Here are some things I am watching, reading or listening to at the moment that I think are very good. You may agree, disagree or not care. All of those are fine.
Films
Hellboy: Neil Marshall (The Descent and Dog Soldiers) takes over the directorial reins from dark magical fairytale master Guillermo del Toro to create a more wise-cracking and gory reboot. David Harbour is in decent form under the red make-up and prosthetics worn by Ron Perlman in the previous two outings. Milla Jovovic as the bad queen is basically walking the script. Ian McShane takes the John Hurt role. Not entirely convinced by this offering but I also didn’t hate it.
The Ritual: A horror movie that seems to borrow lots from The Descent in that it’s about a group of friends who lose one of their number in a grim incident, then head off to the wilds to grieve and reconnect. Instead of an underground cave system in North Carolina, it’s the Scandinavian wilderness. Instead of a family of blind underground flesh-eaters, it’s part-animal and part-god creature from Norse mythology. Rafe Spall is watchable as the unlikeable arsehole who helps lead his pals into this mess.
Music
The Unthanks: Unaccompanied as We Are: Folk singing sisters Rachel and Becky Unthank are joined by fiddle player and vocalist Niopha Keegan on a nationwide tour. The deal: no musical instruments and just the voices of the trio. Me and the Missus saw them at the Union Chapel in London and it was pared-down vocal sorcery as they covered a wide range of their own and other people’s material. It was haunting, wonderful and truly uplifting. The tour continues and tickets are still on sale here.
TV
Derry Girls: The second series of Lisa McGee’s immensely touching and laugh-out-loud sitcom about four Irish schoolgirls and their English pal is amazingly good. It’s a real ensemble piece loaded with pitch-perfect performances. I adore Siobhan McSweeney as no-shit Sister Michael and Tommy Tiernan’s beleaguered dad, Gerry. Ian McElhinney’s Granda Joe is also a wonderful and terrifying creation.
Back to Life: A truly beautiful comedy-drama written by Daisy Haggard and Laura Solon, which follows a recently released convict (Haggard) coming back to her home town. Hated by her local community and loved by her ageing parents, she faces various traumas as the audience gradually learns why she went to jail in the first place. Haggard is amazing and shows real depth as central character Miri, while Geraldine James and Richard Durden are fantastic as Miri's worried mum and dad. Adeel Akhtar nearly steals the show with a brilliantly understated performance as next-door neighbour Billy. The delicate pacing and cinematography filming the Kent coast deserve a mention, too.
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