Movies In Focus Movies In Focus

Darkness Of Man is a new action noir starring Jean Claude Van Damme as a former Interpol agent haunted by the actions of his past.  Visually striking, Darkness Of Man sees Van Damme give a nuanced turn - and it’s once again an indicator that the action icon can deliver good performances alongside bullets and flying kicks.
James Cullen Bressack, the director, producer and co-writer of Darkness Of Man is no stranger to working for legendary action heroes, having previously worked with Bruce Willis, Steven Seagal and Mel Gibson. He joins this episode of the podcast, to talk about the making of the neo-noir, working with Jean Claude Van Damme and what it’s like directing other iconic action stars.
Darkness Of Man co-star, Kristanna Loken also joins this episode.
Loken has had a storied career having played the evil T-X opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines and having starred in a variety of other films and TV shows including Bloodrayne, Burn Notice and Painkiller Jane.
Amongst other things, Kristanna Loken discusses how acting is changing in the face of new technologies, making Darkness Of Man and working with Jean Claude Van Damme.

Arrow Shorts is a showcase for great short-form film-making. From the scary to the bizarre, Arrow highlights the amazing work being created by film-makers in a shorter-length medium.
Film-maker Ryan Iriving joins this episode of the podcast to talk about Bark, a witty, original and well-composed slasher pastiche which crams a lot into its short running time.
Bark sees two women desperately trying to escape a stalking axe murderer through a city park. Unfortunately for them their only eye-witness isn’t human… and he’s completely useless.

Arrow Shorts is a showcase for great short-form film-making. From the scary to the bizarre, Arrow highlights the amazing work being created by filmmakers in a shorter-length medium.
Film-maker Izzy Lee joins this episode of the podcast to talk about her incredibly fresh and original short film Meat Friend.
Meat Friend was nominated for a 2023 Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Short Film, and it follows an ex-con, sentient pile of hamburger meat (voiced by Steve Johanson) who teaches after-school lessons to a child (Marnie McKendry). 
It's a seriously gonzo piece of short film-making that plays like Sesame Street on acid - and it's unlike anything you've ever seen!

The Image Of You is the screen adaptation of Adele Parks’ novel of the same name. Directed by Jeff Fisher and adapted by screenwriter Chris Sivertson, the film stars Sasha Pieterse, Parker Young, Néstor Carbonell and Mira Sorvino. It’s something of an outlier - a modern take on the erotic thriller - one with particular nods to masters of the genre like Brian De Palma and Paul Verhoeven.
Director Jeff Fisher joins this episode of the podcast to talk about The Image Of You, how he worked on the film’s visual style and was inspired by De Palma and Verhoeven and what it’s like bringing a best-selling novel to the screen.
The Image Of You will be released In Select Theatres and is Available to Buy on Digital on May 10, 2024.

Adele Parks MBE has sold over 5 million plus copies and has been translated into over 30 different languages.
Her 19th novel, The Image Of You has now been adapted for the screen by director Jeff Fisher and screenwriter Chris Sivertson.
Starring Sasha Pieterse, Parker Young, Néstor Carbonell and Mira Sorvino, the film is a modern take on the erotic thriller that features nods to genre masters like Brian De Palma and Paul Verhoeven.
Adele Parks joins this episode of the podcast for an in-depth chat about her writing process, how The Image Of You made it to the screen and what it’s like having someone else bring your book to life. It’s a great conversation - especially if you’re interested in the craft of writing.
The Image Of You released In Select Theatres and is Available to Buy on Digital on May 10, 2024.
 

Sometimes a movie will come along and subvert expectations - and Francis Galluppi’s brilliant feature film debut, The Last Stop In Yuma County is one of the movies. The set-up is that a travelling salesman is caught up with a pair of bank robbers in a remote diner - we’ve all seen that type of thriller a dozen times before but Galluppi takes things in many surprising directions. The last act is filled with tense kinetic energy and it’s easy to see why Galluppi has been tapped to follow in Sam Raimi’s shoes and direct the next Evil Dead film.
Francis Galluppi, the writer and director of The Last Stop In Yuma County joins this bite-sized episode of the podcast to talk about the film. He goes into detail on writing the fresh and original thriller, its excellent cast and great music.