glen2010

The horror genre, let alone found-footage horror, has seemed quite stale recently - overused and ineffective, I was open-minded when I heard that As Above, So Below was a found footage-horror done right. To an extent, that was correct.

First of all, if you're looking for a festival of gore, jump-scares and hellish creatures, you're in the wrong place. As Above, So Below paces itself, though not tediously so, when building its backstory and constructing its characters. Though I had sort of hoped for a little more horror, I actually did appreciate this technique. It was a refreshingly pleasant surprise and, though some may disagree, I felt some of the calmer, earlier scenes focused towards introducing the story and characters were some of the stronger ones.

In addition, the main cast as a whole were generally talented and certainly held their own for the majority of their screen time. Again, this was a pleasant surprise. I actually felt for them at times, I wanted them to survive. They weren't what I'd call your below-average run-of-the-mill demonic-monster-fodder.

The film starts to fall short just after the halfway point. It seems to fall into the trap of putting characters in such a uniquely difficult situation that only absurdity, and seemingly-endless running around, will give them any chance of getting out alive. After a well-crafted build up towards their goal, it was a tad disappointing to see it fall into generic, found-footage horror chaos.

There were, however, a few solid moments of tension, moments where I may have even held my breath for a few seconds. With that said, the build up of tension was often then anticlimactic, much like the film's actual 'climax' which is likely to leave you feeling somewhat disappointed.

In hindsight, the film should have been marketed more as a psychological adventure, rather than a horror flick, as the horror was easily the weaker element of the film. Sometimes watching the characters having their minds messed with by supernatural puzzles was far more entertaining than any demonic presence featured in the film. One scene, in which a character is trapped by falling debris, is perhaps one of the standout moments of the film, capturing claustrophobia and the panic it can cause quite effectively (some moments even being comparable to 'The Descent').

Conclusively, As Above, So Below is entertaining if you don't expect too much. What it lacks in horror, it makes up for in its development of character and tension, although since the second half of the film generally focuses on the horror element, it may still disappoint and leave you forgetting any of the previous, admirably-constructed first half.

Having finally watched four seasons in their entirety, I feel that I can now give the series a just review - though I shall avoid spoilers.

The show is most definitely entertaining, there is rarely a dull moment (at least not one that lasts for very long) and with five interesting characters usually taking centre stage there is always something going on.

Mixing both dark and comedic elements (though not so much so that I personally would call it a black comedy) keeps the episodes fresh and hold it above the average British drama. Often it is even able to throw a few serious, real-world issues beneath its quirky madness to appease the more critical audience members as well.

Though each season had their own themes, along with their own pros and cons, I would argue that the first season is the best. The characters are at their strongest, the plot is new and exciting and there's enough little twists and turns to keep it gripping. However, some episodes in later seasons suffer from recycling similar plot lines, with the general premise of the series sometimes wearing a little thin.

With that said, each season has such a variety of genres within their episodes that there will almost certainly be something to everyone's taste. Some episodes do indeed fall short in comparison to others, and a few season finales felt a tad anticlimactic, but overall the show held its own.

To conclude, though it does not take itself too seriously, Misfits is still able to throw in some exceptional 'moments', some shocking, some emotional and some even thought-provoking. While I felt that the replacement of a few key characters in the later seasons was not necessarily a highlight of the series, with various stars leaving for various different reasons and being replaced by slightly less interesting characters/actors, I was still left wanting more by the end of season four and am sorry to hear it has been cancelled.

Seven Psychopaths is one of those films you may wish to watch more than once to truly appreciate the wit and intelligence of the plot.

Before viewing the film I had expected an average tongue-in-cheek crime-thriller, so I was pleasantly surprised by its unique personality which, by today's standards, could be said to be rather original. McDonagh's writing certainly must be given credit, he seamlessly creates characters who, initially, seem like your typical crime-flick heroes and villains and then moulds them into new, fresh personalities.

The film is extremely self-aware, using the script that the main character, Marty, is writing to almost criticise and laugh at the film's own plot (which cleverly intertwines with Marty's own script). Some may be put off by the fact that some scenes are simply portrayals of Marty's script and therefore 'not real' but McDonagh connects the two plots in a style that, for me, was nothing but entertaining and enjoyable.

The humour is smart and not over-used, so much so that I found it to be funnier than some films that focus solely on comedy itself. The cast, of course, did an amazing job, bringing life to the characters and giving solid performances throughout. They were energetic and interesting and even, at times, relatable.

Overall, I recommend Seven Psychopaths to anyone that can appreciate an intelligent film and would like something a little different to what they may normally be accustomed to. I have never seen a film by McDonagh before (though he has not done a great deal) but I certainly hope to see more in the future!