Happy Texas Chain Saw Massacre Day. Thinking of Tobe and Gunnar today, two gentle guys who created an abrasive, terrifying masterpiece and a horror icon. Once shared a pot of tea with Gunnar and he signed my vintage poster of Leatherface with ‘To Jamie - You’re next!’

Friend with young children stayed over the weekend. Watched KPop Demon Hunters 3x, and couldn’t get to sleep last night because I was severely earwormed by ‘Golden’.

What do you want to know?.

RT @DoyleofDarkness: "Some people ask why people would go into a dark room to be scared. I say they are already scared, and they need to ha….

Don’t think I’ll ever be a real adult. Got friends staying over and I cooked pizzas for the kids, and (vegan) cottage pie, sweetcorn and spinach for the adults. Just spent the whole dinner staring longingly at the kids’ pizzas and thinking ‘Why the fuck am I eating cottage pie?’.

Caught up with Weapons. Barbarian was a wild ride but this is a step up for Zach Cregger. A film full of motifs and subtexts and hidden horrors, all of them deadly serious, but such an entertaining package - funny, mysterious and packed with scary sequences and haunting images.

Took Gene to the vet this morning and they were running late. Receptionist apologised and said vet was putting a dog to sleep and it was taking longer than expected because family were so distraught. They came out 5 mins later cradling their dog in a blanket. The sight broke me.

Just rewatched the first 3 John Wick movies and was reminded that many homeless people in New York are armed and dangerous intelligence agents working for The Bowery King. I can only hope it is the same in Washington

When people learn I’m a film journalist, the most common Q is, “What’s your favourite film?” I always ask it in return. Today, someone replied “Salvatore Giuliano”. What a great selection. Not talked about nearly enough. One of Scorsese’s favourites

My wife came downstairs to find me watching Ice Cube’s War of the Worlds. “You’re not,” she exclaimed. “Why do you do it to yourself?”I told her I was quite enjoying it and I’ve never seen her look so disappointed in me.

Rewatched S1 of Peacemaker, ready for S2 to drop. A hell of a lot of fun, if not *quite* as riotous and anarchic as I recalled.

Which of these movies is the toughest watch?.

Talked to Sally Hawkins for today’s Times. She’s extraordinary in the Philippou’s disturbing horror movie Bring Her Back, now in cinemas. We discuss that, and fame, Oscars, Mike Leigh and leaving Paddington

Been thinking about the best second entries in film series. These are in alphabetical order. What am I missing?

I don’t think a week goes by when I don’t think about this film and this magnificent beast

Fright Night is 40 years old today. One of my fave vampire movies. I remember being mesmerised by the video sleeve as a teen, and the film lived up to the promise. Even now, when I watch it, FN transports me back to a time when I was discovering the elicit thrill of horror movies

Top 10 British Films (alphabetical order). 1. Barry Lyndon.2. The Bill Douglas Trilogy.3. Brazil.4. A Canterbury Tale.5. The Firm (Clarke).6. Get Carter.7. The Long Day Closes.8. Nil by Mouth.9. The Third Man.10. The Wicker Man.

43 films in July.Best new releases: Sorry, Baby, Islands, Friendship, Dying, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Mother of Flies, Redux Redux, Jimmy and Stiggs.Best 1st watches: Streetwise, Peppermint Candy, Restless Natives.Best rewatches: Dredd, A History of Violence.

I’m going to rewatch S1 of Peacemaker before S2 drops. Partly it’s to refresh my memory, but mainly it’s because I’ve been itching for a rewatch since the second S1 finished. For pure enjoyment, it’s one of my fave shows of recent years.

My biggest joy in life is a mug of tea. My biggest fear is spiders. And now a chunky spider has decided to makes its home behind the kettle and I have a serious conundrum.

I’ve read a couple of Yates’ novels but never any of his short fiction until now. Can’t recommend this book enough. As poetic as it is forensic in its study of neuroses, anxiety and day-to-day humiliations, yet quickens the blood with its fierce sense of dignity