Keeper: DVD Review

Cast: Tatiana Maslany, Rossi Sutherland
Director: Osgood Perkins

Trading on a distinct feeling of unease and claustrophobia, director Osgood Perkins' latest slice of unsettling cinema won't be to everyone's taste.

It's the story of  Liz and Malcolm (Maslany and Sutherland), a couple who head to a family cabin in the woods for a weekend away on their one-year anniversary.  Being a self-confessed city rat xxx is already concerned about what could happen, but gives in to the idea of a trip - even if she has been gifted a beige cardigan by her beau. 

However, when Malcolm's brother Darren (Birkett Turton) ingratiates himself into their weekend, Liz is thoroughly rattled, a feeling only exacerbated when Malcolm is called back to the city on a medical emergency.

Left in the cabin, Malcolm begins to feel she's being watched - and stalked.

Keeper works well as an atmospheric take on an uneasy relationship, but slightly unravels when its true nature unveils itself later on and the exposition-heavy reveals come tumbling out. It also slightly fails to say much about the coercive nature of relationships and how people react in them, other than some one liners here and there about Liz being a "side-piece".

To say it'll be divisive is an understatement and it's too spoiler-heavy to discuss here. But the buildup to the crescendo of creepiness is perfectly paced, stressful viewing that makes great use of an architectural marvel in the woods and an angular setting. (Certainly, the amount of time the camera obsessed on corners of the house almost rivals David Lynch's ceiling fan cutaways.)

However, the film's largely held together by Maslany's varying degrees of shocked reaction, a trait that begins to wear thin in the final stretch of the movie, and which isn't quite enough to be as engaging as it perhaps should be.

A sparse narrative pervades the movie, and it does feel like the limited cast isn't quite enough to engage in parts. 

But Perkins builds on the work he's done with Longlegs and The Monkey, proving that he's more a master of abstract atmosphere than anything else.

There's an oddness coursing through Keeper's veins and while that hint of horror won't be enough for everyone, the genuinely upsetting and unsettling moments are more than enough to push audiences into a zone of discomfort throughout and appreciation of a director with a singular vision and execution.

Deacon Blue: Live Review

It's not until halfway through their fourth song Fergus Sings The Blues that Deacon Blue's lead singer the raspy-throated Scot Ricky Ross deems the audience worthy of a greeting.

By then, they've already raced through two songs from their brand-new album The Great Western Road and whipped the crowd into a frenzy with an exultant rockabilly-fused uptempo Queen of The New Year, thanks to the incredibly tight playing of the band, and the whirling dervish on stage that is Lorraine McIntosh.

Leonie Moreland (Red Raven News)

But when Ricky speaks, he's full of reflective joy, musing on how it's their last evening in New Zealand and that they'll do "some things you may know and some things you don't," before promising to take us all on a journey. 

And what a welcome journey it is to go on.

Forty years in any business is a long time.

But in the music industry, the longevity of bands of the 80s stretches now so far into nostalgia viewing that it can be hard to separate the past from the present - especially if there's a new album in tow as well.

So it is with Scottish troubadors, Deacon Blue, whose mix of ballads and power anthems saw them breakthrough in the late 80s and early 90s. This latest tour, which ended at Auckland's Bruce Mason Theatre, was a celebration of both their new album Great Western Road, their eleventh such release, and hits, such as Chocolate Girl and Wages Day which formed the peak of their early career.

Over time, the group's lost none of its power of performance and at times, it's hard to forget that these solid middle of the road numbers (in many casual listeners' eyes) are still incredibly catchy, packed full of choruses, bluesy riffs and just effervescent joy.

And it's a credit to them that the newer songs sit alongside their older numbers as some of their strongest work. Turn Up Your Radio, with its deceptive chorus, feels as much a part of the band as Real Gone Kid does. That's an impressive feat for any band, let alone one that's been going nearly four decades. Yes, experience pays, but quality always shines through.

Leonie Moreland (Red Raven News)

Though a mostly older and mostly ex-pat audience on a windy Sunday night in Auckland wouldn't have you believing age was anything to hold anyone back. Even Ross noted he wouldn't have the energy to match the woman dancing effusively in the front row of what can generously be described as an amiable jostle pit of fans. One couple were even performing ballroom dancing off to the side during Loaded, their eyes locked on each other, rather than the six talents on stage. 

It's perhaps telling that the group who made their name back in 1987 with a song called Dignity brought so much dignity of their own to the Bruce Mason Centre. With an extremely tight set and a perfectly honed craft, the group ploughed through 21 songs and an encore in just under two hours - and even left time for extended riffs in them and plenty of crowd interaction moments while the band played second fiddle.

"Since we were here last, the world has changed so much," Ross wryly noted at one point, before launching an impassioned plea for compassion and promising salvation to the captured masses. There were plenty of moments of euphoria too. 

From Real Gone Kid's Woo-hoo chorus through to a goosebump-inducing galloping version of Your Town (arguably one of their best-ever songs), via Chocolate Girl and red rose patterns swirling on the backdrop behind them during When Will You (Make My Phone Ring), there was plenty to remind of their strengths and prowess.

If Ricky was the calm and collected one on stage, he was complemented by the constant tambourine-twirling of Lorraine, a May Day queen dancer caught up in the spirit of it all. Extremely tight playing from drummer Dougie Vipond, keyboard player Brian McAlpine, guitarist Gregor Philip and bassist Lewis Gordon helped build the band's sound and was flawless throughout.

Leonie Moreland (Red Raven News)

And while the audience participation came to the fore plenty of times, Ross also used the rapport to pay tribute to the band's co-founder James Prime and Scottish health minister Jeane Freeman in separate songs that gave him the chance for his decency to shine through.

Great Western Road may have a more reflective edge and there's an argument saying the band's back catalogue offers more crowd-pleasing storming in a barn dance kind of vibes, but Deacon Blue's power remains after nearly 40 years. Their ability to deliver an incredibly energetic look back has served them well here, but the fact their new music feels as fresh and as exciting as their When the World Knows Your Name and Raintown entrants is a testament to their power and prowess.

Long may their stars shine. Their energy and decency still remain intact - they've lost none of it when success rightly came knocking on their door. Here's to them returning again in a few years' time. They ended with a cover of Warren Zevon's Keep Me In Your Heart. 

Based on that performance, you can bet we will.

(And also a word of endorsement for support act Steffany Beck. The Kiwi blues country singer has a real presence in a short set of just six numbers, half of which were cover songs. 

With an Alannah Myles-tinted Country Strong and a down and dirty Wild One, she proved she's got more than enough mettle and stage presence to match the version of Dasha's Austin and Dolly Parton's Jolene and enough material to stand on her own two feet as she vaults the ladder of success.)

PGA Tour 2K25: Legend Edition: PS5 Review

Developed by 2K
Released by 2K Games
Platform: PS5 

Golf on the console has always been a fascinating experience.

This latest revamped proposition from PGA2K takes last year's game and updates it with extra content and a wealth of upcoming golfing goodness.

At its core, the base game remains one of the most playable golfing simulators out there, thanks to the effort that goes into thinking about how exactly you'll shoot your shot. From contact to adding spin, PGA 2K25 has always been about ensuring the virtual version is as close to the real thing as it could be.

With the TrueSwing and EvoSwing, the game offers a very impressive level of feedback and quality of shot. There's little room for error, but given that it feels rewarding when it all comes together, that's no bad thing - and the skill level jumps needed for you to move within the game and progress are always carefully crafted. 

But at the end of the day, when it comes down to it, what matters with PGA Tour 2K25 is how it feels when it plays. And this feels as close to the real thing as you can get - from player rivalries to career modes, there's much to sink your teeth into if you're planning to undergo a long gaming session. Equally, if you just want to kick back and carry out a round of 9 holes, the game can satiate that too.

At the end of the day, PGA Tour 2K25: Legend Edition represents a great golfing simulator. It's hard to see how 2K will improve on this in the future.

Additional features for the PGA Tour 2K25: Legend Edition: 

PGA TOUR 2K25 Legend Edition Year 2 features the contents of the previously available PGA TOUR 2K25 Legend Edition, along with Member’s Pass Year 2, offering access to Clubhouse Pass Premium Seasons 6-8 and Clubhouse Pass Gear Pack Year 2, plus the all-new Pro Accelerator Pack, which replaces the previously-available Starter Pack and includes items intended to boost a new MyPLAYER’s stats, allowing them to compete at a high level quickly, as well as a limited-edition PING Iron and PUMA Footwear. PGA TOUR 2K25 Pro Edition features the contents of the previously available PGA TOUR 2K25 Deluxe Edition, plus the Pro Accelerator Pack. The Pro Accelerator Pack is also available for individual purchase for players who already own PGA TOUR 2K25.

Coming to PGA TOUR 2K25 on January 21, 2026, with the release of Season 5, is the first of the three 2026 Major Championships: The 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club, free to play for all players. Future Seasons will introduce the 126th U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, and The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale Golf Club. Aronimink Golf Club was last seen in PGA TOUR 2K21, Shinnecock Hills Golf Club last appeared in The Golf Club, and Royal Birkdale Golf Club makes its franchise debut. All players will receive the 2026 Majors Championships courses for free via automatic updates as they are released throughout 2026.

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade: Xbox Series X Review

Developed by Square Enix
Released by Bandai Namco
Platform: XBox Series X

Expanding on the 2020 Intermission remake, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade continues the trend of updating the original game with a sheen and polish that makes it compelling to play and pleasing on the eyes.

With a version that offers Graphics and Performance levels of visual flair, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade makes playing the game once again an enjoyable outing for those wanting to dive back into the world.

For those unfamiliar with the story, players follow Cloud Strife as he becomes a mercenary with the eco-terrorist group Avalanche, which is abusing the planet's life essence. The story begins with him on a mission to blowing up a reactor before segueing into a wider yarn about the consequences of the chain effects of his action. 

The story's less of a thing here, because it's all about the hack and slash elements of the game, which sees blocking, dodging and attacking combining in one continuously enjoyable melee of action. Given how polished the new version looks, this is enjoyable to dive back into once again - even if there has been a six-year wait for this exclusive to head onto other devices.

The game's fluid and immersive and with animation that's worth watching, this latest version of Final Fantasy, finally making its XBox debut, is a game that really if you're a fan of the genre, you can't afford to be without.

The Choral: Movie Review

Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Mark Addy, Roger Allam, Alun Armstrong
Director: Nicholas Hytner

To say that the Choral is a genial film that feels anchored in yesteryear may feel like damning it with feint praise.

But in truth, the crowd-pleasing set-up-north tone of a mismatched group of people coming together to learn song The Dream of Gerontius for a performance is the kind of movie the older generation get less of in multiplexes these days.

With the backdrop of World War I taking the eligible men away from their lives working at the mill in the UK Northern town of Yorkshire, it aims to mine the same kind of humour and heart as The Full Monty did way back when.

When the town's choir master chooses to sign up for war, the local society finds themselves bereft of a leader. However, hope comes to them in the form of Ralph Fiennes' refined and sophisticated Dr Guthrie - but with one issue. Having lived in Germany and with a penchant for quoting the foreign artists, he's dismissed as being a German-lover, leading to friction within the choir and the Yorkshire society itself. 

It's pretty obvious where The Choral is going as a film. In its gentle edges and wartime humour, British whimsy and generally affable approach to the whole affair, it never really achieves a depth as perhaps it could. It's rarely helped by a large cast of characters that feel lightly sketched over and achieve only moments of stereotyped expectation.

Then again, it never quite sinks into the cliche you'd expect and thanks to Fiennes' presence and the solid performance of the other players, the film feels like a comforting effort. Some of the more subtle edges, including a homosexual subtext and longing, are nicely played out and generally solidly executed.

It's not that it never hits the right note, because in truth, there's been much worse fare from British cinema - doused in a reality throughout of life, love and tragedy, The Choral occasionally hits some highs, but never leaves you regretting having watched it.

Ride 6: PS5 Review

Developed by Milestone
Released by Milestone
Platform: PS5

There's just something about getting on a bike and speeding off into the distance.

It's always been something that's been hard to capture for the console generation, given a lot of the previous sims have concentrated on the technical elements, such as grip and tyre performance. 

And yet, with Milestone's release of Ride 6, the genre has an entrant that feels as close to the real thing as seems humanly possible.

Photorealism has always been the developer's aim with the game - and in its sixth iteration, the game does feel at times like it could have nowhere really to go, given the depth that has pervaded the previous release. So it's pleasing to note that Ride 6 really tries to widen the appeal to an audience by introducing new elements, while never sacrificing the depth it's become known for.

Chief among these is a revamp of the career mode and something that's somewhat cribbed from the Forza Horizon series, a festival featuring motorbikes. RideFest aims to involve bikers in an all-round event that builds on the love of bikes with the pure joy of just getting on one and racing off.

With 22 groups of rides to be unlocked in career and over 300 bikes on offer, you can't accuse Milestone of skipping on the details. Add in to that, the fact you can edit and craft your own gear, split-screen modes and you've pretty much got a world that's worth diving into.

But at the end of the day, all of that is simply theoretical. The practicality of the game remains in how it plays, and Ride 6 feels like a superlative experience.

From realistic authentic sounds to feeling like the game grips you as it hurtles around corners on bikes, this is a sim that delivers. It may take a little bit of practice for newcomers and learning when to use the accelerator, the brake and rear brake will require a bit of patience, but when it comes together, it really does pull it all off.

Arcade mode makes the game more accessible as well and it's here that Milestone acknowledges wider growth is the only way forward for this franchise. It's a savvy move, and given the game has more than enough scope for everyone to be involved, it's a Ride well worth taking.

Control: Resonant gameplay revealed

Remedy Entertainment shares new details on Control Resonant’s shapeshifting weapons, navigating gravity anomalies, and more.

 

Learn how you’ll navigate a Manhattan unpredictably reshaped by otherworldly forces and battle fearsome forces by using our own supernatural abilities, including a shapeshifting weapon.