John Llewellyn Probert
@johnlprobert.bsky.social
Curator of the House of Mortal Cinema. Author of The Frightfest Guide to Mad Doctor Movies plus lots more film writing, as well as 19 books of horror fiction (so far). Blu-ray contributor and aspiring Jason King of horror. Magnus the Staffy keeps me fit.
Magnus of the Stones!
November 27, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Magnus of the Stones!
"Everyone will be scratching their heads at why Dracula has an unexplained army of comedy gargoyle minions" My thoughts on Luc Besson's new DRACULA, out Monday from @signatureuk.bsky.social : johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/drac...
Dracula (2025)
"A Unique Interpretation" A quite bizarre melding of elements from Francis Ford Coppola's BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA (which this film leans o...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
November 27, 2025 at 9:23 AM
"Everyone will be scratching their heads at why Dracula has an unexplained army of comedy gargoyle minions" My thoughts on Luc Besson's new DRACULA, out Monday from @signatureuk.bsky.social : johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/drac...
"Faster moving and a lot more fun than JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH". PRIMITIVE WAR is out in UK cinemas from Friday from @signatureuk.bsky.social : johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/prim...
Primitive War (2025)
"More Fun than JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH" Signature Entertainment are giving a much-deserved cinema release to PRIMITIVE WAR, a low budget...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:25 AM
"Faster moving and a lot more fun than JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH". PRIMITIVE WAR is out in UK cinemas from Friday from @signatureuk.bsky.social : johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/prim...
"Quite, quite lovely." My thoughts on THE LIFE OF CHUCK which is out now on disc from Studio Canal: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-...
The Life of Chuck (2025)
"Moving, Uplifting, and Quite, Quite Lovely" After a short stint in UK cinemas, Studio Canal have released writer-director Mike Flanagan...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:28 AM
"Quite, quite lovely." My thoughts on THE LIFE OF CHUCK which is out now on disc from Studio Canal: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-...
"Conveys a sense of creeping dread pretty much from the outset" Grim noir A DESERT is out on Monday on digital : johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/a-de...
A Desert (2025)
"Filled with Insidious Menace" Blue Finch are releasing director Joshua Erkman's A DESERT, a film that could sit comfortably alongside R...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:04 AM
"Conveys a sense of creeping dread pretty much from the outset" Grim noir A DESERT is out on Monday on digital : johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/a-de...
"the Baron...looks about as upset as someone who has just received an especially large and unexpected gas bill." Studio Canal follow up their 4K of the SCARS OF DRACULA with its originally double-billed Frankenstein film, out Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/horr...
Horror of Frankenstein 4K (1970)
Studio Canal are releasing a 4K transfer of the one Hammer Frankenstein not to feature Peter Cushing as the Baron. It was originally release...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:10 AM
"the Baron...looks about as upset as someone who has just received an especially large and unexpected gas bill." Studio Canal follow up their 4K of the SCARS OF DRACULA with its originally double-billed Frankenstein film, out Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/horr...
"Whoever thought we'd get to see Bob Todd in 4K?" The first Hammer Dracula to get the 4K treatment is out Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/scar...
Scars of Dracula 4K (1970)
Studio Canal leap in before Hammer to be the first to release a 4K transfer of one of the studio's Dracula movies. Admittedly it's the one...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:11 AM
"Whoever thought we'd get to see Bob Todd in 4K?" The first Hammer Dracula to get the 4K treatment is out Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/scar...
"...scruffy astronauts bickering, dancing, getting bored and working in one of the most claustrophobic and cramped control rooms ever committed to celluloid." John Carpenter's DARK STAR gets the 4K (!) treatment from Fabulous Films: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/dark...
Dark Star 4K (1974)
Fabulous Films are bringing out John Carpenter's (and Dan O'Bannon's) DARK STAR, in both limited edition 4K UHD website exclusive and stan...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
November 19, 2025 at 9:23 AM
"...scruffy astronauts bickering, dancing, getting bored and working in one of the most claustrophobic and cramped control rooms ever committed to celluloid." John Carpenter's DARK STAR gets the 4K (!) treatment from Fabulous Films: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/dark...
"An entertaining dark comedy that features useless (Noah), desperate (Meg) and just plain mad (Bodie) characters being thrown into a situation where no-one acts rationally" Alex Winter's ADULTHOOD is out on digital today : johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/adul...
Adulthood (2025)
Signature Entertainment are releasing director Alex 'BILL & TED' Winter's black comedy that veers more towards the black than the comedy. ...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:33 AM
"An entertaining dark comedy that features useless (Noah), desperate (Meg) and just plain mad (Bodie) characters being thrown into a situation where no-one acts rationally" Alex Winter's ADULTHOOD is out on digital today : johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/adul...
"Terrific stuff for fans of Robin Hood movies and British cinema in general." Hammer's MEN OF SHERWOOD FOREST is out next Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/men-...
Men of Sherwood Forest (1954)
"Terrific Stuff for Fans" Hammer continues its invaluable series of extras-packed 4K restoration releases with this three disc set devot...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:40 AM
"Terrific stuff for fans of Robin Hood movies and British cinema in general." Hammer's MEN OF SHERWOOD FOREST is out next Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/men-...
"...a movie where restraint has gone firmly out of the window." Ti West's MAXXXINE gets the posh 4K @secondsightfilms.bsky.social box set treatment, out on Monday @aimpublicity.bsky.social : johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/maxx...
Maxxxine 4K UHD (2024)
Second Sight Films are releasing, in both limited and standard 4K UHD editions, the final film in writer-director Ti West's 'X' trilogy. The...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:21 AM
"...a movie where restraint has gone firmly out of the window." Ti West's MAXXXINE gets the posh 4K @secondsightfilms.bsky.social box set treatment, out on Monday @aimpublicity.bsky.social : johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/maxx...
"...unlike any other movie from this decade, and perhaps even this century." Ti West's (and Mia Goth's) PEARL gets the 4K whistles and bells @secondsightfilms.bsky.social treatment, out next Monday @aimpublicity.bsky.social : johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/pear...
Pearl 4K UHD (2022)
''Ti West and Mia Goth's Best (So Far)?" Second Sight Films are releasing both standard and posh whistles and bells 4K UHD editions of P...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:56 AM
"...unlike any other movie from this decade, and perhaps even this century." Ti West's (and Mia Goth's) PEARL gets the 4K whistles and bells @secondsightfilms.bsky.social treatment, out next Monday @aimpublicity.bsky.social : johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/pear...
"...cultivates an admirable atmosphere of creeping strangeness for over half its runtime" Really rather good Brazilian horror A MOTHER'S EMBRACE is out on Digital on Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/a-mo...
A Mother's Embrace (2025)
"Seriously Decent Brazilian Horror" After its world premiere at Sitges followed by its UK premiere at the Glasgow Film Festival in March...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:24 AM
"...cultivates an admirable atmosphere of creeping strangeness for over half its runtime" Really rather good Brazilian horror A MOTHER'S EMBRACE is out on Digital on Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/a-mo...
"...a 1930s animated short given a live action 1990s makeover" THE MASK gets a 4K release from Arrow on Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-...
The Mask (1994)
Arrow Video are releasing, in limited edition Blu-ray and UHD sets, a 4K restoration from the original camera negative of the film that ceme...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:45 AM
"...a 1930s animated short given a live action 1990s makeover" THE MASK gets a 4K release from Arrow on Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-...
"More than just HIGH NOON on a moon." Peter Hyams' OUTLAND gets a 4K UHD release from Arrow on Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/outl...
Outland 4K UHD (1981)
Arrow Films are releasing writer-director Peter Hyams' 1981 'space western' in a limited edition 4K restoration from the original 35mm negat...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
November 1, 2025 at 9:14 AM
"More than just HIGH NOON on a moon." Peter Hyams' OUTLAND gets a 4K UHD release from Arrow on Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/11/outl...
"...here in the UK, the films were released by Palace Pictures through the Odeon circuit, with new Graham Humphreys artwork for most of the posters" Time for a walk down memory lane as I review Warners' new 4K set of the NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET films: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/a-ni...
A Nightmare On Elm Street: Seven Film 4K Collection (1984 - 1994)
Warner Bros. have released a box set of the first seven NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET films on 4K UHD. That's because Warners currently own New Li...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
October 30, 2025 at 7:10 AM
"...here in the UK, the films were released by Palace Pictures through the Odeon circuit, with new Graham Humphreys artwork for most of the posters" Time for a walk down memory lane as I review Warners' new 4K set of the NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET films: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/a-ni...
The Indonesian CABIN IN THE WOODS? My thoughts on THE DRAFT, which came out yesterday from Blue Finch : johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
The Draft (2025)
THE DRAFT is getting a digital release through Blue Finch and has been described as 'the Indonesian CABIN IN THE WOODS', which means that, l...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
October 21, 2025 at 8:58 AM
The Indonesian CABIN IN THE WOODS? My thoughts on THE DRAFT, which came out yesterday from Blue Finch : johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
Nottingham's Mayhem Film Festival ended last night! Here's my write up for the day's films, with the rest accessible on my site: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/diar...
Diary of a Mayhem 2025 Day 4 - Sunday
Bone Lake A couple book a romantic getaway in a lavish country house next to a lake in the middle of nowhere. Another couple turns up claimi...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
October 20, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Nottingham's Mayhem Film Festival ended last night! Here's my write up for the day's films, with the rest accessible on my site: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/diar...
"...has its own unique feel, right down to the climax..." Harry Kumel's DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS gets a 4K release from Radiance Films a week on Monday @aimpublicity.bsky.social : johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/daug...
Daughters of Darkness 4K (1971)
Harry Kumel's classic, highly regarded vampire tale set in gloomy Belgian locations is getting a 4K UHD and Blu-ray dual format limited edit...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
October 16, 2025 at 7:35 AM
"...has its own unique feel, right down to the climax..." Harry Kumel's DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS gets a 4K release from Radiance Films a week on Monday @aimpublicity.bsky.social : johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/daug...
Cheap new book on sale at Waterstones with me in it alert. I have a story in THE THIRTEENTH FLOOR, based on the old Maxwell Towers strip in the comic Scream! If you order from the link I'm posting by Friday you get 25% off!
October 15, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Cheap new book on sale at Waterstones with me in it alert. I have a story in THE THIRTEENTH FLOOR, based on the old Maxwell Towers strip in the comic Scream! If you order from the link I'm posting by Friday you get 25% off!
"...you'll be chortling merrily one minute and then be genuinely horrified the next" Chris Smith's SEVERANCE is out on 4K UHD & Blu-ray from Icon next Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/seve...
Severance (2006)
Icon are releasing SEVERANCE, the horror comedy Bristol-born film-maker Christopher Smith made in between CREEP (2004) and TRIANGLE (2009), ...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
October 15, 2025 at 8:42 AM
"...you'll be chortling merrily one minute and then be genuinely horrified the next" Chris Smith's SEVERANCE is out on 4K UHD & Blu-ray from Icon next Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/seve...
A Review A Day Every Day for October (phew!) continues with the BFI's new 4K restoration of Georges Franju's EYES WITHOUT A FACE, out on Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/eyes...
Eyes Without a Face (1960)
The very first film I wrote about for House of Mortal Cinema gets a sparkling 4K restoration release on UHD, Apple TV and Amazon Prime court...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
October 14, 2025 at 8:02 AM
A Review A Day Every Day for October (phew!) continues with the BFI's new 4K restoration of Georges Franju's EYES WITHOUT A FACE, out on Monday: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/eyes...
"...threw down a gauntlet of 'follow that' in the mid-1990s that nobody had the slightest inclination of picking up." John Carpenter's classic IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS gets the Arrow 4K treatment, out a week today: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/in-m...
In the Mouth of Madness 4K UHD (1995)
"I Think Therefore You Are - In 4K!" Arrow Films are releasing a special 4K edition of the third in John Carpenter's loosely themed 'Lov...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
October 13, 2025 at 7:56 AM
"...threw down a gauntlet of 'follow that' in the mid-1990s that nobody had the slightest inclination of picking up." John Carpenter's classic IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS gets the Arrow 4K treatment, out a week today: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/in-m...
Producer Peter Ho-Sun Chan's two Asian horror anthology pictures THREE... and THREE EXTREMES are getting a double disc Blu-ray release from Arrow a week tomorrow. Here's what I thought: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/thre...
Three and Three...Extremes (2002 & 2004)
Arrow are releasing a double disc Blu-ray set of producer Peter Ho-Sun Chan's two Asian horror anthology pictures, both of which contain wor...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
October 12, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Producer Peter Ho-Sun Chan's two Asian horror anthology pictures THREE... and THREE EXTREMES are getting a double disc Blu-ray release from Arrow a week tomorrow. Here's what I thought: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/thre...
This morning, my thoughts on Eureka's new Blu-ray release of Jess Franco's DIABOLICAL DR Z. And no, I don't know why they didn't ask me to do the piece on mad doctor movies: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
The Diabolical Dr Z (1966)
It's time for a welcome release of some more Jess Franco on UK Blu-ray as one of the best films from his early black and white period gets a...
johnlprobert.blogspot.com
October 11, 2025 at 8:04 AM
This morning, my thoughts on Eureka's new Blu-ray release of Jess Franco's DIABOLICAL DR Z. And no, I don't know why they didn't ask me to do the piece on mad doctor movies: johnlprobert.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...