James Rodrigues

My Favourite Films of 2025 Film reviews by James Rodrigues, focused on the latest releases, and the gems deserving of more attention.

Now that life has stopped getting in my way, I've managed to write up my favourite films of 2025.
Feel free to read it, and be sure to tell me how wrong my choices are.
www.thereviewingrodders.co.uk/2026/03/my-f...

"You boy, what day is this??"

‘V/H/S/Halloween’ Blu-ray Review Stars: David Haydn, Samantha Cochran, Natalia Montgomery Fernandez, Elena Musser, Teo Planell, María Romanillos, Lawson Greyson, Riley Nottingham, Jenna Hogan, Jake Ellsworth, Michael J. Sielaff, Stephen Gurewitz, Carl William Garrison, Jeff Harms, Noah Diamond | Directed by Bryan M. Ferguson, Anna Zlokovic, Paco Plaza, Casper Kelly, Alex Ross Perry, Micheline Pitt-Norman, R.H. Norman Ever since […]

‘V/H/S/Halloween’ Blu-ray Review

‘Hostages’ VOD Review Stars: Charlotte Ritchie, Tanya Moodie, Nicholas Asbury, Raj Ghatak, Luke McQueen, Nick Helm | Written and Directed by Jim Owen For his feature debut, writer/director Jim Owen opens Hostages with a sight that will be familiar to viewers: people constantly on their phones. Included among them is Charlie (Charlotte Ritchie), an influencer whose content consists […]

‘Hostages’ VOD Review

Frightfest Glasgow 2026: ‘The Convenience Store’ Review Stars: Kotona Minami, Terunosuke Takezai, Tetta Seki, Shunsuke Tanaka, Takeo Gozu, Atsuko Sakurai | Written by Yoshimasa Akamatsu | Directed by Jirô Nagae There is something eerie to being in a store at a late hour, where the usual hustle and bustle of people searching for their desired items is replaced with empty aisles and […]

Frightfest Glasgow 2026: ‘The Convenience Store’ Review

FrightFest Glasgow: The Convenience Store (2026) Film reviews by James Rodrigues, focused on the latest releases, and the gems deserving of more attention.

I'm getting around to my @frightfest.bsky.social Glasgow coverage. Let's start with video game adaptation THE CONVENIENCE STORE.
www.thereviewingrodders.co.uk/2026/03/frig...

V/H/S/Halloween (2025) Film reviews by James Rodrigues, focused on the latest releases, and the gems deserving of more attention.

V/H/S/HALLOWEEN is a high-point for the series, ready to leave you unsettled, laughing, and marvelling at the penis shaped chocolate.
Available on Blu-Ray, DVD, to rent, and to stream on Shudder.
www.thereviewingrodders.co.uk/2026/03/vhsh...

Hostages (2025) Film reviews by James Rodrigues, focused on the latest releases, and the gems deserving of more attention.

Available on Digital Download, HOSTAGES approaches the 24-hour news cycle with hopes of offering a fresh take. The execution says otherwise.
www.thereviewingrodders.co.uk/2026/03/host...

‘The Secret Agent’ Review Stars: Wagner Moura, Carlos Francisco, Tânia Maria, Robério Diógenes, Roney Villela, Gabriel Leone, Alice Carvalho, Hermila Guedes, Isabél Zuaa, Maria Fernanda Cândido, Thomás Aquino, Udo Kier | Written and Directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho Brazil, 1977. On-screen text describes this as “a time of great mischief” before opening with Armando (Wagner Moura) arriving at a […]

‘The Secret Agent’ Review

FrightFest: Noseeums (2025) Film reviews by James Rodrigues, focused on the latest releases, and the gems deserving of more attention.

NOSEEUMS is available on Digital and On-Demand from 27th February. My review of this film with interesting ideas is available to read.
www.thereviewingrodders.co.uk/2025/08/frig...

Available now is this absolute banger of a film. Check it out.

The Secret Agent (2025) Film reviews by James Rodrigues, focused on the latest releases, and the gems deserving of more attention.

THE SECRET AGENT is a compelling concoction of thrills, heartbreak, and genre detours amidst a politically charged work.
Available in UK Cinemas now
www.thereviewingrodders.co.uk/2026/02/the-...

Crime 101 (2026) Film reviews by James Rodrigues, focused on the latest releases, and the gems deserving of more attention.

CRIME 101 may not break the mould for crime thrillers, yet it is an engrossing watch that rises above its undynamic title.
Available in cinemas now
www.thereviewingrodders.co.uk/2026/02/crim...

I tried Dragonfruit tonight.

For something with the name of a mythical fire-breathing creature, I think it tasted really bland. A more appropriate name would have been Nigelfruit.

Looney Tunes: The Day The Earth Blew Up (2025) Film reviews by James Rodrigues, focused on the latest releases, and the gems deserving of more attention.

LOONEY TUNES: THE DAY THE EARTH BLEW UP is a playful take on an alien invasion with a great sense of humour.
Available in UK cinemas now.
www.thereviewingrodders.co.uk/2026/02/loon...

A straight-up horror movie from BARRY folks?

‘The Mortuary Assistant’ Review Stars: Willa Holland, Paul Sparks, Mark Steger, Shelly Gibson, Keena Ferguson, John Adams, Emily Bennett | Written by Tracee Beebe, Brian Clarke | Directed by Jeremiah Kipp For his latest feature, director Jeremiah Kipp opens with a sight one would expect from the title – a body being embalmed. This is the final step for […]

‘The Mortuary Assistant’ Review

The Mortuary Assistant (2026) Film reviews by James Rodrigues, focused on the latest releases, and the gems deserving of more attention.

The latest feature videogame adaptation, THE MORTUARY ASSISTANT sees human regret lead to a rabbit hole of supernatural torment. @jeremiahkipp.bsky.social
Available in U.S. Cinemas now, and on Shudder from March 27th
www.thereviewingrodders.co.uk/2026/02/the-...

I've not actually seen a Hallmark movie. Do they often involve threatened castration, survival power plays, and cartoon style fights?

‘Send Help’ Review Stars: Rachel McAdams, Dylan O’Brien, Edyll Ismail, Xavier Samuel, Chris Pang, Dennis Haysbert, Thaneth Warakulnukroh | Written by Mark Swift, Damian Shannon | Directed by Sam Raimi It’s a joy to have Sam Raimi back. Amongst his interesting filmography, the most popular works are his iconic trilogies of Spider-Man and The Evil Dead. Following nearly […]

‘Send Help’ Review

Send Help (2026) Film reviews by James Rodrigues, focused on the latest releases, and the gems deserving of more attention.

For a bloody good time at the movies, look no further than SEND HELP. Sam Raimi's return to splattery horror does not disappoint.
Available in UK Cinemas from 5th February
www.thereviewingrodders.co.uk/2026/02/send...

Mock the Week is back, and that means one thing.

People who haven't gotten over Frankie Boyle leaving can FINALLY engage in their passion again.

‘Iron Lung’ Review Stars: Mark Fischbach, Caroline Kaplan, Troy Baker, Elsie Lovelock, Elle LaMont, Seán McLoughlin | Written and Directed by Mark Fischbach Released in 2022, Iron Lung is a short video game made by David Szymanski, which offers a minimalist approach to a submarine-set horror. The tale has been adapted for the big screen by first-time filmmaker […]

‘Iron Lung’ Review

‘The Mother, the Menacer, and Me’ Review Stars: James Austin Kerr, Lorraine Bracco, Alfonso Caballero, Christine Spang, Kellan Tetlow, Leah Remini | Written by Chris Carvalho, Chris Plaushin | Directed by Jon Salmon The latest work from director Jon Salmon (Dude Bro Party Massacre III), The Mother, the Menacer, and Me opens on a street where a woman confronts somebody whom she […]

‘The Mother, the Menacer, and Me’ Review

Iron Lung (2026) Film reviews by James Rodrigues, focused on the latest releases, and the gems deserving of more attention.

The feature film debut from Markiplier, IRON LUNG is a tense video game adaptation which is best during the minimalist moments.
My review:
www.thereviewingrodders.co.uk/2026/01/iron...

‘The Turkish Coffee Table’ Review Stars: Alper Kul, Hatice Aslan, Algi Eke, Elif Sevinç, Özgür Emre Yildirim, Ece Su Uçkan, Aslı Bankoğlu | Written and Directed by Can Evrenol For anybody who saw Caye Casas’ unforgettable feature, The Coffee Table, you may still be having nightmares about that bleak work and the heart-stopping avenues that it took. The Spanish film […]

‘The Turkish Coffee Table’ Review

SoHome Horror: The Mother, the Menacer, and Me (2025) Film reviews by James Rodrigues, focused on the latest releases, and the gems deserving of more attention.

Previously played at @sohohorrorfest.bsky.social is THE MOTHER, THE MENACER, AND ME, a sweet-natured work which captures a love of filmmaking alongside how the business can break one's spirit.
My review:
www.thereviewingrodders.co.uk/2026/01/soho...

Fantasia Festival: Redux Redux (2025) Film reviews by James Rodrigues, focused on the latest releases, and the gems deserving of more attention.

UK and Ireland peeps!
One of my favourites of the year, the magnificent REDUX REDUX, will be getting a digital release on 23rd February courtesy of @alternatecurrentpr.bsky.social
A highly recommended slice of multiversal revenge.
www.thereviewingrodders.co.uk/2025/07/fant...

FrightFest Halloween: The Turkish Coffee Table (2025) Film reviews by James Rodrigues, focused on the latest releases, and the gems deserving of more attention.

In terms of remakes, THE TURKISH COFFEE TABLE is a preferable option that loses little of the bite that its original had.
My review:
www.thereviewingrodders.co.uk/2026/01/frig...

‘Mag Mag’ Review Stars: Sara Minami, Aoi Yamada, Oshirō Maeda, Akari Takaishi, Takumi Saitoh | Written by Eisuke Naitô | Directed by Yuriyan Retriever It is a fine line between horror and comedy. Both genres succeed when there is an understanding of timing and pace, resulting in an emotional response that leaves fans returning for more. Maybe that […]

‘Mag Mag’ Review