My first visit to the Scala cinema in Kings Cross was in 1991. I’m not entirely sure quite how this sleazily salacious and gloriously gory fleapit had escaped my radar for quite so long. But somehow it had – and it may have done so for longer still had it not been for an unrated screening of ‘The Borrower’ (John [...]

Technology tended to arrive late in our household. In the early 1980’s, by some quirk of technological geography, some of my friends had an early form of home cable TV. They would often regale me with tantalisingly lurid descriptions of some of the juicy horror films they’d viewed. And then came the home video revolution where once again my appetite [...]

Dear reader, as you will undoubtedly recall from my previous posting, I have very fond memories of the ABC Edgware Road cinema. Allow me a few moments of indulgence whilst I briefly recount its history. It opened on 12th September 1938 under the grand name of The Regal Harrow Road. The (very) grand auditorium boasted 1,234 seats in the stalls [...]

Welcome once more dear friend. (May I call you that? I do hope so). Today we are leaving the illustrious luxurious cinemas of the West End behind and venturing up Edgware Road W2. We are, perhaps rather surprisingly, passing by the magnificent panoramic screen at the Odeon Marble Arch and instead heading upstream into somewhat murkier waters… As we come [...]

Right dear reader, let us not delay, I hope you’ve had a good dose of caffeine today as we’re going to visit a lonely goat – high on a hill. The first full-length film I can recall seeing in the cinema was Robert Wise’s ‘The Sound of Music’. Obviously this was a re-run (it was made in 1965, three years [...]

It’s been quite a while hasn’t it dear reader? Firstly, I really must apologise, I did rather go on somewhat about last year’s FrightFest didn’t I? And then, on top of that, I’ve been more or less firmly ensconced on the sofa for the past month utilising my Blockbuster ‘Golden Ticket’. This special offer entitled me to rent thirty DVDs [...]

Ladies and gentlemen, the first few lines need your 3D glasses… It’s a fine crisp Saturday morning as yours truly s(troll)s with some purpose and several egg McMuffins in his stomach toward the Empire cinema for the third and final day (for this young handsome attendee at least) of FrightFest 2011. I am scheduled to go troll hunting at 11am. [...]

Once again, this blog contains explicit name-dropping. Those of a nervous celebrity disposition are advised to read the following with extreme caution. FrightFest Day 2 (Friday). I finally succumb to Twitter and get myself an account. I’m persuaded by the promise that a selection of FrightFesters tweets will be projected onto the Empire’s screen between films. (Like that ever happened). [...]

WARNING: this particular entry contains frequent and explicit examples of name-dropping. If you are easily offended by shameless gratuitous references to celebs (albeit mostly from the horror genre) then please read on at your own discretion knowing you have been duly warned… So, having failed miserably to acquire Diana Rigg’s autograph (last blog entry dear reader, do try and keep [...]

WARNING: The following blog contains frequent and intense use of alliteration that some readers may find upsetting. You are therefore strongly advised to reasonably refrain from reading this recent review. Thank you. As I start to type this dear reader, FrightFest 2011 will be well into its fourth day of five of fearsome fantastic fare at the Empire Leicester Square. [...]

I used to be given chocolate bars from a fat cinema usherette nicknamed ‘Tubby’. There, I’ve said it, and now that it’s out in the open I feel much much better, so can we move on now please? Look it was a long time ago, I was probably only 2 or 3, and it’s not like my parents weren’t with [...]

Again, so soon? People will talk you know. Oh well let them! Don’t know about you, but I’m really looking forward to this film seeing as I’m a HUGE Slade fan. No that’s not a miss-print, you did just read that I am a HUGE Slade fan – or at least I WAS (caps lock getting a good workout isn’t [...]

Ah, there you are, I’m so glad you came back! Have you been queuing long? Anyway here we are outside the New Victoria cinema in Wilton Road SW1 – but then you knew that already otherwise you’d be around the corner at the Metropole, or the Biograph, or maybe even the Cartoon Cinema in the station (see previous blog if [...]

If, by any chance, you one day happen to bump into that esteemed English thespian Christopher Lee (CBE), aka Count Dracula, aka Count Dooku (but not Count Duckula), would you be so kind as to ask him the following question on my behalf: “Mr Lee, ‘‘Funny Man’ – why?”. Welcome dear reader to my first posting on my blog of [...]