Mark Carnochan

About Dry Grasses (2023) Review - 'About Dry Grasses', from Palme d'Or winner Nuri Bilge Ceylan, is a dense and epic study of a character you'll likely appreciate more than enjoy. Review by Mark Carnochan.
The Beast (2023) Review - George MacKay impresses in Bertrand Bonello's centuries-spanning sci-fi epic 'The Beast', starring Léa Seydoux, a film lacking the variety needed to be entertaining. Review by Mark Carnochan.
Love Lies Bleeding (2024) Review - Rose Glass follows up her exceptional horror film 'Saint Maud' with Kristen Stewart in small-town USA for 'Love Lies Bleeding', the ultimate cult flick. Review by Mark Carnochan.
Where to Start with Luis Buñuel - A guide on where to begin with the experimental and ever-influential filmmaking of Luis Buñuel, a collaborator of Salvador Dalí who always made films with purpose. Article by Mark Carnochan.
All of Us Strangers (2023) Review - 'All of Us Strangers' (2023) is leaving viewers in floods of tears, Andrew Haigh and actors Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal offering a devastating new love story. Review by Mark Carnochan.
Where to Start with Laurel & Hardy - As long as people keep watching Laurel and Hardy movies, there'll be no shortage of fans. Here's where to start with the films of the iconic duo. Article by Mark Carnochan.
10 Best Films 2023: Mark Carnochan - 2023 marked a year of change in cinema trends, highlighting a growing desire by audiences for good and moving films. Here are the 10 best films 2023, according to Mark Carnochan.
Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain (2023) Review - 'Saturday Night Live' act Please Don't Destroy transition to the big screen with 'Please Don't Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain;, proving their talents as they do. Review by Mark Carnochan.
Wish (2023) Review - Disney's 100th birthday release 'Wish' is a disingenuous, one dimensional, form of corporate self-fellatio that is insufferable to watch. Ariana DeBose and Chris Pine star. Review by Mark Carnochan.
Saltburn (2023) Review - Emerald Fennell has done it again. 'Saltburn' (2023) is like a Shakespearean episode of 'Skins' with a dash of 'Succession', and Barry Keoghan offers a special performance. Review by Mark Carnochan.
The Killer (2023) Review - David Fincher offers one of 2023's best films in 'The Killer' starring Michael Fassbender, a thriller that deserves to survive the plight of the Netflix algorithm. Review by Mark Carnochan.
Where to Start with Sam Raimi - Where should you begin with the feature directorial career of iconic horror and superhero filmmaker Sam Raimi? Find out in this article by Mark Carnochan.
Evil Dead Movies Ranked - The movies of the Evil Dead universe, from 'The Evil Dead' (1981) to 'Evil Dead Rise' (2023) via 'The Evil Dead II' and 'Army of Darkness', ranked from worst to best. List by Mark Carnochan.
The Creator (2023) Review - Behold Gareth Edwards' 'The Creator' (2023), a mid-budget sci-fi starring John David Washington that is a good time at the movies. Review by Mark Carnochan.
10 Best Films of All Time: Mark Carnochan - The 10 best films of all time according to The Film Magazine staff writer Mark Carnochan. List includes films from some of cinema's most influential names.
Fremont (2023) EIFF Review - Babak Jalali's 'Fremont' (2023), about an Afghan woman living in the United States, won't be a film for everyone but has a charm that is difficult to resist. Review by Mark Carnochan.
Kill (2023) EIFF Review - Adapted from a short film, Rodger Griffiths' feature directorial debut 'Kill' (2023) leaves you with thoughts of what could have been. Review by Mark Carnochan.
Femme (2023) EIFF Review - 'Femme' (2023), from debut feature directors Sam H Freeman and Ng Choon Ping, starring Nathan Stewart-Jarrett and George Mackay is a tightly packed punch of a film. Review by Mark Carnochan.
Past Lives (2023) Review - Celine Song offers one of the greatest debut features of all time in 'Past Lives' (2023), an achingly beautiful film starring Greta Lee. Review by Mark Carnochan.
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde (2023) EIFF Review - Hope Dickson Leach fails to find consistent standards and a fresh take on Jekyll and Hyde in 'The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde'. Review by Mark Carnochan.
Passages (2023) EIFF Review - Ira Sachs' sex-fused relationship drama 'Passages' (2023), starring Franz Rogowski, Ben Whishaw and Adèle Exarchopoulos, ultimately fails to arouse. Review by Mark Carnochan.
Talk to Me (2022) Review - Danny and Michael Philippou of popular YouTube channel RackaRacka have captured the zeitgeist of Gen Z in their supernatural horror 'Talk to Me' starring Sophie Wilde. Review by Mark Carnochan.
Scream Movies Ranked - 'Scream' movies ranked from worst to best, from the original 1996 slasher to 2023 horror 'Scream VI' via Wes Craven's final film, 'Scream 4' (2011). List by Mark Carnochan.
I Like Movies (2022) Review - Filmmaker Chandler Levack cleverly takes the familiar coming-of-age formula and creates a fresh, enjoyable film. Stars Isaiah Lehtinen, Romina D'Ugo. Review by Mark Carnochan.
War Pony (2023) Review - Riley Keough and Gina Gammell direct a slow rumination on the aimless lives of two Native Americans in their Cannes and GFF entry 'War Pony'. Review by Mark Carnochan.
Polite Society (2023) GFF Review - "Truly, a star has been born in Priya Kansara" in Nida Manzoor's unique British coming-of-age film 'Polite Society', a film with all the makings of a smash hit. Review by Mark Carnochan.
God’s Creatures (2022) GFF Review - Emily Watson and Paul Mescal lead 'God's Creatures', the latest high quality film to come from Ireland. "Rich with subtext and brilliant performances." Review by Mark Carnochan.
Girl (2023) GFF Review - 'Girl', the debut feature from Adura Onashile and 2023 Glasgow Film Festival opening night gala, features a charming performance from Le'Shantey Bonsu but is generally disappointing. Review by Mark Carnochan.
Enys Men (2022) Review - Mark Jenkin follows his critically acclaimed feature debut 'Bait' with new colour horror film 'Enys Men' (2022), an example of his filmmaking prowess. Review by Mark Carnochan.
The Closure of Edinburgh Filmhouse, Edinburgh International Film Festival: What It Means to Me - The instant closures of Edinburgh Filmhouse and Edinburgh International Film Festival will have profound effects on wider culture, as explained in this personal essay from Mark Carnochan.
Edinburgh International Film Festival Ceases Trading, Administrators Called In - The Centre for the Moving Image (CMI), the charity that runs Edinburgh and Aberdeen Filmhouse, as well as the Edinburgh International Film Festival, has ceased trading. Report by Mark Carnochan.
5 Hilariously Bad Horror Movie Rip-Offs - Forget 'Scream', this is 'Final Scream'. Forget 'Halloween', this is 'Halloween Night'. The most hilarious horror movie rip-offs ever made. List by Mark Carnochan.
Suspiria (2018) Review - Luca Guadagnino's 2018 'Suspiria' film places a new focus on the story first told on screen by Dario Argento in 1977. Film stars Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton. Review by Mark Carnochan.
After Yang (2022) Review - Kogonada takes inspiration from Hirokazu Koreeda for his "exceptionally beautiful" 2022 film 'After Yang' starring Colin Farrell as the father of a young robot. Review by Mark Carnochan.
The Forgiven (2021) Review - John Michael McDonagh returns to form with 'The Forgiven' starring Ralph Fiennes and Jessica Chastain, an upper class couple who accidentally kill a Moroccan boy. Review by Mark Carnochan.
Winners (2022) EIFF Review - A young boy seeks to return an Oscar statue to its rightful owner in the UK-financed, Iran-set 'Winners' (2022) from director Hassan Nazer. Mark Carnochan reviews.
Full Time (2021) EIFF Review - Eric Gravel directs Laure Calamy in 'Full Time' - picture the Safdie Brothers directing a film about a single mother. Review by Mark Carnochan.
Axiom (2022) EIFF Review - Upcoming Swedish director Jöns Jönsson proves he's a filmmaker to keep your eye on with the subtle but interesting 'Axiom' (2022) starring Moritz von Treuenfels. Review by Mark Carnochan.
Official Competition (2021) EIFF Review - Penélope Cruz, Antonio Banderas and Oscar Martínez star as three filmmakers in 'Official Competition', an hilarious satire on the film industry. Review by Mark Carnochan.
Flux Gourmet (2022) EIFF Review - Infamous director Peter Strickland follows his divisive 'In Fabric' with 2022's 'Flux Gourmet' starring Asa Butterfield and Gwendoline Christie, a repetitive and messy satire. Review by Mark Carnochan.
Aftersun (2022) EIFF Review - Paul Mescal stars as a dad managing anger issues in father-daughter relationship drama 'Aftersun' (2022), from screenwriter-director Charlotte Wells. Mark Carnochan reviews from EIFF.
Dear Evan Hansen (2021) Review - Broadway musical 'Dear Evan Hansen' has arrived on the big screen to a controversial reception. Ben Platt stars in Stephen Chbosky's musical. Mark Carnochan reviews.
Eternals (2021) Review - Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao directs Marvel Phase Four entry 'Eternals', bringing real stakes and a deeper sense of existentialism to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Review by Mark Carnochan.
The Last Duel (2021) Review - Ridley Scott directs 'The Last Duel', the first Matt Damon and Ben Affleck script since 'Good Will Hunting', a period drama that continues Scott's good run of form. Mark Carnochan reviews.
Escape the Undertaker (2021) Review - WWE and Netflix interactive film 'Escape the Undertaker' makes a mockery of WWE Studios releases, offering something actually joyful and well made. Mark Carnochan reviews.
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (2021) Review - The creative minds behind the "Everybody's Talking About Jamie" stage musical have adapted the story for the big screen in what may be 2021's best movie musical. Mark Carnochan reviews.
The Road Dance (2021) EIFF Review - 'The Road Dance', from filmmaker Richie Adams and adapted from the book by John MacKay, returns Scottish cinema to its roots, though makes for a frustrating experience. Mark Carnochan reviews.
Mad God (2021) EIFF Review - Phil Tippett, the man behind visual effects on the likes of 'Jurassic Park', directs stop motion animation 'Mad God', nightmare fuel 30 years in the making. Mark Carnochan reviews.
Annette (2021) EIFF Review - Sparks and Leos Carax combine for the unique and interesting movie musical 'Annette', starring Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard. Mark Carnochan reviews.
Mandibles (2021) EIFF Review - 'Mandibles' (2020/21), the latest film from French director Quentin Dupieux and starring Adèle Exarchopoulos, is a significant drop in quality from 'Deerskin'. Mark Carnochan reviews.
Here Today (2021) EIFF Review - Bolly Crystal writes, directs and co-stars with Tiffany Haddish in 'Here Today' (2021), a film that survives on the charisma and chemistry of its leading duo. Mark Carnochan reviews.
Censor (2021) Review - 'Censor', the debut movie of Welsh filmmaker Prano Bailey-Bond, is a horror film set within the era of so-called "video nasties", a "captivating and original story". Mark Carnochan reviews.
Pig (2021) EIFF Review - Nicolas Cage offers one of the performances of his career in 'Pig', a debut film from Michael Sarnoski that defies all expectations. Mark Carnochan reviews.
The Sparks Brothers (2021) Review - Self-confessed music fanboy Edgar Wright makes for the perfect director of Sparks music documentary 'The Sparks Brothers' (2021), about Ron and Russell Mael aka The Sparks Brothers. Review by Mark Carnochan.
Black Widow (2021) Review - Scarlett Johansson's Natasha Romanoff finally gets her standalone Marvel Cinematic Universe movie in 'Black Widow', from director Cate Shortland. Review by Mark Carnochan.
Freaky (2021) Review - 'Freaky' (2021), from 'Happy Death Day' director Christopher Landon, and starring Kathryn Newton and Vince Vaughn, "is insanely fun". Mark Carnochan reviews.
Cruella (2021) Review - Emma Stone and Emma Thompson can't quite carry a relatively poor script in Disney's latest live-action adaptation 'Cruella'. Mark Carnochan reviews.
A Quiet Place Part II (2020) Review - How does 2021 John Krasinski film 'A Quiet Place Part II' fair amongst the best and worst sequels in cinema history? Mark Carnochan reviews.
How Did I Fall in Love with this Little Thing Called Cinema? - How an early life encounter with James Cameron's 'Aliens' (1986) shaped The Film Magazine writer Mark Carnochan's love for movies.
Collective (2019) Review - Romanian film 'Collective', a nominee in both the Documentary Feature and International Feature categories at the 2021 Oscars, is "one of the most important documentaries of all time". Mark Carnochan reviews.
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon (2019) Review - Aardman Animation's 'A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon' is nominated for Animated Feature at the Oscars. Does it indicate a renaissance for the British animation house? Mark Carnochan reviews.
Superman Movies Ranked - Every live-action 'Superman' film, from 'Superman and the Mole-Men' to 'Man of Steel' via Christopher Reeve and Brandon Routh, ranked from worst to best. Article by Mark Carnochan.
Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) Review - The first wholly original Disney film in years, 'Raya and the Last Dragon' starring Kelly Marie Tran and Awkwafina is likely to become a sure-fire animation classic. Review by Mark Carnochan.
‘Trainspotting’ at 25 – Review - 'Trainspotting' (1996) at 25 - Mark Carnochan's review of Danny Boyle's "small film from the small country that became one of the most famous films of all time", starring Ewan McGregor.
‘Out 1’ at 50 (or: What Happened When I Watched a 13 Hour French Film) - What happens when you watch a supposedly genius and almost mythical 13 hour French film? Mark Carnochan takes you through his viewing of Jacques Rivette's 'Out 1', 50 years old in 2021.
The Prom (2020) Review - Netflix Original musical 'The Prom', starring Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman and James Corden, and directed by 'Glee' creator Ryan Murphy, is hard to care about but looks mightily impressive. Mark Carnochan reviews.
Hillbilly Elegy (2020) Review - Ron Howard directed Netflix drama 'Hillbilly Elegy' is certified Oscar bait, but does it do enough to garner awards season recognition? Amy Adams and Glenn Close star, Mark Carnochan reviews.
10 of the Best Horror Movies Not in the English Language - Horror is perhaps the most international and inclusive of all genres, with films from all corners of the globe gaining acclaim. Here are 10 of the best horror movies not in the English language. Article by Mark Carnochan.
10 of the Most Underrated Horror Movies of All Time - Looking for some suggestions for your horror movie marathons or watchalongs? This list could help. Here are 10 of the most underrated horror movies of all time. Article by Mark Carnochan.
The Babysitter: Killer Queen (2020) Review - Sequels are infamously difficult to get right, but McG is out to prove a point with 'The Babysitter: Killer Queen'. Was he able to overcome the sequel curse? Mark Carnochan reviews.
Get Duked! (2020) Review - "One of 2020's best", Amazon Original Scottish horror-comedy 'Get Duked!', is a memorable feature debut for screenwriter-director Ninian Doff. Full movie Review by Mark Carnochan.
Dirty Harry Movies Ranked - For close to two decades Clint Eastwood starred as "Dirty Harry" Harry Callahan, performing the iconic gun toting hero across five movies. Here are the Dirty Harry Movies Ranked by Mark Carnochan.
10 Best Moments from the Jurassic Park Franchise - The 10 best moments from the Jurassic Park / Jurassic World franchise, from the T-Rex chase of 'Jurassic Park' to the hunt in 'Jurassic World'. List by Mark Carnochan.
Down Among the Big Boys (1993) Review - Billy Connolly stars in Scottish gangster film 'Down Among the Big Boys' from 1993. Mark Carnochan reviews.
Comfort and Joy (1984) Review - Two rival ice cream gangs and the radio presenter stuck in the middle of it all. That's the premise for Bill Forsyth's 1984 comedy 'Comfort and Joy', a landmark of Scottish cinema according to Mark Carnochan.
Blood Junkies (1993) Review - Once thought lost to an underhanded "distributor", the story of how Scottish cult horror movie 'Blood Junkies' (1993) found a release is probably even more interesting than the film. Mark Carnochan reviews.
Sweet Sixteen (2002) Review - Ken Loach and Paul Laverty film 'Sweet Sixteen' (2002), telling the tale of a non-educated delinquent in small-town Scotland, packs a tremendously heavy punch. Mark Cornachan reviews.
What We Did on Our Holiday (2014) Review - 'What We Did on Our Holiday' (2014) is proof you should never judge a book by its cover, this David Tennant and Rosamund Pike starring drama "smashing audience expectations" set by its trailers. Mark Carnochan reviews.
Whisky Galore! (1949) Review - 'The Ladykillers' director Alexander Mackendrick makes his directorial debut with cult Scottish film 'Whisky Galore!', a film about an island's love for Whisky that doesn't quite stand the test of time. Mark Carnochan reviews.
The Battle of the Sexes (1960) Review - Peter Sellers stars in Charles Crichton's almost perfect 1960 comedy 'The Battle of the Sexes', set in Scotland's capital city Edinburgh. Mark Cornachan reviews.