the Locarno and the Venice film festivals as well as the Pingyao Film Festival more recently, has a clear vision for the direction he wishes to pursue. “From the moment I signed my contract, I knew I really wanted to go back to the formula that was used in the golden years of the festival, which for me,...

More! Like baby chicks gape-mouthed in the nest, Doctor Who fans demand to be fed. Series 14 was gulped down in what felt like record time, and now comes the hunger. After “Empire of Death”, the mystery of Ruby’s mother was solved and the revelation that Sutekh has been Teen Wolfing it atop the Tardis since 1975, we want to know… what’s next?

A Christmas special, followed by eight new episodes is what, plus the continuation of the current companion and the introduction of a new one. Read all about it below.

2024 Christmas Special “Joy to the World”

On the press circuit for Steven Moffat’s series 14 episode “Boom”, the former showrunner confirmed that yes, the rumours are true, he’s the writer of the 2024 Christmas special. The episode is called “Joy to the World”, it’s set at least partly during WWII, features a scene on Mount Everest, and...

Irish director Lorcan Finnegan – already behind “Vivarium” – returns to Cannes with “The Surfer.” Starring Nicolas Cage, it follows a man who just wants to surf on a beach next to his old childhood home in Australia. But he is not a local anymore and he will have to fight for it – or lose his mind.

Nic’s character actually references “surfing as a metaphor for life.” Why did you want to explore – and maybe also mock – this philosophy?

I met Thomas Martin, who wrote the film, years ago. We wanted to do something together and then he mentioned “The Surfer.” It was about this one man, trying to deal with who he thinks he is and what he actually wants over the course of five days. It felt very contained, challenging and appealing to me as a filmmaker.

At the beginning of the film, The Surfer says: “You either surf,...

Peter Weir, the legendary Australian director of “Picnic at Hanging Rock,” “The Year of Living Dangerously,” “Gallipoli,” “Witness,” “Dead Poets Society,” “The Truman Show,” and “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World,” is getting some richly deserved recognition. Following his honorary Oscar in advance of the 2023 Academy Awards, he will now receiving the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement from the Venice Film Festival this fall.

“With a total of only 13 movies directed over the course of 40 years, Peter Weir has secured a place in the firmament of the great directors of modern cinema,” said Alberto Barbera, the artistic director of the Venice Film Festival, in an official statement.

Weir has been nominated for six Academy Awards throughout his career — three times for Best Director, for “Witness,” “The Truman Show,” and “Master and Commander,” for which he also received a Best Picture nod, and once for Best Original Screenplay for “Green Card.

Australian filmmaker Peter Weir will receive the Golden Lion for lifetime achievement at the 81st Venice Film Festival (August 28-September 7).

The director and screenwriter is a six-time Oscar nominee for films including Dead Poets Society and The Truman Show, both of which premiered at Venice in 1989 and 1998 respectively.

“The Venice Film Festival and its Golden Lion are part of the folklore of our craft. To be singled out as a recipient for a lifetimes work as a director is a considerable honour,” said Weir.

The filmmaker first rose to prominence in 1975 with Picnic At Hanging Rock, followed by The Last Wave...

The Venice Film Festival will fete Australian director and screenwriter Peter Weir with its honorary Golden Lion at its forthcoming 80th edition.

Accepting the honor, Weir said: “The Venice Film Festival and its Golden Lion are part of the folklore of our craft. To be singled out as a recipient for a lifetime’s work as a director is a considerable honor.”

Born in August 1944, Weir was one of the pivotal figures in the Australian New Wave cinema of the 70s. He began his career in 1969 when he took a job with the government-funded Commonwealth Film Unit as a director. Weir struck out on his own in 1973 and directed his first feature film, the comic-horror The Cars That Ate Paris (1974), which he also wrote. He won an international audience with Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975), followed by The Last Wave (1977), for which he also co-wrote the screenplay.

The Venice Film Festival will honor Australian director and screenwriter Peter Weir (Dead Poets Society, The Truman Show, Master and Commander) with its Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 81st edition, running Aug. 28 to Sept 7.

The decision was made by the board of la Biennale di Venezia, based on a proposal made by festival director Alberto Barbera.

“The Venice Film Festival and its Golden Lion are part of the folklore of our craft,” said Weir. “To be singled out as a recipient for a lifetime’s work as a director is a considerable honor.”

Said Barbera: “With a total of only 13 movies directed over the course of 40 years, Peter Weir has secured a place in the firmament of the great directors of modern cinema. At the end of the 1970s, he made a name for himself as the main man behind the rebirth of Australian film thanks to two movies,...

The Venice Film Festival will honor Australian director and screenwriter Peter Weir – whose body of work comprises “Dead Poets Society,” “The Truman Show,” and “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World” – with its 2024 Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement.

“With a total of only thirteen movies directed over the course of forty years, Peter Weir has secured a place in the firmament of the great directors of modern cinema,” Venice artistic director Alberto Barbera said in a statement.

Barbera added that Weir made a name for himself at the end of the 1970s as the leading figure behind the rebirth of Australian cinema thanks to two movies: “The Cars That Ate Paris” (1974) and cult classic “Picnic at Hanging Rock” (1975). The international success of his following two films, “Gallipoli” and “The Year of Living Dangerously” then “opened Hollywood’s doors.”

“Weir combines reflections on personal themes and a need to...

Australian director George Miller made his first feature film, "Mad Max," in 1979. It was a very low-budget affair costing about $200,000. The film takes place in the near future when the Earth is running low on oil and civilization is just beginning to crumble. "Mad" Max Rockatansky (Mel Gibson) is a road cop tasked with reigning in the chaos. "Mad Max" was decidedly low-fi, but it struck a chord with audiences, ultimately earning almost $100 million worldwide. It remains one of the most profitable movies of all time, comparable only to "The Blair Witch Project," "Paranormal Activity," and "Deep Throat." Miller would go on to make several sequels to "Mad Max" in 1981, 1985, and 2015. The fifth film in the series, "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga," is hitting theaters this month, with a potential sixth entry, "Mad Max: The Wasteland," in the early planning stages.

Miller recently participated in a "Furiosa" screening and Q&a event,...

It has been 14 years since his last movie, The Way Back, was released. That was his 14th movie and from how things stand now, it will be his last. Namely, legendary Australian filmmaker and director, Peter Weir, has confirmed that he has definitely retired from filmmaking as he has no more energy to make movies. This shouldn’t come as a major shock, as the director is turning 80 in August this year, and with what he has done so far, he has earned the right to rest.

This was confirmed during a discussion with the audience in Paris, as part of the Festival de la Cinémathèque, where he said:

“Why did I stop directing? Because, quite simply, I have no more energy. I’ve stopped filmmaking in 2020. It was time for me. I felt I want to leave the gambling table, so I no longer direct. But before that, occasionally...

Last year, Australian filmmaker Peter Weir was given an honorary Oscar for having “illuminated the human experience with his unique and expansive body of work.” Sadly, it’s now official that his filmography is complete, as Weir confirmed during an appearance at the Festival de la Cinémathèque in Paris that he has retired from directing.

Télérama reported (and IndieWire was kind enough to translate their report) that Weir was asked why 14 years have gone by since his last movie. Weir replied, “I am retired. Why did I stop cinema? Because, quite simply, I have no more energy.“

Born in 1944, Weir got his career started in television back in the 1960s, working on the TV projects The Life and Times of the Reverend Buck Shotte and Man on a Green Bike. After contributing a segment to the anthology film Three to Go, he made the 50 minute movie Homesdale and the documentary Whatever Happened to Green Valley?...

After movies such as Dead Poets Society, Master And Commander and The Truman Show, Peter Weir won’t be making another film.

This year marks the 21st birthday of a flat-out masterpiece of a blockbuster, 2003’s Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World. Not just because it has a great telling of the weevils joke in it, the Russell Crowe-headlined film is genuinely wonderful and deserves a 4K re-release.

It’s also just one of the many terrific movies from Australian director Peter Weir who, across a career that’s spanned decades, has given us features such as Picnic At Hanging Rock, The Truman Show, Fearless, Dead Poets Society and Witness.

His last movie was back in 2010, the Jim Sturgess-headlined The Way Back. Since then, Weir has been linked with a film called The Keep that obviously didn’t happen. Peter Weir was also set to direct Shantaram,...

Valentine’s Day isn’t just about roses and chocolates. For those who love a good scare, it’s the perfect opportunity to blend romance with the macabre. Here’s a list of 10 Valentine’s Day horror movies that will make your date night thrillingly unforgettable. From classic slashers to psychological thrillers, these films are sure to add an unconventional twist to your celebrations.

10. Pontypool (2008)

Starting our list is a hidden gem in the horror genre, Pontypool. Directed by Bruce McDonald, this Canadian film turns a radio station into a claustrophobic nightmare. Stephen McHattie’s performance as a shock jock witnessing a bizarre viral outbreak through phone calls is both chilling and thought-provoking. It’s a cerebral horror that plays with language and fear in a way that’s both unique and unsettling.

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9. Raising Cain (1992)

Brian De Palma’s Raising Cain is a psychological...

Copenhagen-based LevelK has pounced on world sales rights to the Swedish suspense drama “Hunters on a White Field,” toplining stellar acting trio Jens Hultén, Magnus Krepper and Ardalan Esmaili.

The pic will bow as an exclusive market screening at Göteborg’s Nordic Film Market, running Jan. 31-Feb 2.

Making her feature debut as writer-director is Sarah Gyllenstierna, a former assistant producer and director to artists including Spike Lee and Matthew Barney.

The suspense drama, based on a novel by Mats Wägeus, follows three men – Alex, Greger and Henrik – who get together a weekend to go hunting in the woods. The novice Alex learns how to hunt from his experienced partners. An initial spell of hunting success sharpens their instincts and stirs a sense of rivalry. One day, all animals vanish and the forest turns eerily quiet, yet for the men-the hunt must go on.

“I started developing this film in 2020 when...

The feature debut of director Barnaby Clay, Magnet Releasing’s The Seeding centers on a hiker who gets lost in the desert and seeks refuge with a woman who is living alone.

He soon discovers that she might not be there willingly…

Today, as the film releases in theaters and on PVOD, Magnet has exclusively provided Bloody Disgusting with a sneak preview clip that you can watch below.

Clay tells us, “The film has been gestating for a long time, so it’s thrilling for people to finally get to experience it. I say ‘experience’ because I set out to make The Seeding as immersive as possible. It’s not a film to feel removed from, it’s an experience that drags you though the sand, the heat, the decay, and also natural beauty of the world it takes place in.

“I had a similar feeling watching certain films from the ’70s,...

Ghosts! Giant monsters! Terrifying trunks and deadly deserts! This week’s new horror releases bring various threats into the final days of January, and we’ve got the full rundown for you.

Here’s all the new horror releasing January 23 – January 28, 2024!

For daily reminders about new horror releases, be sure to follow @HorrorCalendar.

This year’s first new theatrical release for the horror genre was Universal, Blumhouse and producer James Wan’s Night Swim, which is now available to rent/purchase at home.

You can rent the film for $19.99 or purchase it (digitally) for $29.99.

Direcred by Bryce McGuire, Night Swim was released into theaters on January 5, 2024. To date, the film has managed to scare up $36 million at the worldwide box office.

Meagan Navarro wrote in her review for Bd, “McGuire’s feature expansion [of his short film, also titled Night Swim] showcases more ways to mine terror from the aquatic concept, buoyed by a great cast,...

Barnaby Clay has directed music videos for the likes of Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Take That, created unique art installations, won awards for making short films, and crafted the documentary Shot! The Psycho-Spiritual Mantra of Rock. Now he has made his narrative feature directorial debut with the horror film The Seeding, which is set to reach theatres and PVOD on January 26th. With that date just one month away, a trailer for The Seeding has arrived online and can be seen in the embed above.

Starring Scott Haze of Venom and Jurassic World: Dominion and Kate Lyn Sheil of The Sacrament and She Dies Tomorrow, the film has the following synopsis: When a hiker gets lost in the desert, a gang of feral children propelled by haunting legacies traps him in a sadistic battle for survival with a frightening endgame. Here’s an alternative synopsis: A hiker lost...

The feature debut of director Barnaby Clay, Magnet Releasing’s The Seeding centers on a hiker who gets lost in the desert and seeks refuge with a woman who is living alone.

He soon discovers that she might not be there willingly…

Ahead of the film’s release in theaters and on PVOD January 26, 2024, Magnet has exclusively provided Bloody Disgusting with the trailer and poster for Clay’s The Seeding.

The filmmaker tells us, “The film has been gestating for a long time, so it’s thrilling for people to finally get to experience it. I say ‘experience’ because I set out to make The Seeding as immersive as possible. It’s not a film to feel removed from, it’s an experience that drags you though the sand, the heat, the decay, and also natural beauty of the world it takes place in.

“I had a similar feeling watching certain films from the ’70s,...

The episode of Wtf Really Happened to This Horror Movie covering Wolf Creek was Written and Narrated by Andrew Hatfield, Edited by Mike Conway, Produced by Lance Vlcek and John Fallon, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian.

One of the biggest and some would say overused tropes in horror movies is the killer stalking people in an outdoor setting. The main series for this is, of course, the Friday the 13th series but we have nearly countless other examples to pull from. Sometimes, like today’s entry, or The Burning, these stories and movies can be based on true events and make it even more frightening. Unlike The Burning, which is based on an urban legend with the true story being far from fact, Wolf Creek (watch it Here) had an original script that was tweaked to be based on the real life killers Ivan Milat and Bradley John Murdoch...

There’s a new Full Moon production heading our way, and this one is going to be streaming on FullMoonFeatures.com just in time for Halloween! It’s a supernatural horror film called Bring Her to Me, and we have the trailer embedded above to help you decide whether or not this is a movie you’ll be adding to your Halloween season viewing list. The streaming release date is October 27th, the Friday before the holiday.

Directed by Brooks Davis, who previously directed The Gingerweed Man and the compilation video Famous T&a 2 for Full Moon, Bring Her to Me is described as “a sensual new tale of supernatural terror, where reality and nightmares collide…with deadly consequences.” The movie has the following synopsis: A woman is plagued by nightmares about traveling to a dark realm and a demonic entity that awaits her arrival. With the help of a friend,...

Listen up Folk Horror fans! There's a new mythic monster in town calling out to you from those dark woods at the edge of town that you know you're supposed to stay away from. Described by creators Armando Zanker, Grant DeArmitt, Shan Bennion, and Lucas Gattoni as a blend of Twin Peaks, Picnic At Hanging Rock, and American Gods, Ratatosk is ready to leap off the page and haunt your dreams. But this spooky investigative page-turner needs your help! Support your local weirdos and grab yourself a copy of this ambitious paranormal project before it's June 24th cutoff date and enjoy 24 pages of crowd-funded creepiness.

The independent spirit is the spark that has lit the entertainment world on fire decade after decade. But grit, determination, and vision is nothing without the support of investors like you. Oren Peli's Paranormal Activity and Rob Zombie's 31 (not to mention countless horror...

1999 is often considered one of the greatest years in Hollywood history. From "The Matrix" to "Fight Club," many films released that year remain important cultural touchstones. The 1990s was also one of the most prolific eras for independent filmmaking; the classics from this decade run the gamut from funny, to tragic, to downright strange. Those three words provide a succinct description of the 1999 classic "Girl, Interrupted," a film that still resonates today, especially with the younger generations of young women.

"Girl, Interrupted" is based on Susanna Kaysen's memoir of the same name, and follows an 18-year-old girl who checks herself into a psychiatric hospital in 1967. While there, Susanna (Winona Ryder) meets a group of eclectic women who make her question where insanity truly lies: inside the mental institution, or outside of its walls? Some of the brightest stars of the late '90s play Susanna's fellow residents, including Angelina Jolie...

“It’s about creating monsters to start wars and steal natural resources.”

Lorcan Finnegan, whose sci-fi Vivarium premiered in Cannes Critics’ Week in 2019, is in town with wife and Lovely Productions partner Brunella Cocchiglia to meet financing partners and sales agents for his upcoming dystopian fable Goliath.

Set in the near-future, the subversion of the David and Goliath myth follows the inhabitants of a pig-breeding community next to a lake containing an island inhabited by a giant who according to legend ate the early settlers’ babies.

When the pigs fall ill, the head of the settlement orders a militia of youngsters to kill the monster.

‘A haunting and compelling oddity from Australian

master Peter Weir… part mystery, part horror, an

impressionist poem to lost innocence’

★★★★★

Empire

‘The first true masterpiece of Australian cinema’

Philip French, The Observer

‘You can see its influences in everything… remains

[Peter Weir’s] most extraordinary work’

Mark Kermode

The internationally acclaimed Australian cinema classic Picnic At Hanging Rock established the now legendary, Peter Weir (The Truman Show, Dead Poets Society) as a major filmmaker and with BAFTA-winning photography and a memorably haunting score, it remains one of the most chillingly atmospheric and beautifully enigmatic films ever made. Now this seminal piece of cinema has received a stunning new Limited Edition 4K Uhd/Blu-ray release alongside Standard Editions on 4K Uhd and Blu-ray courtesy of Second Sight Films.

The film is presented in an impressive new Second Sight Films 4K scan and restoration from the original camera negative, which was supervised...

Evoking the twisted eeriness of classic folk horror but with a contemporary twist, Joseph Brett’s Stones is the story of a brother and sister whose family reunion at a stone circle becomes interrupted by an uninvited guest. Realised through the medium of stop motion animation, Brett’s film embraces the uncanny nature of the form with silicone-style puppets that bring a childlike yet unsettling sensibility to its tale of nostalgia, home and the connections we share with our local landscapes. Dn is delighted to premiere Stones today on the May 1st, the day used to commemorate the pagan festival of Beltane, alongside a in-depth conversation with Brett about his journey creating the film across lockdown, the creative marriage he sees between folk horror and stop motion, and the desire he and Writer Bec Boey (the other half of their Production Company Jackdaw Films) had to alter notions of representation within popular folk aesthetics.

Walpurgisnacht, also known as Walpurgis Night or Hexennacht, is a pagan holiday celebrated on the night of April 30th. It is named after Saint Walpurga, an eighth-century nun who Christianized parts of Germany. However, the holiday has roots in pagan traditions that celebrate the coming of spring and the triumph of life over death. It is also associated with witchcraft and supernatural phenomena, making it a perfect occasion to indulge in some spine-chilling horror films.

So, grab some popcorn and get ready for a night of scares with these ten chilling recommendations for Walpurgisnacht.

1. Dracula (1931)

What better way to kick off Walpurgisnacht than with the most iconic vampire movie of all time? Dracula (1931) stars Bela Lugosi as the titular count who travels from Transylvania to England to spread his curse of the undead. The beginning of the film is actually set on Walpurgisnacht, as Renfield (Dwight Frye) arrives at Dracula...

Widely admired, highly influential and still generating new theories after all these years, Peter Weir's Picnic At Hanging Rock is a film to treasure. As such, it's one which many fans will already own - so how might they be persuaded to purchase a new version? Recognising this, the team at Second Sight Films has really gone above and beyond in assembling this impressive package, the highlight of which is a new Ultra HD 4K restoration of the film from the original camera negative, supervised by Weir himself and Oscar-winning cinematographer Russell Boyd. Unless you're one of the lucky few who caught it in the cinema soon after release, it's unlikely that you've ever see the film looking this good. What's more, you can enjoy it here in multiple versions, including the ending missing from the original theatrical cut which complicates the tale without resolving its central mystery.

There's a surfeit.

Picnic At Hanging Rock

Here at Eye For Film we deal mostly in what’s new – on the festival circuit, at the box office or on streaming networks – so it’s not often that the opportunity arises to discuss a classic. Very few films in the history of cinema have had the impact of Peter Weir’s 1975 mystery Picnic At Hanging Rock. The story of a disappearance and the effect it has on those who remain, it’s based, of course, on the book by Joan Lindsay, whose inspirations have themselves always been obscure, but may be rooted in real disappearances which took place at the rock around 1900. In the film, Karen Robson played Irma, the only one of the party of four who venture up the rock to be found. In the course of our conversation she raised another mystery – the unknown fate of one of its stars – and shared.

Another busy week sees 18 new titles in cinemas.

A major horror franchise resurrects itself at the UK-Ireland box office this weekend, as Studiocanal’s Evil Dead Rise opens in 587 cinemas – the eighth-widest opening ever for an 18-rated film.

Written and directed by Lee Cronin, Evil Dead Rise follows two estranged sisters whose reunion is cut short by flesh-possessing demons thrusting them into a battle for survival.

The film stars Australian actresses Lily Sullivan, who starred in Amazon Studios series Picnic At Hanging Rock and features including Galore; and Alyssa Sutherland, from Amazon’s Vikings series.

Rise is the fifth film in the Evil Dead franchise,...

Take a look at new images of actress Samara Weaving ("Chevalier"), posing for the April 2023 issue of "Marie Claire" (Australia) magazine, photographed by David Roemer:

Weaving began her acting career playing 'Kirsten Mulroney' on the Australian drama series "Out of the Blue" (2008). She then played 'Indi Walker' on the soap opera "Home and Away" (2009–2013).

In the US, Weaving starred in the first season of the series "Ash vs Evil Dead" (2015–2016) and becoming a series regular on "Smilf".

She starred in the features "Mayhem" (2017), "The Babysitter" (2017), "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" (2017) and "Ready or Not", followed by starring roles in TV miniseries "Picnic at Hanging Rock" (2018), "Hollywood" (2020) and "Nine Perfect Strangers" (2021).

Weaving also had roles in the features "Guns Akimbo" (2019), "Last Moment of Clarity" (2020), "The Babysitter: Killer Queen" (2020), "Bill & Ted Face the Music" (2020) and "Scream VI" (2023).

Click the images to enlarge...

Director Andy Fickman, along with Todd Slater, have shared with Bloody Disgusting this week the exclusive first look at Fickman’s new horror franchise, Blue Light.

In an exclusive statement provided to Bloody Disgusting, Andy Fickman touches on why this ambitious new project is so important to him, and the inspiration behind the film.

“My whole life I have been fascinated by horror and sci-fi films,” Fickman tells us. “When I was growing up in Texas, my buddies and I went opening night for every horror film and would return multiple times over the weekend. My senior year in high school, I went with some friends to a reportedly haunted cemetery. We snuck in – late at night – to tell ghost stories and drink cheap champagne. The place was pitch black and fenced in. We had to throw jackets over the old barbed-wire to safely crawl over. At one point, we heard a noise…...

Writer/Director Joe Cornish discusses a few of his favorite movies with Josh Olson and Joe Dante.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Attack The Block (2011)

Rocks (2019)

Poltergeist (1982)

Gremlins (1984)

Avanti! (1972)

Picnic At Hanging Rock (1975)

The Last Wave (1977)

Witness (1985)

Dead Poets Society (1989)

Fearless (1993)

Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World (2003)

Gallipoli (1981)

The Year Of Living Dangerously (1982)

The Cars That Ate Paris (1974)

The Adventures Of Buckaroo Banzai (1984)

Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985)

The Man Who Would Be King (1975)

Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)

The Rescuers (1977)

Bedknobs And Broomsticks (1971)

The Rescuers Down Under (1990)

The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

Moonraker (1979)

The Adventures Of Tintin (2011)

Bambi (1942)

Dumbo (1941)

Close Encounters Of The Third Kind (1977)

Forbidden Planet (1956)

This Island Earth (1955)

Earth Vs. The Flying Saucers (1956)

The Thing From Another World (1951)

Matinee (1993)

The Lord Of The Rings (1978)

The Omen (1976)

Damien: Omen II (1978)

Omen III: The Final Conflict (1981)

Battleship Potemkin (1925)

The Exorcist (1973)

The Exterminator (1980)

Friday The 13th...

Someone must have unwisely read from the Necronomicon because the deadites are back to cause bloody mayhem with the upcoming "Evil Dead Rise" next year. It will have been just about a decade since the last time a new "Evil Dead" movie was shown on the big screen, with Fede Alvarez's 2013 ultra-gory ode to Sam Raimi's indie horror sensation. As the video game continues to be going strong, and another movie is on the way, it's a pretty great time to be an "Evil Dead" fan.

The sheer influence that Raimi's 1981 horror film had on the genre is far and wide. "The Evil Dead" will always be the signature template of the "teenagers stay in a creepy cabin in the middle of the woods" flick, with "Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn" being one of the greatest horror comedies ever made. Although "Army of Darkness" leaned more into its fantasy sensibilities,...

Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is an adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s work, specifically the Appendices of The Lord of the Rings. The series is a prequel to the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings and is set during Arda’s Second Age, when the Rings of Power are first created. Like any good fantasy series, The Rings of Power has an expansive cast of characters whose stories will weave through each other to determine the fate of Middle-earth. Here are the Elves, Dwarves, Humans, and Harfoots that will feature prominently throughout this season.

Morfydd Clark is Galadriel

Galadriel is an Elven warrior of royal blood who is destined to become one of the mightiest Elves of Middle-earth during The Lord of the Rings. First portrayed by Cate Blanchett in Peter Jackson’s film trilogy, The Rings of Power...

Hilary Linstead, casting director, agent and film and stage producer died on Aug. 6 after contracting a form of leukaemia. She was 83.

Described as a “force of nature” by her friends and colleagues, Linstead nurtured and promoted some of Australia’s most famous artistic talents, including directors such as John Bell, Baz Luhrmann, Gillian Armstrong, Jim Sharman, Jane Campion and Neil Armfield, and many writers, designers, composers, cinematographers, choreographers, comedians and performers.

Born in London in 1938, and educated at Cheltenham Ladies College, Linstead went to Australia as a professional actor, as a member of an English touring company. After realizing that acting was not for her, Linstead found her metier as a casting director and worked in an advertising company and at International Casting Services representing actresses. In 1962 she married Leon Stemler.

The turning point in her career came when she joined Liz Mullinar to found M&l Casting Consultants, which became...

Hilary Linstead, the agent, casting director and film producer who launched Australia’s first talent agency, has died aged 83.

Talked of as a “force of nature” by industry friends, Linstead is considered to have nurtured many of Australia’s most successful stage, film and TV talents, and is known for discovering Rome and Juliet director Baz Luhrmann among others, representing him and the likes of Power of the Dog director Jane Campion, Gillian Armstrong (Little Women) and Adelaide festival joint artistic director Neil Armfield.

Linstead was born in London in 1938 but moved to Australia to become an actress. However, she soon switched to become a casting director and worked at International Casting Services representing actresses. She then teamed with Liz Mullinar to form M&l Casting Consultants, which led casting on productions such as Rocky Horror Show and Jesus Christ Superstar and Australian film classics such as Picnic at Hanging Rock.

James Ponsoldt is expecting this question. Why did the guy who made films like “Smashed,” “The Spectacular Now,” and “The End of the Tour” — dark, knowing dramas about messed-up adults, typically with substance abuse problems and a host of neuroses — turn his attention to “Summering,” a film about four tween girls in the waning days of their favorite season?

He’s got the answer in hand: He’s a parent of three kids, his wife Megan works in the public-school system, and this is the stuff he wants to share with his family.

But the real answer? It’s still a James Ponsoldt film. It’s not as dark as its predecessors, but the filmmaker is still using his craft to ask some very deep questions. “Summering” is, after all, about a group of girls who discover a very dead body and must grapple with what to do next.

“Those...

Steps down just over 18 months after replacing Nicola Shindler.

Sarah Doole has stepped down as chief executive of It’s A Sin producer Red Production Company after just over 18 months.

Doole exited StudioCanal-backed Red this month, having taken over in October 2020, following the departure of founder and long-term chief Nicola Shindler.

Doole was previously Fremantle’s global drama director.

During her tenure at Red, Doole oversaw a company which delivered Netflix’s Harlan Coben mystery drama adaptation Stay Close, ITV thriller No Return and the second series of Alibi’s thriller Traces - though these projects were won and helmed by Shindler.

Take a look at new images of Australian actress Samara Weaving (“The Valet”) posing for the latest international fashion magazines, including “Harper’s Bazaar” and a whole lot more:

Weaving’s first major role was in the series “Out of the Blue (2008). She then came to prominence with her portrayal of ‘Indi Walker’ on the soap opera “Home and Away” (2009-2013).

Weaving starred on the first season of series “Ash vs Evil Dead” (2015–2016) before becoming a series regular on “Smilf” in 2017.

She then starred in the features “Mayhem” and “The Babysitter”, plus a supporting role in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”.

In 2019, Weaving starred in the feature, “Ready or Not”, her first lead role in a theatrical American film.

Weaving has since alternated between film and television, appearing in the miniseries “Picnic at Hanging Rock” (2018), “Hollywood” (2020), and “Nine Perfect Strangers” (2021).

Her film roles also include “Guns Akimbo” (2019), “Last Moment of Clarity...

Notebook is covering the Cannes Film Festival with an ongoing correspondence between critics Leonardo Goi and Lawrence Garcia, and editor Daniel Kasman.Enys Men.Dear Danny and Lawrence,I can’t believe we’re halfway through the circus already. Time has a way of slipping out of bounds when one’s in Cannes: it’s been six days since we landed here, though in my currently starved and sleep-deprived state, that feels like a whole month already. I’m spending my Saturday night typing away in a semi-deserted press room, while you two must be currently queuing for Cristian Mungiu’s R.M.N. I’d have loved to join you—and I look forward to hearing your impressions in your next dispatches—but I felt as though I needed a break to sort out my thoughts on three titles I’ve caught earlier this week and have been mulling over here since.

Peter Weir's "Witness" is a firmly established classic now, but it took critics by surprise in 1985 for a lot of valid reasons. Though Harrison Ford was a bona fide movie star thanks to the "Star Wars" saga and two go-rounds as Indiana Jones, he had yet to shed the matinee idol stigma (keep in mind that "Blade Runner" was a box-office flop in 1982). Peter Weir was the leading light of the Australian New Wave via triumphs like "Picnic at Hanging Rock," "The Last Wave," and "Gallipoli," but he was a poet trying his luck in the prose world of Hollywood. Most...

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