Film Essays and Analysis
More Human Than Human: An Introduction to Cyberpunk - Where did cyberpunk originate and what makes it such an influential sci-fi sub-genre in cinema? Kieran Judge walks you through.
Why You Should Reconsider Adam Sandler - Why it's time to reconsider Adam Sandler as an actor according to Joseph Wade.
The Nun: The Prequel We Didn’t Need - With a story that lacked narrative and jump scares that avoided originality, should 'The Nun' be the end for the 'Conjuring' universe? 
Who Is Jareth In Labyrinth (1986) and Why Has He Got a Bulging Penis? - Jareth's penis bulge has finally been explained. Why is Bowie trying to chat up a child, and why did Jim Henson create a sexually charged labyrinth? 
Why Are We Still Scared of Horror Movies? - How have horror movies changed to keep us squirming in our seats and seeking the thrill time and time again? Beth Sawdon investigates in this special feature.
The Era of Nostalgia in Cinema – Why Are We Watching So Many Remakes? - Beth Sawdon explores the sociological, financial and creative reasons behind Hollywood's current leanings towards sequels, prequels, remakes and reboots in this special feature.
How To Make A Good Book-to-Movie Adaptation - Beth Sawdon offers advice on how to make a good book-to-film adaptation, taking lessons from the good and often downright ugly adaptations of the past in this special feature.
The Exceptionals: The Philosophies of The Incredibles - In this special feature, Luke Whitticase explores the philosophies of 'The Incredibles' and its director Brad Bird, drawing particular parallels with exceptionalism and Randian Objectivism.
How Science Fiction Movies Have Influenced Technology - "what is science fiction really? By definition, it's science that isn't real. Or is it?" Craig Sheldon takes you through the real-life impact sci-fi movie gadgets and gizmos have had in this special feature.
An Artist’s Contributions: David Wark Griffith - Highly influential 'Broken Blossoms' and 'The Birth of a Nation' director David Wark Griffith is the topic of Francesca Militello's latest piece in her "An Artist's Contributions" series. Just how did Griffith influence modern cinema? Find out here.
A Retrospective Look at The Passion of the Christ and Its Artistic/Cultural Merits - In this eye-opening piece of analysis, Katie Doyle takes an in-depth look at 'The Passion of the Christ' as a piece of art and a cultural phenomenon, flagging issues regarding discrimination and the movie's post-9/11 politics. 
What Does the Crystal Mean in Darren Aronofsky’s ‘Mother!’? - What does the crystal represent in 'Mother!' (2017)? Elizabeth Howlett takes you through her theory about this vital aspect of the controversial Darren Aronofsky film starring Jennifer Lawrence, here. 
An Artist’s Contributions: Sergei Mikhailovich Eisenstein - Sergei Eisenstein, the father of many modern theories on cinema, is the latest filmmaker to be included in Francesca Militello's An Artist's Contributions series. Take a look at what made him so influential, here.
An Introduction to Italian Neorealism – Essay - Francesca Militello outlines the famous film movement of Italian Neorealism in this introductory essay complete with suggestions on what to watch and why.
Blade Runner 2049: Why is the Female Body the Future’s Prop? - Why is the female body the future's prop in 'Blade Runner 2049'? Alex Morden Osborne offers her critique of the Denis Villeneuve sci-fi movie here.
How the TV Renaissance Has Helped Film Actors - What was once a death nail to any film actor's career now seems like a more enticing proposition as film actors embrace tv, giving the small screen a bigger draw and changing the industry.
You’ve Been Watching ‘Signs’ Wrong - A 'Signs' alternative theory. Could the aliens in 'Signs' really be angels or demons? Joseph Wade takes you through the facts...
The Dark Crystal and Why 80s Nostalgia Can Be Good - Katie Doyle presents why she feels the reemergence of 'The Dark Crystal' via Netflix signifies the positive side of this decade's 80s nostalgia trip.How Robin Williams Affected Millennials - Robin Williams was a legend, but to millennials he was something more. Hear about it straight from the horses mouth in Catherine Giggal's special piece.
Should ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ be Considered a Feminist Franchise? - Sophie Grant sets out to answer the question everyone's been asking for years... Should the 'Fifty Shades of Grey' be considered a feminist franchise?
The Evolution of Disney Dads - What does the interaction a Disney Princess has with her father tell us about how times have changed between 1989 and 2016? James Cullen explores.
Film as a Political Medium: Propaganda and ‘The Triumph of the Will’ - Nazi propaganda film 'The Triumph of the Will' is analysed for its effectiveness as a documentary and comparisons are drawn to contemporary politics in James Cullen's informative film essay. 
‘I, Daniel Blake’, Its Significance and Recognition - 'I, Daniel Blake' has become a significant film for more than just its art. In this piece, Joseph Wade outlines how the film transcended cinema and looks at the reasons for its lack of awards show recognition.
Bodies of Power: Masculinity and Femininity in ‘Rambo: First Blood Part II’ and ‘Aliens’ - Ripley from 'Aliens' and Rambo from 'Rambo: First Blood Part II' each represented different ideas of masculinity and femininity in 80s America, according to James Cullen's film essay.
He Sees You When You’re Sleeping: The Psychology of Christmas Horror Films - What draws us to Christmas-themed horror films? James Cullen takes a look in this special seasonal piece.
An Analysis Of John Candy’s Role In ‘Uncle Buck’ (1989) - John Candy's iconic performance in 'Uncle Buck' has been analysed by Catherine Giggal in this special feature.
The Celluloid Threat of Atomic Annihilation – The Cinema of Nuclear War. - Take a special look back at the history of cinema's relationship with the bomb in this special guest publication from Closer To Midnight's Ben Taylorson.
How Everyone Finally Got Over Ben Affleck Being Batman - Ben Affleck won over most of his critics with his performance in 'Batman v Superman' (2016). Joseph Wade analyses how he managed to do so in a follow up to his contentious piece 'Why It's Finally Time To Get Over Ben Affleck Being Batman' (released in 2015).
An Artist’s Contributions: Orson Welles - Orson Welles may be the most influential American director of all time. Francesca Militello has analysed his artistic contributions in this special article.
Kubrick & Kids – The Work of a Dictatorial Director & His Child Stars - Stanley Kubrick isn't the first name you think of when thinking of directors working with children in film, but Jacqui Griffin points out that maybe he should be in this special feature article.
What’s Wrong With the Original ‘Spider-Man’ Trilogy?! - "These movies came at a time when people needed them" in Katie Doyle's special look at Sam Raimi's 'Spider-Man' trilogy (2002-2007). It’s Not What You Watch, It’s How You Watch It - In Katie Doyle's latest contemplative piece, she writes about how important the ways you watch film can be to your reception of it, and offers a few examples from her own past.
It’s A Wonderful Life: The Truest of Christmas Films - Tis the season for a Christmas rant. Katie Doyle presents hers in the form of her latest piece: 'It's A Wonderful Life: The Truest of Christmas Films', here.
The Main Theories and Interpretations of ‘Toy Story’ - Three of the top fan theories regarding Disney Pixar's 'Toy Story' trilogy have been presented by Jack Gooding in this special feature.
The Most Important Concept in Film - Tricia Lowney presents one of the most important concepts in film today: suspension of disbelief. Read the piece, in full, here. 
The Blair Witch Project: How Does It Compare To Contemporary Horror Films? - How does 'The Blair Witch Project' compare to the horror films of the 21st century? This is a question Jack Gooding answers in his latest article, available here.An Analysis of ‘American History X’ & Its Contemporary Relevance - In his debut piece, Jack Gooding has written about 'American History X' (1998), its controversies and its contemporary relevance. Read the article here.
A Celebration of the Animated Classic “The Prince of Egypt” - A celebration of "The Prince of Egypt" (1998) by Katie Doyle. Discover just what you were missing from the 'original' non-Disney animated feature, here.
In Memory of Christopher Lee – An Analysis of The Wicker Man (1973) - Katie Doyle has dissected the importance and brilliance of the 1973 version of The Wicker Man starring the recently passed Christopher Lee, and has paid a fitting tribute to the actor, here.