It was a completely random discovery. I was watching Daisy May and Charlie Coopers NightWatch, set in Gloucester Prison, a series where they are seeking out ghosts, and was instead blown away by the architecture. Gloucester Prison ceased to exist as a working jail in 2013, but it’s been opened to the public regularly since, … Continue reading Grim But Beautiful Architecture: The Snake Brackets of Gloucester Prison.
Month: November 2025
Why “House of the Rising Sun” Endures as One of Cinema’s Most Powerful Songs.
by Chris Harris Few songs in popular culture ignite atmosphere as instantly as The Animals’ 1964 recording of “House of the Rising Sun.” From the very first slow, circular arpeggio of Hilton Valentine’s guitar, the listener is dropped into a world of regret, temptation and inevitable downfall. Eric Burdon’s vocal, rough, soulful and full of … Continue reading Why “House of the Rising Sun” Endures as One of Cinema’s Most Powerful Songs.
“The Rotten Tomato: Why Great Actors End Up in Forgettable Films”
by Chris Harris It is one of cinema’s enduring curiosities that actors capable of extraordinary work so often appear in dire films that leave the viewer puzzled. With so many TV series now compromised for the purposes of commercial income, I find myself more drawn to films where artistic merit is still king. Normally, anyway. … Continue reading “The Rotten Tomato: Why Great Actors End Up in Forgettable Films”
The Rights of Fans. 