SciFiNow__September_2019

INTERVIEW

Duncan Jones

very happy to support us doing this 4K release. Lunar Industries is unethically using clones
So, we got to scan it and go over it again, and of the original Sam Bell to avoid training
I was able to watch the work that they did and and transporting new astronauts, while also
sign off on everything. It’s fortunate that we deliberately jamming the live feed back to Earth.
were able to shoot the film on 35mm because Sam Bell clones who believe they’re entering a
that did make a difference for the restoration final hibernation at the end of their contract just
process. I think there was a lot of special effects before a return home are, in fact, incinerated
work that was done at the time that, obviously, and then replaced, with each Sam clone
at our budget, we weren't able to redo, but it all designed to get increasingly ill as their contract
stands up very well. The FX plates for the live expires; a fate now being experienced by the
action stuff were all shot on 35mm and there’s Sam the viewer first meets.
a lot of clever technologies and clean-up things
today for the visual effects that make the whole It’s pretty heavy stuff, and one suspects Sam
thing still look fantastic.” Rockwell was asking Jones a lot in terms of
fleshing the character(s) out. “Both of us really
For those unfamiliar with the film, Moon wanted to work out what differentiated the
sees Sam Rockwell play a lone human worker, two Sams,” Jones says. “For me, it was always
Sam Bell, stationed on Earth’s moon as part about how can these two guys be different,
of a three-year contract. Assisted by the lunar and it's about the three years difference in their
station’s intelligent computer, GERTY (voiced experiences. If you look at your own life, I'm
by Kevin Spacey), he sends back to Earth sure we'll find an example of where three years
parcels of a resource used to assist our planet’s would have made a huge difference between
energy problems. Three years without direct who you are and who you were. That’s what we
human interaction is tough, and he’s starting to were both discussing and looking for: the Sam
hallucinate as his three-year stint concludes. who's been living in isolation for three years,
how has his outlook and who he is changed
Now, it’s difficult to discuss Moon any further over the course of that time?”
for a retrospective feature without delving into a
certain twist from late in its first act. So, if you’re Back at the time of Moon’s theatrical release,
reading this and haven’t seen the film, go watch Jones, in interviews, was citing a certain brand
it and come back to this point. of ideas-heavy sci-fi as influences – films like
Peter Hyams’ Outland (1981) and Douglas
All caught up? Great. Trumbull’s Silent Running (1972). Ten years on,
So, yes, it turns out that Sam Bell is not we wonder if he’s noticed traces of his own
only not alone, he is not the only Sam Bell. film infiltrating science fiction that’s come since
Encountering an exact double by the same Moon. “I don’t really want to say,” Jones tells us.
name after recovering from an accident, Sam “I think that’s for any of those filmmakers to say.
Bell (both of them) learn that they are clones of I know that there's been a lot of appreciation for
the same man, with his memories implanted. the movie by people that I admire and whose
work I respect. I have an interest in videogames
MJOONREESDINUNGCFAONR

What DuncahnisJotrinpestodtihreecMtedooanf…ter

SOURCE CODE (2011)

Jake Gyllenhaal, who lobbied for Jones to direct
this film on the basis of Moon, plays a soldier
who repeatedly awakens in someone else’s
body, discovering he’s part of an experimental

government program to locate the bomber of a
commuter train: a mission that he has only eight

minutes to complete.

WARCRAFT (2016)

Although he wrote the story for Moon, this big
budget adaptation of the Blizzard Entertainment
videogame series of the same name was Jones’

first ever screenwriting credit, co-written with
Charles Leavitt.

MUTE (2018)

A neo-noir spiritual sequel to Moon, or at least set
in the same universe, Jones’ long-gestating passion

project was eventually distributed by Netflix.

ROGUE TROOPER (?)

Jones is currently attached to direct an adaptation
of the beloved 2000 AD comic strip.

048 | WWW.SCIFINOW.CO.UK

DUNCAN JONES
One Giant Leap

as well and I know that there’s some people tried to blend practical effects with CGI. There SPACE ODDITIES
who've been influenced on that side of things. aren’t many films these days which are made
I’m glad that people still appreciate the film.” strictly in camera. Even with a film like Warcraft, oInf 2th0e0se9fiDlmusncaasninJofluneenscceitseodnsoMmoeon
we built massive film sets for that; in camera film
Considering Moon’s reported budget of $5 sets. Although there were lots of VFX work on it ALIEN (1979)
million, it remains a marvel of production design as well, I think you're always balancing between
with its station set and use of miniatures; the VFX and in camera as much as possible these Aside from being one of the greatest horror films
use of CG embellishments is relatively minimal. days. Just look at the new Star Wars movies. ever made, Alien is one of the definitive portrayals
Jones has gone on to do a few films since Big space-faring spectaculars, but again, doing of blue collar workers in a sci-fi setting.
that have more heavily relied on CGI out of as much in camera as they can. I think the
necessity, but he seems eager to incorporate a more you can set up in camera, the easier it is OUTLAND (1981)
lot of practical effects in the next film project he to extend that universe by using VFX because
has lined up: an adaptation of Rogue Trooper, you already know what it is that you're trying Sean Connery plays a federal marshal who
the sci-fi comic strip from 2000 AD. to achieve and you’re building on that. Rogue is stationed at a mining colony on a Jupiter
Trooper will be similar. We’ll be trying to do moon and finds himself marked for murder after
“We’ll be trying to get a good balance on what we can in camera and if we can pull it off discovering a conspiracy.
Rogue Trooper. All of the films I've done have with the budget we’re trying to work at, that’s
what we'll be doing.” SILENT RUNNING (1972)

One early memorable part of Moon that Bruce Dern’s astronaut finds himself alone in a
doesn’t rely on in camera practical effects is spacecraft with only robots for company.
its opening title sequence, in which the various
credits for the film are presented over a day in 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)
the life of Sam Bell, emerging at curious angles
and with layers to the text that don’t make them The reveal that the soft-spoken robot GERTY
look like traditional credits. “Because of the in Moon is genuinely benevolent seems like a
nature of the story in the film,” Jones says of the deliberate subversion of 2001’s HAL 9000.
opening credits sequence, “I wanted to basically
use the idea of shadows and of multiples of level, is there anything he would change about
whatever the title or text was, to foreshadow the the film now?
idea of multiples of Sam. We did it in part of the
poster campaign as well, where Sam Rockwell “I think the only thing is there is a bonus scene
has different levels of shadow behind his name. at the end of the movie that we didn’t up doing.
We do similar with the titles in the movie, which We always liked it as an ending, it’s just that we
was informed by something we’d seen David couldn’t get enough time and with the constraints
Fincher do [with Panic Room (2002)], as far as that we had, we never really had the connective
having these physical 3D objects floating within material to make it work; to go from what we
the space of the movie world. It was something were able to shoot to this one scene where the
that we’d been hoping would work. Since it Sam Bell character goes to the home of his
was a smaller film, we didn't know for sure. We grown daughter to leave her a present. We shot
weren’t able to test it beforehand, so we just the scene where he leaves her the present, but
hoped it would work.” we never really had the connective material
that I felt it needed to make it work. So, I think I
Speaking of Moon being a small film, were he probably would have just tried one more shot at
to still operate on near enough the same budget attempting to make that ending work because I
still think it was a lovely cap on the movie.”

Speaking of a lovely cap on the movie, the
surviving Sam Bell(s) eventually received a brief
epilogue treatment with a cameo in Jones’ most
recent feature, Mute, a future Berlin-set neo-noir
starring Alexander Skarsgård, Paul Rudd and
Justin Theroux that shares a cinematic universe
with Moon. “I'm massively grateful to both Sony
and Netflix, respectively, that I got to make those
two films,” Jones says. “But now I'm incredibly
hungry to make the third and final piece of the
anthology. I’ve been working on a graphic novel
of what is the third part of the story, very much
with the hope that if that goes well and people
like it, maybe I can convince someone to see
what the potential would be for a movie.

“It is a bigger movie, but it wraps up what
those three movies are about. I'm hoping I get
to make that third film. What we’re hoping to do
is put together this collective of different artists
who are going to be working on it; some really
interesting people. It’s going to take a while to
do, but I think it will be worthwhile.”
Moon is available on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray from
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

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ANIARA

Point Of No Return

SWEDISH FILMMAKERS PELLA KÅGERMAN AND HUGO LILJA TELL US WHY
THEIR ADAPTATION OF A CLASSIC POEM HAS NEVER BEEN MORE RELEVANT

WORDS JONATHAN HATFULL

“IN TORONTO WHERE we been to a Stockholm theatre with my granny now. Like the Sixties spacecrafts still look
that I was close to growing up, and the night kind of Sixties. We wanted to just add these
premiered, the audience was very engaged after that she had a severe stroke and she contemporary layers, so we call Aniara no-
and asked so many good questions, but ended up in a hospital, and then I started to set sci-fi, we’re not in the studio, we’re on
after the Q&A this young girl came up to read the book for her aloud,” she remembers. real locations, and mixing them together.
us. She had just turned 17 and said that this “We had always read a lot of books growing Creating the ship from the interior and then
described her generation with the feeling that up, kind of role play them, so we started to creating the exterior somehow.”
it’s all over. The generation growing up now, role play on the Aniara when she was getting
for them climate change is realer in a sense better in hospital and we pretended that this Sets or no sets, there were inevitably
that hope is lost.” hospital was the spacecraft and the doctors challenges for the first-time feature
were the crew, and then the sick people were filmmakers when it came to bringing their
We’re talking to Swedish filmmakers Pella future convincingly to life. “A lot,” nods
Kågerman and Hugo Lilja about Aniara, The sets were inspired
their award-winning adaptation of Harry by current tech. Lilja with a smile. “There were some design
Martinson’s epic 1956 poem inspired by issues we had from the beginning with our
the fears of living through the Cold War. the passengers. Because it’s also about what technology level. It was just too much for
Decades later, the story of Aniara has found we do in life, that we are born, that we age our budget. It’s a complex story and it’s a lot
new resonance. A luxury spaceship carrying and we die. The poem is about that too, what of locations over a long time, so we had to
passengers away from the doomed Earth to a to do with your time.” do a lot of reshoots and stretch the budget.
new life on Mars suddenly veers irrevocably Some of the scenes were shot in our living
off course. As the years pass, everyone on Although there have been plays, an opera room, they were inserts, and I had to learn
board begins to react to the catastrophe in and at least one album based on Aniara, it’s After Effects to do some of the easier effects
different ways. Some stubbornly carry on only been adapted for screen once before (a myself. There’s a lot of tutorials on YouTube!”
as usual, some find solace in the VR room 1960 TV movie) and Lilja tells us that turning
named Mima (for a while, anyway), and 103 cantos into a workable screenplay The end result is something very special;
others begin to get a little… unpredictable. wasn’t easy: “It’s different with the stage a sci-fi that explores the far reaches of space
adaptations, they use the original text more. while still connecting with our growing
It’s thought-provoking SF that speaks to a It’s more narrative theatre, because there’s sense of panic. But Kågerman doesn’t want
sense of hopelessness that many are feeling, not much dialogue in the text.” the audience to feel that hope is lost. “What
but the duo tells us that it wasn’t just the we wanted people to feel in the end, we had
climate change parallels that piqued their Then there was the question of what the goal that people would be happy to be on
interests when they first started to develop a the ship itself would actually look like. this spacecraft, Earth,” she explains. “You’re
film version four years ago. “It was more the The Aniara in the film doesn’t feel too not on the Aniara, there is hope. We feel like
existential drama,” Kågerman explains. “The far removed from a cruise ship, but it’s kind of hopeful because we’re not there
poem was written 60 years ago and it was Kågerman points to a different kind of yet. During those four years seven or eight
concerning climate change but also nuclear luxury playground. “Las Vegas,” she crew members had children so we somehow
fears. I think the whole escalation; it feels grins. “We were in Las Vegas and that felt believe in the future!”
like we entered the apocalypse just a year very spaceship-like. There is this famous
ago. When we finished sound editing there psychoanalyst whose basic argument is that Aniara is released in cinemas and on demand
was this heat wave in Sweden and we went we can’t see into the future, we’re so formed from 30 August.
out and it was like… burning everywhere.” by the time we’re living in and we’re just
a medium for the time, so when you try to
“I remember that we were on set, shooting depict the future you end up depicting the
in this shopping mall when Trump became
the President. I think he puts our captain
in perspective because our captain is so put
together compared to Trump,” she laughs.
“We really live in turbulent times.”

While the poem is a staple of the Swedish
education system (both Kågerman and Lilja
read it in school), Aniara found a particular
place in Kågerman’s heart after she saw a
Swedish stage adaptation as a child. “I had

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To: +91 22 2537 5343 P.1/2

JUL-2019 17:15 From: CIA

WANTED
CategCorhireisstoiafnOtfefrernocriesst:oMrguarndiesra,tbioeninTghaemGeramilber of

FEATHERSTONE
SDoAkfiltsileltinleisnsa:g:AbuHrimeosrkhareisSnntteganrrofore,sfaeHdtouisorgveuesir:seW(,deehxcitceeealssleuednit)t, marksman
severe haircut,

WORDS ABIGAIL CHANDLER

PREACHER

Wanted: Featherstone

JUL-2019 17:15 From: CIA To: +91 22 2537 5343 P.2/2

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MUST-SEE TV

Preacher

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MUST-SEE TV

The Boys

WE TALK TO CHACE CRAWFORD, AKA THE
DEEP, ABOUT THE BOYS’ GLEEFULLY TWISTED
TAKE ON SUPERHEROES WORDS ABIGAIL CHANDLER

WHEN IT COMES to offensive Garth dark path. You get to peel back a few layers
and see the vulnerability and why he’s so
Ennis comics, you might go to Preacher for insecure and why he hates himself.”

blasphemy, but you’d come to The Boys for The Boys touches on some serious
topics alongside the madness, with the
everything else. Violence, swearing and premise allowing showrunner Eric Kripke
(Supernatural) and Preacher producers
every type of sexual depravity you can think Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg to “[take]
down celebrity and media culture and
of – and some you can’t. If you’ve ever felt it even sort of ties in to politics and big
money corporations,” Crawford says, not to
that superheroes are just far too unbelievably mention the general conversation society’s

clean-cut, then hoo boy is this the TV show been having in
the last few years
for you. “It’s a pretty wild show,” Chace about the abuse of
power. “I think it
Crawford agrees when we meet up. is contributing to
the conversation, I
Crawford plays The Deep, a “spoiled hope in a good way,”
Crawford muses. The
Zoolander meets Aquaman”, one of the Seven is certainly a
good example of a
members of The toxic workplace, led
by Antony Starr’s
Seven, the world’s Homelander, an
unhinged riff on
top-tier superhero Superman. But all
that is incidental -
team managed this isn’t a serious,
political show. Like
by international Preacher, it’s gasp-
inducingly outrageous and very, very funny.
conglomerate “I think there was a nice balance,” says
Crawford. “I think they used some grounded
Vought. But moments, and they also used some out-
there improv stuff that I did as well. I was
these guys are no wondering what the tone [was] going to be
when this all [came] together, because there
Justice League – in were so many moving parts, and I think it
came together well.”
Crawford’s words, We were surprised to hear that any improv
would be allowed on a show that has a lot
they are “abusive of elements to juggle, and so was Crawford,

and fraudulent and

they’re liars and

selfish people,”

which is why Billy Chace Crawford as
Butcher (Karl “hero” The Deep.

Urban)’s off-the-

books team The

Boys are so intent on

bringing them down.

The Seven’s awfulness is driven home in

the first episode, where The Deep casually

commits sexual assault. We ask Crawford

if it was a challenge taking on a character

who starts off at such a low point, and going

on to make him, if not likeable, at least

understandable. “I think you do sympathise

with him a bit, because at the end of the day

he’s sad. He doesn’t really know who he is.

And he does get punished in a way, a little

bit, he gets demoted, of sorts, and goes on a

Billy Butcher is
bringing the pain.

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THE BOYS
Going Deep

Expect a twisted take although he was thrilled at the opportunity, two halves of the cast barely even bumped
on caped heroes. especially when a lot of his more bizarre into each other behind the scenes, although
WWW.SCIFINOW.CO.UK takes ended up being used in the final cut. they’d all go out to dinner together. “We’re
“By the end of it they were a little bit more in our glossy Vought Tower in our suits and
strict about the rampant swearing, but that then they’re shooting all over Toronto late at
was about it,” he tells us cheerfully. night in these humid tight cramped spaces
and everyone’s yelling – apparently it was
Fans of the comics will see a lot that they like two different experiences.”
recognise in the show – although The Deep’s
diving helmet is MIA, much to Crawford’s But one thing the superhero side had to
relief – but the series will not slavishly deal with was the costumes, which Crawford
adapt Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson’s was pleasantly surprised by. “I was actually
source material. “[O]bviously the comics can nervous about it at first, just getting in
be so out-there. You can’t do all that stuff and out of it and getting too hot… but it’s
[on TV], it can really turn a lot of people sleeveless, so I’m efficient now. I’m like a
off,” Crawford explains. “In the beginning race car driver in a pit stop, I can get it on
of it they follow the first volume closely, and off pretty fast.”
where they introduce a new member of
The Boys every episode, for the first four or Crawford admits to being uncertain about
five episodes, and then by the end of it [the whether the show will be embraced by
show’s] starting to become its own thing. I anyone outside of the usual superhero fans.
think if it moves forward [into Season Two] it “[I don’t know] if it’s going to be a small, cult
will continue to be that. But the heart of the audience, or if it appeals to more people. It
comics is always there.” certainly appealed to me,” he adds, which
says something as he openly admits to not
One area in which the show begins to being a superhero fan. The violence will, he
diverge from the comics early on is in giving says, inevitably put off some viewers, but he
us more of The Seven and Vought, so that the thinks that it will appeal to non-comic book
series is basically a dual narrative, following fans too. “Not for nothing, it’s entertaining,
both the supers and the team who are trying right?” he says enthusiastically. “It’s really
to bring them down. “I never worked with original and there’s nothing like it.”
any of The Boys, it was like two different
films almost,” Crawford says, adding that the The Boys arrives on Prime Video on 26 July.

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•ƉƳ@Ƴeǘ˯ ǷǺƔȀƔǐȇˆ •ȌǷƔǺưƔǺǘƔˆХ ǏǘǐȀȇƔˀ
ȨǘȌˀ ƔȀȀƔǐȇƳŭʎ ƪȌƳƏɛ ưȌǐȇƔˀˆХ ƈǺŭȢLjƳǐɯ
ȇʞ ȌȇȌǏʖ ·Ъ
ƈȌȇLjƔˀˆ ŭǐɗ ǏǘǺɛЦ

afwjGaanbuTraiirdsvhutagnothoetmdhusauHWetns,errgueoidBtirnaeOtuOi’wttsstnhtcmfyhdteehhiTiamnmacrhtceyhthseroeebeobrnryootnnoe.octfoeehouTotsssresrh.thuincameriWwroenrrfiatvceriint:eneyh’phsgsatrolhbteadPlwiredceneasigeonnermgfsrhkinaonloatdyswrgfnojnaweciieonlnsyhsoln.wtotabrbay’Suttlushelbroobeyt,u,yfnvaTawtoigghacenyuiiekruwntdaorhtguuWibunanmnCeagkatiahinwtdnlcosrcoanhTncsuowepVeihtpvbx.rteoaastwdTiofletsyihufhosoRejalsatoluenaedittos.ws’’arstsn

WORDS POPPY-JAY PALMER, ABIGAIL CHANDLER, JONATHAN HATFULL

058 | WWW.SCIFINOW.CO.UK

059 1 THE WITCHER
THE WITCHER
061 •ȇŭǺǺƳǐɯФ Henry Cavill, Freya Allan, Anya Chalotra, Jodhi May
RETURNING SHOWS ǺƔŭȇǘˀФ Lauren Schmidt Hissrich
062
BRITANNIA ¸ưƔʖ: Autumn/Winter 2019
063 ¸ưƔǺɛФ Netflix
GREMLINS AƔǐǺɛФ Fantasy
063
THE SANDMAN Given the massive popularity of Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels and the incredible
063 games inspired by them (hands up who contemplated restarting The Witcher III as
2020 SHOWS soon as they saw the word Witcher), it’s surprising it’s taken this long for someone
064 to step up and bring them to the screen. Now that we’re living in a post-Game Of
WATCHMEN Thrones world, this really should be the show to slake our thirst for violent fantasy
065 filled with political scheming, fragile alliances and big old monsters.
UPCOMING IN 2019
067 We’ve finally got our first look at the leading trio in character and we have to say,
CARNIVAL ROW they all look the part. Henry Cavill should be the perfect fit for a younger Geralt of
067 Rivia and we’re convinced by his ‘pummeling the hell out of whatever comes his
PENNYWORTH way’ credentials post-Mission Impossible: Fallout arm reload. As per the official plot
068 synopsis, ‘destiny hurls him towards a powerful sorceress and a young princess
WHERE IN THE WORLD? with a dangerous secret’, and we all know who that means: Yennefer, played by
070 Anya Chalotra, and Ciri, played by Freya Allan. While Cavill is the only A-lister in
FINAL SEASONS the cast, there are plenty of familiar genre faces including The Descent’s MyAnna
Buring as Tissaia (the head of the magical academy at Aretuza), Game Of Thrones’
WWW.SCIFINOW.CO.UK
| 059

THREE AGAINST
THE WORLD

MEET THE LEADS

Jodhi May and Fortitude’s Björn Hlynur Twitter in the face of a legion of die-hard © @LHissrich GERALT IS:
Haraldsson as Queen Calanthe and fans, each of whom have a very specific Stoic.
her husband Eist, head of the court idea of what the show should look like. Circumspect.
at Cintra, and Star Wars: Rebels’ Lars Balanced.
Mikkelsen as the wizard Stregobor. What’s clear is that Netflix is Fierce.
investing a lot in this series, from Soft-and-squishy-in-a-tiny-place-
It should absolutely be noted that the landing Superman to play the lead in-his-heart-that-he'll-never-reveal-
show will be taking Sapkowski’s series to choosing to go with a TV series until-maybe-the-end-and-even-then-
of books as their source material rather rather than a movie (as was reportedly it-will-just-be-a-hint-AND-yes-he-
than the videogames, and it’s certainly originally planned). We’re reserving only-carries-one-sword-until-wait-
encouraging that the author (who judgement until we get a better look, for-it...
famously regrets letting the game rights of course, but this is definitely a story
go for a meagre sum back in the day) is that not only needs room to breathe but
on board as a creative consultant. requires the kind of massive investment
that Netflix seems willing to provide.
That was confirmed by showrunner
Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, a veteran of If you’re going to finally bring The
The West Wing and Parenthood as well Witcher to the screen, you’d better do
as more recent genre hits like Daredevil it right. Now, when can we see Roach?
and The Umbrella Academy, and who And is Roach carrying Geralt’s second
has been a wonderfully open figure on sword? And…

© @LHissrich CIRI IS:
Resilient.
Anya Charlotra as © @LHissrich Relentless.
Yennefer. Brazen.
Growing.
060 | Going-to-change-the-world-and-
what-the-hell-is-she-supposed-
to-do-except-be-scared-and-
bold-and-learn-and-adapt-a
d-find-a-family-who-can-walk-by-
her-side-no-matter-what-maybe-
teach-her-the-meaning-of-love.

YENNEFER IS:
Fiery.
Proud.
Shrewd.
Contradictory.
Seeking-to-fill-a-family-sized-hole-
in-her-heart-even-though-she-
resents-it-and-swears-she’s-just-
fine-on-her-own-but-she-is-not-
and-we-love-her-for-being-both-
independent-and-vulnerable.

WWW.SCIFINOW.CO.UK

2 STAR TREK: DISCOVERY: Ancient spirits haunt a Japanese internment ǺƔŭȇǘˀаȀưǘȢǺȌǐǐƔˀФ Akiva Goldsman,
SEASON THREE [SCI-FI] camp during World War II in the second
season of the horror anthology series, Geoff Johns, Greg Berlanti
ŭȀ˔Ф Sonequa Martin-Green, Doug which brings in George Takei as both a
star and a consultant. ¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛФ TBA/DC Universe (US),
Jones, Mary Wiseman, Shazad Latif,
Anthony Rapp, Wilson Cruz 5 AMERICAN HORROR STORY TBA/Netflix (UK)
1984 [HORROR] Titans is deploying heaps of new
ǺƔŭȇǘˀаȀưǘȢǺȌǐǐƔˀФ Alex Kurtzman, characters for its second season, including
ŭȀ˔Ф Emma Roberts, Gus Kenworthy Mercy Graves, Rose Wilson, Superboy,
Michelle Paradise ǺƔŭȇǘˀаȀưǘȢǺȌǐǐƔˀФ Ryan Murphy Jericho, Deathstroke, and the one and
¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛФ TBA/FX (US), only Bruce Wayne.
¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛФ TBA/CBS All Access (US),
TBA/FOX (UK) 8 CHILLING ADVENTURES OF
TBA/Netflix (UK) We don’t know when the ninth season is SABRINA: SEASON THREE
Season Three of Discovery only started airing and we don’t really know who’s [HORROR/FANTASY]
shooting this summer so we will likely have involved but what we do know is it’s going
to wait until 2020 to see where the show is to be set in 1984 and will be inspired by ŭȀ˔Ф Kiernan Shipka, Ross Lynch, Lucy
boldly going next. slasher films.
Davis, Chance Perdomo, Miranda Otto
3 SHE-RA AND THE PRINCESSES 6 THE FLASH: SEASON SIX
OF POWER: SEASON THREE [SCI-FI] ǺƔŭȇǘˀаȀưǘȢǺȌǐǐƔˀФ
[FANTASY]
ŭȀ˔Ф Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
ŭȀ˔Ф Aimee Carrero, Karen Fukuhara, AJ
Danielle Panabaker, Carlos Valdes, ¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛФ TBA/Netflix
Michalka, Marcus Scribner, Reshma Shetty Tom Cavanagh
After he sacrificed himself to stop the
ǺƔŭȇǘˀаȀưǘȢǺȌǐǐƔˀФ Noelle Stevenson ǺƔŭȇǘˀаȀưǘȢǺȌǐǐƔˀФ Greg Berlanti, apocalypse, Sabrina is dead set on getting
¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛФ 2 August/Netflix her boyfriend Nick back, and hopes to get
Andrew Kreisberg, Geoff Johns the job done in Season Three.
Geena Davis is weirdly but wonderfully
joining the voice cast of the new season ¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛФ 8 October/The CW (US), 9 SCREAM: RESURRECTION
as Huntara, the imposing leader of the [HORROR]
Crimson Waste that assists Adora, Glimmer TBA/Sky One (UK)
and Bow on a quest. After the Arrowverse’s ‘Elseworlds’ ŭȀ˔Ф Mary J Blige, RJ Cyler, Keke
crossover event it promised the ‘Crisis On
4 THE TERROR: INFAMY Infinite Earths’ storylines from the comics, Palmer, Tyler Posey, Tyga, Gloria
[HORROR] and it looks like The Flash is the show to Whigham, CJ Wallace
take on that challenge.
ŭȀ˔Ф Derek Mio, Kiki Sukezane, Shingo ǺƔŭȇǘˀаȀưǘȢǺȌǐǐƔˀФ Brett Matthews
7 TITANS: SEASON TWO [SCI-FI] ¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛФ 8 July/VH1 (US), TBA (UK)
Usami, Naoko Mori, George Takei, ŭȀ˔Ф Brenton Thwaites, Anna Diop,
Geena Davis After making the move from MTV to VH1,
Teagan Croft, Ryan Potter, Iain Glen, Scream is getting a complete revamp for
ǺƔŭȇǘˀаȀưǘȢǺȌǐǐƔˀФ Alexander Woo, Chella Man Season Three, and will feature a new
storyline and new characters.
Max Borenstein
10 THE EXPANSE:
¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛФ 12 August/AMC (US), SEASON FOUR [SCI-FI]

TBA/AMC Global (UK) ŭȀ˔Ф Steven Strait, Cas Anvar, Dominique

Tipper, Wes Chatham

ǺƔŭȇǘˀаȀưǘȢǺȌǐǐƔˀФ Mark Fergus,

Hawk Ostby

¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛФ TBA/Amazon Video

After it was cancelled by Syfy, Amazon
Video swooped in to save the day
and renewed it for a fourth season.
Good thing, too, it’s one of the best SF
shows out there.

WWW.SCIFINOW.CO.UK | 061

11 BRITANNIA:
SEASON TWO

ŭȀ˔Ф David Morrissey, Mackenzie Crook, Eleanor Worthington-Cox, Expect more weirdness
in Season Two...
Annabel Scholey
considered… So it’s funny to do Harka
•ưǘȢǺȌǐǐƔˀФ Jez Butterworth, Tom Butterworth, James Richardson as Veran’s rock and roll brother turning
¸ưƔʖФ Autumn 2019 up. I said to Jez, it’s like his brother has
¸ưƔǺɛФ Sky Atlantic just got out of prison and come back
AƔǐǺɛФ Fantasy home and starts stirring things up!”
Crook laughs.
The trippiest show on TV returns later this year, as Britannia Season Two plunges
us back into the world of Roman-occupied Britain, as General Aulus (David While Harka is bringing new mystery
Morrissey) continues his battle of wills with the British people, and especially with and tension to the show, Claudius is
druid leader Veran (Mackenzie Crook). The real battle, though, may be between the bringing the mix of comedy and threat
Romans and the sheer alien weirdness of Britain. that actor Steve Pemberton is so great
at. “He is both this comedic buffoon,
“There are powers that are affecting the Romans in a very psychological way,” but he’s also the most powerful man
Morrissey says. “It’s a very trippy world and some people can’t handle it… there’s in the world, and Steve is brilliant at
something in the nature of the land and it’s turning them, and I love that.” playing both,” Richardson says. After
experimenting with the tone slightly in
Where Season One may have looked at the original Roman invasion, Season Two Season One, Richardson promises that
focuses on occupation, as Aulus begins working with his new British ally Amena Season Two will be full of the humour,
to build a Roman city on British soil. “The Romans have slightly taken over, in an darkness, and glorious weirdness that
Empire Strikes Back way; they’re in control – but are they?” says producer James fans loved in Season One.”
Richardson. “The druids are… slightly on the back foot, but there are new forces
coming in and it’s becoming about who’s in control of this situation and this world?”

Those ‘new forces’ are coming in from all angles, with Emperor Claudius arriving,
along with Veran’s long-absent brother Harka, who is also played by Crook. Veran’s
“whole life has been people hanging on his every word and every word he says is
considered and everything is loaded with symbolism and what have you,” Crook
says. “Whereas Harka, the brother, hasn’t had a lifetime of that, and so he’s not so

062 | WWW.SCIFINOW.CO.UK

They’re finally making
a comeback...

12 GREMLINS: SECRETS OF THE MOGWAI [FANTASY] it out again in a TV version of Stephen
King’s series.
ŭȀ˔Ф TBA ǺƔŭȇǘˀаȀưǘȢǺȌǐǐƔˀФ TBA ¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛФ TBA
17 LORD OF THE RINGS SERIES
WHAT IS IT? [FANTASY]
It’s an animated prequel to Gremlins, made up of ten half-hour episodes. Set in
Twenties Shanghai, it reveals how ten-year-old Sam Wing (you know him as shop ŭȀ˔Ф TBA
owner Mr Wing from the original film) met a young Mogwai called Gizmo and a ǺƔŭȇǘˀаȀưǘȢǺȌǐǐƔˀФ JD Payne,
teenaged street thief called Elle. Together, the three set off on a perilous journey
through the Chinese countryside to return Gizmo to his family, battling monsters Patrick McKay
from Chinese folklore and escaping the clutches of a power-hungry industrialist
and his army of evil Gremlins. It’s all your childhood horror dreams come true. ¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛФ 2020/Amazon Video

WHO IS INVOLVED? The series will be set during the 3441-year
Amblin Television and Warner Bros Animation have teamed up for this one, and period before the events of the Fellowship
loads of talent are already on board. Gotham and Once Upon A Time writer Tze Of The Ring.
Chun is penning the series, and Amblin TV’s Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey are
executive producing alongside Chun and Brendan Hay (Robot Chicken) and Sam 18 WHEEL OF TIME [FANTASY]
Register (Animaniacs). ŭȀ˔Ф Rosamund Pike
ǺƔŭȇǘˀаȀưǘȢǺȌǐǐƔˀФ Rafe Judkins
WHEN CAN I WATCH IT?
Though the series has been in the works for months, it’s still pretty early into ¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛФ 2020, Amazon Video
its development. We reckon we’re not going to be able to see it on TV until the
second half of 2020, at least. Moiraine embarks on a journey across the
world with five young people she believes
13 LOCKE & KEY [FANTASY] 16 THE SANDMAN can save it.
ŭȀ˔Ф Jackson Robert Scott, Connor [FANTASY, HORROR]
19 SPACE FORCE [SCI-FI]
Jessup, Emilia Jones, Sherri Saum ŭȀ˔Ф TBA ŭȀ˔Ф Steve Carell
ǺƔŭȇǘˀаȀưǘȢǺȌǐǐƔˀФ ǺƔŭȇǘˀаȀưǘȢǺȌǐǐƔˀФ Greg Daniels,
ǺƔŭȇǘˀаȀưǘȢǺȌǐǐƔˀФ Joe Hill
¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛФ TBA/Netflix Allan Heinberg Steve Carell

Three siblings find keys that give them ¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛФ ¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛФ TBA/Netflix
magical abilities in this adaptation of Joe
Hill’s comic book. TBA/Netflix From the makers of The Office comes a
WHAT IS IT? sitcom about the US military’s sixth branch.
14 STARGIRL [SCI-FI] TV series based on Neil Gaiman’s The
ŭȀ˔Ф Brec Bassinger, Anjelika Sandman. It will follow the people 20 HELLRAISER [HORROR]
affected by Morpheus, the Dream ŭȀ˔Ф TBA
Washington, Amy Smart, Joel McHale King, as he tries to correct mistakes ǺƔŭȇǘˀаȀưǘȢǺȌǐǐƔˀФ TBA
he’s made during his existence.
ǺƔŭȇǘˀаȀưǘȢǺȌǐǐƔˀФ Geoff Johns WHO IS INVOLVED? ¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛФ 2020/TBA
¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛФ Early 2020/DC Universe Wonder Woman and Scandal scribe
Allan Heinberg is committed to the Pinhead raises more hell in a TV version
(US), TBA (UK) series, serving as a writer, executive of the classic novella The Hellbound Heart.
Courtney Whitmore finds a cosmic staff producer and showrunner. He’s also
and decides to inspire a new generation bringing along Gaiman and David S 21 DEVS [SCI-FI]
of superheroes. Goyer (Constantine, the Blade trilogy) ŭȀ˔Ф Sonoya Mizuno, Nick Offerman,
to help with writing and EP duties,
15 THE DARK TOWER [FANTASY] with the three of them collaborating Jin Ha, Zach Grenier
ŭȀ˔Ф Sam Strike, Jasper Pääkkönen, on the script for the first episode.
WHEN CAN I WATCH IT? ǺƔŭȇǘˀаȀưǘȢǺȌǐǐƔˀФ Alex Garland
Michael Rooker It’s in the early stages, so there’s no ¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛФ 2020/FX (US), TBA (UK)
word on when it will hit screens.
ǺƔŭȇǘˀаȀưǘȢǺȌǐǐƔˀФ Glen Mazzara The director of Ex Machina brings a new
¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛФ 2020/Amazon Video tech-based sci-fi thriller to the small screen.

The Gunslinger and the Man in Black battle 22 LISEY’S STORY [HORROR]
ŭȀ˔Ф Julianne Moore
WWW.SCIFINOW.CO.UK ǺƔŭȇǘˀаȀưǘȢǺȌǐǐƔˀФ TBA

¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛФ 2020/Apple TV+

An adaptation of Stephen King’s novel
of the same name and King will write all
eight episodes.

23 SEE [SCI-FI]
ŭȀ˔Ф Jason Momoa, Alfre Woodard,

Christian Camargo

ǺƔŭȇǘˀаȀưǘȢǺȌǐǐƔˀФ TBA
¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛФ 2020/Apple TV+

In a dystopian future the human race has
lost its sense of sight, and learns to adapt.

| 063

24 WATCHMEN

ŭȀ˔Ф Regina King, Jeremy Irons, Tim Blake

Nelson, Don Johnson, Yahya Abdul-Mahteen II

ǺƔŭȇǘˀФ Damon Lindelof
¸ưƔʖФ Autumn 2019
¸ưƔǺɛФ HBO (US)/Sky Atlantic (UK)
AƔǐǺɛФ Sci-fi

A ‘remix’ of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’
seminal comic could be some of the most
interesting TV we’ve seen for a while. After all,
we have the comic, we have Zack Snyder’s decent
movie adaptation, and DC has already done
prequels and sequels with Before Watchmen and
Doomsday Clock. The question of whether or not
this should be made is kind of moot at this point,
the question of whether or not they’ll deliver
something great is much more interesting.

Damon Lindelof is certainly aware of the
fans’ delicate feelings on the subject, writing
a five-page Instagram post in May last year in
which he detailed his history with the comic, his
declaration that this would be a remix that would
“sample” some of “the bass lines in those familiar
tracks,” and that it would “resonate with the
frequency of Trump and May and Putin and the
horse that he rides around on, shirtless.”

The writer may have a track record of making
incredibly divisive movies and TV shows, but
given that his last big project was The Leftovers,
it’s probably wise to cut him some slack.

Speaking of The Leftovers, most of the publicity
for the show so far has focused on Regina King,
fresh off her Oscar win and starring as costumed
hero Angela Abar. We can expect almost entirely
new characters (although Tim Blake Nelson’s
unnerving Looking Glass has more than a touch
of Rorschach about him) and the only confirmed
canon figure so far is Ozymandias, played by
Jeremy Irons. It seems his great plan to secure
world peace wasn’t especially lasting, as the
doomsday clock is ticking once again. There’s a
cabal of sinister masked vigilantes taking their
inspiration from the late Walter Kovacs and
looking awfully Alt-Right, while the police (led
by Don Johnson’s Chief Judd Crawford) now wear
masks, and there’s a mysterious FBI agent (played
by Jean Smart) who happens to have the same
surname as The Comedian…

The cast also includes Yahya Abdul-Mateen
II, Tom Mison, Louis Gossett Jr and Adelaide
Clemens, while Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
will provide the score. This represents a big roll of
the dice from HBO, which is looking for new ways
to capture the zeitgeist in the wake of Game Of
Thrones. Can Lindelof and company find a new
spin on Watchmen that will thrill and resonate,
or will this be one of the most fascinating failures
of the year? We’ll just have to wait and see...

UPCOMING 2019 SHOWS

25 THE MANDALORIAN [SCI-FI] 26 HIS DARK MATERIALS famous books, it will also feature some key
ŭȀ˔Ф Pedro Pascal, Gina Carano, Nick [FANTASY] changes, which director Otto Bathurst has
said have been included in order to give it
Nolte, Giancarlo Esposito, Emily Swallow, ŭȀ˔Ф Dafne Keen, Ruth Wilson, a bit of a twist, and to modernise the story.
Werner Herzog
James McAvoy, Clarke Peters, 27 STAR TREK: PICARD [SCI-FI]
ǺƔŭȇǘˀаȀưǘȢǺȌǐǐƔˀФ Jon Favreau Lin-Manuel Miranda ŭȀ˔Ф Patrick Stewart, Santiago Cabrera,
¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛФ 12 November/
ǺƔŭȇǘˀаȀưǘȢǺȌǐǐƔˀФ Jane Tranter, Michelle Hurd, Evan Evagora, Alison Pill
Disney+ (US)
Exclusive for upcoming Disney+ Julie Gardner ǺƔŭȇǘˀаȀưǘȢǺȌǐǐƔˀФ Alex Kurtzman
subscribers, the Star Wars series is set ¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛФ TBA/CBS All Access (US),
to take place after the fall of the Empire ¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛФ TBA/HBO (US),
and before the emergence of the First TBA/Amazon Video (UK)
Order. It will follow Narcos’ Pedro Pascal TBA/BBC (UK) Set 20 years after Jean-Luc Picard’s last
as the Mandalorian, a lone gunfighter in After 2007 film The Golden Compass’ appearance in Star Trek: Nemesis, the
the outer reaches of the galaxy far from somewhat lacklustre attempt at bringing retired admiral and former captain of the
the authority of the New Republic. With Philip Pullman’s trilogy to life, the screen USS Enterprise-D and USS Enterprise-E
Jon Favreau serving as a writer, creator, gods have decided to give His Dark is trying to enjoy his senior years on a
showrunner and one of the series’ many Materials another chance, this time as a vineyard when he finds himself deeply
executive producers, it ought to be a TV series for HBO and the BBC. Logan’s affected by the destruction of Romulus after
wild ride. Dafne Keen is starring as Lyra, a young the events of 2009’s Star Trek. Following
orphan living with the teachers at Jordan Nemesis, Stewart had said he felt his time
Lin-Manuel Miranda as College, Oxford. Though the series is set in the franchise had run its course, but has
Lee Scoresby. to be a relatively loyal adaptation to the
since been humbled by the
response to his character
and the impact he has had
on the lives of fans
all over the world. As
well as starring in Picard,
Stewart also serves as an
executive producer.

28 LOVECRAFT
COUNTRY [HORROR]

ŭȀ˔Ф Jonathan Majors,
Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Wunmi
Mosaku, Aunjanue Ellis,
Abbey Lee
ǺƔŭȇǘˀаȀưǘȢǺȌǐǐƔˀФ
Jordan Peele, Misha Green,
JJ Abrams, Ben Stephenson
¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛФ TBA/HBO
(US), TBA/Sky Atlantic (UK)
HBO’s latest horror series
is based on Matt Ruff’s
2016 novel Lovecraft
Will The Mandalorian Country, which explores
tempt you to Disney+? the conjunction between

the horror fiction of HP
Lovecraft and racism in the US during
the era that enforced racial segregation
in southern states. The show will follow
Jonathan Majors as science fiction fan
Atticus Black, who joins his friend Letitia
(Jurnee Smollett-Bell) and his Uncle George
(Courtney B Vance) on a road trip across
Fifties Jim Crow America while searching
for his missing father. However, it isn’t
long before Atticus finds himself fighting
to survive and overcome both racist
white Americans and terrifying
Lovecraftian monsters.

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UPCOMING 2019 SHOWS
ǘǐȇƳǐȌƔɗ

29 BATWOMAN [SCI-FI] Will Batwoman’s solo
ŭȀ˔Ф Ruby Rose, Meagan Tandy, Camrus run be worth the wait?

Johnson, Nicole Kang, Rachel Skarsten

ǺƔŭȇǘˀаȀưǘȢǺȌǐǐƔˀФ Caroline Dries,

Greg Berlanti

¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛФ TBA/The CW (US),

TBA (UK)
After making an impression in the
Arrowverse’s ‘Elseworlds’ crossover event
last year, we’ve been desperate to fully
dive into the world of Kate Kane, AKA
Batwoman, as Ruby Rose takes on the
mantle in her own show. Rose’s version
of the character is a highly trained street
fighter with a passion for social justice,
and takes it upon herself to become a
vigilante and protect the people of Gotham
City when it looks at though Batman
has abandoned them. The series was
developed by Arrowverse mainstay Greg
Berlanti as well as Caroline Dries who
worked as a writer on The CW’s Smallville
and Melrose Place, and an executive
producer on the network’s hit vampire
series The Vampire Diaries.

30 UTOPIA [SCI-FI]

ŭȀ˔Ф Sasha Lane, Rainn Wilson, Dan To deal with the problem, he undergoes Sebastian Stan, Jeremy Renner
a new treatment, only to find that he’s
Byrd, Cory Michael Smith, John Cusack been replaced by a new and improved ǺƔŭȇǘˀаȀưǘȢǺȌǐǐƔˀФ Michael Waldron,
George Elliot, also played by Rudd. Living
ǺƔŭȇǘˀаȀưǘȢǺȌǐǐƔˀФ Gillian Flynn With Yourself is set to be a twisty, turny Jac Schaeffer, Michael Spellman
¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛФ TBA/Amazon Video series told from multiple perspectives,
with intersecting storylines and deep, ¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛФ TBA/Disney+
Though there’s really not much information philosophical questions. The show hails
out there yet about the US remake of from Timothy Greenberg, who served as The streaming service’s upcoming Marvel
Channel 4’s cult sci-fi conspiracy series an executive producer on The Daily Show series. We know who they’re about, but not
Utopia, we’re expecting it to be somewhat With Jon Stewart and won two Emmy exactly what...so here are our pitches:
like the original. American Honey star Awards for his efforts. LOKI
Sasha Lane is leading the cast as the Tom Hiddleston stars as the God of
mysterious and somewhat elusive Jessica 32 DISNEY+ MARVEL SHOWS Mischief, who demonstrates the extent
Hyde, while Rainn Wilson is playing [SCI-FI] of his powers in this edgy close-up
Michael Stearns, the US version of Paul magic series.
Higgins’ Michael Dugdale, the hapless civil ŭȀ˔Ф Tom Hiddleston, Elizabeth Olsen, WANDAVISION
servant who is blackmailed by the Network Scarlet Witch and Vision continue
into completing tasks for them. The new Paul Bettany, Anthony Mackie, their heart-wrenching love affair in heaven
series is being brought to life by Gone in this telenovela-inspired fantasy
Girl’s Gillian Flynn, so we’re expecting © Gage Skidmore romance saga.
drama of epic proportions. FALCON AND WINTER SOLDIER
Falcon is a seasoned New York cop. Bucky
31 LIVING WITH YOURSELF Barnes is a rookie. Put them together and
[FANTASY] you get a force to be reckoned with.
HAWKEYE
ŭȀ˔Ф Paul Rudd, Aisling Bea After getting his family back, Clint
ǺƔŭȇǘˀаȀưǘȢǺȌǐǐƔˀФ Barton stars in a family sitcom about
a hardworking family man with
Timothy Greenberg exceptional aim.

¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛФ TBA/Netflix WWW.SCIFINOW.CO.UK

Living With Yourself is just what we all
need in our lives: a show starring two
Paul Rudds. Rudd stars as George Elliot,
a man on the edge of burning out in
both his personal and professional life.

066 |

33 CARNIVAL ROW [FANTASY] 34
ŭȀ˔Ф Orlando Bloom, Cara Delevingne, David Gyasi, Tamzin PENNYWORTH

Merchant, Karla Crome ŭȀ˔Ф Jack Bannon, Paloma Faith, Ben Aldridge,

ǺƔŭȇǘˀ: René Enchevarria, Travis Beacham Hainsley Lloyd Fletcher, Jason Flemyng
¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛФ 30 August/Amazon Video
ǺƔŭȇǘˀФ Bruno Heller, Danny Cannon
If you ever thought Sherlock Holmes could do with some faeries, ¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛФ 28 July/Epix (US), TBA (UK)
you better get your ass on the couch on 30 August and stream
Amazon’s latest fantasy series Carnival Row. A TV prequel series to the Batman comics, Pennyworth
is set to give us a bigger and better look at the Wayne
Set in a fantastical city known as the Burgue during the family’s legendary butler Alfred Pennyworth. In his
Victorian era, the series follows a set of mythical creature younger years, the charming Londoner proved himself
refugees that have been forced to flee their war-torn homeland, to be a skilled and calculated killer in the SAS. Our
and the struggles they face when tensions begin to rise between story starts when he returns home from the army with a
themselves and the city’s born-and-raised citizens. thirst for excitement that he can’t seem to quench.

Cara Delevingne stars as Vignette Stonemoss, one of the ¸ưʞфˆ ȢưʞЫ
faeries to flee their home, while Orlando Bloom plays Rycroft
Philostrate, a bowler hat-wearing human detective. With two JACK BANNON AS ALFRED PENNYWORTH
famously sexy Brits leading the cast, it’s obviously not long before Our hero is a cheerful and charming former British
Vignette and Rycroft begin an illicit affair in a new take on the SAS soldier who adjusts to civilian life by starting a
classic forbidden love storyline. But this time, a few murder security business.
mysteries are thrown into the mix when a faery showgirl is killed
on Carnival Row, and the pair must beat the clock to solve them BEN ALDRIDGE AS THOMAS WAYNE
before the city descends into complete chaos. The show describes him as a young debonair billionaire
from the East Coast of the US. You know him as Batman’s
Alfred’s journey from dad (alive and well).
badass to badass butler.
RYAN FLETCHER AS DAVE BOY
WWW.SCIFINOW.CO.UK A close friend of Alfred’s from the army, Dave is a haggard
Highland Scotsman who is slowly drinking himself to death.

HAINSLEY LLOYD BENNETT AS BAZZA
Another army mate of Alfred’s,
Bazza is a posh Bajan playboy
who is highly proficient at
logistics and a valued member
of the team.

PALOMA FAITH AS
BET SYKES
Alfred’s greatest foe comes
in the form of this spirited but
sadistic and sharp-tongued
woman. You just can’t rely
on her.

JASON FLEMYNG AS
LORD HARWOOD
Bet Sykes’ associate is an upper
class Englishman with a cruel
nature and an extremely inflated
sense of self-importance.

EMMA PAETZ AS
MARTHA KANE
Thomas’ love interest and the
future mother of Bruce, she’s
the woman that would go on to
stop the feud between Batman
and Superman.

¸ưƔǺ ɛ ŭǺ ɛ ȇưƔȀɛ ¢ • Ȁưǘ ˯ˆ Х ŭǐɗ Ȣư˵ ưŭȡƔʖф˔ Ȣɛ ȀƔƔʖ ȇưƔʕ Ƴʖ ȇưɛ ¢ Z ȨƔ˔Ы

35 DOOM PATROL [SCI-FI] 36 SWAMP THING 37 MANIFEST [FANTASY]
ŭȀ˔Ф Diane Guerrero, April Bowlby, [HORROR/SCI-FI] ŭȀ˔Ф Melissa Roxburgh, Josh Dallas,

Matt Bomer, Alan Tudyk, Brendan Fraser, ŭȀ˔Ф Crystal Reed, Virginia Madsen, Athena Karkanis, JR Ramirez, Luna Blaise,
Timothy Dalton Jack Messina
Andy Bean, Derek Mears, Maria Sten,
ǺƔŭȇǘˀФ Jeremy Carver Jeryl Prescott ǺƔŭȇǘˀФ Jeff Rake
¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛ ж¢•зФ February 2019/ ¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛ ж¢•зФ September 2018/
ǺƔŭȇǘˀФ Gary Dauberman,
DC Universe NBC
Following a truly excellent extended Mark Verheiden The trailer for Manifest – which follows the
trailer, we were keen to clap our eyes on passengers and crew of an airliner, who
DC Universe’s Doom Patrol, based on the ¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛ ж¢•зФ May 2019/ reappear suddenly after being presumed
characters created by Arnold Drake, Bob dead for five years – was tepid and the
Haney and Bruno Premiani. Too bad the DC Universe critical response to the first season was
DC Universe doesn’t have a UK equivalent, Another show banished to US streamer mixed, but we still want what we can’t
and no one else has bothered to pick up DC Universe, Swamp Thing looks even have. Maybe it’ll show up on E4 in five
the rights. less likely to hit UK TV screens given that it years’ time.
was cancelled a week after its first episode
dǘǐȇưˆ ȀƳǐƉɛ Ƴ˔ ŭƳǺƔɗФ 6 premiered following a dispute about taxes dǘǐȇưˆ ȀƳǐƉɛ Ƴ˔ ŭƳǺƔɗФ 11
in North Carolina, where it was filmed.

dǘǐȇưˆ ȀƳǐƉɛ Ƴ˔ ŭƳǺƔɗФ 3

38 MIRACLE WORKERS 39 ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO 40 THE TWILIGHT ZONE
[FANTASY] [SCI-FI] [SCI-FI, HORROR, FANTASY]

ŭȀ˔Ф Daniel Radcliffe, Steve Buscemi, ŭȀ˔Ф Jeanine Mason, Mathan ŭȀ˔Ф Kumail Nanjiani, Adam Scott,

Geraldine Viswanathan, Jon Bass, Parsons, Michael Vlamis, Lily Cowles, Sanaa Lathan, Steven Yeun, John Cho,
Karan Soni Tyler Blackburn DeWanda Wise

ǺƔŭȇǘˀФ Simon Rich ǺƔŭȇǘˀФ Carina Adly MacKenzie ǺƔŭȇǘˀФ Jordan Peele, Simon Kinberg,
¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛ ж¢•зФ February 2019/ ¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛ ж¢•зФ January 2019/
Marco Ramirez
TBS The CW
Someone out there in TV land is denying As Roswell, New Mexico is the second ¸ưƔʖаȢưƔǺɛ ж¢•зФ April 2019/
UK viewers the chance to see Daniel adaptation of the Roswell High book series
Radcliffe as a low-level angel responsible by Melinda Metz, it’s pretty shitty that it’s CBS All Access
for handling all of humanity’s prayers and being kept from us. There will no doubt We’re still not over this one. CBS All
Steve Buscemi as God, his boss, and we be plenty of British Roswell fans somewhere Access went huge on its promotion of The
want to know who and why and how we that have been gasping for a fix for the Twilight Zone, even bagging the show a
can change this. past 17 years. TV spot during the Super Bowl, and now
it’s nowhere to be seen over international
dǘǐȇưˆ ȀƳǐƉɛ Ƴ˔ ŭƳǺƔɗФ 6 dǘǐȇưˆ ȀƳǐƉɛ Ƴ˔ ŭƳǺƔɗФ 7 waters. What is Jordan Peele hiding?

068 | dǘǐȇưˆ ȀƳǐƉɛ Ƴ˔ ŭƳǺƔɗФ 4

WWW.SCIFINOW.CO.UK

FINAL SEASONS IN MEMORIAM

41 SUPERNATURAL

ŭȀ˔Ф Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles •ưǘȢǺȌǐǐƔˀФ Eric Kripke/Andrew Dabb
¸ưƔʖФ 10 October ¸ưƔǺɛФ The CW (US), TBA/E4 (UK) AƔǐǺɛФ Fantasy

WHAT DO WE KNOW? before settling down for a nice, SUPERNATURALS
Shit is going down. When you quiet life of anything but demon LEGACY IN NUMBERS
already did the apocalypse in hunting. Sam would return to
Season Five, you really have to pull university and get a degree in Tacky motels 10%
out all the stops when it comes to something random like art history, Roadside dining 10%
storyboarding your final season ten while Dean would open his own
years later. Supernatural seems to themed roadside dinner, with Identity theft 20%
know that, judging by the fact that it nothing but human customers. Salt 5%
set up something truly catastrophic
with its Season 14 finale (warning: WHAT DO WE THINK Smolders 5%
spoilers for said episode ahead). WILL HAPPEN? Plaid shirts 10%
All signs point to Sam or Dean, or Kansas (the band and the place) 10%
The episode left us seeing souls Sam and Dean, dying a horrible, Brotherly love 30%
rising from hell, with flashes of past horrible death. For good this time. If
monsters returning to wreak havoc. Supernatural only knows one thing,
All the spirits, creatures and demons it’s how to kill off the Winchesters.
the Winchesters thought they had
banished – the Woman in White, WHY WILL WE MISS IT?
the Killer Clown, Bloody Mary – are Supernatural has been our staple
back, bringing the brothers full viewing since it premiered in 2005.
circle. Welcome to the end. After spending almost 15 years with
Sam and Dean (and indeed with
So now, with the dawn of Padalecki and Ackles), there will
Season 15, Sam and Dean are back honestly be an Impala-shaped hole
where they started, with evil they in our hearts.
previously defeated walking the
Earth. The specifics of the season’s
storyline are obviously being kept
quiet, but we can probably expect
a whole load of cameos from past
players. The new season will consist
of just 20 episodes, as opposed to
its usual 22-24, but that’s more
than enough time to tie up any
loose ends.

In the Season 14 digital featurette
‘The Winchesters Mythology: The
Choices We Make’, show runner
Andrew Dabb said: “God was not
kidding when he said it was the end
of this story. And by the end of this
story, it means the end of the world.
The question of what that looks like,
the question of how Sam and Dean
deal with that, I think those are the
big things that we’re going to explore
going into Season 15.”

WHAT DO WE WANT
TO HAPPEN?
We want Sam and Dean to re-banish
all the demons they’ve ever fought

WWW.SCIFINOW.CO.UK | 069

FINAL SEASONS IN MEMORIAM
ǘǐȇƳǐȌƔɗ

43 THE
GOOD PLACE

ŭȀ˔Ф Kristen Bell, William Jackson Harper, Jameela 44 ARROW

Jamil, D’Arcy Carden, Manny Jancito, Ted Danson ŭȀ˔Ф Stephen Amell
•ưǘȢǺȌǐǐƔˀФ Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim,
•ưǘȢǺȌǐǐƔˀФ Michael Schur
¸ưƔʖФ 26 September (US)/27 September (UK) Andrew Kreisberg
¸ưƔǺɛФ NBC (US)/Netflix (UK)
AƔǐǺɛФ Fantasy ¸ưƔʖФ 5 October (US)/TBA (UK)
¸ưƔǺɛФ The CW (US)/Sky One (UK)
WHAT DO WE KNOW? AƔǐǺɛФ Sci-fi
Every season finale, The Good Place just loves to pull
the carpet from under us: Season One ended with the WHAT DO WE KNOW?
twist that Eleanor and co were in the Bad Place all along, What Arrow has lined up for us this year is anybody’s
Season Two’s saw the judge wipe the group’s memories guess, but we do know that the series will feature some
and send them back to Earth, and Season Three’s sent kind of lead-up to the aftermath of the ‘Crisis On Infinite
them to a neighbourhood in the Medium Place to see if Earths’ crossover event, which is coming in to well and
humans can improve if external factors are removed. The truly shake up the Arrowverse. The season will consist of
show’s final season will put that last theory to the test. ten episodes that will hopefully conclude the show nicely,
and it’s set to bring with it some brand new characters. All
WHAT DO WE WANT TO HAPPEN? the season’s guest stars are reportedly being revealed at
We’d love for Eleanor, Chidi, Tahani and Jason to finally San Diego Comic-Con, which is annoyingly just after this
make it to the Good Place for good, and live out the rest of issue goes to print. You’d be better off Googling that one.
their afterlives happy with their friend Michael.
WHAT DO WE WANT TO HAPPEN?
WHAT DO WE THINK WILL HAPPEN? We want Oliver to give up his life of crime-fighting to go
The show likes to throw curveballs, but we have a feeling off and live on a desert island of paradise.
the team might actually make it to the Good Place. We
know, it’s an obvious ending, but it would also a nice one. WHAT DO WE THINK WILL HAPPEN?
We have a feeling that things are going to go badly for
WHY WILL WE MISS IT? Oliver… The Flash and Supergirl are the ones who die
It would take less time to list why we won’t miss it, to be in the comic book version of ‘Crisis On Infinite Earths’,
honest. Since the first episode, it has kept us watching, but we’re expecting the event to subvert the comics and
laughing and thinking. Razor sharp but also kind-hearted, sacrifice Ollie instead, given that he’s the one whose show
the series has Michael Schur’s golden touch all over it, and is ending and everything.
it only took five minutes for us to fall in love with the cast.
WHY WILL WE MISS IT?
It was the original Arrowverse show. Losing the OG really
does feel like the end of an era. Even though there are
other spin-offs on the horizon, we’re going to miss it.

070 | WWW.SCIFINOW.CO.UK

F7a2rSFproidmerH-Moamne: T7h2eatCricIaNl rEelMeasAes

“The magic of the MCU is far from over” 72 Spider-Man:
Far From Home
74 79
73 Annabelle Comes Home
WWW.SCIFINOW.CO.UK 73 Midsommar
74 Okko’s Inn

7Fainl4mdsmHoonOreDVMD,EBlFuI-LraMy

74 Weird Science
74 Shazam!
75 Mirai
75 The Field Guide To Evil
75 The Mermaid
76 The Prodigy
76 Asylum/The House That

Dripped Blood
76 Captain Marvel
77 Lust For A Vampire
77 They Look Like People
77 The Chill Factor
78 Hollow Man 1-2
78 Hellboy
78 Don’t Look Now

BT7Vlu9-srhaToywVasndonmDoVreD,

79 Stranger Things:
Season Three

79 The Boys: Season One
80 Project Blue Book:

Season One
80 Dark: Season Two

Rlaetaesdt arellvtiheews

visit www.scifinow.co.uk

CINEMA Add your thoughts regarding
the latest blockbuster theatrical releases
on the SciFiNow website.
DVD AND BLU-RAY Discover our
opinions on the latest film and television
releases and add your own comments.
TOP 10s Read our lists relating to our
favourite genre shows, and give your
thoughts on whether we were right.

AWARD EXPLAINED
THE ‘MUST SEE NOW’ AWARD
GOES TO REVIEWS THAT
SCORE FOUR OR FIVE…

| 071

It’s a brave
new world
for Peter
Parker.

Spider-Man: Far
From Home

Far from home but never far from trouble

Release Out now When we see Peter Parker at the outset of Peter. His Spidey senses are tingling after all
Director and he even gets time to show off his genius on
Jon Watts Spider-Man: Far From Home, he’s helping his aunt occasion, offering up some delightful throwbacks
at a charity fundraiser. Aunt May gives a speech to earlier Tony moments as we see him getting to
Cast Tom Holland, about how difficult it’s been for people to reappear grips with some complex tech. We are frequently
Zendaya, Jake after what they’re calling ‘the blip’ into a house no told just how young Peter is so it’s easy to forget
longer their own and how difficult it’s been for all that he’s also incredibly smart.
Gyllenhaal, Samuel L. those returning people who are now homeless.
Jackson, Jon Favreau, Secondary characters, who have now all been
Jacob Batalon, Angourie Peter then heads off to pack for his school trip firmly introduced, get more time to shine here,
to Europe, deliberately leaving the suit behind too, with Aunt May (Tomei), Happy (Favreau)
Rice, Marisa Tomei because he wants – needs – a break. Of course, it’s and Peter’s schoolmates getting far more to do.
Distributor not long before the trip is disrupted by the arrival Zendaya’s MJ, in particular, is a treat. She brings a
Sony of Nick Fury with news of some new big bads, twisted and hilarious wit to the proceedings that
the Elementals, and a mysterious man from an cuts through any moment with delicious comedic
Certificate 12A alternative Earth who’s here to help destroy them. timing. It’s a delight to watch both her character
TRIVIA and the chemistry between MJ and Peter develop.
Spider-Man: Far From Home is packed with
AS SEEN IN AN action from the beginning, along with plenty of Of course, aside from bringing back some great
EARLIER TRAILER, humour and surprises along the way. There’s so characters, Spider-Man: Far From Home also brings
THE SUITCASE THAT much destruction of European landmarks that it us a brand-new one and Jake Gyllenhaal’s Mysterio
PETER TAKES WITH HIM often feels more like a disaster movie than a comic is a welcome and worthy addition to the MCU.
TO EUROPE HAS THE book one. Yet it works because the filmmakers
INITIALS BFP ON IT – A never forget to root the spectacle in the story. Like Peter himself, this latest Spider-Man
LOVING NOD TO offering has grown up a fair amount while still
Because, along with all the fun and adventure, retaining its adorable charm and sense of fun and
UNCLE BEN. there is the extra weight of responsibility and grief adventure. It’s just that it also knows not to forget
post-Endgame. It’s moving to see Peter struggling the enormity of what came before.
072 | so much with picking up the mantle after Tony’s
death now that the responsibility of saving the Make sure you stay all the way to the end for
world rests on his shoulders (though why none a couple of spectacular credit scenes which show
of the remaining Avengers are on hand to help fans that, while Endgame may have brought many
remains a mystery). Tom Holland does a superb job of our heroes’ stories to an end, the magic and
of dealing with the complexity of Peter’s situation, mystery of the MCU is far from over.
be it the loss of another father figure, his need for
normality or his feelings for MJ. The conflict is also Amanda Keats
made worse by having to keep his secret identity.
    
That said, it’s not all doom and gloom for our

WWW.SCIFINOW.CO.UK

Midsommar A group of rather gullible but overconfident punctuated with unflinching, matter-of-fact
young Americans in a place that is just too moments of graphic gore.
Culture shock beautiful to be true and without any phone
signal at all? Anyone can see where this is Yet the descent into hell feels drawn-out in a
Release Out now going (folk horror classic The Wicker Man is an way that Hereditary simply didn’t. The sharp,
Director Ari Aster obvious reference). tense visual constructions of the earlier film are
Cast Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, William replaced with a more conventional style and CGI
Jackson Harper, Will Poulter However, Midsommar appears to be effects that unfortunately come across as rather
Distributor Entertainment Film predictable on purpose, leaving countless clues cheap tricks.
Certificate 18 patiently waiting to be picked up — suggesting
that, as opposed to Hereditary (where the The thread tying up the events to Dani’s
One of the things about Hereditary ending was a rather unexpected surprise), trauma and to the pain that the cowardly
that made it such a sensation was how in Midsommar, it is the journey itself that is Christian causes her is thin; the idea that this
unpredictable it was. the destination. indecision might be deliberate is tiresome.
Implacable but slight, Midsommar leaves us
Ari Aster’s debut feature was This also implies that just because you grasping at straws.
compared to several horror classics, chief know what is going to happen, that doesn’t Elena Lazic
among them The Exorcist, but he was also necessarily mean you can escape it. The film’s
clearly following his own rules, his glacial power resides in its execution(s), inexorably     
mastery making the overall experience much marching towards its unavoidable end,
more terrifying than any of the film’s individual During filming, Mckenna
moments alone. Grace was gifted a
rainbow-coloured rosary. One
In Midsommar, Aster plays a completely day, while she was wearing it on
different game. The film opens on Dani (the set, its crucifix randomly fell off.
excellent Florence Pugh) as she experiences a
traumatic family tragedy. She finds refuge in
the arms of her boyfriend Christian (Jack
Reynor) who, in those circumstances, cannot
quite bring himself to break up with her.

Christian then reluctantly invites Dani to
join him and his small group of college friends
on their trip to a commune in Sweden, where
they intend to study the traditional celebrations
of Midsommar.

Annabelle Ed and Lorraine leave their daughter Judy (Grace) that with so many ‘monsters’ eating up the runtime,
Comes Home in the care of babysitter Mary Ellen (Iseman) while there’s little time left to properly explore such
they go out of town for a case. When Mary Ellen’s interesting aspects.
Did you miss her? friend Daniela (Sarife) rocks up uninvited, breaks
into the Warrens’ room of cursed artefacts and There’s still potential within this universe (Wilson
Release Out now inadvertently frees Annabelle from her chapel glass and Farmiga continue to delight and visually, it’s
Director Gary Dauberman cabinet, the trio find themselves tormented by a consistently polished) but this outing just proves that
Cast Mckenna Grace, Madison Iseman, plethora of menacing spirits, from a soothsaying these films are strongest when the human characters
Katie Sarife, Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson television to a haunted wedding dress. All of which determine the narrative rather than supernatural
Distributor Warner Bros Pictures are being controlled by the bloody-cheeked toy. beings. As for Annabelle specifically, maybe it’s
Certificate 15 time for the evil to be contained.
It’s fun for a while – like a Conjuring-style
In The Conjuring, demonic doll bingo – and allows director Gary Dauberman to Amy West
explore the stranger side of the universe (werewolf,
Annabelle (whose introduction deftly anybody?). But the jump-scares that come with them     
established Wilson and Farmiga’s Ed grow tiresome and it can’t help but feel like the film
and Lorraine Warren as paranormal is just cramming antagonists in, in the hope that one
investigators) is described by the latter as a conduit will prove popular and spawn yet another bankable
for evil. And just like that, she was appointed the spin-off. It’s laughably coincidental that the standout
ghoulish glue that would go on to cameo in – and is The Ferryman, a wraith who leaves a trail of
tenuously connect – six of the seven instalments in coins to lure in his victims.
this ever-expanding franchise.
Annabelle Comes Home doubles down on her Buoyed by strong performances, Annabelle
being a puppet master for sinister entities as it sees Comes Home fleshes out its characters well; Judy
inheriting her mother’s clairvoyant gifts and Daniela
struggling to shake the crippling guilt that a past
event has left her with. It’s just extremely frustrating

WWW.SCIFINOW.CO.UK | 073

REVIEWS CINEMA // HOME FILM

Okko’s Inn

All are welcome

Release Out now
Director Kitarô Kôsaka
Cast Seiran Kobayashi, Nana Mizuki, Satsumi
Matsuda, Rina Endô
Distributor National Amusements
Certificate PG

Coming from anime powerhouse child-friendly sequences and there are moments Weird
Madhouse, this film adaptation of Hiroko Reijo of real heartbreak and growth for our heroine. Science
and Asami’s children’s novels is a colourful and
energetic blast of youthful energy that barrels in On one hand this is a traditional ghost story, Babe of Frankenstein
with such enthusiasm that its quieter moments with each encounter providing Okko with the
of tenderness and reflection will surprise you. emotional tools she needs to move on with her Release Out now
life. But there’s also an understanding of what Director John Hughes
When young Okko’s parents are killed in a car makes the core elements of a story like this so Cast Anthony Michael Hall, Ilan
accident, she goes to live with her grandmother powerful, and Okko’s growing relationship with Mitchell-Smith, Kelly LeBrock, Bill Paxton
Mineko at her small town inn. Before long, Matsuki delivers an important lesson about Distributor Arrow Video
Okko encounters a friendly ghost named Uribo patience and the fact that we don’t always know Certificate 15
who is determined to keep her spirits up and what lies behind the attitudes of others. Format
encourages her to take on the role of ‘junior
innkeeper’. After some initial clumsiness, Okko This is a light and entertaining effort that has SF comedy Weird Science
dives into the job and settles in wonderfully… an endearing warmth to it, and while it doesn’t
but Uribo isn’t the only spirit in town. quite have the power needed to make it a must- still stands as an oddity in John
see, it’s certainly not a trip you’ll regret taking. Hughes’ filmography, but while
Can Okko learn to get on with competitive Jonathan Hatfull the jokes, stereotypes and
local rival Matsuki, and can she learn to live Anthony Michael Hall’s drunk acting have all
with the grief that she carries with her?      aged as well as you’d expect (oh boy), there is
the filmmaker’s signature heart at its core.
Anime fans who are more used to the genteel Kelly LeBrock’s wry turn as Lisa helps to
atmosphere of Studio Ghibli’s output may find keep the film from tipping too far into the
the energy of Okko’s Inn something of a tempo realm of ick, and Bill Paxton is fantastically
change, but there’s a considered empathy behind revolting as the asshole older brother. If Weird
the shopping montages and pratfalls. Director Science is a treasured piece of nostalgia, rest
Kitarô Kôsaka (who worked as an animator on assured that the effects are still fun and the
the bulk of Ghibli’s output) consistently finds performances are still good. If not, be warned
moments of reflection in amongst the more that it’s not overly funny… but as a weird
studio comedy artefact it’s fascinating.
Director Kitarô Arrow’s disc includes an extended cut, new
Kôsaka’s first credit interviews with behind the camera talent and
was key animator on a featurette ported from the DVD.
Nausicaä Of The Valley
Of The Wind in 1984. Jonathan Hatfull

Shazam! What makes this stand out is that it focuses     
on kids that fight alongside Billy in adult form,
Big 2: The Steroid Years played wonderfully by Zachary Levi. It packs WWW.SCIFINOW.CO.UK
all the right left hooks, but it does so with
Release 12 August heart, which is what was missing from past DC
Director David F Sandberg outings. With Shazam! and Aquaman wowing
Cast Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, audiences, there’s now no weight to the ‘DC tries
Jack Dylan Grazer, Djimon Hounsou too hard to be gritty’ argument. DC is fun now.
Distributor Warner Bros Home Entertainment Poppy-Jay Palmer
Certificate 12
Format t     

After an encounter with a wizard,
foster kid Billy Batson acquires the
ability to transform into a grown adult
with powers in DC’s latest adventure.
While Shazam! is more family friendly than
the likes of Batman V Superman, it still contains
genuinely scary scenes and characters. However,
those elements just prove that Shazam isn’t
messing around. It’s funny and weird, but it’s
still very much a super-powered blockbuster.

074 |

REVIEWS HOME FILM

Mirai The Field The
Guide To Evil Mermaid:
Sibling rivalry Lake Of The
Fun-sized folk horror Dead
Release Out now
Director Mamoru Hosoda Release Out now Ariel would never
Cast Moka Kamishiraishi, Haru Kuroiki, Director Various
Kumiko Aso, Gen Hoshino Cast Various Release Out now
Distributor Anime Ltd Distributor FrightFest Presents/ Director Svyatoslav Podgaevskiy
Certificate PG Signature Entertainment Cast Viktoriya Agalakova,
Format t Certificate 15 Efim Petrunin, Sofia Shidlovskaya,
Format VOD Nikita Elenev
Writer-director Mamoru Distributor 4Digital Media
The Field Guide To Evil opens with Certificate 15
Hosoda (Wolf Children, The Girl the text of a rhyme about the power of Format
Who Leapt Through Time) delivers dream-like, fictive tales to tell truths.
another treat with Mirai, a sweet- It is programmatic for this anthology If you go down to the water
hearted, imaginative and deeply moving of short films, each of which takes a different
family drama seen through the eyes of a four- folk tale as its starting point, and weaves from today, you’re going to get a
year-old boy. it an allegory, however distorted, of the human mermaid asking if you love her
Kun is used to getting all his parents’ condition. This is ‘folk horror’ par excellence, and probably murdering you. This
attention but when his mother comes home hopping the globe in search of the collective Russian horror movie comes from director
with a new baby girl, he can’t stand it. After origins of our errant unconscious. The result Svyatoslav Podgaevskiy (Queen Of Spades:
one massive tantrum he starts to receive visits is a trans-national, multi-generic, ambisexual The Dark Rite, The Bride) and is a surprisingly
from impossible new friends, including the compendium of psychological flotsam and po-faced bit of schlock. Roma (Efim Petrunin)
teenage version of his baby sister, and jetsam, latent and unresolved yet all somehow deeply loves his fiancée Marina (Viktoriya
learns that growing up is not something to vaguely familiar, like a deep-buried memory. Agalakova), but when he heads down to
be afraid of. Each short is introduced by a title card that the lake, he bumps into a lovelorn aquatic
While Hosoda has made films for all summarises the relevant piece of folklore, creature who puts him under her spell.
age groups, it is, at times, a little hard to see although these prefaces can be there as much to Now, Roma is seeing this monster
who the target audience for Mirai is. There wrong-foot as to inform the viewer. ‘The Sinful everywhere he turns. Can Marina find out
are certainly jokes for the grown-ups but Women Of Höllfall’, for example, directed by the truth behind monster and put a stop to it
the focus is so squarely on Kun and his Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala (Goodnight before she loses her man?
experiences that it may alienate some less Mommy), promises the terrifying ‘Trud’ that Podgaevskiy has an eye for a striking
patient viewers. visits sinners, but in this all-female milieu, visual and the stars give it their all, but it’s too
It’s absolutely worth bearing with the Kathi (Malene Hauser) not only surrenders to silly to take itself so seriously and the script
filmmaker, however, as the emotional scope (perceived) sin, but embraces the Trud, drinking doesn’t offer any surprises. There are some
of the film continues to broaden and the deep from the teat of forbidden desire. nice ideas in the mythology and family guilt
final act has a soaring impact (and one The best of the selection is the Hungarian but you won’t miss anything by missing this.
genuinely scary sequence). This is another story ‘Cobblers’ Lot’, directed by Peter
triumph from one of the form’s most Strickland (In Fabric). It is a tale of fraternal Jonathan Hatfull
exciting talents. shoemakers vying jealously for the hand of
the king’s daughter (Fatma Mohamed), all told     
Jonathan Hatfull through a mix of baroque, exquisitely fetishistic
imagery and wry intertitles. | 075
     As with all omnibus films, the biggest flaw
of is also its chief appeal. For in showcasing so
WWW.SCIFINOW.CO.UK many different talents, it is a film of many parts
and no coherent whole. Its episodes are not long
enough to offend or outstay their welcome, and
their variety is both entertaining and essential
to the film’s multicultural viewpoint. These
disparate reports might not be useful guides
to the areas of the world from which they
originate, but they certainly chart the darker
regions of our common psychic landscapes.
Anton Bitel

    

REVIEWS HOME FILM

Asylum/The
House That
Dripped Blood

Amicus unleashed

Release 29 July
Director Roy Ward Baker/Peter Duffell
Cast Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Jon
Pertwee, Charlotte Rampling, Ingrid Pitt
Distributor Second Sight Films
Certificate 15
Format

There’s a wonderful vintage of an endurance test, despite another excellent The Prodigy
documentary on Second Sight’s Asylum cast, with a detective hearing stories from a
Blu-ray focused on the production of local copper about how anyone who stays in the That’s my boy
Amicus’ latest horror anthology. As titular home faces a grisly end. The ‘Waxworks’
producer Milton Subotsky explains segment, in which Peter Cushing discovers Release Out now
his methods of getting films made the nightmarish secret of the local museum, Director Nicholas McCarthy
with high quality actors on the lowest is genuinely creepy in places, and there’s a lot Cast Taylor Schilling, Jackson Robert
possible budgets, talent from in front and behind of fun to be had in the knowingly campy ‘The Scott, Peter Mooney, Colm Feore
the camera discuss its pros and cons. That blend Cloak’, with Jon Pertwee hamming it up as an Distributor Vertigo Releasing
of thriftiness and genuinely impressive casts arrogant horror movie star who accidentally Certificate 15
is possibly the most enduring part of Amicus’ buys a real vampire’s cloak. Format
legacy and it’s most evident in their love of an
anthology film. However, whereas Asylum moves briskly Having impressed with
Asylum is comfortably the better of the two, at a tight 88 minutes, The House definitely
as an idealistic young doctor arrives at an drags its feet through stories that take far The Pact and At The Devil’s Door,
institution run by Patrick Magee and is promptly too long to get where they are going and it director Nicholas McCarthy goes
sent around the most dangerous patients to doesn’t have the stand-out needed to make it the old bad seed route with his
hear their stories. A tailor recounts how he was particularly memorable. latest horror, but the result suffers from a
commissioned by a mysterious gentleman (Peter disappointing lack of trust in the audience.
Cushing) to make a suit only after midnight, a Still, both films have been beautifully By opening with the killing of a serial killer
young woman describes how her lover murdered restored, and come with commentaries, intercut with Sarah Blume (Taylor Schilling)
his wife only to face surprising consequences, interviews and vintage featurettes, while giving birth to her son, we’re never in any
and Charlotte Rampling pops up as a girl with Asylum has the added bonus of splatterpunk doubt as to what’s going on with Miles when
a wicked imaginary friend (Britt Ekland). The author David J Schow paying tribute to writer he grows into a creepy little boy (Jackson
best of the bunch is the closer, as Herbert Lom’s Robert Bloch. Robert Scott). We’re too many steps ahead as
mannequins have a life of their own… Jonathan Hatfull the plot goes through the expected motions.
The House That Dripped Blood is rather more Which is a shame as the cold atmosphere
     works nicely and the performances are
strong. Schilling gives a committed turn as
Herbert Lom a mother trying to find an explanation that
was booked for doesn’t involve her son being possessed by a
one day for Asylum monster, and Scott (George from IT) is really
and finished his role in quite unnerving as Miles.
half that time. It’s dour and downbeat and its willingness
to go to the darkest possible places does pack
Captain Marvel a rescue mission involving alien shapeshifters a punch, especially in the final act, but The
known as Skrulls, Vers finds herself in the Prodigy can’t shake our sense that we’ve seen
The super human league USA before she is tracked down by a younger, this all before in a more interesting package.
two-eyed version of Nick Fury, and begins to
Release Out now remember key events from her hazy past. Jonathan Hatfull
Directors Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck
Cast Brie Larson, Samuel L Jackson, Though Captain Marvel’s story is not as     
Ben Mendelsohn, Lashana Lynch, Jude Law dramatic or pivotal as other MCU plots, the film
Distributor Walt Disney Home Entertainment does a good job of setting up the character who WWW.SCIFINOW.CO.UK
Certificate 12 could end up becoming the next face of the
Format t franchise and proves that Brie Larson was the
right choice. Charming, playful and hardcore,
We join the MCU’s newest hero in Carol Danvers is a super-powered hero beyond
1995 on the planet of Hala, the home belief while also being extremely human.
of Starforce, the super group that the Poppy-Jay Palmer
warrior known as Vers serves. During
    

076 |

REVIEWS HOME FILM

Lust For A They Look The Chill
Vampire Like People Factor

In a girls’ boarding Listen carefully Ouija! Cults!
school? With my Snowmobiles?
reputation? Release Out now
Director Perry Blackshear Release Out now
Release Out now Cast MacLeod Andrews, Evan Dumouchel, Director Christopher Webster
Director Jimmy Sangster Margaret Ying Drake Cast Dawn Laurrie, Aaron Kjenaas,
Cast Yutte Stensgaard, Michael Distributor FrightFest Presents/ Connie Snyder, David Fields
Johnson, Suzanna Leigh, Ralph Bates Signature Entertainment Distributor Arrow Video
Distributor Studiocanal Certificate 15 Certificate 15
Certificate 18 Format VOD Format
Format t
Perry Blackshear’s gripping and Hot on the heels of Arrow
Enjoying its first Blu-ray sensitive chiller They Look Like People
is finally available after wowing at Video’s Trapped Alive comes the
release, Hammer’s follow-up to FrightFest back in 2015. next chapter of the Wisconsin-
The Vampire Lovers is a blend After some time apart, old buddies Wyatt spolitation saga: The Chill Factor.
of boobs-n-blood box-ticking (MacLeod Andrews) and Christian (Evan A group of buds head out to a remote lake
and interesting mythology and is, as the Dumouchel) reconnect in New York. Christian’s to race their snowmobiles, but when one of
experts say in the disc’s doc, indicative of an got a new outlook on life that revolves around them is badly injured they are forced to take
awkward transitional period for the studio. motivation tapes and working out. Wyatt seems refuge in a derelict summer camp. When they
Michael Johnson stars as an author who to be at a little more of a low ebb, having broken find a Ouija board, they quickly realise that
stumbles across a girls’ finishing school, where up with his fiancée. Christian insists that Wyatt whatever happened there was not good, and
he sets about blagging a job as a teacher stay with him, and it’s not long before they fall that they’re not all who they used to be…
and falling for Mircilla (Yutte Stensgaard). back into their old patterns However, Wyatt’s While the dialogue is verging on Room-
However, the townspeople are right to troubles are greater than Christian realises. He’s esque as the characters verbalise every
fear the Karnstein curse as it turns out his been hearing voices telling him that the world is single thing, spend an unusual amount
paramour is not as innocent as she seems… coming to an end, and that he will have to fight of time snowmobiling and reminding the
The film is surprisingly less interested in against the threat that is already here. audience who’s related and who’s dating,
exploiting the sexuality of Carmilla than its They Look Like People wouldn’t be nearly as there’s something oddly easy to like about this
predecessor and there is something interesting effective if the relationship at its core wasn’t so no-budget horror. What’s more, the practical
in the character of Giles Barton (Ralph Bates involving and affecting. As it is, we’re invested effects are actually rather good and pretty
stepping in for Peter Cushing), a weedy in seeing how the reconnection between Wyatt outrageous as characters fall prey to ceiling
teacher desperate to become a creature of the and Christian will play out even before the fans, rogue netting, giant icicles and such.
night. The problem is that it’s dull and drab, genre elements begin to creep in. It’s utter schlock and there’s a hilariously
with Suzannah Leigh the clear highlight. Still, The restraint that Blackshear shows is one wistful voice-over, but as the frankly charming
it’s not as bad as you may have heard. of the film’s greatest strengths. When it breaks interview with production manager Alexandra
from being a mumblecore-style drama and Reed reminds us, it’s all good fun.
Jonathan Hatfull begins to send chills down your spine, it’s as
underplayed and naturalistic as the Wyatt- Jonathan Hatfull
     Christian relationship. The inside of Wyatt’s
head is scary, as the whispered phone calls from     
WWW.SCIFINOW.CO.UK an unknown intelligence become increasingly
bleak, the sound of flies that signifies a non- | 077
person becomes increasingly frequent, and he
seems to become increasingly reconciled to the
fact that drastic action will need to be taken.
This also makes the question of whether
Wyatt is really losing his mind more complex;
the lack of big effects or attempts to shock
means that it could go either way, and there’s a
nerve-shredding, satisfying conclusion.
Truly frightening, gripping and moving, They
Look Like People is an impressive debut indeed.
Jonathan Hatfull

    

REVIEWS HOME FILM

Don’t Look Now

Seeing red

Release 29 July
Director Nicolas Roeg
Cast Julie Christie, Donald Sutherland,
Hilary Mason, Celia Matania
Distributor Studiocanal
Certificate 18
Format

Fresh from its theatrical re-release, And then there’s the film itself. One of the Hollow Man
this beautiful 4K restoration of Don’t most wonderful things about Don’t Look Now is 1 and 2
Look Now is available on Blu-ray. For that it only gets better as you get older. It’s a film
those wondering if it’s worth shelling that you’re told to watch as a young film fanatic, You can’t see me
out to replace the old Blu: the new restoration and while you may be impressed with its
(overseen by cinematographer Anthony technical artistry and shocked by the twist, the Release Out now
Richmond) is absolutely beautiful and, crucially, gut punches that Roeg and his team deliver get Director Paul Verhoeven, Claudio Faeh
it’s not overdone. None of the feel of the film has more powerful each time you come back to it. Cast Kevin Bacon, Elisabeth Shue, Josh
been lost, it’s every bit as chilly, foreboding and Brolin, Christian Slater, Laura Regan
powerful as it ever was. The unbearable rawness of that opening Distributor 88 Films
In terms of extras, there’s a lovely new 40-odd sequence as Donald Sutherland pulls his Certificate 18
minute documentary about the film and Roeg’s daughter from the pond (and Julie Christie’s Format
career with input from filmmakers including earth-shattering shriek), the beautiful intimacy
Danny Boyle, David Cronenberg, Andrew Haigh of the much-discussed love scene, and the Even among his most die-
and Brad Bird, as well as critic Peter Bradshaw. stomach-turning rug-pull of the final moments
There’s also a new featurette on the use of as John Baxter realises his mistake… So much of hard acolytes, Paul Verhoeven’s
colour in the film, as well as previously available the discussion surrounding the film is (rightly) Hollow Man has never been
bonuses including cast and crew interviews, an focused on the cinematography, the incredible revered beyond its then-state-
older featurette and a commentary from Roeg editing, the use of Venice as a location, but for of-the-art effects, and those pondering the
himself. There’s a delightful contrast between this reviewer the real strength of Don’t Look wisdom of picking up this special edition
the voices of the expert fans, who all seem Now is the emotional connection you have to (which includes the 2006 DTV sequel) would
baffled by Roeg’s brilliance, and those of the these characters and their journey of grief. be wise to proceed with caution.
artists who worked on the film, who are all clear Jonathan Hatfull There’s some fun to be had in the first film,
on the fact that everything was planned and largely courtesy of Kevin Bacon embracing
meticulously thought out.      the hammy possibilities, but it doesn’t feel
like Verhoeven is doing anything with his
Donald Sutherland premise beyond trying out some new toys.
wore a perm wig in That unpleasant sleaziness is still an issue,
Don’t Look Now because too, and as a string of unlikeable scientists
he’d seen many architects are murdered in a basement facility, you can’t
with that hairstyle. shake the feeling that this should be more fun.
The unconnected sequel, in which Peter
Hellboy filmmaker’s adaptations so beloved. Facinelli and Laura Regan run from invisible
David Harbour brings wide-eyed chaotic soldier Christian Slater, isn’t a disaster but it’s
Irritatingly immature not particularly interesting either. However,
energy to Hellboy, which is interesting to fans are in for a ton of extras (including an
Release 19 August watch, if not always really welcome. Unlike interview with Kim Newman), as well as both
Director Neil Marshall Doug Jones’ Abe Sapien and Selma Blair’s cuts of the first film.
Cast David Harbour, Milla Jovovich, Liz Sherman though, Sasha Lane’s Alice and
Ian McShane, Sasha Lane, Daniel Dae Kim Daniel Dae Kim’s Daimio are defined by their Jonathan Hatfull
Distributor Lionsgate superhuman abilities, making the whole trio
Certificate 15 lack any kind of chemistry and likeability.     
Format t Only Milla Jovovich truly brings it as the
Blood Queen, infusing her baddie with campy, WWW.SCIFINOW.CO.UK
In the run-up to Hellboy’s release, gothic glee.
director Neil Marshall insisted his
version would be much scarier and There is some interesting stuff at play here
gorier than Guillermo del Toro’s however; a nightmarish Baba Yaga, grisly-
earlier outings Hellboy’s story. looking spirit channelling and teases of
Its R-rating solidified such expectations but Hellboy’s link to Arthurian legend. It’s just that
while the reboot does boast bucket-loads of obnoxious guitar riffs and a sweary Scouse
blood, it’s a lot sillier than initially promised, swine monster seem to take precedence. Now,
highlighting how devoid it is of the oddball that’s scary.
charm and heart that made the Mexican Amy West

    

078 |

REVIEWS TV

Stranger Things Mix those growing pains with the horrors happening in the space of a day. But it’s still
Season Three that come out of the Upside-Down and you get great at filling the scenes that lack story with
almost eight hours of glorious, non-stop fun. heart and humour, both of which the cast has by
Stranger still the dozen. One of Stranger Things’ best qualities
The new season isn’t perfect: a few highlights is its characters, and with each passing season
Release Out now from earlier seasons are used again, but some finale it gets harder to say goodbye.
Showrunners The Duffer Brothers feel old already. Eleven continues to use Poppy-Jay Palmer
Cast Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie blindfolds and white noise to create sensory
Bobbie Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp deprivation experiences to spy on people like     
Distributor Netflix it’s nothing, Nancy and Jonathan’s budding
Certificate 15 relationship no longer inspires emotion, and
Format Will is still deeply unhappy but his well-being
isn’t quite as concerning as it has been in
Things get even more difficult for the past.
Hawkins, Indiana, in the third season
of Eighties-inspired sci-fi mystery However, there are still plenty of old tricks
series Stranger Things. Will Byers that only get better the deeper into the series
may be back from both the Upside-Down and we get. The possibly-romantic tension between
the clutches of the Mind Flayer, but there’s Hopper and Joyce is even more delicious, the
something even more sinister lurking in the monsters are bigger, better and grosser, and the
shadows of the once-sleepy town. friendship between Steve and Dustin, which
Everything is bright, shiny and covered in ended up being one of the best surprises of
sweat as the show enters the summer of 1985 Season Two, is still on the up, with Joe Keery
and Hawkins gets a brand-new mall; the new and Gaten Matarazzo lighting up every scene
hot spot for teens all over town. Those teens they are in.
include the ST gang, the former bike-riding kids
we know and love, and with the shift in age The series occasionally suffers from pacing
comes an entertaining shift in priorities (mainly problems, with a little bit of plot taking a
kissing girls). few episodes to happen, and a lot of the plot

Eleven only said 246
words throughout
Season One of Stranger
Things, most of which were
‘no’ and ‘papa’.

The Boys seeing superheroes portrayed as irreverently as an alarmingly destructive nature. There are enough
Season One they are in The Boys. This is the power fantasy taken serious notes to ground the excesses, and the show
to its bleak, big-business end, where superheroes is all the better for them.
Shock and gore are more interested in PR cash-ins and illicit sex
clubs than in saving people, and you can’t help but The action in the series is memorably inventive;
Release 26 July titter in shock at the show’s insane excesses. the first-episode battle with invisible superhero
Showrunner Eric Kripke Translucent is particularly great, and its fun to see
Cast Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Antony Starr, That said, the show wisely reins in some of the laser vision put to a purpose Superman wouldn’t
Erin Moriarty, Elisabeth Shue elements of Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson’s dream of. Finding new takes on superheroes in
Distributor Amazon comic book series. Sexual assault still features but this crowded marketplace is challenging, but The
Certificate 18 isn’t played for laughs here, and Hughie’s grief Boys manages it, alongside a hefty dig at the big
Format and Starlight’s growing disillusionment ground the corporations behind them.
show in real issues. Urban’s crazily-accented Billy
Hughie (Jack Quaid) is devastated Butcher starts off as outlandish comic relief until Abigail Chandler
we – and Hughie – have been around him long
when his girlfriend is accidentally killed enough to realise that his filthy jokes are covering     
by a superhero, so when rogue black-
ops guy Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) offers
him the chance to get revenge on corrupt superhero
team The Seven, Hughie finds himself on a path of
danger and blood. In the meantime, Starlight (Erin
Moriarty) joins The Seven and finds her idealistic
dreams of saving people as a superhero are a joke.
The Boys takes its name from Butcher’s anti-supes
team, who are gradually assembled across the
course of the season, but it’s The Seven who steal
the show. The messed-up superheroes are led
by Antony Starr’s Homelander, an all-American
monster who can ratchet up the tension in a scene
with one smile.
There’s something thrillingly subversive about

WWW.SCIFINOW.CO.UK | 079

REVIEWS TV

Project Blue Quinn (Michael Malarkey), who takes his loyalty from Gillen and Malarkey, we only really feel
Book: to his bosses more seriously than the idea that like they’re bonding because they say so.
Season One anything could really be out there.
Still, it’s more than entertaining enough and
Deny everything But as they look into everything from The there’s plenty of ground left to cover in the
Flatwoods Monster to The Lubbock Lights, the confirmed second season. Fans of strange lights
Release 29 July duo begins to suspect that there is something in the sky should definitely give it a look.
Showrunner David O’Leary bigger going on than spy planes and swamp gas. Jonathan Hatfull
Cast Aidan Gillen, Michael Malarkey, Laura
Mennell, Ksenia Solo, Neal McDonough The presence of Robert Zemeckis as producer     
Distributor Lionsgate Home Entertainment is a nice stamp of quality, but the whole creative
Certificate 15 team deserves credit for finding the fear and
Format paranoia under the period sheen. Everyone
involved is having fun with it (no one more
We’re constantly looking for a than veteran scenery thief Neal McDonough,
show to fill the void left by The X-Files: going all-out as smilin’-and-sinister General
two partners travelling across the Harding), but there’s a commitment to depicting
country investigating the paranormal the knife-edge atmosphere which played a huge
and shady government forces covering up the part in these incidents. Laura Mennell may only
truth. While Project Blue Book doesn’t hit the be given one note to play as Hynek’s fearful,
highs of an X-successor like Fringe, it has the manipulated wife Mimi but it’s a strong one.
allure of being ‘based on real events’.
The show is drawn from the case files of Things do get a little silly when the show
Dr J Allen Hynek (Aidan Gillen), a college leans into genre. While the Steven Williams
professor who was recruited by the US Air Force cameo is lovely, the writers can’t always balance
to investigate the sudden rash of ‘paranormal’ their clear desire to make a thrilling SF show
events in the Fifties. He’s partnered with with their place on the History Channel. It also
amiably surly former pilot Captain Michael never quite settles on a comfortable dynamic for
its two leads and, despite good performances

Dark has
been
given a third
and final season
by Netflix.

Dark: the disappearances, while the older Claudia (Lisa to dazzle in its sheer complexity but this season is
Season Two Kruzer) heads into the past to tell her younger self full of reminders of just how good this cast is.
that she’s sitting on a time travel device. The older
Time is not on your side Jonas (Andreas Pietschmann) reveals the truth about Because as much as this season is about
his identity to his mother Hannah (Maja Schöne), racing to stop the apocalypse, it’s also about
Release Out now while the sinister priest Noah (Mark Waschke) is consequences. We see the ripples of each choice
Showrunners Baran bo Odar, hard at work… but who’s controlling him? spanning over decades. We see reconciliation and
Jantje Friese betrayal, people are saved and people are lost. The
Cast Louis Hoffmann, Karoline Eichhorn, With eight hours to play with rather than ten, reason why Dark has the impact it does is because
Maja Schöne, Jördis Triebel, Lisa Kreuzer, there is a greater sense of narrative propulsion here it makes sure that its mind-bending twists have an
Julika Jenkins, Mark Wasche and not just because each episode starts by telling emotional impact. This continues to be one of the
Distributor Netflix us how long is left until the end of the world. The very best shows out there, do not miss out.
Certificate 15 first season’s sense of slowly unfolding mystery is
Format somewhat missed but while the revelations come Jonathan Hatfull
thick and fast, the showrunners never rush past the
If you were wondering whether emotional impact of each one. The writing continues     

you should go back and rewatch the first
season of Netflix’s mind-bending SF series
Dark before jumping into Season Two, we
have to tell you: it’s a good idea. Despite a wait of
nearly two years, the show barely gives you time to
take a breath before throwing you into the midst of
its time travel puzzle. It’s every bit as complicated,
every bit as bold and every bit as thrilling.
Teenage Jonas (Louis Hoffman) is trapped in the
apocalyptic Winden of the future and trying to find
a way to get home and save the lives of his friends
before whatever it is that goes boom does so in six
days. Police chief Charlotte (Karoline Eichhorn) has
been seconded into a new taskforce to investigate

080 | WWW.SCIFINOW.CO.UK

Evan Winter

The author of The Rage Of Dragons
on his action-packed epic debut

082 Authors On
Authors – Brian
Naslund on Joe

Abercrombie
084 Book reviews

BOOK CLUB

Authors On Authors

AUTHORS ON AUTHORS

BRIAN NASLUND ON
JOE ABERCROMBIE
Blood Of An Exile author Brian Naslund on getting into grimdark fantasy

Gushing about my fantasy hero, already had a lot of cool people schmoozing I love more than Logen Ninefingers. The
Joe Abercrombie. around the buffet line). Hound is a close second. What can I say?
Show me a morally questionable, foul-
I first heard about Joe Abercrombie when I Anyway, this is a long way of saying I had mouthed anti-hero lugging a sword around,
was 24. His name popped onto my radar in a a lot to learn about modern fantasy when and I will show you a book that’s tattered
way that I doubt is unique: I was feverishly I picked up Best Served Cold. At the time, and torn from dozens of re-reads.
scouring the internet for lists of books to I’d written about 20 pages of my own book,
read after finishing A Dance With Dragons, which featured a scene with a horrifically (I should mention that the main character
because there was a gaping, grimdark- hungover guy who needs to kill a dragon that of my book, The Flawless Bershad – an
hungry hole in my heart. day, but I wasn’t sure where to go from there. exiled dragonslayer with a penchant for
booze and mayhem – holds a candle to their
Abercrombie’s name was on most Holy shit, but Joe sparked murderous hearts.)
of these lists, so I gave him a shot, some inspiration.
and it changed my life. After reading the first pages of Logen’s
There are a lot of awesome aspects to Best ill-fated separation with his favourite
But before I get into why I enjoyed his Served Cold. The brutal opening. The rip- cooking pot, I went on a bender of all-things-
writing so much, I should back up a little roaring revenge adventure. The brothel Abercrombie, and got to meet Gloka, Bayaz
and give some context. Up until that point, scene. But what punched me in my fantasy- (you bastard), Ferro, Dogman, Black Dow,
I actually hadn’t read a huge amount of nerd bone the hardest was the characters. Whirrun of Bligh, Wonderful, Nicomo, and
fantasy aside from George RR Martin’s epic. And I think this is what I love most about all the other brilliant people of Joe’s worlds.
Sure, I’d read Lord Of The Rings and The Joe’s writing:
Hobbit as a kid, but then I’d taken a hard left Speaking of cool names, I saw in the
turn into literary fiction during high school F“WEEPDEVHAELPEOARELNADOIWKGDPNEIRLULEERALDX”EHEBATSEL description of A Little Hatred that one
and college (we English majors love our BRIAN NASLUND dude is called Stour Nightfall, and it’s just
internal and existential crises). like: ‘Thanks for continuing to lift the
He almost never uses blank, badass-name-bar with every character you
When I graduated – English degree in throwaway characters. introduce, Joe. You’re making the rest of us
hand, qualifications for a career zero – I work really hard.’
decided that I wanted to write a book. But Everyone in his stories – even the dudes who
as a lifelong videogame enthusiast/addict are going to be dead by the next paragraph Anyway, I’ve been gushing for quite a few
(my hour count in Tamriel is embarrassingly – feel like real people. They have their own paragraphs, so I’ll start winding down. To
high), I figured that instead of writing about clear, believable perspective on the world, summarise, while I enjoy the worlds and
people who live lives of quiet desperation in their own shortcomings, and their own little governments and wars and intrigue that
hum-drum jobs, I would write about dragons. scraps of honour and heroism buried beneath Abercrombie has created, what I love most
their scarred and calloused skin. And so are his characters. I’m all for high-fantasy-
Knowing that my fantasy game was a much of their dialogue is witty, perfectly save-the-world-rescue-the-princess-be-the-
little light, I decided to read a few popular sarcastic, or just perfectly… them. hero stories, in fact, I love them. But I’ll
books before trying to write my own, and my also be an extremely happy camper if you
completely realistic plan was to reinvent the After spending some time with Monza, just give me Wonderful, Craw, and Whirrun
genre with a gritty tone that focused on the Shivers, and Friendly, I obviously needed bullshitting around a fire before the big fight.
dirt underneath the characters’ fingernails more ‘Crombie in my life. Enter, The Blade
and smudged upon their souls, instead of Itself, and with it, the Bloody Nine. After my binge read, I went back to writing
gleaming swords and justified kings. my own book, Blood Of An Exile. And while
Holy. Shit. there are a lot of differences between my
The first book I read to get stuff and Joe’s, I did fill my story with as
a sense of the genre I was I don’t think there is a character in fantasy many complicated, morally-eyebrow-raising,
about to ‘reinvent’ was A and badass characters as I could, then forced
Game Of Thrones. them to roam the dangerous and dragon-
infested wilds in search of adventure.
About 50 pages into it, I stopped reading and
said to myself: ‘Oh, I’m an idiot. George RR Thanks very much for letting us into your
Martin already did this.’ (I soon found out worlds, Joe.
that GRRM wasn’t alone – Glen Cook, Steven
Erikson, Richard K Morgan, and many others Blood Of An Exile by Brian
were on it, too. I was very late to a party that Naslund is published on 8 August
by Tor.

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AUTHORS ON AUTHORS
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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Sanctuary

Sanctuary

Spells trouble

Release Out now
Writer VV James
Publisher Gollancz
Price £14.99

Everyone knows that a murder in a small should be, and are always seen through rather frantic horror to Sarah and Abigail’s point of view
than dumped in for the sake of having a twist, chapters, watching Maggie try to maintain rational
town only means one thing: uncontrollable and the growing sense of dangerous chaos is objectivity in the face of escalating insanity is
escalating chaos. Old friendships will fall apart, managed beautifully. arguably more affecting and dread-inducing.
gossip will spread like wildfire, and frankly the
body count can’t stop at just one. And, as the story progresses, the real-world As a ‘finished it in one night!’ summer binge
parallels become increasingly apparent. If you read, Sanctuary is a perfect fit, but there’s more
These things have a habit of escalating, and the weren’t reminded of the casual overuse of the than enough bite here to make sure the ideas linger
fact that VV James takes increasingly unhinged phrase ‘witch-hunt’ before the use of Presidential with you after the final revelation.
grieving parents, shocking buried secrets and a Tweets late in the story, the ease with which
media frenzy and stirs in the fact that the prime accusations can be made without consequence Jonathan Hatfull
suspect is the daughter of a well-loved witch… well, and the willingness to believe certain people
it’s ludicrously entertaining. over others cuts like a knife. While there’s a     

James follows her superb Dark Gifts trilogy with
this blend of Big Little Lies-esque murder mystery
and supernatural thriller. It all starts when beloved
high school football star Dan Whitman is killed at
a party, but when a video is released that makes it
look like local witch Sarah Fenn’s daughter Harper
cast a killer spell on him, things all start to unravel
very quickly.

You see, in James’ America, witchcraft is widely
accepted, and Sarah is the head of a local coven that
includes Bridget, Dan’s mother. As she begins to
think that Sarah could be covering for her daughter,
the bereaved mother puts centuries of buried
prejudice and suspicion to work to find justice for
her boy. It’s not long before sideways glances turn
to threats about a good old fashioned burning. Can
detective Maggie Knight find the truth about what’s
happened before slurs turn to violence?

It’s a testament to James’ skill and confidence
that there’s really never any wobbles when it
comes to establishing this alternate reality’s
magical system. For all intents and purposes, this
is America right now with one crucial difference.
Witchcraft is woven so seamlessly into the crime
thriller, with exposition coming as and when
needed to advance the story. We see how useful it’s
been, how welcomed it’s been, and how easy it is to
violently scapegoat once things go wrong.

When it comes to the investigation and the
unfolding mystery, it’s clear that the author is
having a tremendous amount of fun and without
wanting to use a phrase as cliched as ‘page-turner’,
that’s really what Sanctuary is.

Character developments are shocking but
plausible, big twists are as surprising as they

YOUR 5... FAVOURITE WITCH NOVELS

HEX The Wee The Witch Saga Which Witch? Wyrd Sisters
“HEX by Thomas Free Men “The Witch Saga “I read a book called “Wyrd Sisters - my
Olde Heuvelt is a “...or any of by Phyllis Reynolds Which Witch? when first encounter with
modern masterpiece. Pratchett’s Witch Naylor. I probably I was a teen, can’t Nanny Ogg and
#BookClub” books. They’re funny, love it because of remember the author, friends. #BookClub”
@bloodyflicks intelligent, well crafted and nostalgia. Haven’t read it since but I read that book many @andyangel44
full of heart. Miss him lots. I was a kid. #BookClub” many times! #BookClub”
#BookClub” @TomWookiee @TK06h45m089173J @TheJediMum

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Gods Of Jade And Shadow // The Bone Garden

Gods Of one of the Mayan gods of death. especially as Hun-Kamé becomes YOUR READS
Jade And Imprisoned by his twin brother, more human and Casiopea realises
Shadow Hun-Kamé’s out for revenge, and how pretty she is – some fairy tale What have you been
Casiopea gets taken along for the tropes can’t be escaped – but the reading this month?
Death takes ride. Ultimately, though, both of combination of the period setting
a holiday their fates lie somewhere along and the Mayan mythology makes “Just started
the Black Road of Xibalba, the everything else feel fresh. Every Christopher Golden’s
Release 6 August Mayan underworld… page seems to bring new peril, Ararat, heard good
Writer Silvia Moreno-Garcia whether that’s a restriction on things. #BookClub”
Publisher Quercus Books Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s prose is Casiopea imposed by her place @bloodyflicks
Price £14.99 lush and evocative, deftly conjuring in history or a magical obstacle “Halfway through
the multiple dimensions of her introduced by another trickster @StephenKing’s
Poor Casiopea Tun. Named for story. There are some elements of god, so even if you suspect she’ll The Outsider. It’s
a constellation, she’s about as far the tale that feel kind of inevitable, triumph in the end, it’s all pretty his best novel for
from the stars as it gets, working pulse-quickening. years. #BookClub”
as a glorified servant in her @NakMac
grandfather’s house in Mexico in And really, it’s impossible not to “Listening Godzilla:
the Twenties. Her better-favoured feel for a heroine like Casiopea, so King Of The
cousin, Martín, makes her life full of longing and so thoroughly Monsters audio
a complete misery, and while screwed over by the world that book. Lot more
Casiopea dreams of moving to the even working for the god of death detail and explains
city or seeing the ocean, her days looks like a better deal than she’s more than the film
are spent in drudgery. got at home. The ending promises did. Narration
more adventures for Casiopea and is excellent.
That is, until she opens the her newfound supernatural friends, #BookClub”
mysterious black box at the end and rather than feeling like a plea @safcinexile
of her grandfather’s bed and to buy the next book, that feels like “Been reading
accidentally sets free Hun-Kamé, a genuinely exciting prospect. Moon, by James
Sarah Lines Herbert. A grim
tale full of haunting
     visions and
grotesque murders.
The Bone girl. However, when Miss Vesper However, Irréelle’s sheer Herbert ramps the
Garden decides that her last mistake will determination makes her very suspense up to the
most definitely be her last, Irréelle easy to root for, Miss Vesper is a max with this book,
Dust and bone flees into the graveyard where she wonderfully horrid (but human) it’s a real page
discovers two things. The first is that villain, and there is just enough turner. #BookClub”
Release Out now she is, in fact, not alone at all. The anarchic mischief to keep things @paul_bowler
Writer Heather Kassner second is that she may hold the quite exciting. “Good Omens by
Publisher Titan Books key to finding her mistress’ heart’s Terry Pratchett and
Price £7.99 desire, which could put her in a very It’s certainly a striking debut, @neilhimself - first
interesting position indeed… and fans of moonlight shining on time reading and
It’s always a real pleasure gravestones should have a wonderful loving the banter
Running to under 300 pages, The time with this novel. from Aziraphale
to witness an author in absolute Bone Garden knows exactly what and Crowley, and
control of the fantasy world they it’s all about. Kassner never allows Jonathan Hatfull full of darkly comic
have created, especially when it the focus to drift from Irréelle for a and witty writing
comes to a story so tightly woven second, even after she discovers      #BookClub”
as this. that she is not the only creature in @Kev_h80
the cemetery. “I’ve picked up The
Heather Kassner’s debut novel Atrocity Archives by
is a short but very sweet tale that is Furthermore, her heartfelt Charles Stross. First
set almost entirely over the course yearning is every bit as important novel in The Laundry
of just a single night in a graveyard as the delightful dark details of Miss Files series and am
and it is a beautifully woven Vesper’s enchantments and the loving it #BookClub”
gothic treat. dangers of the graveyard beyond. @farscape08
“Am just finishing
Irréelle has spent her short life There is also a welcome sense Philip Roth’s The Plot
being told that she isn’t real. The of humour in the novel which Against America - a
only one who can actually see her is perfectly complements the overall brilliant tale set in
her creator, the horribly cruel Miss mood, rather than detracting from an alternate history
Vesper, who brought her to life using it at all. 1940s America.
bone dust and magic. #BookClub”
At times, The Bone Garden does @BobHammond2
Irréelle lives in servitude and the feel a little slight and even at this “Am currently
hope of one day being made a real pretty short length there is far too rereading
much repetition within it when it Norman Mailer’s
comes to the threat. Ancient Evenings.
#BookClub”
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Exhalation // The Warehouse

The GPS trackers, and acting like one
Warehouse happy family, Rob Hart’s fictional
corporation is a scathing parody of
Big shop of horrors the likes of Amazon and Google.

Release 13 August What’s particularly damning
Writer Rob Hart is the way that everyone in the
Publisher Bantam Press novel accepts that this is the way
Price £12.99 things are. ‘The market dictates’ is
a chilling phrase that gets thrown
In the future, no-one shops on around, and ought to raise the hairs
the high street. Instead, they use on the backs of the necks of even
Cloud. It’s cheaper, and with their the most dedicated Prime user.
fleet of drones, it’s easier, too.
Cloud’s the biggest employer in the But while the satire is on point,
world, and it’s always hiring. the other parts of the story aren’t
as smart. Zinnia, in particular,
But something sinister is going doesn’t feel like a real person,
on beyond Cloud, and it’s down to especially when she’s rambling
corporate spy Zinnia and former on about protein bars or taking an
CEO (before Cloud put his company calculating attitude towards sex.
out of business) Paxton to figure
out what that is. Still, the plot moves along at a
decent clip, and every shot taken at
You’ve likely already worked out rampant consumerism is on target.
who the targets of The Warehouse’s If nothing else, Hart’s depiction
angry satire are. With its huge of Cloud’s CEO is brutal enough
warehouses staffed by exhausted to make you think twice before
workers and its insistence on slipping on a smartwatch.
its staff living on site, wearing Sarah Lines

    

Exhalation support the critter phasing out and
the AI caught between child, pet and
Be good pet project, they must decide whether
to allow them independence they
Release Out now may not be ready for, to pause their
Writer Ted Chiang existence, or to soldier on regardless.
Publisher Picador
Price £16.99 Other stories are more explicitly
about how we’ll react to specific
One of the most striking advances. ‘Anxiety Is The Dizziness
Of Freedom’ follows two characters
impressions caused by the latest in a world where we can see how
set of stories from the magnificent parallel versions of us may have
Ted Chiang is how unusual it is to reacted to a situation differently,
see such an interest in exploring while ‘The Truth Of Fact, The Truth
how humanity will respond to Of Feeling’ is an affecting tale of a
technological advances partnered father exploring a new device that
with such a level of empathy. The records memories. Chiang’s refusal
characters in the shorts assembled to go for an easy condemnation
here are, for the most part, people is both surprising and delightful.
doing their best, muddling through Characters learn, they progress,
the challenges presented by and there is hope for humanity in a
advancements for which there is not genre that doesn’t often offer it. Even
always an obviously “right” solution. the parrots in ‘The Great Silence’,
marvelling at our determination
In ‘The Lifecycle Of Software to talk to extra-terrestrials while
Objects’, we begin with a zoologist ignoring them into extinction, offer a
helping to create a new digital pet heart-breakingly tender farewell.
and observe how, over the course of
many years, the team’s responsibility Jonathan Hatfull
towards their creations shift as the
fad fades. With the technology to     

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BOOK CLUB

Nightchaser // Widow’s Welcome

Nightchaser focus and, aside from a few
basic histories and snippets of
Into the black personality, those characters feel
rather sketched in comparison.
Release Out now
Writer Amanda Bouchet Likewise, the villains feel far
Publisher Piatkus too distant to feel overtly
Price £8.99 threatening, but hopefully the
sequel to the novel will give them
Tess Bailey and her crew are more room.
on the run with cargo stolen
from the villainous Dark Watch, Where Nightchaser really
heading for the Rebellion to restock succeeds is in the breakneck pace
their supplies. of the plot and in Bouchet’s light
style, blending humour, danger,
However, the cargo turns out and romance with ease.
to be something more than they
expected and when their ship needs The sparks that fly between
serious repairs, they are forced to Shade and Tess are a lot of fun too,
take refuge while the mysterious and there is also the promise of the
Shade Ganavan fixes what he can. Rebellion vs the Galactic Overlord.
The ship might be grounded, but
But he isn’t who he seems either, the narrative really flies.
and as he and Tess get closer,
secrets unfurl and the Dark Watch There are moments that are a
creep closer… little cheesy and some that feel
a little bit rushed, but overall,
Nightchaser is told mostly Nightchaser is the kind of operatic
from Tess’ perspective, with a space adventure that it is very easy
few occasional shifts to Shade. to immerse yourself in.
Unfortunately, that means that Becky Lea
Tess’ crew get considerably less
    

Widow’s dead with his mouth sewn shut
Welcome ahead of an election in which he
was to play a crucial role, Cora
Storyteller’s world realises that all is not well in Fenest
and that the dead man’s story had a
Release 8 August potentially explosive power.
Writer DK Fields
Publisher Head Of Zeus It’s a truly fascinating system for a
Price £18.99 fantasy, one which lends itself to all
sorts of implications about truth and
‘There’s power in stories and ownership. How far is someone’s
story their own? Who gets to say
this is a story of power.’ when someone else’s story ends?
Stories are how the Union Of
Though Fields doesn’t delve fully
Realms functions as a society in the into those themes, they run like a
novel. We are not quite at Star Trek’s current through the plot, questions
Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra levels, that spring up as Cora’s investigation
but we’re close. intersects with the stories told as part
of the election.
Everyone has their very own
story that they are living through, Melding noir with the fantasy
which means that when it comes genre, this is a rather clever read,
to elections, it is the best story one which feels especially prescient
that gets the most votes from the for our reality, where the concept
population’s representatives, known of truth has become somewhat
as The Audience. nebulous and the dominant
narratives come from the people
Detective Cora Gorderheim has a who manage to shout the loudest.
pretty serious problem in her story in
the form of a corpse. Becky Lea

When a Wayward man is found     

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Interview

DRARGAGE ON

btEfTOeavhalnflarsetnnaDusRsWsrtyoaaarniggmbnotooeivenuenrgtlshis

WORDS JONATHAN HATFULL

The Rage Of Dragons is an action-

packed epic fantasy set in a world in which
the Omehi people have been locked in an
unwinnable war for 200 years… but maybe
we’ll let author Evan Winter describe it:
“It’s set in a war-torn nation collapsing in
on itself,” he explains. “It’s the story of
one man, in the middle of that chaos, who
has everything taken from him but his
life, and he twists that life into something
unrecognizable, something monstrous, so
that he may have his revenge.”

You’ve talked about the importance © Vivian Hui
of finding yourself in a story, was this
always a driving factor in coming up “PSOTOWREIREFSUALRAEGSEONMTSE OOFF CTHHAE NMGOES”T
with this book?
It was. I believe stories are some of the most EVAN WINTER
powerful agents of change that we have.
When a story is told, the person taking it in, you put enough peoples’ backs to the wall, I itself. I try getting them to a point where
on some level, experiences it as if it’s real. believe you’ll eventually find a few Taus who nothing trips me up when I read them out
They exist, for a while, in the context of the will do some pushing of their own. loud. If I can do that, my hope is that the
other and, for social beings, the ability to reader will be able to move as seamlessly
understand the other is not a good thing, it’s Action sequences are obviously a huge from action beat to action beat, racing across
a necessary thing. part of the novel! Are they something the page at the same pace as the fight itself.
you particularly enjoy writing?
So, stories told from the perspective of the I find them to be thrilling pains in the ass. Was the idea of perpetuated cycles
majority, any majority, have value. They set I have to sink myself into the moment and of violence something you were
the tone and default by which the rest of us let it take over when I write them. Basically, particularly eager to explore?
come to understand the society in which we fight scenes are the most important element You’re exactly right. I’m interested in
live. However, those stories cannot be the that I do not pre-plan. I let them flow as best exploring cycles of violence, how they work,
only ones told. If they are, we lose all the I’m able and I’m always searching for ways and why it’s so difficult to break free of
nuance that makes us unique and individual. to make the words on the page move and them. Of course, I have no answers, but this
We lose the ability to see life from enough connect viscerally. That’s why they’re a pain. feels like something I need to look at because
angles to properly understand it and to better It’s hard to write them, as I’d like to, when
value our shared humanity. I’m not in the mood to feel that energy. of how much harm these cycles
cause in the real world.
Could you tell us how did the character I read every fight scene out loud to myself
of Tau came about? many times over. I try to make the words The Rage Of Dragons by Evan
I wanted to create an inevitable being that work within the weave and weft of the action Winter is available now from Orbit.
was not a chosen one. What I mean by this
is that Tau is a reaction to his circumstances.
Sure, he’s an unusual and rare reaction but,
if you push enough people far enough, if

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WORDS GEM WHEELER

You’ve already encountered HP publishing company with another writer, writer perfectly suited to our current culture’s
Lovecraft, one way or another. Sinister Donald Wandrei, in 1939 in order to publish fascination with the end of human experience:
rites in sleepy towns, cursed bloodlines, and Lovecraft’s stories. Derleth began to refer what’s been called ‘apocalypse culture’.”
all-powerful aliens: the imagery he conjured to the strange universe created by Lovecraft How did Lovecraft achieve this level of
lurks beneath the pixelated surfaces of some as the ‘Cthulhu Mythos’, named after the posthumous fame? “I think that his reputation
of your favourite videogame worlds and terrifying cosmic entity first described in ‘The as an important writer owes much to having
haunts the frames of many a big-screen fright- Call Of Cthulhu’, published in Weird Tales an utterly devoted fan base, many of whom
fest. This isolated man, whose writing was magazine in 1928. By the Sixties, Lovecraft’s passed from being simply fans to scholars
barely known in his lifetime and who died status as a cult writer was assured. In the of his work. There’s a large body of criticism
in poverty aged just 46, left a legacy that decades since, the unforgettable imagery he on Lovecraft that’s really extraordinary given
continues to inform modern horror. That is not created has exerted a powerful influence upon that he never published his works outside of
dead which can eternal lie/And with strange popular culture. pulp magazines in his lifetime, primarily in the
aeons even death may die… W Scott Poole assessed Lovecraft’s life and now-famous Weird Tales, begun in 1923 and
work in his 2016 biography, In The Mountains having one of the smallest circulations of any
Born in Providence, Rhode Island in Of Madness: The Life And Extraordinary of the pulps.”
1890, Howard Phillips Lovecraft developed Afterlife Of H P Lovecraft. He’s also examined Poole points out a complicating detail in
a fascination with astronomy and classical Lovecraft within the context of World War Lovecraft’s ongoing pop-cultural presence. “I
mythology at an early age, eagerly absorbing One’s devastating cultural impact in his recent think it’s important to add here that the idea
Gothic horror stories told by his grandfather Wasteland: The Great War And The Origins of influence and its varied meanings plays
during a childhood marred by severe bouts Of Modern Horror. Poole views his subject as a crucial role in understanding the Lovecraft
of ill health and by his father’s early death. “one of the primary sources for modern horror phenomenon. There are more Lovecraft fans,
His writing career began in earnest after in film and fiction. Borrowing from the horrific it seems, that people who have actually read
his mother’s confinement in the same mental times in which he lived, he Lovecraft. Films, comics and
hospital in which his father’s life had ended, introduced the notion that role playing have given him
an event that provided yet another of the you do not have to find an influence that goes far
disruptions that appear to have left him in a yourself in a haunted beyond his actual writing –
state of permanent psychological fragility. mansion of some sort to for good or ill.” 
meet terror. Writers like Another issue is the
Most of his life was spent in Providence, Arthur Machen influenced inauthentic nature of
apart from a brief and unhappy period in him, especially in the aspects of the ‘Cthulhu
Brooklyn, New York during the Twenties. His idea of imagining ancient Mythos’, a term never
marriage to fellow writer Sonia Greene did powers that break into the used to describe his
not survive their frequent separations, as she modern world, or that seek pantheon of ancient gods
travelled for work following the collapse of to do so. Lovecraft had the by Lovecraft himself.
her business. Lovecraft died of cancer in 1937, ability to take such ideas to Poole muses upon
with most of his inheritance gone after failing their logical conclusion to August Derleth’s role in
to scratch even a meagre living from the sale imagine the end of human Lovecraft’s long literary
of his short stories and novellas. beings. This makes him a LWovSeccortatfPt oboioleg.rapher afterlife. “It’s hard not

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Derleth, founded the Arkham House
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FIVE INJ Culbard’s Self Made
LOVECRAFTIAN Hero-published comic
HORRORS adaptations are glorious.

THE CALL OF to have mixed feelings about Derleth. of millionaire Robert Suydam. LaValle, a fan
CTHULHU (1928) He did create Arkham House Publishing that of Lovecraft’s since childhood, highlights the
It’s not his finest work, but the made the spread of Lovecraft’s work possible. subtle changes Derleth made to Lovecraft’s
seeds sown here would define But he also essentially swindled R H Barlow, invented mythology. “Derleth seemed to
Lovecraft’s legacy. Drawing who Lovecraft wanted to serve as his literary waver on sticking with Lovecraft’s bleakest
on influences as diverse as executor. Beyond the fact that he seems to perspective. He tried to create a bit more of
Tennyson’s sonnet ‘The Kraken’ have been rather mean-spirited, he also did a a good gods versus bad gods perspective,
and Maupassant’s foray into the supernatural, great deal of damage to Lovecraft’s reputation which seemed at odds with Lovecraft’s original
‘The Horla’, this story introduces key elements with his own attempts at Lovecraftian fiction idea. And yet, despite that criticism, Lovecraft
of the mythos, from the terrifying priest – much of it derivative and silly – that he likely wouldn’t have become a cultural
Cthulhu to the fabled Necronomicon. Like that published as tales he had ‘co-authored’ touchstone without the steadfast champion he
of his protagonist here, Lovecraft’s ‘somewhat with Lovecraft. He called them, ridiculously, found in Derleth and a few others.”
extravagant imagination’ bore satisfyingly ‘posthumous collaborations’. So, if you picked
bitter fruit. up one of the Ballantine editions of his work Poole cites the adaptability of Lovecraft’s
AT THE MOUNTAINS from the Sixties you find badly edited Lovecraft ideas as a key element in the writer’s
OF MADNESS (1936) stories set alongside tales based on the germ continuing popularity. “His creatures
A geologist seeks to prevent of an idea of his or that he had almost literally appeared in an early version of Dungeons
other explorers from returning nothing to do with writing. Not until S T Joshi & Dragons and have had a RPG system of
to the Antarctic, having brought out critical editions of Lovecraft’s work their own produced by Chaosium games. The
witnessed first-hand the for Penguin could fans read his real body of great Ramsey Campbell began his career
slaughter of which the ancient work as he meant it to be read.” building directly from Lovecraft’s style and
Elder Things are capable. Fingers crossed that world view. Writers like Matt Ruff, Thomas
Guillermo del Toro’s long-stalled film version Writer Victor LaValle won the 2016 Shirley Ligotti, Laird Barron, John Langan, Caitlín R
of this unforgettable story eventually wins Jackson Award for best novella for The Kiernan, and Victor LaValle have found ways
some backing. We can but dream. Ballad Of Black Tom. It’s his compelling and to pursue Lovecraft’s themes in their work,
THE SHADOW OVER evocative response to Lovecraft’s story, ‘The often significantly departing from his style.
INNSMOUTH (1931) Horror At Red Hook’, and is told from the Filmmakers use his work to go to the darkest of
A student visits the decaying perspective of Black musician Tommy Tester places while seldom doing direct adaptations:
fishing town of Innsmouth as he’s drawn into the diabolical activities John Carpenter may be the most well-known
and finds its inhabitants, with
their ‘flat noses and bulgy, WWW.SCIFINOW.CO.UK
stary eyes’ to be weirdly
reminiscent of deep-sea creatures. Could they
be the progeny of an underwater-dwelling
race? Indeed they could. The brilliant 1993
Infogrames point-and-click adventure game,
Shadow Of The Comet, skilfully lifts plot
elements from this classic story in its depiction
of a sinister ‘Illsmouth’.
HERBERT WEST-
REANIMATOR (1922)
A gruesome – and
nauseatingly racist – parody of
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein,
this early story has entered the
pop-cultural imagination via
Stuart Gordon’s 1985 film Re-Animator and
its sequels. Lovecraft scholar S T Joshi thinks
this is the worst thing Lovecraft ever wrote.
You might well concur, but it’s a sobering
illustration of his very worst aspects for those
of you who might be a bit too attached to your
copy of the Necronomicon.
THE CASE OF CHARLES
DEXTER WARD (1943)
Never published in Lovecraft’s
lifetime, this story focuses
again on one of his obsessions:
the possibility of resurrection,
Frankenstein-style. Ward’s
determination to revivify his ancestor, the
wizard Joseph Curwen, is ill advised in the
extreme. Come for the necromancy, stay for
the deadly threat to mankind: all Lovecraftian
boxes ticked.

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example.” For all that, Lovecraft’s never quite understandably, found it impossible to
became a household name. “The nihilism of engage with Lovecraft’s work due to the racist
Lovecraft’s world view will always place him views that permeated his writing throughout
just a bit outside the mainstream.” his career. In 2015, following a campaign
launched by author Daniel José Older, it was
For those attuned to that world view, announced that the World Fantasy Award
however, Lovecraft’s imagery leaves an statuette would no longer be modelled
indelible mark, as LaValle can attest: “On in Lovecraft’s likeness. The controversy
the simplest level, I’d say that Lovecraft wrote surrounding the extent of his racist beliefs
about feeling powerless and at the mercy of continues to rage. Poole, his biographer, is
powerful beings who had almost no regard for unimpressed by attempts to gloss over this
your will. That sounds a lot like how life feels distasteful aspect of Lovecraft’s thought.
when you’re 10 or 11. That’s what spoke most
clearly to me, at least. And because it felt so “It’s strangely (to me) a deeply contested
much like my own experience, because the issue whether or not his personal racism – and
sensibility got under my skin, I couldn’t ever admiration for Mussolini and fascism more
simply toss it away. Lovecraft, unlike almost generally – had a direct influence on his
any writer I read at the time, ‘understood’ me. fiction. I believe it did and find it surprising
It’s hard to forget that, even as my opinions that there’s much discussion about it. His most
about him – and his work – become more famous tale, ‘The Call Of Cthulhu’, portrays
complicated. I can criticise him now, but I did the Cthulhu cult as made up of ‘degenerate’
love him once. I think it’s possible to do both, races. In ‘The Horror At Red Hook’, the
at the same time.” ‘polyglot’ mass of Brooklyn seems to become
the real monster of the tale. ‘Herbert West-
LaValle’s generosity towards the writer Reanimator’ concerns the fate of a Black boxer
he once revered is impressive. Others have, West reanimates and Lovecraft uses the most
savage racist slurs imaginable to describe
HP collection covers: him. He is ‘a loathsome gorilla-like thing’
always gold. according to Lovecraft.

Aquatic nightmares “Apologists for Lovecraft often point to his
reign in Dagon. genteel New England upbringing and the
WWW.SCIFINOW.CO.UK context of the turn of the century to explain
away his racism,” Poole continues. “Thinking
more broadly about the historical context, I
find this unacceptable. While white supremacy
has always been deeply embedded in (and
in fact has structured) American society, it’s
simply not the case that everyone held the
views that Lovecraft did. One of his closest
correspondents, James Morton, who wrote
anti-racist tracts and lived in an African
American neighbourhood in Harlem as an
act of solidarity, argued with his friend about
these issues of race in their letters and so we
know that, for example, Lovecraft was aware
of the work of anthropologist Franz Boas,
which called into question the racist pseudo-
science of the 19th century. But he held to
these conceptions anyway.”

LaValle, bitterly disappointed as a teenager
by his growing awareness of his childhood
favourite’s racism towards Black New
Yorkers like himself, found an inventive, and
empathetic, way to explore the potential he
still perceives in Lovecraft’s ideas. “I wanted to
play with ideas of perception, as that’s often
at the heart of Lovecraft’s best tales. Human
beings think the world revolves around them
and the Old Ones, or some other mystery,
serves to reorient the protagonist (and the
reader) and drive him mad with the new, and
more concrete, truth of existence. So I knew
Tommy would be a person who plays with
reality – through his hustle, pretending to be
a great bluesman – but that he’d also be a
person living under certain illusions: like his
love for his father, and his father’s love for him,

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Re-Animator took...
some liberties.

would keep him safe. In this way he would I didn’t try to rewrite his New England stories. extraordinary artwork that seems to have
get to be both right and wrong and that’s I don’t know a damn thing about Providence, been some of the first attempts to visualise
always a more interesting journey for any or those small seaside towns, and I have the Lovecraft’s terrifying universe.
reader to take. But, of course, Lovecraft rarely humility to understand that he knows them a
had characters that complex in his work, hell of a lot better than me.” “Bloch eventually moved beyond Lovecraft
and certainly none of them was ever going to write works like Psycho in which the
to be a Black man from Harlem. So by LaValle isn’t the only literary admirer with supernatural elements are sublimated into
introducing such a character, it required others whom Lovecraft’s been blessed. Another fan, tales of violence and psychosis. I’d note that
to change as well. None more so than Robert and frequent correspondent, was the young in the novel Psycho (in which Norman Bates
Suydam, whose motivations in the original Robert Bloch, whose contribution to 20th is very different from the character we meet
story, ‘The Horror At Red Hook’, strike me as in the film) the murderer keeps a collection of
dull and generic. I figured I could do better SNTOO“HRREITEEOSSCERTPMEHOABAELTT”AEHDNACDE occult books, including the works of Margaret
by Suydam.” W SCOTT POOLE Murray on witchcraft. This seems to be an
homage to Lovecraft who accepted many
Lovecraft was at the centre of a supportive century horror would prove to be second- of Murray’s suspect historical conclusions. It
literary circle, the Kalem Club – named for to- none, as Poole notes: “Bloch, like many appears to be the only be fan-folklore that
the fact that all its members had surnames of Lovecraft’s small, young, devoted group of Bates has a copy of (not the Necronomicon,
beginning with K, L or M – during his time admirers (the ‘Lovecraft Circle’), fell utterly in Lovecraft’s fictional grimoire), by the way.”
in New York, yet his distorted perception of love with his work. Not only did much of his
the city as a place of threat and corruption early fiction show that tendency among young When it comes to determining Lovecraft’s
poisoned his outlook. “The great thing about authors to directly copy their idol, so much own influences, the picture is less clear, in
his description of New York is that it’s almost so that some of his early work almost seems Poole’s view. “I suppose what made me rethink
complete nonsense,” LaValle says. “Lovecraft’s like Lovecraft fanfic. Beyond this, he did some all that’s been said about Lovecraft’s influences
descriptions keep Red Hook at arm’s length simply came from noticing, first, how much
and, as a result, it’s not really a place, it’s only Lovecraft praised the work of Edgar Allan
a snapshot of Lovecraft’s fear and distaste. Poe combined with how often he and Poe’s
Thus, it was easy to overrule him, write around work have been linked, when even a cursory
him, because he didn’t know a damn thing reading of the works of each reveals almost
about New York. That said, it’s no mistake that no real influence. It seemed to me that too
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AUTHOR
VICTOR LAVALLE
REINTEPRETED
LOVECRAFT’S ‘THE
HORROR AT RED HOOK’
WITH HIS AWARD-
WINNING ‘THE BALLAD
OF BLACK TOM.’

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said about Poe’s influence at face value complexity. But what keeps him from being “There’s a sense in which his most influential
without really showing how. In fact, other than simply a minor figure are his strengths in work may not be his most important. The
the occasional homage, he created stories that world-building, the breadth of his imaginative ‘Call Of Cthulhu’ is the tale most fans point
do not bear the faintest resemblance to Poe. capacity. He did not set out to make a to and it’s certainly one of three or four of his
Arthur Machen’s themes are somewhat more mythology. But he laid the groundwork for a best stories. In terms of sheer creative power,
present but the sense of cosmic horror really multitude of dark imaginings and should be however, his novella At The Mountains Of
takes us into the depths in Lovecraft in a way thought of alongside figures like Franz Kafka Madness and the story ‘The Shadow Over
Machen doesn’t (though he comes close in his in his willingness to explore his ideas to the Innsmouth’ may be the best crafted and most
terrifying The Great God Pan). point of utter cosmic nihilism.”  frightening work he ever did. The latter is a
personal favourite, as is what’s sometimes
“I think, especially given the long time it M“ITTOHT’SOARBETBRPIETAR’ASCELITGNREIONGG.DIHNNITNG”OG called his prose-poem Nyarlathotep and a
took Lovecraft’s reputation to germinate, it VICTOR LAVALLE story that I think will age very well, the odd
makes much more sense to think about how and startling ‘Hypno’s.”
his work created a dark world that modern For LaValle, Lovecraft’s real skill lies in the
horror and tales of the fantastic would make sheer bleak atmosphere of his writing. “His The genre classics that draw upon the deep
their workshop.” truly spectacular stuff isn’t a large part of his well of imagery provided by Lovecraft are too
output but it’s distinctive: ‘The Colour Out Of abundant to list, though Poole highlights a few
The quality of Lovecraft’s writing, dense Space’, The Shadow Over Innsmouth, ‘Dagon’, outstanding examples: “We see echoes of his
with archaisms and sometimes overwrought ‘The Dunwich Horror’. Each of these strikes me work everywhere in horror, films like Ridley
descriptions, has often been called into as masterpieces of mood, which really was his Scott’s classic Alien series that imagines the
question. Poole takes an even-handed strong point as a writer.”  Alien as neither a force that wishes to invade
view. “Neil Gaiman is right when he says, us nor to befriend us. We are simply in the
paraphrasing, that no one comes close Poole lists some other outstanding works: way, perhaps at best its food. It’s no surprise
to some of Lovecraft’s best passages and then that the not-entirely-successful attempt by
phrases. By the same token, when he wrote Scott to give a background mythology to Alien
badly, few important writers are worse. in Prometheus drew heavily on Lovecraftian
Uneven doesn’t even begin to describe his themes. In fact, it’s usually cited as one of
oeuvre. He simply could not write dialogue the reasons Del Toro’s At The Mountains Of
and, with one or two exceptions, failed Madness was never made: the themes are
to create characters with any meaningful
This remains the
best Lovecraft film.

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The dread of the IAN CULBARD:
unknown... IN CTHULHU’S
IMAGE
“Lovecraftian” is a emptiness, Lovecraft’s atheistic perspective
catch-all term. chimes with a few and unsettles many Comic artist and writer I N J Culbard,
others. In a world still beset by violence and has adapted a number of Lovecraft’s
too close in the eyes of various studio execs. intractable conflict, it’s as jarring, and as stories as graphic novels, all
Lovecraft has in some sense hovered behind stimulating, as ever. published by SelfMadeHero
all the horror made since 1968 that gave
audiences not only a dark, but a decidedly LaValle perfectly sums up the curious What is your process in adapting a
bleak ending. Stephen King explores these appeal of Lovecraft’s mythology: “At heart, I story of this kind as a graphic novel?
themes in novels like Revival and tales like The think there’s something bracing about cosmic I treat the adaptation as a work in its own
Mist, a very Lovecraftian film.”  horror. It can feel like the grown ups are finally right, adhering to two rules: stay true to the
talking to you with their adult voices. No more spirit of the story and stay true to the medium
LaValle has other favourites. “I thought pretending everything will be alright. Instead, to which the story is being adapted. I read
Re-Animator captured the best of Lovecraft we’ll exist, and then we won’t, and no one but through the book with a highlighter, then
on the visceral level. Watching it, you almost those closest to us will notice or care. That’s break the structure apart and put it back
can taste the pulp between your teeth! On the not an uplifting message, but for some of us together again, considering everything in
other end of the movie spectrum I’d say a film it smacks of the truth. And it’s good to be told terms of the second rule – staying true to the
like Pan’s Labyrinth also captures the sense the truth.” medium – while retaining only that which
of mood, the beauty and strangeness of the W Scott Poole’s Wasteland: The Great War adheres to the first rule: the spirit of the story.
man’s work.” And The Origins Of Modern Horror is out In lots of ways, I end up with another draft of
now, and Victor LaValle is currently working the story, told with the benefit of hindsight.
Lovecraft’s singular vision, as assessed on an adaptation of The Ballad Of Black Tom What are the challenges of adapting
by polemicist Michel Houellebecq in his for AMC. Lovecraft’s work?
1991 critical essay, ‘H P Lovecraft: Contre Le One of the criticisms Lovecraft levelled at his
Monde, Contre La Vie (H. P. Lovecraft: Against own work was the lack of characterisation.
the World, Against Life)’ is the opposite There was also no dialogue in At The
of reassuring. Lacking religious faith and Mountains Of Madness, so I had to create all
convinced of the universe’s fundamental moral of that because I needed to have characters
speaking to one another, and those
WWW.SCIFINOW.CO.UK characters had to have personalities. There
was a good deal of manufacturing going on
with that book but always in the spirit of what
I would subjectively interpret. So I’d have to
really read into the text to find things to justify
my interpretation. In Charles Dexter Ward, for
example, there is a character whose identity
is never revealed but because I was working
on a standalone story and the identity was
reliant on a visual, I thought it important to
decide who the character was in context with
the book I was adapting. So the internal logic
of his stories would be readdressed in this
way to fit the internal logic of my adaptation.
All of I N J Culbard’s Lovecraft adaptations
have been collected in a single volume,
Lovecraft, published by SelfMadeHero.

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