Dom O'Brien

Freelance Film Reviews

United Kingdom

Currently a freelance writer/blogger for Deviant Robot, Attack From Planet B, Onemetal.com and Videotape Swap Shop.

I have been writing for small websites since 2010 and I hope this portfolio of work shows my continuing development as a writer.

Previously I have written for Filmwerk, Flickering Myth and Filmjuice. I also write for my own blog (Musings of a Film Fanatic) and guest spot for other blogs.

I'm currently writing my first book/ebook which focuses on my passion for genre filmmaking.

Portfolio

Deviant Robot

Deviantrobot
06/04/2014
Deviant Robot

It's sad to think that until recently Lucio Fulci's work wasn't accepted as much as his peers (Antonio Margheriti, Sergio Martino, Umberto Lenzi et al). It's even worse to think that the British censors had butchered most of his work during the video recordings act, leaving his unique brand of ultra violence almost unseen by the masses in Britain for many years.

Deviantrobot
06/04/2014
Deviant Robot

Looking back over high-concept films from the 1980s, it really is a shame that companies like Cannon no longer exist. Without them in the current film industry we're no longer blessed with under-appreciated classics such as Invasion USA, I Come in Peace, Masters of the Universe or The Delta Force.

Onemetal.com

Onemetal
04/28/2014
Nymphomaniac Volumes 1 & 2

Starring: Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stellan Skarsgård, Stacy Martin, Shia LaBeouf, Christian Slater, Uma Thurman, Jamie Bell, Willem Dafoe Director: Lars von Trier Writer: Lars von Trier Extras: Cast interviews, live Q&A with Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stellan Skarsgård, Stacy Martin & Shia LaBeouf, trailer After viewing Lars von Trier's latest feature it becomes hard not to paraphrase a quote from a well-known film critic, in this case 'Oh Lars!".

Onemetal
04/05/2014
The Raid 2

Starring: Iko Uwais, Yayan Ruhian, Arifin Putra Director: Gareth Evans Writer: Gareth Evans Without a doubt, 2012 was a really good year for action films. Not only did we get a damn fine version of Judge Dredd with Dredd 3D, but also earlier that year we got the truly exceptional Indonesian action-fest The Raid .

Onemetal
03/31/2014
Visitors

After a twelve-year wait audiences will finally have a chance to see the sixth experimental documentary from director Godfrey Reggio. The man behind the visually captivating Koyaanisqasti and Naqoyqatsi returns with the equally interesting, but sadly unfocused, Visitors (presented by Stephen Soderbergh).

Onemetal
02/04/2014
The Strange Colour of Your Body's Tears

Before getting into the core of the review, a little warning. A film like The Strange Colour of Your Body's Tears (a.k.a. L'étrange couleur des larmes de ton corps) is quite possibly (along with the likes of Only God Forgives ) a film that's almost beyond any form of conventional critiquing.

Onemetal
11/11/2013

Review of Fellini's masterpiece (on restored DVD and Blu-Ray)

Magazine Articles

Space Monsters
12/02/2013
'SPACE MONSTERS MAGAZINE' ISSUE 3

In issue 3 of Space Monsters magazine I contributed two written pieces. The first was a retro review of the forgotten Hammer film These Are The Damned (aka The Damned), while the second was a two page feature on Rene Laloux's seminal Sci-Fi animation Fantastic Planet (aka La Planete Sauvage).

Interviews

Musings of a Film Fanatic
06/11/2012
Cranking the Filmbar up to 70

A half written / half audio interview with the founders of London film club - Filmbar 70

Musings of a Film Fanatic
05/20/2012
Shock Shock, Horror Horror

An interview with the creators of new British horror magazine Shock Horror

Videotape Swap Shop

Videotapeswapshop
Street Trash - 1987 / Director: J.Michael Muro

Of all the splatter films to come to fans during the last several decades, the 80s contained some of the most strangely original concepts. Take Jim Munro's taste breaking Street Trash: a genre film that could only have been made during the 1980s.

Videotapeswapshop
The Howling III: The Marsupials - 1987 / Director: Philippe Mora

My first experiences with The Howling III stem from late Friday night showings on the telly box. Far from being a good film (there is some good gore) it is subsequently better than any other sequel/follow on (the least said about Howling II and Howling V the better).

Videotapeswapshop
07/19/2012
House on the Edge of the Park - 1980 / Director: Ruggero Deodato

Ruggero Deodato's House On The Edge Of The Park ( La Casa Sperduta Nel Parco) was finally released last year in its most complete form to date. Although it still contains around 42 seconds of cuts mainly involving the infamous switchblade razor sequence.

Attack From Planet B

Attackfromplanetb
04/21/2014
Bloodsucking Freaks (1976) 88 Films 2014 Blu-ray

Dom O Brien reviews the 88 Films Blu-ray release Bloodsucking Freaks (1976), directed by Joel M. Reed. This is the first time it has been released uncut in Britain and its certainly a first for a Blu-ray release. Bloodsucking Freaks is an exploitation film truly needs to be seen even if you only have a passing interest in the exploitation genre.

FilmJuice

Filmjuice
Top Ten Horror Moments

FilmJuice's Dominic O'Brien has been gripped by the clammy, undead hand of Halloween ... so fire up your DVD player, lock the door, and get your stakes, wolfbane and cricket bats at the ready as Dom shares his Ten of the Best Horror Movie Moments ... ever... 10.

Filmjuice
Witchcraft Films

By Dominic O'Brien This week, something wicked this way comes with the release of Rob Zombie's The Lords of Salem. To commemorate this twisted tale of modern day witches, Dominic O'Brien has come up with a list of the ten best films containing witchcraft. So grab your pointy hats and wooden brooms as we delve ...

Filmjuice
01/28/2013
Resident Evil

By Dominic O'Brien With the release of Paul W.S Anderson's fourth sequel to the Resident Evil film franchise (available on DVD and Blu-ray NOW) Dominic O'Brien looks at the series so far. From its days as a lauded survival horror gaming experience, Shinji Mikami's Resident Evil (or Bio Hazard as it is ...

Blog Features

Musings of a Film Fanatic
05/17/2014
Thoughts On - Godzilla (2014)

Warning! This post contains a handful of minor spoilers. If you have yet to see Godzilla and would not like to have anything spoiled, please see it first before reading this post. If you have seen it, then feel free to jump right in. When I first started this blog post I was intending for...

Musings of a Film Fanatic
03/12/2014
My Love - Hate Relationship with Cannibal Holocaust (1980)

Warning this post is NSFW. For months now I have wanted to write a piece on a personal horror favourite of mine. Actually, to call it a personal favourite might seem a bit bizarre, but out of all of the Italian cannibal movies Ruggero Deodato's Cannibal Holocaust continues to stand the test of time after repeat viewings.

Musings of a Film Fanatic
12/09/2013
Existential Violence and Karaoke: Re-evaluating Only God Forgives (2013)

Warning: This post will be filled with the occasional spoiler, so if you have yet to see Only God Forgives please don't read this yet. If you have seen it, keep reading for my views on this interesting cinematic nightmare. Possibly one of the most polarising films this year (maybe even the last few years),...

Musings of a Film Fanatic
10/16/2013
Looking Back At Anger

First reactions to viewing two of Kenneth Anger's shorts from his Magick Lantern Cycle

Musings of a Film Fanatic
09/10/2013
Cest un Maniaque

My views on the recent Maniac remake

Musings of a Film Fanatic
04/30/2013
Plastic Love - Review

A review of Jaime Hooper's short film Plastic Love

Musings of a Fangirl
03/11/2013
Blaxploitation and Russ

A look at how Russ Meyer's anti-heroines might have influenced the likes of Coffy, Cleopatra Jones and Foxy Brown.