Films: April 4 - 10

Panic (2000) / Blush (2019) / The Last Seduction (1994) / Le semeur (2019) / The Descent (2005) / Leviathan (1989) / Violent Playground (1958) /// 

Panic (2000) Intelligently structured and written, William H Macy is a hitman facing a nervous breakdown who meets insecure Neve Campbell in a psychiatrist's office. Visually unfussy, melancholy and frustration is shot through with humor, and performed by a uniformly fine cast.

Blush (2019) As Wendi McLendon-Covey's suburban life inexorably comes off the rails when she becomes involved with a dysfunctional family's twisted lives, so too does story and character involvement. A fearless lead and mordant social and sexual observations maintain interest.

The Last Seduction (1994) Linda Fiorentina's wonderfully cruel and savagely unrepentant turn drives the mechanics of a twisted and twisting narrative, using and disposing of men as she escapes with stolen drug money. Direction and script are stylishly straightforward, allowing its lead to shine.

Le semeur (2019) Framed with elegiac beauty, the women of a 19th century village must band to create their own society when all males are taken by the French emperor and the younger vow to share any man who might appear. Bracing and original view of socio sexual politics with sweeping emotion.

The Descent (2005) Undeniably tense, claustrophobic and filled with gory shocks, as a group of thrill seeking women drop into an Appalachian cave system and battle psychological and literal demons. The cast provide energy, production is polished, the atmosphere and action becomes numbing.

Leviathan (1989) Despite a typically skillful Jerry Goldsmith score and strong cast, the flat narrative springs too many leaks, as deep-sea miners are contaminated by a virus in Russian vodka and mutate into a monster. Technically potent, the setup promises more than the rehashed end product.

Violent Playground (1958) Respectful pacing and open visuals allow a solid cast to take centre stage, as Stanley Baker's policeman and Peter Cushing's priest seek to help David McCallum and troubled youth in Liverpool. Overly earnest, the reflection on society maintains interest.