Mark Kermode's Secrets of Cinema

With full disclosure, I must say that I have followed Mark Kermode and his criticism for many years and have in the large have mostly agreed with him. There have been exceptions. This enterprise is entirely different. By the very nature of the format, this is not criticism but analysis of a specific genre and the myriad possibilities they can present. I have seen issues with the limitations of the subjects thus far but it is early days and given the popularity of the first series and specials I believe it will carry on for some time. And a shout for co-writer Kim Newman, a wonderful writer of ridiculous knowledge of genre cinema.

An essential watch for anyone with an interest in cinema. No gimmicks no tricks, just excellent journalism. Reminiscent of the long forgotten BBC2 series Moviedrome with Alex Cox, and a similar programme introduction by Mark Cousins. It would be nice if it was followed directly by a double bill of examples of the genres covered, but you can't have everything.

Mark Kermode is my favourite film critic: he is passionate about cinema and has an incredible breadth of knowledge to bring to the subject. The first episodes - which he wrote himself - are excellent and I've watched them at least twice.

Sadly he has either run out of new things to say or the BBC tone police's insistence on him providing us with little snippets of wokeness and lectures on diversity, make the third series a complete bore.

It's just a boring list of movies in a particular genre. The odd interesting fact about the production is given but the series is let down by its constant denigration of older movies in favour of its championing of similar, newer movies that have more women and poc.

What better company to view a whistle-stop tour of the structure of different genres of cinema than likable film critic Mark Kermode (ably script-assisted by his old friend and legitimate cult vampire Kim Newman)? These colourful jaunts through cinematic history aren't particularly definitive but act as a serviceable surface scratches or invocations for a deeper dive. A solidly authoritative and passionate series, always fascinating to watch and long may it continue.