It feels surreal to be moving back to Herts/London soon. An unexpected new start, but no doubt one that’ll be beneficial in the long run. I just want to get back to writing asap, but sometimes big life changes take precedence.

2025 has absolutely pushed my AuDHD to absolute breaking point (actually I’ve probably broken/melted down a few times this year). The next few weeks are going to upend my life in a way I wasn’t expecting. I know I can do this, but can the upcoming months be a bit kinder/slower, I’m exhausted!

Revisited Terminator Genisys (2015) last night, and you know what? 10 years on my opinion hasn’t changed, I still really like this film (I think I’m the only person who does), even if it’s a bit ‘fan-fiction-y’ at times. Genuinely sad it never became a trilogy. Plus, the Lorne Balfe score is 👌🏻

The subversion of religious iconography and the frequent symbolic use of three in Training Day. The thematic subtext is absolutely rife in this film. I now know why it’s such a joy to revisit!

For some reason I can’t share the brief flick through video I did of Budget Biomorphs. Instead, here are a few cropped previews from the book looking at the miniatures work on The Guyver (1991) and early design concepts of the Guyver Zoanoid (given to me by Steve Wang) from Guyver: Dark Hero (1994).

For some reason I can’t share the brief flick through video I did of Budget Biomorphs. Instead, here are a few cropped previews from the book looking at the miniatures work on The Guyver (1991) and early design concepts of the Guyver Zoanoid (given to me by Steve Wang) from Guyver: Dark Hero (1994).

The late Scott Spiegel - king of the creative low budget POV shot!

Welcome to the Dark Side! I’m a Terminator Genisys defender, so I’ll always repost views from others who enjoy it.

I’ve taken a step back from the large Dolph essay (just a few days) to focus on a short piece relating to DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE. I’ll drop a link later.

While are so many great performances in Die Hard with a Vengeance, the late Graham Greene’s Joe Lambert is the real MVP of the film. A sarcastic and wary NYPD Detective with a heart of gold! Die Hard with a Vengeance will be my go-to rewatch this week!

Wasn’t expecting to divulge my AuDHD diagnosis to my family over the last few days. I’m genuinely shocked at their reaction (good and supportive btw). With the work issues addressed and now this out in the open, I feel emotionally lighter. Time to refocus my attention and finish my multiple essays

I promise I’m not doing this to moan/be annoying, but being autistic has made this week particularly challenging. Having a diagnosis is a privilege, so I’m glad I get to understand myself better going forward, but sometimes I wonder if it was better that I didn’t know this late in life. It’s tiring.

To move forward, it’s sometimes important to look back/reflect on past work (something I’ve done a lot of recently). This is my physical body of work so far and I’m determined to increase this stack in the future with more books, working with other labels, and collaborating with other writers.

Thought I’d missed out on getting the Via Vision LE release of The Lords of Salem (I’m a sucker for a lenticular hard case), thankfully I managed to find a brand new copy (and it was affordable). Looking forward to listening to the commentaries on this release.

Yesterday, after months of being made to feel awful in my day job, I finally gave my notice in (with no new role to instantly go into). I’d never been in a role which had caused me so much stress/anxiety. Despite the uncertainty, this is the best option I could have chosen. Now, I can fully heal!

posting sweaty, sleazy Ralph Fiennes in Strange Days for absolutely no reason

Seeing a few people post about the difficulty of finding Strange Days on Blu or physical. While neither are ideal choices, there are UK and German Blu-rays which you can order from Amazon to your country. Not sure if that’s of use to anyone, but the options are there.

Right, looks like I’ve got to stop using Substack due to the controversy. So, do any other writers know of a decent platform (which isn’t Wordpress) that I can use as an alternative for posting my work.

It’s taken me a few years, but I finally found an affordable release (take a bow Playasia) for this (semi-okay) game. Some might say it was a waste of time, but I cannot tell you how happy I am right now 😄

I love how my brain randomly remembers facts or interesting connections. For instance, with the upcoming release of Arrow’s TMNT boxset, I remembered that in TMNT III (1993) there is a Guyver and Guyver: Dark Hero crossover (Vivian Wu with Koichi Sakamoto). Wonderful stuff! Thank you, brain!

I love how my brain randomly remembers facts or interesting connections. For instance, with the upcoming release of Arrow’s TMNT boxset, I remembered that in TMNT III (1993) there is a Guyver and Guyver: Dark Hero crossover (Vivian Wu with Koichi Sakamoto). Wonderful stuff! Thank you, brain!

Found out today that my mum likes the original Death Wish (1974). And while I wasn’t expecting to have a conversation like this today (particularly when her favourite films are Hocus Pocus and Steel Magnolias), I am very glad we randomly spoke about Bronson and ‘70s thrillers briefly.

One day this film will get a decent Blu-ray release and there will be much rejoicing 🙌🏻

I don’t think I’ve ordered something so fast in my life (the recent TMNT boxset aside). The fact I now re-own RE2 and RE3 original (my favourite entry) on my PS5, alongside RE1 and Dino Crisis, has genuinely made my week!

After my Shin Ultraman revisit (which just reaffirmed my love of it), I decided to give Shin Kamen Rider another go. It both fascinates and irritates me (mostly due to how Anno shoots the action). But, it’s a passionate, beautiful mess and a wonderful love letter to the original series.

My Dolph Lundgren (as a director) essay is shaping up nicely. I rarely say this about my writing, but I’m quite proud of this piece! Once again, I’m applying some theory to action films. Honestly, it’s invigorating when I find a different angle for a piece and it suddenly clicks into place.

No matter how many times I revisit SHIN ULTRAMAN (2022), it’s still an absolute joy to watch. And those unique angles (shot with an iPhone) really add a distinct flavour to this entry in the Shin series. Wonderful!

When I research an essay, I go all in. While it has aged poorly in certain places, I do have a lot of love for Freddy vs. Jason. It’s a film I’ve wanted to write about for years, but every time I attempted it, I couldn’t find anything interesting or unique to say 1/3

I love a DTV Dolph, particularly a handful of the slightly lower budgeted ones - for instance Sidney J Furie’s Direct Action. A cheap, no-frills, police corruption thriller, with a perpetually masticating Dolph. A Lundgren comfort film I discovered in the ex-rental bin at Blockbuster in 2006

Not expecting anyone to rush forward, but if you’d like to help me out with my first fanzine/indie mag idea, hit me up.

What I’ve signed up for today is either quite exciting (for me at least) or very stupid and a potentially fruitless endeavour. I guess I won’t know until I try. Additionally, I’m tired of not taking a chance on something that excites me (I last did that four years ago when I started the book).

I adore Peter Pau’s cinematography for Warriors of Virtue. Although Tao is very clearly a set, Pau hides the seams of its elaborate design with his use of specific colour tones, mist, and occasional detritus. All of which just adds to its dream-like quality. A fantasy land you’d want to escape to.

I’ve had some time to contemplate things recently, particularly in regard to my writing and creative ventures. Something I’d honestly like to do more of, is work/collaborate with other writers/creatives. I’ve found this actually reinvigorates me if I spend too much time on isolated projects.

Well this is unexpected. Revisiting old, half written essays and think pieces isn’t as uncomfortable as I thought it would be. It’s also quite nice to revisit some roughed out film histories and get inspired again.

I’m a decent writer. Not the best, but I am capable. It’s worth reminding myself of that fact from time-to-time.

I have often been told to leave old pieces of writing in the past, but against my better judgement I’ve decided to revisit a few pre-book pieces to polish them up (for my Substack). Basically this, and the other small project I’m working on, is helping me ease back into writing after my burn out.

When you revisit an old friend and realise they can still make you smile, despite decades having past since you last interacted with them. I’ve had the biggest grin on my face since I’ve started replaying this!

A bit of a daft post, but I just wanted to thank @punisher-book.bsky.social for reinvigorating my frustrating AuDHD brain. I am finally starting to feel more myself again because I’m back doing what I love - writing! The last month has been emotionally exhausting, but I don’t feel so low/lost now.

Received a belated bday present from my dad last week and it made me a little emotional. He found a Guyver model that he had 3D printed for my 40th. His reasonings? To celebrate the book’s achievement and to the have something I can display next to it when promoting. Now, I just have to assemble it

The fact I’ve spent a few hours this afternoon just writing fiction (for the first time in years) has given me such a buzz. Polished an old action short story and drafted out a horror short story that I’ve wanted to write for some time. It’s nice to get a little bit of energy back.

I may actually do some writing today 😱😱😱. Does this mean that my brain isn’t exhausted anymore? I really hope so. I’ve missed being creative, especially since the BB4 piece back in March. As frustrating as it is for me, rest and being kind to yourself are absolutely required when you’re burnt out!

Cronenberg waxing lyrical about Lynch and Bergman - while perusing the Criterion Closet - is the best 5:50 on YouTube today.

Slowly getting into a better place, mentally and physically. Turning 40, I suddenly give less of a crap as to what people think of me (wow it’s taken long enough). The last few weeks have shown me that being in the wrong job (especially when I’m AuDHD) is severely damaging to my health. Onwards!

I highly recommend issue 482. This has nothing to do with there being a 4-page interview with me in that issue 🤣

Finally catching up on Creature Commandos. This is giving me a bit of a serotonin boost, which I’ve been sorely lacking.

Anytime I have a low mood/particularly depressive episode, I try a little harder to think of positive things I can aim for; specifically writing/starting the next book (when I’m in a better headspace), finishing the numerous essays I have, or maybe starting that comic script I’ve always wanted to do

Taking a small break from Berserk, just because some of the subject matter is a bit too much for me at the moment. It is an absolute masterpiece though, so I understand all the praise for it now. Decided to try Vagabond out as a palate cleanse. Wow…Inoue’s artwork is clean and morbidly beautiful.

Madsen’s Preston Lennox in SPECIES and SPECIES II is a core reason those films are so entertaining. He understands both film’s sci-fi hokum and complete subverts his performance. Serious, horrific or fantastical moments are played nonchalantly, but in quiet moments he over-acts. Wonderful stuff!

This is 40… I’m proud of the person I’m evolving into. Onwards! (this is also a non-alcoholic drink as I’m still not drinking)