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Mark of the Devil

@markslater.bsky.social

960 followers 270 following 2.9K posts

If you see me posting here, remind me I have too many books, BluRays, DVDs, comics & games to get through to be wasting time on socials. Those backlogs aren’t going to clear themselves. Occasional maker of THINGS. @MarkSlater42 on Letterboxd (He/Him)

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Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 56m

Re: ‘Alien Earth’.
It has Ade Edmonson in it!!!
And he’s scary as hell!

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 59m

I think I now like the assembly cut of Alien³ better than ‘Aliens’ (though I was never an Alien³ hater), and the director’s cut of Resurrection is an improvement, but it’s still a pretty terrible film. I dearly love Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s work and he was absolutely put through the Hollywood wringer.

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 1h

For me it’s all about the vibe, the design aesthetic and the creature.

Ripley is a great character, but I don’t think ‘Aliens’ has aged particularly well, and by the time they were cloning her in ‘Resurrection’ I thought the Ripley fixation had gone beyond misguided.

Seriously, try ‘Alien Earth’.

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 1h

Personally, I think ‘Alien Earth’ is the best thing done in that universe since 1979.

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 1h

All I need, is more ‘Alien Earth’.

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 1h

Given how big it was at the time, and how influential it’s been, it’s remarkably …. unremarkable.

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 1h

I’ve managed to keep up with the latest versions starting from the VHS era, I still have all the region 1 Anchor Bay Hammer DVDs and everything that’s come out on Blu in the UK. If I upgrade my projector to 4K I’ll likely pick them up in a sale, but not going to do my usual preorders I don’t think.

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Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 1h

Well, their existing BluRays are perfectly good, so I probably won’t be upgrading to their new releases. If it’s a test, then if I am the demographic it’s going to be a disappointment for them.

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 2h

In a story set in a World where people can be digitised into computers and computer programs can be 3D printed into reality - the most unbelievable part in a tale of an benign corporation in an existential battle against an evil corporation, was the existence of a benign corporation.

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 2h

Certainly a large overlap.
I went to see it (and actually enjoyed it) but was holding my nose. Plus, I have a cinema pass so it notionally didn’t cost me anything - had I had to pay extra for it I’d probably be waiting for it to appear on Disney+.

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Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 2h

It may well have done better had they tried someone else, rather than someone who a lot of the audience may well be staying away precisely because of.

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Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 2h

Yeah - saw the Studio Canal announcements - was a bit disappointing.

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Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 7h

Moreover - “The Books Of Frankenstein Volume One” implies the near future existence of Volume Two 😁

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Reposted by Mark of the Devil

the wicker mang @mangmangmang.bsky.social · Aug 14

People are always rightly pointing out that Warhammer contributes more to the British economy than the fishing industry, but the problem is that there just aren't very many folk songs about Warhammer

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Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 2d

I’ve heard tell of job descriptions being written that deliberately ask about a piece of relevant industry jargon that has multiple meanings to trip up AI, so that AI applications will wang on about the wrong definition of the term and applications can be spotted and binned immediately.

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Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 2d

Grimmfest 2025 - Day 4 - Film 6 - Dead By Dawn

Polish Giallo homage that throws in references to so many films it becomes a game to spot them, but also has it’s own great imagery and does it with such gusto that it’s hard not to get carried along for the ride.

And … that’s all for this year folks!

Dead by Dawn poster depicting the killer wearing a mask covered in eyeballs.

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 2d

Grimmfest 2025 - Day 4 - Film 5 - The Other

This is a concept that has been done way better by other films that have been either deadly serious or seriously bonkers. This film doesn’t really know which way to jump so sadly doesn’t succeed in either direction.

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 2d

Grimmfest 2025 - Day 4 - Film 4 - Wormtown

Surprisingly good creature feature with a political angle. Expected this to be fairly hamfisted allegory, but it handled the horror side very well and the political commentary was surprisingly nuanced and on point.

Poster for ‘Wormtown’ depicting an eye with a worm coming out of it.

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 2d

Grimmfest 2025 - Day 4 - Film 3 - Kombucha

Fun vaguely cosmic horror comedy taking shots at corporate culture. Think ‘Sorry To Bother You’ with tentacles.

GRIMMFEST
KOMBUCHA - (Northern UK premiere)
Plus Q&A with film makers.

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 3d

Grimmfest 2025 - Day 4 - Film 2 - Lily’s Ritual

Now much plot, fairly obvious and serious male gaze issues. The number of feet here would put Tarantino to shame.

GRIMMFEST
LILY'S RITUAL - (World premiere)
Plus Q&A with the cast and crew

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 3d

Grimmfest 2025 - Day 4 - Film 1 - Crawling Chaos Shorts Showcase

Excellent selection but the absolute crowning short was the claymation take on ‘Dagon’ where HP Lovecraft and Arnold Schwarzenegger are besties.

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 3d

Grimmfest 2025 - Day 3 - Film 6 - The Driftless

Anthology set in the Driftless region of the USA. The locations, landscapes, music, characters, performances and direction are all just working beautifully together. Has a tightness and vibe reminiscent of Creepshow etc and a great framing device.

GRIMMFEST
THE DRIFTLESS - (World premiere)
Plus Q&A with the Film makers.

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 3d

Grimmfest 2025 - Day 3 - Film 5 - Deviant

Bent rusty nail filled dildos in this comedy horror.

GRIMMFEST
DEVIANT - (Northern UK premiere)
Plus Q&A with the Director.

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 3d

Grimmfest 2025 - Day 3 - Film 4 - Rabbit Trap

One of the films of the festival thus far. Properly spooky folk horror - very smart and well made.

GRIMMFEST
RABBIT TRAP - (Northern UK premiere)
Plus short film LOUD.

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 3d

Grimmfest 2025 - Day 3 - Film 3 - Squealers

Very tight cat and mouser thriller - very much enjoyed.