FIW WEEKLY: curating a whole week’s worth of your film intake in the space of a few short paragraphs.

Words: Brody Rossiter
Twitter: @BrodyRossiter

OUT THIS WEEK:The Woman in Black: Angel of Death (DVD & Blu-ray)

Hammer Horror’s recent crop of revival pictures has been a mixed bag of thrilling old-school atmospherics (The Woman in Black) and boorish attempts to recapture cerebral past glories (The Quiet Ones). Judging by the largely negative reviews which greeted its release, The Woman in Black: Angel of Death clearly falls into the latter camp of unsuccessful additions to the storied studios catalogue. However, after viewing the film upon its cinematic release, the picture is a worthy successor to Daniel Radcliffe’s Victorian romp, updating its child snatching lore to wartime Britain while retaining the copious amount of jump scares. Though the scare tactics may be simplistic, the creepy attention to detail is deeply immersive and the subject matter remains unsettling. A horror film that implements contemporary techniques through the filter of classical visuals, Angel of Death is worthy of your attention and undeserving of such critical negativity.

#NowListening: Johnny Jewel – Lost River OST

The juxtaposition between style and substance within Ryan Reynolds’ Lost River has been widely discussed. Whatever your opinion, its difficult not to be seduced by the perfectly judged score produced by electronica maestro, Johnny Jewel. Throbbing synthesizers and angelic harmonies combine within the sweeping signature tune, Yes (Love Theme). Elements of eighties electronica, experimental industrial percussion and swooning big band melodies are all exhibited, melding together over thirty-seven tracks to create a deeply evocative and hypnotic listening experience that rivals the work of M83’s scoring and Cliff Martinez’ celebrated Drive OST.

WHO TO FOLLOW: Darran Anderson – @Oniropolis

Italo Calvino’s Invisible Cities and its distinctly postmodern and poetic dissection of Venice is one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had whilst sat reading a book. Darran Anderson’s Imaginary Cities is released next week and looks likely to ascend to similar towering literary heights as it tours some of the imagination’s most memorable metropolises.

You can pre-order Imaginary Cities here.

BARGAIN BUY: Various Artists – Heat: Music from the Motion Picture

Not only is Michael Mann’s Heat one of the finest contemporary crime thrillers to grace cinema screens, it also possesses an incredibly atmospheric score that compounds and accentuates the auteur’s ethereal vision of Los Angeles’ career criminal underworld. The hard to find soundtrack is currently available via Amazon for just over £3.

WILD CARD: Penny Dreadful Season 2

After recently finishing the latest collection of episodes from Showtime’s retcon of fiction’s most celebrated horror characters, Penny Dreadful season 2 stands as one of the most enthralling, most technically sound television series I’ve had the pleasure of watching. I often found myself bored with the inconsistencies and melodrama of the first season (I yearned for more action and fright), yet this time round a dizzying balance of elegance and horror has been masterfully implemented by the show makers and wonderfully acted by an impressive ensemble cast. Seek it out from start to finish as though you were purposefully striding through Dracula’s’ lair with a splintered stake in hand.

If you would like to curate your own edition of FIW Weekly, get in touch! 

*Prices correct at time of publication.