Demonia (1990) – Lucio Fulci.

Archaeologists excavating Greek ruins in Sicily fatefully disturbs the vengeful spirit of a demonically drooling nun in Fulci's gleefully gory gothic chiller Demonia. The palpable lack of budget lessens the film's overall efficacy, but there are a number of bravura set-pieces that harken to the iconic maestro's gory days! The pristine HD edition is a mixed bag, while manifestly an improvement over the VHS/DVD, the unflinching clarity does, sadly, heighten the film's occasional lapses of finesse, that being said, in truth, even a lesser, latter-day Fulci frequently provides far more entertainment than the blandly recycled horror bilge of today. Never a great favourite of mine, but the historical locations are appealing, its always a treat seeing Fulci the actor, and the gruesome meat locker slaying delivers some vintage Fulci nastiness!!!

 Killing (2018) – Shinya Tsukamoto.

I'm a life-long admirer of inventive iconoclast Shinya Tsukamoto and, for me, his spare, brutalist, fascinatingly contemplative take on the samurai genre is one of his very best. As always, the film-making chops are exemplary, but I must applaud both the dynamic performances which are truly mesmerising, and the utterly fantastic score by the greatly missed sonic genius Chu Ishikawa.

 By a man's face you shall know him. (1966) – Tai Kato.

I have to hand it to Radiance, since they keep on putting out exemplary titles that I haven't seen before, that almost invariably become firm favourites. I was hugely impressed by Tai Kato's film-making prowess, a gripping narrative, well told, and the vibrant performances are no less astonishing.

 Hiruko The Goblin (1990) - Shinya Tsukamoto.

A seasoned archaeologist and his mustard keen pupil disastrously disturbs an ancient, demon-possessed burial ground, inadvertently unleashing the hatefully head harvesting, horribly arachnoid hobgoblin Hiruko! Made after Shinya Tsukamoto's hugely successful independent body horror masterpiece Tetsuo, his thrillingly gory, wickedly playful, equally kinetic creature feature remains a dazzlingly eye-popping treat for fans of inventively blood-spattered horror. Beautifully made, with energized performances, a spectacularly sinister beastie, memorably vivid practical FX, and an exhilaratingly intense climax. The wickedly entertaining Hiroku The Goblin is well served by Third Window Film's exceptionally crisp looking, and dynamic sounding Blu-ray edition. Maestro Shinya Tsukamoto's cult 90s classic has been immaculately restored, the deliciously grisly palate of shockingly crimson hues and luridly green goblin-y gloopiness really packs a slimy wallop on HD!

 Gonjiam : Haunted Asylum (2018) - Jung Bum-shik.

A livestream of a popular online horror series is disturbingly interrupted by inexplicable, increasingly supernatural events that very soon threatens the lives of our freaked out ghost hunters. The creepy South Korean shocker Gonjiam : Haunted Asylum is a fun, jump-scare laden treat for found footage horror fans. Not the most inventive Korean horror film, but it's well-made, energetically mounted, and aficionados of Asian horror should appreciate the spooky content. I'm actually quite surprised how much I enjoyed this, the young cast are lively, the oppressively dank-looking asylum is a suitably grim location, and the capable director certainly delivers the ghoulish goods in the enjoyably hectic climax!

 Le Combat Dans L'ille (1962) – Alain Cavelier.

Powerful noirish thriller about an increasingly tormented terrorist's (Jean Louis Trintignant) descent into escalating paranoia, monomania and murderous mayhem. With fascinating performances, lively filmmaking, and an especially gripping text, maestro Cavelier's masterful, politically savvy drama is utterly vital cinema, with many of the themes certainly no less relevant today. Once again, Radiance provides a beautifully restored monochrome print, and cinephiles are sure to appreciate the extras, including a truly exquisite Cevelier short. It must be noted that goddess Romy Schneider is on utterly ravishing form, luminously beautiful, she remains one of the most captivating screen presences of all time.

 SHINOBI TRILOGY.

The iconic Shinobi Trilogy remains absolutely essential viewing for action aficionados with a yen for all things Ninjitsu! Exquisitely made, consistently rousing action, with superb performances, great pathos, and fascinatingly complex plotting. Once again, Radiance are to be congratulated on restoring these uncommonly thrilling examples of vintage Japanese cinema, and, for me, the truly sublime Shinobi trilogy is one of their crowning achievements thus far. Sharper than a Shuriken, the B/W photography is absolutely ravishing, the kinetic, compellingly blood-thirsty battles really 'pop' on HD, allowing one to imagine the impact of seeing these hugely influential films at the cinema. I must openly admit to being an unapologetic fanboy of Asian cinema, prone to gushing hyperbole, but I can state quite plainly that Shinobi is objectively great cinema, with many indelible sequences that are sure to linger long after the credits.