film – TINSEL and TAP SHOES

Review: ‘Love Actually – The Musical Parody’ at Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre (2025)

Playing at Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre until December 23, Sydney’s Darling Quarter Theatre until December 23 and Brisbane’s Royal ICC Theatre until December 21.

Tickets and more information at loveactuallymusicalparody.com

Review: ‘Piper’ (2023)

2023, M (Supernatural themes and suicide scenes), 100 mins
Available on DVD and Digital Platforms from November 13, 2024

Stars Elizabeth Hurley, Mia Jenkins, Jack Stewart and Tara Fitzgerald
Directed by Anthony Waller

The Pied Piper of Hamelin is a famous fable that has arguably fallen out of the public consciousness in recent decades, but the creepy undertones of the story have enormous potential to be repurposed for a horror movie. Piper revives the legend to solid effect, and tries hard to evoke an unsettling mood throughout, even if it doesn’t quite work overall.

Review: Smile 2 (2024)

Minor SPOILERS!

Writer/director Parker Finn’s Smile, released in 2022, was a surprise hit upon release. Originally intended as a streaming release, it was so good that it demanded a theatrical release instead and ended up making more than $200 million at the worldwide box office.

A sequel was inevitable, but thankfully Finn has given us a follow-up that feels both of a piece with the original and its own thing entirely, and has a bigger budget to play with and more elaborate horror sequences to delight and scare us with.

Review: ‘Terrifier 3’ (2024)

SPOILERS for Terrifier 1-3 (2016-2024) and All Hallows’ Eve (2013).

Terrifier franchise director, writer and producer, Damien Leone first created Art the Clown for his 2006 short film The 9th Circle. A second short film titled Terrifier (2011) expanded into the 2013 anthology film (and Leone’s feature film directorial debut) All Hallows’ Eve (starring Mike Giannelli as Art and Katie Maguire, who went on to play talk show host Monica Brown in T1).

Terrifier (T1) was released in 2016, and, despite its low budget of $35,000 and mixed reviews, the film quickly rose to cult film status. Its 2022 sequel Terrifier 2 (T2) became an unexpected box office success, grossing well above its estimated $250,000 budget. The highly anticipated Terrifier 3 (T3) will be released in Australian cinemas from tomorrow, October 10, 2024.

Review: ‘The Odd Couple’ at Comedy Theatre, Melbourne (2024)

The Odd Couple is playing in Melbourne for a limited season before heading to the Theatre Royal Sydney on June 27. It stars actor, presenter, producer and entertainer Shane Jacobson as Oscar Madison; acclaimed performer of stage and screen Todd McKenney as Felix Ungar.

Seasoned performers Lucy Durack and Penny McNamee play the exuberant Pigeon sisters Cecily and Gwendolyn, while John Batcherlor (Roy), Laurence Coy (Speed), Jamie Oxenbould (Vinnie) and Anthony Taufa (Murray) round out the talented cast as Oscar’s poker loving friends.

Review: The Rocky Horror Show at Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre (2024)

Now playing at the Athenaeum Theatre Melbourne until March 23 and at the Theatre Royal Sydney from March 31 to May 12. Tickets and further info can be found at rockyhorror.com.au.