“Alien Film Franchise Encyclopedia” – Coming Soon

I'm thrilled to reveal the cover of the Alien Film Franchise Encyclopedia, a brand new in-world guide to the Alien universe, due to be published by Titan Books on 1 September, 2026. Through 2021-2022, I was part of a four-person writing team working in a top secret virtual bunker alongside my inestimable colleagues Clara Čarija, … Continue reading “Alien Film Franchise Encyclopedia” – Coming Soon

“Alien”

Anyone who knows me will be unsurprised to learn that Ridley Scott's Alien (1979) is one of my favourite films of all time. So much has been written about this futuristic horror movie, however, that it's hard to add anything useful to the conversation. I suppose I could start by telling you the story folllows … Continue reading “Alien”

Revisiting Cinefex (27): Aliens

The human star of Aliens might be Sigourney Weaver, but it's her extraterrestrial adversary - the ferocious alien queen - that features on the front cover of Cinefex #27, No surprise, then, that this issue is devoted entirely to the Oscar-winning visual effects of James Cameron's 1986 blockbuster. The cover shot shows Stan Winston's remarkable full-size queen … Continue reading Revisiting Cinefex (27): Aliens

“Nemesis Sub-Terra” at Alton Towers

Earlier this year I had the great privilege of working on a brand new ride at top UK theme park Alton Towers. The ride is Nemesis Sub-Terra, a claustrophobic horror experience set in the Forbidden Valley, near the famous Nemesis inverted roller coaster. I was hired as scriptwriter by ride theming experts Farmer Attraction Development … Continue reading “Nemesis Sub-Terra” at Alton Towers

“Prometheus”

Most people who like cinema have a movie that shines like a beacon in their memory, brighter than all the rest. Mine is Alien. I was there for its first release in 1979, sneaking past the warning signs in the theatre foyer even though I was too young for the movie's X-certificate. One sign screamed: … Continue reading “Prometheus”

Five Scary Monsters

Without the dark there is no light. Here’s a list – in no particular order – of five monsters that still have the power to keep me awake at night if my mind makes the mistake of inviting them in. Are they my top five? It’s hard to say. Ask me again tomorrow and I … Continue reading Five Scary Monsters

A Stormy Night with John Carpenter’s “The Fog”

It's the middle of the eighties, the middle of a winter's afternoon and the middle of one humdinger of a storm. My friend Andy Wicks and I are in the middle of the stalls of the huge Gaumont cinema in Bournemouth. There are maybe six other people in there with us. We're treating ourselves to … Continue reading A Stormy Night with John Carpenter’s “The Fog”