I've just come back from a trip to beautiful Orkney, so it seems a good time to share a song I wrote many years ago about Scapa Flow, in my former life as a musician (under the alias God's Little Eskimo). Have a listen here: godslittleeskimo.bandcamp.com/track/scapa-...

THE OMEN turns 50 this month! Why not celebrate little Damien's birthday by listening to @grumpyandrew.bsky.social and myself discuss the film in depth on The Thriller Cabinet podcast? Available on Spotify, Apple, and on Libsyn here: thethrillercabinet.libsyn.com/the-thriller...

Out now! On the latest episode of the Boxing Movie Podcast I'm joined by author Kieran Mulvaney to discuss an absolute classic. Raging Bull (1980) was directed by Martin Scorsese, and starred Robert De Niro as middleweight champion Jake LaMotta. The greatest #boxing movie ever? #moviesky #filmsky

As this (hopefully) means new Boards Of Canada material is on the way, here's my article from a few years back in which I try (and generally fail) to adequately explain the sinister brilliance of their 2002 masterpiece 'Geogaddi': diaboliquemagazine.com/into-the-inf...

Ghost Cat Anzu (2024). Combining a coming of age tale with Japanese folklore in the style of 'My Neighbour Totoro', this adds an unexpected detour into the underworld (via a disused toilet) & a horde of rampaging demons. #manga #japan #fantasy #folklore #animation #cats #ghosts #childhood

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I wrote about the breathtaking new SUNN O))) album for Joyzine joyzine.org/2026/04/09/a... @joyzineuk.bsky.social @subpop.bsky.social

I recently made a guest appearance on the Modern Horror Podcast to discuss Prano Bailey-Bond's excellent 2021 film CENSOR (with a bit of general Video Nasty chat too). You can find it here, and probably wherever else you like to get your podcasts from, too: open.spotify.com/episode/1nUg...

Grateful to have seen Luke Jerram's solar installation Helios at Victoria Baths in Manchester this week. 🙏☀️

50 years ago today, Nicolas Roeg's remarkable, haunting film of 'The Man Who Fell To Earth' was released in the UK. While Bowie inevitably gains the most attention with an iconic performance, he has absolutely terrific support from Rip Torn, Buck Henry, and a fantastic Candy Clark.

HEIRLOOMS ...latest teaser for the forthcoming stopmotion animation film, adapted from the story by James Stoorie. Faceless Victorian ghost Peg Prowler haunts twin sisters... Directed by @heirloomsanimation.bsky.social #horror #gothic #stopmotion #animation #ghosts #puppets #outsiderart

Incredible work from the Prince Charles Cinema - extremely strongly seconding that these are among the best thrillers ever made. They really reward attentive viewings and are endlessly brilliant.

The Sea Monster by Theodor Severin Kittelsen (1881) #BookologyThursday

I read Toadhead by @grumpyandrew.bsky.social a couple of months ago and its been lodged in my brain ever since. I was blown away by Andrew's wonderful prose and the horrific images that it provoked. A perfect slice of horror that's left me wanting more!

Excited to come home from work this evening to find today's book post! 😀 Keshed by @stuhennigan.bsky.social. Really looking forward to reading this!

I've done a bit of spring cleaning on my LinkTree. There's a whole archive of articles & episodes on Thrillers, Horrors and Cult Films for your enjoyment, if you fancy a look: linktr.ee/JohnnyRestall A few teasers in the pictures below, with much much more available...

Brewery Tap dates for 2026

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ALICE (1988): Czech genius Jan Švankmajer's stop-motion adaptation takes Lewis Carroll's already nightmarish book and transforms it into a surreal masterpiece. Don't have nightmares!

Really looking forward to this 👇🎵🎶

My first monthly 2 hour radio show for ROVR is here - www.rovr.live/show/njmwkcq... All music, no talk.

With Andrzej Zulawski's astonishing POSSESSION (1981) getting a 4K re-release in the UK, now seems a good time to reshare my article from a few years ago, celebrating the film's 40th anniversary and trying to unravel its strange, scalding mysteries: wearecult.rocks/finding-mean...

‘The quiet transition from autumn to winter is not a bad time at all. It’s nice…to store up your warmth and your thoughts and burrow yourself into a deep hole inside. Then the cold and the storms and the darkness can do their worst.’ ~ Moominvalley in Nov, Tove Jansson. 🖼️ Tove Jansson

Heading to Derby to introduce a screening of Quatermass and the Pit tomorrow as part of this fine day-long celebration, which also features @tobyhadoke.bsky.social, @accordingtojond.bsky.social and @bronteschiltz.bsky.social... Some tickets still available: www.derbyquad.co.uk/events/thequ...

I published my second mixed media art picture book, 'There's A Shoggoth In My Bath' a few months after Mulberry Manor in 2020. I had written the story in 2014, and it was going to be illustrated, but decided to go with sculpture/photography instead. youtube.com/shorts/FV6gZ...

My long form musique concrète piece Overtones was released one year ago today - created entirely from my recordings of a 200 year old hand bell being rung, struck and bowed. To mark the anniversary i'm sharing some download codes for the release. everydaydust.bandcamp.com/album/overto...

Born on this day in 1946, Happy Birthday, JOE DANTE! 🎉

Great October reading wrap up from @thebookubus.bsky.social and excited to see Toadhead by @grumpyandrew.bsky.social on there. 🐸💀 I've just added a load more books to my TBR wishlist! 📚 youtu.be/gkiR9BunA0o?...

Join me and @grumpyandrew.bsky.social as we pass each other the runes and invoke Jacques Tourneur's NIGHT OF THE DEMON (1957) for the series-finale episode of The Thriller Cabinet Podcast. Available via Spotify, Apple, and here: thethrillercabinet.libsyn.com

A huge thank you to everyone who came to Switched On this weekend in Whitby. The first Scholars of the Peak Live performance -wow! Thank you to everyone who approached me afterwards and for all the kind words. I can finally tick that box, Scholars of the Peak go live! 📡⛰️ Thank you ❤️ #electronicmusic

Loved watching Wren's Nest by @hiddenbritain.bsky.social at Switched On in Whitby. Eerie television interruptions and broken soundscapes that morph into a surprisingly effective ghost story.

FREE 12th BIRTHDAY SAMPLER inc. tracks from The Shout soundtrack, Sky, They Came From Beyond Space, Tim Hill, the black Albumen, Revbjelde, Bernard Grancher, Retep Folo & Dorothy Moskowitz, Language Field, Bobby Freex, Matthew Shaw & Jed St. Christopher buriedtreasure.bandcamp.com/album/twelve...

+ HIDDEN BRITAIN // LIVE DATES + As well as my three shows with 'The Balloonist', I'll also be bringing my AV ghost story project 'Wren's Nest' to Whitby in a few weeks as part of the 'Switched On Festival'. Hope to see some of you at these forthcoming dates. + More TBA & ticket links in the bio +

40 years ago today, William Friedkin's TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. was released in the USA - a thrilling but withering takedown of sociopathic machismo on both sides of the law. If you'd like to read more, here's a piece I wrote on it a while back: wearecult.rocks/fake-it-till...

As Sherlock-Holmes-vs-Jack-The-Ripper film A STUDY IN TERROR (1965) was released 60 years ago this month, here's my piece for Rue Morgue comparing & contrasting it with Bob Clark's similarly-themed MURDER BY DECREE (1979): rue-morgue.com/sherlock-hol...

Full electronic weekender in Whitby next month! Should be great fun with some terrific performers, and I'm MC-ing all weekend. Don't let that put you off, though.

This month on The Thriller Cabinet, writer/critic Mario Dhingsa and myself take a trip to Amity Island for a dip in the water to discuss Steven Spielberg's mighty JAWS (1975). Join us at your peril! Available on Spotify, Apple, and here: thethrillercabinet.libsyn.com

ICYMI tix now available for the official Keshed launch on publication day in Feb. Heads up the link for general tix which don't include a book, isn't working but i've told them do should be fixed soon. But if you want the tix w/a book (i'll sign after obvs), crack on 🙏👌

Had a fantastic evening watching Pye Corner Audio at The Yard in Manchester last night. Thank you for the beautiful music! 🎶 🙌

Absolutely loved chatting it up with the lovely @johnnyrestall.bsky.social about all-things Misery. Such a delight to be able to talk about Stephen King on my 4th podcast appearance! 😊 Listen now and subscribe to The Thriller Cabinet!! It’s dead good!

RT's appreciated for this one, pre-orders are super-important for small presses cos they help gauge print runs and they're really helpful for getting us noticed by the big high street chains too 🙏👌

Join @gemseddon.bsky.social and myself as we discuss Rob Reiner's MISERY (1990) on this month's episode of The Thriller Cabinet podcast. Bates & Caan, Stephen King, hobblings - it's all here just waiting for its Number One Fans... Available on Spotify, Apple and here: thethrillercabinet.libsyn.com

I had the absolute privilege of joining @top100pod.bsky.social to discuss Carol Reed's glorious noir THE THIRD MAN (1949) this month. It's hard to do full justice to such an immortal classic, but I gave it my best shot... Available wherever you get your podcasts!

Exciting news 🙌 🎶

Had an absolutely brilliant weekend at @krankenhausfest.bsky.social Met lots of lovely people, drank lots of delicious beer, and listened to incredible music. Plus trains and owls! What's not to love?! 🚂🦉

Out now! @mwkronenberg.bsky.social joins me on the latest episode of the Boxing Movie Podcast to discuss a #boxing #filmnoir classic! Available on all the major podcast platforms. #filmsky #moviesky

So, did he get out of the cockadoodie car or not? Find out next month on the next episode of The Thriller Cabinet podcast. Coming Soon...