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'Ghosts: The Possession of Button House' Review: The Ghosts Have Never Felt More Alive
If this is a one off then Ghosts: The Possession of Button House will be sure to keep the franchise’s legacy alive. It ups the stakes and it has a plethora of moments for fans of the show to sink their teeth into.

Alex Gilston
3 days ago


'Klara and the Sun' Review: Taika Waititi Squanders a Thought-Provoking Premise
Waititi is capable of drawing out gut punches of emotion, you only have to look at his 2019 film Jojo Rabbit and a certain pair of shoes, but he falls foul to his worst habits. In doing so Klara and the Sun never dives deeper than the surface rendering it dead on arrival.

Alex Gilston
3 days ago


'Behemoth!' Review: A Rich and Rewarding Symphony of Storytelling
Behemoth! may not rock the boat, and it may tread familiar narrative ground, but it does it in such a way that makes it impossible not to love. The warring timeline of Alex’s story is stitched together through melody and music to create a rich symphony worthy of its protagonist.

Alex Gilston
4 days ago


'Primetime' Review: Robert Pattinson Stars in a Dark Examination of Reality TV
Primetime seeks to deconstruct the idea of whether justice being connected to entertainment can ever work. Furthermore, it asks whether what Hansen and co. did was actually a net good for the cause they were trying so vehemently to expose and battle. There is no easy answer to this, and Primetime is not interested in offering one up.

Alex Gilston
Oct 14


'Ray Gunn' Review: Brad Bird's Passion Project Is a Visual Triumph
Despite the narrative let-down, Ray Gunn is a beautiful artist-led film that sees a director bring his long time vision to the screen. Even if Ray Gunn were just for Brad Bird, it would be a complete success, but as is the case, we get the privilege of joining him for the ride.

Alex Gilston
Oct 13


'Paper Tiger' Review: A Promising Drama Undone by Its Emotional Core
Paper Tiger can’t overcome its narrative shortcomings. There’s an interesting and powerful film in there somewhere but when it revolves around a brotherly relationship that doesn’t work, everything else falls flat because of it.

Alex Gilston
Oct 13


'Wild Horse Nine' Review: Martin McDonagh Delivers One of His Finest Films
Wild Horse Nine firmly centres itself as one of Martin McDonagh’s best films. A story he has tried to get off the ground in various ways of the years finally benefits from the perfect framing. With an award worthy turn from Malkovich and a great supporting performance to boot from Rockwell Wild Horse Nine is a huge success.

Alex Gilston
Oct 10


'Godzilla Minus Zero' Review: Bigger Monsters, Bigger Spectacle and Just as Much Heart
Godzilla Minus Zero is everything you could want from a sequel in every way that matters. If he wants to, maybe Takashi Yamazaki should make Godzilla films forever.

Alex Gilston
Oct 9


BFI London Film Festival 2026 Preview: What to Watch at This Year’s LFF
Film Focus Online previews the BFI London Film Festival 2026, as writer Alex Gilston shares the films he’s most excited to see, the filmmakers and emerging talent on his radar, and the hidden gems audiences should be watching out for at this year’s LFF.

Alex Gilston
Oct 6


BFI London Film Festival 2026 Preview: What the Film Focus Online Team Can’t Wait to See
From the stop-motion spectacle of Wildwood and Duncan Jones’ return to science fiction with Rogue Trooper, to exciting directorial debuts and the atmosphere surrounding the festival itself, here’s what the Film Focus Online team are looking forward to at this years BFI London Film Festival.

Film Focus Team
Oct 5


'Moana' (2026) Review: A Live-action Remake With None of the Love and Passion of its Beloved Original
Moana (2026) marks a dark day in Disney’s live action ventures. The final justification for these remakes has now been spent and there is no excuse left.

Alex Gilston
Jul 20


'The Sheep Detectives' Review: A Murder Mystery That is One of This Years Biggest Cinema Surprises
Intrigue, wit, and emotion collide in one of this years biggest surprise cinema hits.

Alex Gilston
May 12


Has Pixar Really Lost Its Magic? A Look at the Studio’s Original Films Since 2015
For years, the narrative surrounding Pixar has been that the studio’s best days are behind it. But is that really the case? From Inside Out to Elio, we take a closer look at the original films Pixar has released over the past decade to see whether the so-called decline holds up — or if the studio is still delivering the magic it’s always been known for.

Alex Gilston
Mar 6


Podcast Ep 35: Unpacking the Oscar Nominations 2026 - Snubs, Surprises & Serious Talking Points
In this episode of the Film Focus Online podcast, host Elliot Lines and writer Alex Gilston dive deep into the recent Oscar nominations. They discuss the excitement and frustration that comes with award season, highlighting major nominees, overperformers, and underperformers.

Film Focus Team
Jan 28


Podcast Ep 32: Film Focus Online Films of the Year - 2025 Highlights, Disappointments and 2026 Hype
In this conversation, the Film Focus Online team delve into their favourite films of 2025. They explore the performances of actors, the direction styles of filmmakers, and the emotional impact of various films. The discussion also touches on anticipated future releases and the disappointments of the year, providing a comprehensive overview of the current film landscape.

Film Focus Team
Dec 31, 2025


Podcast Ep 31: 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' PLUS the Future of Pandora
In this episode of the Film Focus Online podcast, host Elliot Lines and writer Alex Gilston delve into the latest instalment of the Avatar franchise, Avatar: Fire and Ash. They discuss the film's visual spectacle, character development, and the introduction of new dynamics with the Ash people.

Film Focus Team
Dec 23, 2025


Podcast Ep 30: 'Wake Up Dead Man' PLUS the Knives Out Franchise
In this episode of the Film Focus Online podcast, host Elliot Lines and guest Alex Gilston delve into the latest instalment of the Knives Out franchise, Wake Up Dead Man. Also, they unravel the rest of the franchise that bought us the detective Benoit Blanc.

Film Focus Team
Dec 17, 2025


Inside Cartoon Saloon — Exclusive Interview at Manchester Animation Festival
Cartoon Saloon recently came to Manchester to accept the prestigious Fellowship Award at the Manchester Animation Festival. Film Focus Online’s Alex Gilston sat down with founders Paul Young, Tomm Moore, and Nora Twomey to talk about the honour, their creative journey, and all things Cartoon Saloon.

Alex Gilston
Dec 9, 2025


'Wicked: For Good' Review: A Flawed but Fitting Finale to Oz’s Epic Tale
It was always going to be an ask to adapt a messy, rushed, second act of a stage musical into a film that feels full and coherent, and Jon M Chu clearly struggles here and Wicked: For Good suffers not being able to reach the lofty heights of the first part.

Alex Gilston
Nov 24, 2025


Exclusive: Director Jack Howard on His Journey from Comedy to Award-Nominated Short Film 'The Second Time Around'
Film Focus Online sat down with Jack Howard to discuss his jump from comedy to drama, the film itself, working with Caroline Goodall and Hannah Onslow, and more.

Alex Gilston
Oct 30, 2025
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