VisionQuest: Review

The latest Marvel TV series featuring Paul Bettany's Vision continues some of the ethos of WandaVision as it wraps up the trilogy arc that also included Agatha All Along.

At the start of this run though Bettany's Vision is in hiding and has rebooted himself after having escaped from those who wanted to weaponise him. Working in a pub in Edinburgh and living in a stately house with what initially appears to be a mix of butlers and advisers, Vision spends his days working on his past and trying to recapture some of his former glories. (As one remarks, "He has the memories, but he doesn't have the feelings to go with them.")

But when his world is turned upside down by the arrival of bounty hunter Paladin (Todd Stashwick, in laconic, charismatic form) and the apparent capture of his son Thomas Shepherd, Vision is forced out of hiding to confront not only those who would hurt him but also his own place in any future.

There's a great deal of scope to this series, which crafts an intriguing tale of the damage done by family and the love fathers and sons have for each other. All of that encompasses plenty of other thematic and Marvel elements that are too spoilery to discuss here as the twists and turns play out over the eight-episode season.

Suffice it to say that the occasionally abstract plot doesn't mess about early on and most of what's set in motion is revealed by two thirds of the way through episode one of the show, which may leave you puzzled as to how the other episodes will play out. It's enough to reveal the opening gambits pay off and there's much more than you'd expect later on.

But at its heart, this show relies solely on Paul Bettany and his interaction with others; chiefly James Spader's Ultron, who is living in the attic of Vision's home for reasons that become clear toward the end of episode one and which play on the theme of forgiveness and grief.

It's not ruining much to say that Spader delivers the role of his life here and Bettany's almost-underplayed role here makes the Vision and Ultron pairing feel like an episode of the earlier seasons of The Blacklist where Spader's Red had all the answers but never revealed them. It's an intriguing dynamic and Spader really does act Bettany off the screen at times. It's his show, even though he's not in the title.

(Though it's worth noting the uncanny parallels between Matalas' Star Trek: Picard Season 3 and some of the themes of this - it's not just Stashwick that crosses over.)

Visually, the series looks stunning. Action sequences are kept to a taut minimum and while later conflicts see the CGI in action, they're impressive, well-executed and propel the plot along, rather than feel shoehorned in. By the end of the series, while it does follow the familiar route of antagonists duking it out, the route to get there is well-worth investing in.

Of the ensemble, the aforementioned Stashwick impresses as does Emily Hampshire as Vision's AI companion Edith, and James D'Arcy as Jarvis. Diane Morgan turns in what can only be described as another version of the character she's played over the years.

But the occssionally emotionally empty show solely belongs to Spader and to a slightly lesser extent Bettany. To write off Ultron here is to do a disservice to the depths the story goes to - but like both sides of a coin, it doesn't work without the other. For a show about AIs, their performances are anything but artificial.

There will be some who will take umbrage with VisionQuest's journey. But in bundling together a philosophical debate with a crime mystery and extremely prescient concerns about tech and AI, VisionQuest shows Marvel's willing to take creative swings in unexpected ways to produce impressively different results.

All 8 episodes of the season of VisionQuest were viewed for the purposes of this review. VisionQuest premieres exclusively on Disney+ from October 14, with the release of episodes 1 and 2.

The Love of Your Life: Movie Review

Cast: Margaret Qualley, Gabriel Basso, Catherine Keener, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Aaron Pierre
Director: Rachel Morrison

As popstar Cher once intoned, "Do you believe in life after love?" - it's a rationale that could easily be applied to director Rachel Morrison's latest, a kind of what comes next movie that's neither sappy nor sentimental in its approach.

A relatively charming Qualley is Boston ER nurse Maya, who, after a meet cute with Gabriel Basso's Charlie, falls head over heels. After a whirlwind relationship and subsequent marriage, the pair is settling into domestic bliss - but when Covid-19 hits, Charlie is suddenly taken sick and in a heartbreaking scene that will be relatable to many, he dies via video link as Maya rushes to try and see him in hospital.

What comes next for Maya is a mixture of grief and fleeing as she runs away from the life she's made in Boston and from the pain she feels. After a while abroad, she meets Lanterns star Aaron Pierre's single father and begins a new relationship. 

But the past is never far behind for Maya.

The Love of Your Life is the kind of solid drama that doesn't get made often anymore.

It's reasonably well acted (though there's a lack of chemistry between Qualley and the charming Pierre) and feels contemporary enough to be timeless, but it does little to expand outside of its Eat, Pray, Love ethos as Maya travels the world and hides from the reality that destroyed her.

There are moments that work. A short screen time for Basso doesn't stop him making the relationship between Charlie and Maya feel any less realistic or lived-in; the aforementioned hospital scene is suitably devastating, and the locations are swoon-worthy enough to make you want to plan a holiday as soon as possible.

But the emotional heft appears to be missing here and a third act twist (such as it is) never quite lands with resonance that it should do.

Perhaps that's kind of the point though - life, in parts, is messy and doesn't ever lend itself to neat resolution but Qualley does more than enough to sell the story and the emotional edges that the script holds back from.

The Love of Your Life lacks depth when it needs to and while it feels real in moments, they're too fleeting unfortunately to register as a timeless love story, despite the strong performances within.

The Love of Your Life is streaming on Prime Video.

Sense and Sensibility: Movie Review

Cast: Daisy Edgar-Jones, George MacKay, Esme Creed-Miles, Caitriona Balfe, Fiona Shaw, Frank Dillane, Herbert Nordrum
Director: Georgia Oakley

Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility has already had a movie that saw its stature boosted - the 1996 adaptation with Emma Thompson and Colin Firth.

So you could be forgiven for wondering what a 2026 version under the eye of Blue Jean director Georgia Oakley could bring to the cinematic table.

But in truth, this lavishly shot, lush rendition of the oh-so-familiar tale of the Dashwood sisters after they're evicted from their family home brings plenty of vicarious pleasures, sumptuous shots and clever, witty dialogue to help it sparkle when it needs to.

Older sisters Elinor (Edgar-Jones) and Marianne (a standout Creed-Miles) have aspirations beyond their run-down Devonshire cottage when the family falls on hard times - but their respective quests for love are stymied by circumstance and nature when not everything goes to plan as they venture to the capital in pursuit of their heart's desires. 

The 2026 version of Sense and Sensibility is imbued with a bucolic charm in its opening moments as one Dashwood sister lies in the long grass, with not a care in the world to trouble her. As Oakley's camera lingers over her, there's a sense of setting and of cinematic sensibility that instils a calm in audiences worried that yet another Austen adaptation may not hit the mark.

And while Edgar-Jones feels a little too wispy and wistful in the role of the eldest sister Elinor, the life and sparkle of this adaptation belongs to Creed-Miles' Marianne, the feisty sister who wants affection but who bats away suitors with cutting remarks and elegant observations. In the role, Creed-Miles excels, bringing a vibrancy into proceedings that very occasionally saunter towards wafting and inert in their unspooling.

But the film's sense of direction and handsomely shot world of the countryside and its sensibilities gives this latest a feeling of place, of time and also of timeliness. Something which is a stark contrast to the world of London that comes to life later on.

Fiona Shaw is a scene-stealer with her boorish Mrs Jennings, whose penchant for gossip and crassness cuts through the high-faluting moments of class within. 

If the romance between MacKay and Edgar-Jones feels a little muted, that's to be forgiven - there's the usual side looks, chaste and almost handtouches to satiate the swooners of the audience, but Sense and Sensibility's heart lies with its more lively elements.

Mixing humour and tart observations serves the stuffiness well - and while purists may bristle in some parts, Blue Jean director Georgia Oakley has more than modernised this tale - and audiences will rightfully wallow in the results.

Silent Hill: Townfall: PS5 Review

Developed by Screen Burn
Published by Konami
Platform: PS5

The latest nightmare to emerge from Konami's long-running franchise proves to be a horrifically diabolical entrant into the world of Silent Hill.

Set in 1996 in a spooky Scottish town of St Amelia (are there any other types?), the game puts you squarely in the footsteps of three protagonists, Simon, Zoe and Richard and sets them on a collision course.

It begins in a very familiar way with Simon waking up on the shores of St Amelia with no idea how he got there or what he's doing With just a hospital ID tag and an IV drip hanging out of him, it doesn't look good as he stumbles through the fog - but as his own personal mist clears, he finds a TV set that delivers him a message and sets him off on a quest. However, before too long, monsters emerge from Silent Hill: Townfall to quicken the pace and your own heartbeat.

Putting the game in a first-person perspective adds an element of horror to Silent Hill: Townfall which is hard to escape. The claustrophobia feels real and the sense of atmosphere is wired throughout the game.

What works about this game is the sense of unease that drifts through the fog, permeating every moment of uncomfortable horror - Screen Burn's done much to revitalise the game's concept  and the fact there are multiple endings means that every playthrough feels warranted and worthy - even if it is nerve-shreddingly haunting.

Body horror, medical traumas and general unease all settle in alongside the Scottish setting and what's clear about this gameplay is that Screen Burn has used some pretty familiar tropes to ensure that it makes a superlative entrant into the franchise.

Mixing retro with the unconventional pays dividends here and the game's desire to uproot some of the horror conventions and place them into a disturbing Scottish setting means that what plays out is stellar - if terrifying - stuff.

All in all, Silent Hill: Townfall is the kind of horror game that's perfect for Halloween - just don't be surprised if you leave the lights on at the end of the night.

SiN Reloaded: PS5 Review

Developed by Nightdive Studios
Published by Atari
Platform: PS5

The concept of the FPS genre really got a shot in the arm with the likes of Quake and Doom.

That was the start of many people's obsession with these kinds of games, and in fairness to SiN Reloaded, perhaps those titles somewhat overshadowed Ritual Entertainment's foray into the world of point and kill.

The remasters of SiN and the Wages of SiN (bundled together for this package from 1998) offer much vicarious enjoyment to those just wanting to relive that point and press kill streak. Though in truth, once again a title like this is all about the fleeting pleasures, rather than the continual hours of gaming.

It's a very simple premise, simply step into the boots of security consultant Colonel John R. Blade as he battles the bio-engineered mutant army of CEO Dr. Elexis Sinclaire across a near-future dystopian city. The plot's not really the point here and it follows the usual mantra of avoiding the marauding hordes as they charge toward you.

Perhaps it's the simplicity here that's appealing and certainly once the game's somewhat overblown opening titles and premise have finished, it's upto you to hurtle around rooms delivering carnage among the kills - rocket science it ain't. But bloody good fun it kind of is.

Enemies are suitably dumb and take a few attempts to kill, but when you start off the game pointing a massive gun from a helicopter at those enemies as they circle on a roof as you spin by, subtle it ain't in many ways.

Essentially given a spit and polish for the 21st century, SiN Reloaded and its sequel offer fleeting pleasures and continue to mine the kind of frustrations any Quake or Doom player would have with enemies being blocked, being ambushed or simply unsure of where to go to next - credit needs to be given to the developers for not washing it over with current sentimentalities.

Occasionally the graphics wobble and you may dismiss that as a part of the retro charm, but SiN Reloaded feels like coin-op style entertainment at its peak - it does what it says on the tin and nothing more.

Terror-Fi Film Festival celebrates 10 years

The first batch of films for the 2026 version of the Terror-Fi Film Festival has been revealed - including the New Zealand premiere of Kiwi horror film sequel, Black Sheeps.

Wellington, Auckland, and Christchuch Fan Badges on sale now! Several headline films too!

Terror-Fi celebrates it's 10th Anniversary, with a killer line up of 15 feature films - including BLACK SHEEPS, the first Terror-Fi Films films!

Ticket prices - $19.50 Adults and $17.50 Students, Seniors, and Guilds.

You can also buy a Fan Badge to see all 15 screenings for just $195 - that's only $13 per film!

Announced films

Black Sheeps

They're baaaack! Don’t miss the New Zealand Premiere of BLACK SHEEPS.

Returning to its world of creature effects, gore and irreverent humour, this is both a sequel to Jonathan King's 2006 comedy-horror hit, BLACK SHEEP and farm-fresh thrill ride for new audiences

A dangerous new pathogen leads a young scientist to a rural New Zealand town. There, she must take on a bizarre cult, a property developer with a dangerous secret and a mysterious loner who haunts the forbidden pastures known as The Zone – where terrifying creatures lie in wait.

Cast and crew will be present at these special premieres!

Wild Horse Nine

Don’t miss this special advance preview of WILD HORSE NINE.

Sam Rockwell, John Malkovich and Steve Buscemi in a film by Martin McDonagh (‘In Bruge’, ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’, and ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’) … need we say more!?! 95% on Rotten Tomatoes too!

Shortly before the 1973 Chilean coup, CIA agents Chris and Lee (are dispatched from Santiago to Easter island by their bureau chief, MJ. Amongst the Island's iconic statues, and as the longtime partners wrestle with their dark pasts and present conspiracies, Chris's newfound bond with a pair of rebellious students threatens to send everyone’s trip to this remote paradise sideways.

It Ends

A group of recent grads head out on a late night drive for grub, hoping to enjoy one final hangout before their paths diverge. Instead, they accidentally turn onto a never-ending, two lane hellscape surrounded by untold horrors and cosmic forces beyond their understanding.

Victorian Psycho

Be the first to see the twisted period horror/thriller VICTORIAN PSYCHO at the New Zealand Premiere!

After wowing the crowds at Cannes, the film hits our shores – with a delightfully unhinged performance from Maika Monroe and our own Thomasin McKenzie in support.

In the Year of our Lord 1858, an unusual governess named Winifred Notty arrives at the gothic manor known as Ensor House. Winifred's responsibilities include teaching the children table manners and educating them about their family history -- all whilst hiding her own psychopathic tendencies. But as staff members begin disappearing, the owners of the estate start to wonder if there may be something amiss with their new governess... Victorian Psycho invites us into the mind of a psychopath -- ttrapped in a world she cannot control, living on the border between insurrection and madness.

Crawlers

Guaranteed to make you squirm in your seat more than once, this is a must see in a dark cinema.

A catastrophic infestation of venomous and deadly spiders sends an apartment building into lockdown. Trapped inside by a police-mandated quarantine, building manager Serena and her residents battle to survive as the creatures multiply by the second. Armed with her intimate knowledge of the complex, Serena may be the only one who can keep them alive—if she can confront her deepest fear.

The Terror-Fi Film Fest runs 

Wellington

24 Oct + 27 Oct - 1 Nov

Auckland

27 - 30 Oct + 5 - 8 Nov

Christchurch

26 - 30 Oct + 12 - 17 Nov