Sam Munster

FrightFest Glasgow – Psyche

March 6th, 2025

USA, 1 hour 11 minutes , Directed by Stephon Stewart

Trapped in limbo during a near-death experience, Mara and a vintage 1980s computer she finds buried in the sands of time ally to figure out the meaning of life from discarded memories of friends, family and fantasy. Together, they navigate through a dystopian world of surreal, broken realities, deciphering cryptic clues and puzzles before them, causing Mara to embark on a profound quest of self-discovery and mind-bending redemption. Confronting her deepest fears by facing all the traumas in her life, her journey becomes a poignant exploration of isolation, psychological tension, survival and human vulnerability.

Opening FrightFest Glasgow this year, was the Scottish premiere of Psyche directed by Stephon Stewart.

Psyche is a gorgeous science-fiction epic. In all honesty, sci-fi isn’t my vibe, but the truly stunning cinematography and design kept my attention. The colour grading is beautiful and the score is incredible.

Lead Sarah Ritter is very good, with a compelling performance. She’s also very beautiful, which is a stark contrast to the bleak environment.

If you love sci-fi, definitely keep an eye out for release details for this beautiful film.
Watch brilliant short, “One Night Only”

March 6th, 2025

In typical me fashion, I’m excited by something new and have entirely cast everything else I should be doing aside. Scrolling Instagram this morning, I saw that ZooTime Productions have made their short “One Night Only” available on Vimeo.

For a whole bunch of reasons, I hadn’t actually shared my review of the short anywhere. But now is the time as I loved it and, as small as my platform is, I always want to champion indie film-makers. Especially as ZooTime Productions’ mission statement is “ZooTime is Wales on film. Welsh people and Welsh stories. We’re part of the foundation of Wales’ growing horror-based national cinema movement. Our goal is to celebrate and showcase these stories. To contribute to Sinema Cymru, and take these stories to worldwide audiences.” I’m nothing, if not an excited little gremlin who will shout from the rooftops about anything Welsh. I’m very proud of being Welsh and the history of the arts in Wales, so filmmaker Josh Harris is my people!

Anyway, enough of my rambles – here is the short! Do yourself a favour and cast it to your tv, if you can. It’s beautiful and deserves the biggest screen you can manage!

One Night Only is a brilliant short, achieving something that I find rare with shorts – really wanting more. I enjoy how stories can be told in a few minutes, creating a little world to be in for a short time. But writer and director, Josh Harris, has done such a good job with One Night Only that I wanted to spend more time with Bex and Rhian and really dig into their relationship. And that’s not a criticism – the film still feels perfectly contained.

It looks beautiful, with lovely cinematography and editing. It’s moody, dark and atmospheric and I loved it. The cast are fantastic, especially Welsh fave Steve Spiers, who I am always delighted to see.

I really can’t wait to see what Josh directs next, as I think what he can create in feature length will be incredible.
Chatting with “Cara” writer and director Hayden Hewitt

February 17th, 2025

Cara is bleak, dark and fucked up. Written and directed by Hayden Hewitt, this psychological horror is available on digital download today, 17th February.

Cara’s world is spiralling out of control. Haunted by her traumatic past, she lives with a mentally unstable roommate and struggles with a failed career as an online sex worker. Her father is unable to communicate, while her well-meaning mother offers little support. But above all, Cara is consumed by a terrifying belief that there’s a conspiracy to send her back to the psychiatric hospital where she suffered horrific abuse.

Cara is brilliantly played by Elle O’Hara an unreliable narrator that I can’t decide if I’m terrified of, or rooting for. Perhaps both. The cast are great, with fantastic performances from indie horror faves Lawrence Harvey, Michaela Longden and Johnny Vivash.

I had the chance to have a quick chat with Hayden and talk about his inspiration, his process and how he relaxes after delving into such a dark and bleak world – it’s a spoiler free chat!

Cara premiered at FrightFest last year, to brilliant reviews – catch it yourself on Amazon Prime and Apple TV see why “she isn’t going back”. Huge thanks to Aim Publicity for the review and interview opportunity.
Talking Crimson Peak with Scary Zara Mary

February 11th, 2025

I had the pleasure of being invited on Reyt Scary to chat about one of my faves, Crimson Peak, with the lovely Scary Zara Mary.

I love Crimson Peak, so enjoyed getting to excitedly wang on at Zara about my favourite things in the movie – the incredible costumes, pasty goth boys and the glorious Doug Jones – was a delight. Reyt Scary is a weekly must-listen for me, so a definite recommendation. Zara has been talking all things gothic horror and will soon cover torture in horror. Exciting!

If you’re feeling brave and want to watch my little goblin face, instead of just listening, Reyt Scary is also on Youtube!
Horror on Sea – Darklands restoration and director’s cut

February 8th, 2025

UK, 85 minutes, Directed by Julian Richards

Darklands follows journalist Frazer Truick as he investigates the mysterious death of the brother of trainee journalist Rachel Morris. Delving deeper, Truick becomes convinced that the tragedy was murder, committed by a bizarre religious cult. But as the evidence unfolds, things take on a more sinister and potentially lethal significance for the reporter, as he becomes embroiled in devil worship, witchcraft and ultimately human sacrifice!

How I’d not seen Darklands before now is beyond me, but I’m so glad I finally watched it! Set in South Wales, Darklands follows Frazer Truick (played by Craig Fairbrass) who gets caught up in mystery, pagan rituals and human sacrifice, while investigating for the local paper.

Released in 1996, Darklands has had a 4K restoration ahead of its 30th anniversary. I was lucky to see the director’s cut, which hopefully means a new, shiny release this year or next! I’ve seen the poster for Darklands over the years, but had someone told me it was set in South Wales, with a recognisable cast of Welsh legends and featured the Welsh language and some cool pagan shit, I would have been straight on it! Director Julian Richards is from Newport, too – just down the road! I’m fully in my “embrace the Welsh language and culture” era, so I’m grateful I found it at just the right time.

It’s dark and grotty, with great performances, compelling characters and a really cool score and soundtrack. I was 10 when this movie was made and it was the most delightful snapshot of the valleys in the 90s (although we didn’t have ritual sacrifice in my village. I don’t think…) It’s been hailed as “the Welsh Wicker Man”, which I think is a fair comparison. I really enjoyed it and it’s definitely one I’d add to my collection and watch again.

If you like 90s horror, folk horror, Welsh horror… or a combination of all three, definitely check Darklands out and keep an eye out for screenings or a release of the restoration and director’s cut! Darklands is currently available to stream on Shudder.
Horror on Sea – When the Trash Man Knocks

February 6th, 2025

USA, 1 hr 39 mins, Directed by Christopher Wesley Moore

An agoraphobic woman and her son must face their fears when the killer who traumatized them returns.

If you ask me “do you want to watch a film with a name like ‘When the Trash Man Knocks’?” the answer is always going to a very enthusiastic “yes!”. You know that’s gonna be a good time. And it was! 🥳 (Plus, just look at that goddamn poster. Perfection 😍)

The Trash Man has been terrorising a small town for decades, hacking up bodies to make a new perfect family, disposing of the dismembered bodies in trash bags. Rad! 🗑️

I love low-budget slashers and When the Trash Man Knocks has fun kills, practical sfx and all the charm of an 80s slasher. Sure, it’s no cinematic masterpiece, but it’s made with love and it cheered me up when I was feeling sad. And, sometimes, that’s all we need!

At 1 hr 39, it felt a bit long and I would have preferred a zippy little 80 minute film that focused more on the killer and his adventures. But I had fun with it and enjoyed it all the same.

When the Trash Man Knocks is available for free on Plex in the UK and on Tubi in the states. If you love 80s low-budget slashers, give this one a go – it’s actually not trash! (I’ll see myself out…🙈)
Into the Deep

February 3rd, 2025

I love a shark movie and I love Scout Taylor-Compton, so I was sold when I saw Into the Deep on the Signature Entertainment release roster 🙌🏻🦈🤿

Cassidy (Taylor-Compton) is an oceanographer with a tragic history with sharks. When modern-day pirates take advantage of their diving trip, Cass must face her fears and go back into the water 🙅🏼‍♀️🦈

Into the Deep also stars Richard Dreyfus, who we know is no stranger to great whites. Scout is a likeable lead and I was invested in her story and survival. It’s no Jaws, but it’s a fun 90 minute watch, although the CGI blood was disappointing and distracted me (I appreciate doing it practically in the water is a pollution issue, though). It’s more of an action/thriller movie with sharks, than a shark movie. But I always want more sharks, so what are you gonna do? 🦈🦈🦈

I also appreciated that the credits had a message about shark conservation from Richard Dreyfus and only CG sharks were used 🙌🏻 Yay! Be nice to sharks.

Into the Deep is available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime, or on blu-ray and DVD (affiliate links). Thank you Signature Entertainment for the screener!
Ghost Stories

January 31st, 2025

My love of Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman’s Ghost Stories has not waned in the last 14 years. *Me singing to a play* – “I’ll never let you goooo, why? Because I love youuuuu!”

I first saw Ghost Stories back in 2011 and I have never been more scared in my entire life. I swear it changed my DNA and I’ve never been the same, since. I went to see it for the fifth time on tour at The Theatre Royal in Bath and a renewed hyperfixation was unleashed, along with an excited post-show ramble and a podcast episode.
Horror on Sea – Marginalia

January 21st, 2025

USA, 1 hour 5 minutes, Directed by Mark Beal

In this medieval story of witchcraft and intrigue, Sister Trista is summoned to Karnstein Abbey with the task of assisting the nuns with mourning their recently departed abbess.

As she stays there, it is revealed that the abbey is actually a nest of demon-worshiping witches with a plan to wreak havoc on the earth. Trista, though, has a secret of her own which may turn the tables on the Karnstein witches.

Marginalia is an absolutely beautiful film, set in a medieval convent. It’s in black and white and features absolutely gorgeous medieval illustrations, stop motion and a lovely score. While I wasn’t particularly gripped by the story itself, the mix of stunning visuals and sound design had me absolutely captivated. But to be fair, there’s a good chance I was swooning so hard over the visuals that I didn’t pay enough attention to the plot (ADHD problems!)

It’s definitely an “arty” production, but I love that and genuinely wish we got more movies like this. It’s one I’ll definitely revisit and will absolutely buy if it gets a physical release.
Horror on Sea – Virus Detected: A Technology Anthology

January 20th, 2025

UK, 1 hour 30 mins, Directed by Charlie Bond, Paul Cousins, James Hamer-Morton, Geoff Harmer, Chris Josty, James Morrissey, James Plumb, Samuel Rush

When an electrical storm hits during a late-night talk show, a radio DJ receives persistent phone calls from a mysterious caller warning her and telling her stories of electrical appliances having been affected by the storm. Are they true, or just calls for attention?

Virus Detected – A Technology Anthology is an absolute hoot. It’s funny, well written and tied together by a radio DJ taking listener calls during a worldwide electrical storm. All sorts of gadgets start going wrong, from a toaster, to VR headsets. Each short has a different director and the production value is high across the whole film. The performances are great, too!

The Toy was my favourite segment – I think you can imagine what that is about! It was very funny and campy and the line “it’s essentially an Alexa, in the shape of a dick” had me giggling.

Virus detected felt really fresh and fun and I really hope we get more anthologies that are this good. Also, cue a very excited me when I recognised the voice of Dhean Morris (AKA Dheanasaur on Tiktok and Instagram) who was really bloody great (and just one of many Welsh people involved in this film – bendigedig!)

I’m definitely going to be keeping an eye on everyone involved in the production, to see what they do next!