Feature Category: Features

Angus MacAllan | GATES OF STONE

ANGUS MACALLAN is better known to fans of historical fiction as Angus Donald. When he’s not writing books about Robin Hood as a crime boss, he’s producing excellent fiction in other genres. His latest is the fantasy novel GATES OF STONE, due out soon. We caught up with him to find out more…

STARBURST: What’s the elevator pitch for Gates of Stone?

Angus MacAllan: Game of Thrones in Asia.

And how would you pitch that to someone who has only ever seen Game of Thrones?

I’d say, if you liked Game of Thrones, you’ll absolutely love Gates of Stone. My heroine Katerina Astrokova would eat Cersei Lannister for breakfast! She’s much more hardcore – and only 16 years old.

How would you describe the Empire of the Ice-Bear to an elderly relative?

The Empire of the Ice-Bear is sort of like 10th-century Russia but much bigger. It is a sprawling confederation of seven principalities, each with different national characteristics, that stretches from Frankland – Germany/France – in the west to the Celestial Republic – China – in the east. The main action in Gates, though, takes place in the Laut Besar – which is a warm tropical ocean, far to the south of the Empire, which is a little bit like 18th-century Indonesia and is studded with lush islands and infested with Malay pirates. The Laut Besar is the only place in this world that produces obat, an opium-like drug. The great national powers come to the Laut Besar to trade obat, and struggle bloodily with each other to control the incredibly lucrative production of this very addictive and destructive narcotic.

What character is the most fun to write?

Princess Katerina Astrokova. She has absolutely no moral qualms about doing anything: she will murder, manipulate or even marry anyone in order to get what she desires – which is power and wealth. But she can also be trusted always to keep her word. And she can be generous and kind, too, when she’s in the mood. But, at heart, she’s the ultimate kick-ass bitch-queen

And which character seriously needs to have a word with themselves?

Prince Jun from the tiny island of Taman, in the east of the Laut Besar, really needs to grow up. He’s a spoilt little princeling who thinks only of his own pleasures. He gets a rude awakening when a sorcerer invades Taman, kills his father and shatters Jun’s pampered life. He’s a bit of a dick at the start of the book, but he grows on you.

If Gates of Stone was set in another world, how different would it be?

Totally. The world of the Laut Besar is unique. Its obat-production drives the plot as well as providing a host of colourful characters – pirates, missionaries, gangsters, magic-wielding priests, cannibals, and weird and wonderful animals. If I set Gates of Stone somewhere else, it would be an unrecognisably different book.

Why epic fantasy?

I loved Game of Thrones, as well as reading all the usual suspects like JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis and Stephen Donaldson when I was a youngster. And I always wanted to create my own world. I have written a lot of historical fiction – 11 novels so far – and I think there is a good deal of crossover between history and fantasy – although many of my histfic colleagues would deny it. You ask why – the truth is, I don’t know. I had an idea for a world, for a story, and some interesting characters to put in it – and I just started typing.

How does magic change a society?

It takes away personal responsibility. And breeds paranoia. In societies that still firmly believe in magic, when something bad happens to you, people believe that it must be as a result someone wishing you ill. For example, if you get drunk and fall in a ditch on the way home, it’s an evil spirit that pushed you into the ditch, not just your own feet getting tangled after a dozen pints of beer. That evil spirit was probably conjured by your neighbour – who secretly hates you. I spent six months in Indonesia as an anthropology student in the 1980s, studying magic and sorcery in Balinese society. It was eye-opening, and on occasion, very frightening. But the magic in Gates of Stone is based on the magical practices I observed and recorded all those years ago in Bali. In a way, Gates of Stone is a result of my time spent as a young anthropologist.

Which writers inspire you?

I really like Joe Abercrombie, and Mark Lawrence is excellent, too. Outside the fantasy genre, I like George Macdonald Fraser’s Flashman books. I love the early spy stories of John Le Carre. But it was Bernard Cornwell’s Arthurian trilogy The Warlord Chronicles that inspired me to try my hand at writing nearly twenty years ago.

What fantasy tropes do you personally avoid the most?

Deus ex machina. I really hate it when the hero is in a tight spot and suddenly somebody new turns up to save him/her. Or he remembers he has a magic do-dad that can do this or that. Or the eagles swoop in and carry him to safety… All the solutions should already be there in the plot to get the hero out of the mire in the nick of time.

How would you describe your process?

Edit, edit, then edit some more. My first drafts are usually pretty dire. And it takes re-writing, re-jigging and restructuring and honing over many months to produce something that is fit to be read.

Simpsons or Futurama?

Simpsons – I quite like Futurama, too. But it’s not as much fun as Springfield.

Tigers or Bears?

I have some wonderful, massive, usually gentle but occasionally ferocious creatures in Gates of Stone called ‘Ghost Tigers’ who play a crucial role in the plot. I love them. I’d like one as a pet or to guard my house. But I also want to put some Ice-Bears in the next book.

Truth or Beauty?

Truth is beauty, doncha know! And beauty is truth.

GATES OF STONE is available from February 19^th from all good suppliers of excellent fiction.

George Mann | THE REVENANT EXPRESS

GEORGE MANN is the author of THE AFFINITY BRIDGE, THE OSIRIS RITUAL, and GHOSTS OF MANHATTAN, as well as lots of tie-in fiction that includes DOCTOR WHO, DARK SOULS and WARHAMMER 40,000. His latest novel, THE REVENANT EXPRESS: A NEWBURY AND HOBBES INVESTIGATION, is a steampunk action novel that follows the further adventures of Mann’s titular creations. We caught up with him to find out more…

STARBURST: What’s the pitch for The Revenant Express?

The Revenant Express follows agent for the Crown Sir Maurice Newbury as he takes an epic train journey to St. Petersburg to fetch a clockwork heart from Faberge, which he’s hoping will be enough to save the life of his partner Veronica, who was mortally wounded at the end of the previous book. The story of what happens on the train interweaves with a case from a few months earlier, back in London, so we’re following both threads and seeing how – and if – they come together.

How would you explain it to a fan of trains?

At least half the book takes place aboard a massive train travelling from France to Russia, with murder, intrigue and danger onboard. Plus, there’s a very disturbing type of fuel being burned, too…

For the uninitiated, what is the world of Newbury and Hobbes like?

I see Newbury and Hobbes as a Victorian fantasy/mystery series, with a little dash of the occult. Anyone who likes the idea of a lovechild of Steed & Peel from the Avengers, Hammer Horror, Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Who should find something to enjoy in the stories! It’s a gloomy, fog-bound world, filled with danger, rogue agents, occult horrors and weirdness.

Ten Years of Newbury and Hobbes? What’s next?

For Newbury & Hobbes? Well, we have a collection of the comic series coming in April, and then there’s a new novella and another novel in the works too. I’m also really excited to be working on a N&H board game with the fine folks at Needy Cat Games. More on that soon, but it’s looking very special indeed! In terms of other, non-N&H projects, there are a few exciting things coming this year that you’ll be hearing about in the Spring, and I’m hoping to tackle something entirely new, too. Watch this space!

Do you have a different approach in writing the Newbury and Hobbes books compared to your Doctor Who or Warhammer 40,000 work?

There’s certainly a different level of freedom involved in writing your own worlds and characters when compared to writing something set in an existing, established universe. I try to make the most of that freedom. I’ve been writing those characters for so long now that I hear their voices in my head. It’s like returning to old friends. The key thing about writing tie-in work, for me, is that you can’t approach it with a cynical frame of mind. If you’re going to do your best work, you have to dive right in and believe in what you’re writing.

What’s the most fun you’ve had writing tie-in fiction?

To date, it’s probably writing the War Doctor book, Engines of War. That was a real honour, and so much fun. The BBC really just encouraged me to let loose and write something big, bold and epic, and I went all in. I still can’t believe I had the chance to write it.

What tie-in fiction world – that you haven’t worked on – would you like to write for next?

I’d love to write something set in the Star Wars universe. Plus, both Spider-Man and Batman are on my bucket list!

Back to Newbury and Hobbes – what is the appeal of Victoriana? Is nostalgia always misplaced?

I don’t think so, no, although we have to be careful to look back on things with a balanced view, remembering the social problems and horrors of a historical period alongside the stuff we want to celebrate, too. I think in the case of the Victorian era we’re at that point in our history where it’s not long passed out of living memory, and in many ways still feels very familiar to us – many families in Britain still have Victorian objects knocking about their houses, and stories about great-grandparents who lived through that era etc. But it’s also far enough gone that we can start to make a fantasy out of it, in a way that we perhaps can’t with more recent times. That said, the ‘80s seems to have become fertile ground for fantasy in recent years, so I suppose there’s a question about just how long we need to wait before we start fantasising our own past.

What elements make a fantasy world seem real to you?

Characters. For me, it’s all about the characters. If the people in the book feel real, and they interact with their environment in a way that seems real, as a reader, I’ll buy almost any fantastical element.

What one thing about yourself surprises most people?

That I’ve worked with books in one capacity or other since the age of 15.

Space Marines or Time Lords?

Time Lords, because Doctor Who has been such an important part of my life. But I’m fond of Space Marines too!

Jammy Dodgers or Hobnobs?

Hobnobs – as long as they’re the chocolate ones.

Truth or Beauty?

Truth.

The paperback edition of THE REVENANT EXPRESS: A NEWBURY AND HOBBES INVESTIGATION is out February 12th from Titan Books. It can be found at all good purveyors of fiction.

Mark Stay | THE END OF MAGIC

MARK STAY is one of those people who’s always up to something interesting. He’s the chap responsible for co-writing THE ROBOT OVERLORDS screenplay, he co-presented THE BEST SELLER EXPERIMENT podcast, and even has a bestselling book to his name. When he’s not writing scripts or working on a forthcoming TV drama, he’s writing novels. We caught up with him to find out more about his latest project, fantasy novel THE END OF MAGIC.

Starburst: What is The End of Magic?

Mark Stay: I realised that what the world needs now is yet another fantasy novel by a white, middle-aged bloke! Seriously though, I really did wonder what I could bring to the genre, and it got me thinking about my own life. And even though I have it very cushy, why do I still have all these anxieties? So I created Sander Bree, a powerful mage, living a very privileged life, who still has the gall to complain and moan, and I proceed to torture the bugger in fun and exciting ways for 372 pages. Like most writing, it’s a form of therapy, I guess.

How would you pitch it to an elderly relative?

It’s like that Game of Thrones off the telly, but with no boobs. Yes, there are dragons and magic and big battles and stuff, but no boobs. Granddad, will you stop going on about the boobs?!

If you could take one of the characters out for a drink, who would it be?

Rosheen Katell is a freelance mage, one who has travelled the world with her griffin Anzu and seen and done some incredible things. I would ask her about her adventures and then ask for a ride on the griffin. The End of Magic is a one-and-done novel, but if I were ever to consider a spin-off, it would be with her. She’s got more stories to tell.

And if could sit one of them down and have a quiet word, what advice would you give?

I would tell Sander to get over himself and appreciate what he’s got, but the obstinate bugger would insist that he knows better and would only ignore me. You see why I had to make his life so miserable now, don’t you?

What is it about Griffins? How do you develop a character like that?

I’m allergic to anything with four legs and fur, so I’ve always been a little envious of people’s relationships with cats and dogs, and I wanted to explore that a bit. In my story, Griffins are your most loyal and lethal best friend, and Anzu the griffin is a sane voice in a world going to hell in a handcart. She has a perspective on humanity and its hubris that our main characters lack, so it’s a real shame what happens to her…

How does producing a book like this compare to project like Robot Overlords?

Robot Overlords was a wonderful collaboration and an amazing experience. I had so many pinch-me moments making that film, and I learned so much through the making of it. With The End of Magic the creative stakes are different in that I have much more freedom to do whatever the hell I want without the constraints of a budget, but it’s also all on me: if you hate it, I can only blame myself!

Will we ever see more Robot Overlords?

I hope so. There’s so much more of that world that Jon [Wright, co-writer and director] and I have written, and we are bursting with ideas. There’s some talk of a TV series, but I’ve learned not to get too excited until I’m actually standing on the set with actors and cameras and all that stuff.

Could The End of Magic end up in another format? TV for example?

It would be a bold producer who would pony up the dough for the epic battles, dragons, wyverns, killer mer-people, trolls, floating mountains crashing from the sky, heavily-populated citadels and exploding moons that I’ve stuffed into the book, but why the hell not? It would be a feast for the eyes!

Authors such as Joe Abercrombie, Den Patrick and Jen Williams have heralded a very British shift toward world building and ‘consequences based’ character arcs. How does your series compare?

Those are all big influences on me, though I’m less interested in the world building and more in the characters. Jen, in particular, was a joy to read in that I really clicked with her conflicted characters and their crackling dialogue and her imagination is extraordinary. It was after reading her work that I thought I could try something similar. I’m not a fan of never-ending series, or books with massive appendices, or extensive backstory. I just want a great story, well-told, and Jen is great at that.

How did your podcast, The Bestseller Experiment, influence your creative process?

Hugely! It’s like a weekly tutorial. Each week we speak to the most amazing authors – we’ve had Joe Abercrombie, Joe Hill, Joanne Harris, Tad Williams, Brandon Sanderson, Ben Aaronovitch, Jen Williams and many more on the show – and I learn something new every time. It’s improved my writing more than anything else I’ve ever done. There’s no magic secret, just lots of hard work, but it’s also taught me that a writer’s style is always evolving and with each book, you will change and, hopefully, improve.

What would you do differently now that the book is on its way to shelves?

Nothing! I’ve been blessed with an incredible agent, editor, copy editor and cover art. It’s all going suspiciously well so far… I’m sure that’s when the ground falls from under your feet, so ask me again in a year.

Why Unbound? Is Unbound’s approach the future of publishing?

The main reason I went with Unbound was the opportunity to work with the editor Simon Spanton. I knew him from Gollancz, and it was a real privilege to have him edit my book. We don’t talk about editors enough. They can make such a difference to how a book evolves, and they are so crucial to the creative process. If you want to make an author even more anxious than usual, tell them their editor is leaving for another publisher! Unbound’s crowdfunding approach has proven to be really successful and is giving voice to authors who might otherwise be overlooked by the bigger publishing houses. It’s an exhausting process, though. Pimping yourself and begging for money for a year or so will test your self-belief to its limits, but as the bigger publishers become more risk-averse I think we’re going to see more mid-list and debut authors having to adapt to new ways of publishing in order to get their books out there. Crowdfunding is maturing and becoming more accepted by the industry and readers, and it has already led to some extraordinary books making it to publication and winning awards.

What’s next?

I’ve just sent a draft of a kids’ science fiction novel to my agent. Tonally, it’s much more like Robot Overlords and I’m really happy with it. Hopefully, we can find a home for that soon. I’ve had a top-secret TV show optioned and we think we’ve found a showrunner, which is very exciting, and Jon Wright and I are working on a few TV things that we hope will get off the ground soon. Oh, and on the podcast we’ve challenged ourselves to sell ten thousand copies of our time travel novel Back to Reality by the end of Glastonbury… which is borderline insane, so wish us luck.

Simpsons or Futurama?

Disenchantment! All my favourite fantasy tropes rolled into one show. I love it.

Dragons or Death Stars?

Dragons have less vulnerable exhaust ports, so let’s go with them.

Truth or Beauty?

Beauty fades, but truth is eternal… Ooh, that’s almost profound!

THE END OF MAGIC by Mark Stay is available from all good dealers of fantasy fiction from Feb 7th. We also strongly advise you to catch ROBOT OVERLORDS, which is currently streaming for members of Prime Video.

Issue 457 – Out Now!

Issue 457 of STARBURST is a massive look ahead to what we can expect on the small screen as we present our 2019 TV PREVIEW. Find out all about your favourite shows and the new series that you have to look out for. Plus the legendary NEIL GAIMAN opens up about GOOD OMENS and showrunner JEFF BUHLER talks about the TV adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s NIGHTFLYERS.

Elsewhere, we chat to director ROBERT RODRIGUEZ and co-producer JON LANDAU about ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL and take a look at the history of the character and what you can expect from the film.

We get our teeth into the upcoming old-school British horror film CRUCIBLE OF THE VAMPIRE and talk to the director about it, and THE LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART is previewed.

If that’s not enough, there’s a rundown of the Top 50 Fantasy Lovers to get you in the mood for Valentine’s Day.

In our regular features, Horror Obscura gets goes deep into REDWOOD and Independents Day focuses on the director of the fabulous short ENDS MEAT.

Plus all your favourite COLUMNS, NEWS, REVIEWS and much MORE from the worlds of SCI-FI, HORROR and FANTASY!

[ENDED] WIN VENOM ON BLU RAY

Available on Digital January 26

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To be in with a chance of winning one of these, simply answer the below question:

Who is Marvel super villain is Woody Harrelson set to play in Venom 2?

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b) Mysterio

c) Bobby Dazzlerio

Email your answer, along with your address details, to [email protected] labelled VENOM before midnight on Wednesday January 26^TH .

The official word on this new release reads: VENOM tells the evolution story of Marvel’s most enigmatic, complex and badass character Venom! Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) is a broken man after he loses everything including his job and fiancée. Just when his life is at its lowest, he becomes host to an alien symbiote which results in extraordinary superpowers – transforming him into Venom. Will these powers be enough for this new lethal protector to defeat great evil forces, especially against the far stronger and more weaponized symbiote rival, Riot?

DVD Bonus Materials Include:

“Venom” by Eminem – Music Video
“Sunflower” by Post Malone, Swae Lee (From Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse)
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Sneak Peek: Meanwhile in another universe…

Additional Blu-ray & 4K Ultra HD Bonus Materials:

Venom Mode: When selecting this mode the film will engage informative pop-ups throughout the film to provide insight on the movie’s relationship to the comics, and to reveal hidden references that even a seasoned Venom-fan may have missed!
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The Anti-Hero: A featurette about the history of Venom in comics and his journey to the big screen. Interviews with Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach, Ruben Fleischer, and Director and Comic Fanboy Kevin Smith.
The Lethal Protector in Action: Go behind the scenes with the production crew and learn the secrets behind the awesome Motorcycle stunts, wire stunts, and drones.
Venom Vision: A look at how Ruben Fleischer came to the project, gathered his team, and made Venom a reality. Utilizes interviews from cast, crew, and producers as well as Fleischer himself.
Designing Venom: Designing and creating Venom meant a huge challenge for VFX artists; follow the amazing journey.
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Terms & Conditions:

Sony and STARBURST do not accept any responsibility for late or lost entries due to the Internet or email problems. Proof of sending is not proof of receipt. Entrants must supply full details as required on the competition page, and comply with all rules to be eligible for the prizes. No responsibility is accepted for ineligible entries or entries made fraudulently. Unless otherwise stated, the Competition is not open to employees of: (a) the Company; and (b) any third party appointed by the Company to organise and/or manage the Competition; and (c) the Competition sponsor(s). This competition is a game promoted STARBURST. STARBURST’s decision is final in every situation and no correspondence will be entered into. STARBURST reserves the right to cancel the competition at any stage, if deemed necessary in its opinion, and if circumstances arise outside of its control. Entrants must be UK residents and 18 or over. Entrants will be deemed to have accepted these rules and to agree to be bound by them when entering this competition. The winners will be drawn at random from all the correct entries, and only they will be contacted personally. Prize must be taken as stated and cannot be deferred. There will be no cash alternatives. STARBURST routinely adds the email addresses of competition entrants to the regular newsletter, in order to keep entrants informed of upcoming competition opportunities. Details of how to unsubscribe are contained within each newsletter. All information held by STARBURST will not be disclosed to any third parties

The Best Slots Influenced by Films

The online gambling industry continues to grow with year-on-year profits having risen for 10^th year in succession. Online casinos are central to that growth and provide players with a huge selection of hundreds – and sometimes thousands – of games, each with their own unique features and themes. Both the big software houses and boutique providers are capable of the sort of innovation which ensures that new games remain fresh and interesting. They draw their inspiration from a multitude of influences, and popular culture is one of the foremost.

Films, TV series and popular music all exert their influence over many of the most popular games on the market. From NetEnt’s rock slots series, featuring games like Jimi Hendrix and Guns N’ Roses through to Playtech’s longstanding agreement with DC Comics (which itself replaced a similar deal with Marvel), the online gaming industry is bold enough to honour some legendary cultural reference points. Access to these themes isn’t cheap, of course. However, the high cost ensures that software providers put even more effort into creating the best games possible to take full advantage of the opportunity in from of them. As a result, many of the leading online casino games originate from popular culture references.

Slot Game Themes

Online casinos have won a regular player base from a range of people who would never have stepped foot in a real-life ‘bricks and mortar’ casino. Ease of accessibility is one of the chief reasons for this popularity. That said, nobody should underestimate the importance of creativity – not least with their approach to promotional campaigns. Nearly all casinos offer an inventive welcome bonus package and you can collect some, like the All British Casino No Deposit Bonus, without spending any money. It’s not just the promotions though, online casino games are subject to similar levels of innovation. Video slots are the most popular type of online casino game and there are literally thousands available to play. They are inspired by traditional slot games, colloquially known as one armed bandits or pokies, but they have drawn influences from video gaming too. This means that most online slots now boast not only a wealth of ‘bonus features’ to excite players, but also well-developed themes, characters and even storylines.

These characteristics create a whole new type of gaming experience which is some way removed from the ‘nudge and hold’ nature of offline slot machines. Some slots are increasingly blurring the lines between video gaming and casino play. Even a cursory glance through the games catalogue at a leading online casino will reveal the influence of film and TV on these developments. It doesn’t take you long to stumble across Ted, Game of Thrones, Terminator II, The Goonies, and others. These are just the franchised games too. Other games are unashamedly influenced by film without explicitly referencing them. Rich Wilde, the lead character from the hugely popular Book of Dead slot, is more than a little redolent of Indiana Jones, for example. Meanwhile, MicroGaming’s Immortal Romance game shares a good few similarities with the Twilight series.

The Best Slots Influenced by Film

Other slots reference their influences directly. The big software companies are successful enough to buy the rights to huge film franchises and build their games around them. UK based provider Playtech has built much of its success on the relationship it established with Marvel Comics, as mentioned earlier in this article. When that relationship ended – resulting in the withdrawal of loads of popular slots – they hopped into bed with DC Comics instead and released iconic games like Superman and The Green Lantern. Other gaming giants like NetEnt and MicroGaming sporadically introduce release their own film-based slots too. Here are three of the very best film-based games you can play:

Planet of the Apes

This game is so good that we devoted a full review to it last year, but it’s very much worthy of another mention here too. The game pays homage to both the Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Dawn of the Planet of Apes films, and in some style. Just when you through that game designers had thought of everything, NetEnt pulled off a masterstroke by creating ‘two games in one’. There are two sets of independently spinning reels, one devoted to each of the films, and you can win on either side (or both at the same time). When the two different games interact, players can win huge sums. Bonus features include the possibility to turn all paying symbols into instant wins on the Rise side, while on the Dawn side, all high paying symbols can combine into one big super symbol. There’s a lucrative free spins round too, alongside a host of other features. It’s the epitome of a ‘lovingly created’ film-based online slot.

Terminator II

From 2017’s Planet of the Apes to a much older game, which many film-based games try to replicate but few can rival. Terminator II is a MicroGaming online slot with a superb soundtrack and symbols featuring all the main characters from James Cameron’s movie epic. The 3D graphics and animations are on point, and the gameplay is undeniably engrossing. The free spins bonus round is worth a special mention too. During this round, the shape of the grid changes from a 3×3 reel format to a 5×4 layout, which offers a whopping 1204 potential paylines. The T800 bonus feature is excellent too, enabling you to play the game through the eyes of the Terminator while picking up plenty of cash wins along the way. Terminator II was one of the first film-based slots to capture the essence of its target movie so perfectly and it remains as popular as ever.

Top Gun

I wanted to include a Playtech slot in the list and strongly considered one of the DC Comics games. Man of Steel and Green Lantern are both particularly impressive, but I’ve plumped for something a bit different. I am a child of the 80s and Top Gun is an iconic film for many of my generation. The slot itself is faithful to the film and has a distinctly ‘retro’ flavour in comparison to flashier games of its ilk. There are frequent nods to the film too. All the main characters make an appearance, while the bonus features include ‘Dogfight’ wilds and the ‘Danger Zone’ Free Games round, where you stand the best chance of winning big. For those of us of a certain vintage, it’s a great chance to spin some rounds while enjoying the sights and sounds of one of most iconic movies of the 1980s.

Mission Implausible!

We’ve become accustomed to seeing death-defying feats on the big screen over the years. From the dawn of cinema with the gasp-inducing slapstick danger of Buster Keaton to the explosive action of the latest James Bond or Tom Cruise film, we can’t wait to be thrilled in bigger and better ways. But how much do these stars really risk

Let’s take a look at how realistic some of the best Hollywood stunts actually are and what your chances are of surviving them with this special interactive guide from the experts at Betway…

Corin Hardy | THE NUN

Having impressed many with his debut feature, 2015’s The Hallow, many genre fans were hugely excited at the prospect of Corin Hardy tackling The Nun. With that terrifying gothic entry in the shared Conjuring realm hitting home release next week, we caught up with Corin to discuss the movie, the charming gothic horrors of yesteryear, his real-life spooky encounters on the set of The Nun, and a whole lot more.

STARBURST: Firstly, how did your involvement in The Nun initially come about?

Corin Hardy: Well I was sent the script through James Wan’s Atomic Monster company. I was familiar with the character from The Conjuring 2, and I’m a horror fan so was familiar with James’ work. I was eager to see what the story would be, and I was surprised and excited by the mysterious adventure story that I read in the script. That enticed me to get involved. I pretty much read the script in the morning, had a Skype with him that afternoon, and was working on it the next day.

With The Nun being a part of an existing franchise that has such a strong fanbase, was there any trepidation from yourself in taking on the project?

Not really. I’ve got a number of my own projects and I’ve got a number of different stories that I’m juggling and wanting to tell, and when The Nun came around it was sort of a curveball. Like I said, I read it very quickly, then I thought, “Can I get my teeth into this?” Because it was such an old school gothic horror story with an adventure element that took place in a time and a place that was visually appealing and had a lot of elements of things that I love, I could see myself making it. From getting the job, there wasn’t a lot of time to sit back and contemplate or be concerned. I was very encouraged by James and by New Line – who have made some great movies – to do my thing with their support. It was a creative collaborative process.

Given the rich charm of some of the classic gothic horrors of yesteryear, was there anything in particular that you went back and watched for inspiration when putting The Nun together?

You said the word rich, and that’s a good word. I guess I’m a fan of these environments. It painted a lot of visuals in my head that harked back to a lot of movies that I loved growing up, that held a lot of mystery and horror, and I think the kind of movies that actually aren’t really being made now. A lot of horror tends to be very contemporary or current, with the exception of maybe something like The Witch, or it’s a blockbuster mega-budget adventure movie. I put together a mood book once I was getting involved in the project, to sort of share with my crew. It was full of references from classic horror movies; Hammer movies; The Exorcist; The Exorcist III; Name of the Rose; Evil Dead 2; Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom; Dracula, both the Coppola and Hammer ones; science-fiction movies; Black Narcissus and the sort of rich colours and cinematography in a movie like that; there were some Italian horror movies. I guess that was the sort of colour palette and environmental palette of the castles and the mountains and forests, the candle-lit corridors that were flickering, the darkness. It’s the most potent, classic horror environment. When I was making the movie, it made me feel quite happy that it was my own little Dracula movie.

In the last four or five years – and a lot of it is down to people like James Wan – do you think that there’s been almost a resurgence in great horror?

I definitely think that there are cycles or styles of horror, of subgenres of horror, and we may be in between a couple at the moment. I think what James brought back, particularly with The Conjuring, he harked back to this Golden Era of horror – like The Exorcist – where you had great characters, great cast, beautiful cinematography, classic storytelling. You invested in it, it’s not cynical. It’s not for laughs but it can have humour in it, and it was respectful and contains a lot of mystery and fantasy that grounds it. I think that’s what people find attractive about the Conjuring movies, that they have a grounding. The Nun was intentionally a little bit different, a little bit more of a fantasy adventure with a gothic horror element. Then I guess you’ve got what Jordan Peele’s doing, recently there’s Hereditary. These are very contemporary stories that feel like they’re taking place in our real world and that can scare us in a different way.

You touched on it there, that at times there is a little bit of lightness and humour in horror movies. In The Nun, the Frenchie character is often there to bring some levity to proceedings. How important was that character in balancing out the tone of the picture?

It’s something that you ultimately balance in the edit, but it was always written that his character was this sort of everyman character who was always a little bit slow and helped provide levity. In the testing period of making the movie, he got such a lot of love that he definitely became even more of a character in the final cut of the movie. It’s certainly not a comedy-horror, but when you have a horror movie and you can balance it and give license to letting the audience catch their breath, it enhances the scares and the ride that they’re on if you can suspend the belief around it. So it’s definitely a fine line. Frenchie is a very likable guy and Jonas [Bloquet] the actor is wonderful. I think one of my favourite scenes in the movie, spoiler alert, is towards the end when Father Burke, Irene and Frenchie have finally come together as a unit and Irene takes her vows. They’ve all been through hell and are preparing to go deeper, Frenchie’s loading the shotgun, and they’ve now gelled as a unit. I really liked that image. Then as they go down, they come across the Blood of Christ and there’s a little scene between them where it’s very holy and quite a tense moment as they retrieve this sacred artefact and Burke ends up giving it to Irene. We managed to get away with a little line from Frenchie that I think just underpins, just before they go in to the darkness and the scary place to encounter the demon Nun, that there’s a real moment where you can kind of breathe again.

There are certain stories that the set in Romania was blessed by a Priest and that you yourself had your own spooky encounter out there. How true is all of that?

Both stories are totally 100% true. New Line, who have done a lot of these movies, make a point on every movie they make – the Conjuring movies, the Annabelle movies, any movies with religious content – that they not only get the religious community involved and run the scripts by them as they don’t want to offend anyone, but also they get, in this case a Roman Catholic Priest, to come and bless the set. He blessed the castle. I was standing there, it took a good half an hour and I don’t know quite what he said, but he got a big bottle of holy water and was flicking it around. He flicked it right in my face and I got a whole eye-full of it. Maybe I was super protected for the shoot, but then during the shoot…

I’m a relatively sceptical person, and I don’t really say it lightly, but I did have what I can only amount to a supernatural experience while I was making the movie. It was during the Corridor of Crosses sequence, which was shot in a real underground fortress in Romania – a real and genuinely creepy, dark and strange labyrinth – and I was shooting the sequence where Irene is approaching the door that the Nun is behind. It was quite an elaborate, long 50ft track. I had to be based in a room off that corridor, which was a real dungeon-like square room with only one door that went out on to the corridor. There was only one way in and out. It was pitch black in that room, and as I went in to the room from the corridor we were shooting in to look at the monitors, I saw two men sitting in the darkness. I thought they were Romanian crew members, because you see a lot of crew hiding around corners, trying to get out the way of the shot in little spaces. I went in, I saw these two men in the dark at the back of the room, nodded to them, then turned my back to watch the monitor for 20 minutes while we rehearsed this shot that was quite difficult to get right. When we finally had the shot, I turned to announce my excitement of getting the shot. I turned to the two men behind me to find no one in the room at all. There was no one there, and they couldn’t have come in or go out. This was an old military fortress that have had death in, so I feel they must be Romanian ghosts checking in on what was going on while we were making The Nun.

Before The Nun was released, James Wan said there could be the chance to do a sequel should the film do well. With the picture having taken over $360 million from a $22 million budget, would you be interested in returning for a Nun sequel or another movie set within the Conjuring realm?

We talked about it before shooting and during it, in terms of different ideas for the story and where it could take us. I’m always interested in furthering stories, so we’ll have to wait and see. James and I get on very well and we text each other about things we love and cool horror movies and stuff.

He just seems to be such a busy guy these days, with his fingers in so many different pies.

I think he’s got pies in pies [laughs]. He’s got a lot going on right now.

Having departed the upcoming reboot of The Crow earlier this year, what else do you have coming up that you can tell us about?

I have a number of feature projects to get in to next, but I’m shooting my first TV series – which I shoot in February – and that’s with Gareth Evans, who made the Raid movies. It’s called Gangs of London and it’s very exciting. It’s a very deep, dark family crime drama. Not like family for kids, but family like The Godfather or a Game of Thrones sort of thing. I’m just in the thick of prep at the moment, I’m shooting in mid-February. Gareth’s shooting his episodes at the moment. It is a contemporary series and it’s very thrilling and violent and action-packed and emotional.

Can audiences expect to see that towards the end of 2019, the beginning of next year?

You know, it’s HBO and Sky and I haven’t even actually asked when it will air. We’ve got a lot to do first.

The Nun is available on Blu-ray and DVD from January 14th.

STARBURST’S TOP 20 GAMES OF 2018 – PART 2

The countdown continues with the second and final part of our 2018 Games Of The Year list! If you missed the first instalment, taking in numbers 20 to 11, you can check it out here. If you’re all caught up, read on to see what made it into the top 10!

10) GHOST 1.0

Chris Jackson: After spending a couple of years languishing in the depths of Steam’s catalogue, Ghost 1.0 caught out attention straight away when it arrived on home consoles in 2018. A sci-fi Metroidvania that doesn’t take itself too seriously, your mission is to infiltrate a labyrinthine facility and take down an evil corporation.

The game’s eye-catching environments will stick in your memory long after the credits roll, as will the soundtrack that still hasn’t left our brains since the game’s release last summer. Combat is exceptional, with all manner of weapons and upgrades at your disposal and a large variety of enemy robots to blast to smithereens.

A heck of a lot of Metroidvanias were released in 2018, but Ghost 1.0 is up there with the absolute best of them. Featuring everything you could want from the genre, plus more besides, it’s an exceptionally well-crafted adventure that packs more ideas into a single area than many others manage in an entire game.

Ghost 1.0 review

9) CELESTE

CJ: Retro-inspired 2D platformers were all the rage in 2018, with countless games looking to recreate the gameplay and aesthetics of years gone by. None managed this as successfully as Celeste, from developers Matt Makes Games and released on all major platforms back in January.

This is a pure platformer, with no combat to speak of apart from the occasional bouncing on a boss’s head. It’s a challenging game, demanding pixel-perfect accuracy as players guide Madeline to the summit of Celeste Mountain. Each chapter introduces new gameplay elements so the game never gets a chance to feel stale, and tons of collectables and hidden areas add value for the most determined players. Well worth a look, and it’s currently available free of charge through Microsoft’s Games With Gold at the time of writing, so now’s your chance to test yourself!

8) IN DEATH

CJ: In an afterlife overrun by demons, only one person can restore harmony to the heavens – and that person, as you might expect – is you. The sheer quality of this roguelite VR dungeon crawler / shooter was a huge surprise when it was released in October, with satisfying bow and arrow-based combat (or crossbow, if you want to give yourself a slightly easier time), stunning locations and addictive “just one more go” gameplay.

Only two levels are currently available (plus a couple of unlockable side areas known as “Pits”), but getting to the end simply takes players back to the beginning in a loop that keeps on going until you die. Each run through the game feels different to the last thanks to the procedurally generated level structure and an achievement-based progression system that adds new enemies and powerups to the mix as you meet certain objectives. Immensely playable, and another fantastic reason to invest in a VR unit if you haven’t done so already.

In Death review

7) DEAD CELLS

Sean Only: Developed by Motion Twin, Dead Cells was released to all major platforms in August and almost immediately made quite an impression on the gaming community. Combining the classic Metroidvania style of games like Cave Story and Symphony Of The Night with roguelike elements including permadeath as seen in games such as Binding Of Isaac, Dead Cells treads familiar territory whilst also creating something extremely fresh and innovative.

Animation, presentation, music, sound effects and art style are all incredible, but Dead Cells really stands out from the crowd with its tight controls. The main sprite handles so well and controls are so intuitive, pulling off incredibly complex manoeuvres whilst battling a seemingly insurmountable horde of enemies almost feels like second nature after a while. Although the game can be extremely punishing, those exceptional controls always make you feel like giving it just one more go!

Dead Cells review

6) SPIDER-MAN

Stephen J Boothroyd: When it first turned out that Insomniac Games were making a PlayStation exclusive Spider-Man game, we were surprised. After all, Sony are the parent company of Sucker Punch, whose Infamous series contains some of the best superhero games around, perfect for a Spider-Man coat of paint to be lathered on. Insomniac’s Spider-Man instantly shows its differences to the likes of Infamous Second Son with its focus much more on action akin to the Arkham series.

The game ditches recent Spidey games’ level-like structures for an open world setting. Swinging around the city is fun and there are plenty of collectables and Easter eggs to give you reason to do so. The story is well paced and feels like it’s lifted straight from the comics. It makes you understand the balance of the Spider-Man/Peter Parker life management and tells a story that will keep you hooked.

Spider-Man review

5) RED DEAD REDEMPTION 2

SJB: There was so much hype and years of build up to Red Dead 2 that it just had to be amazing to be anything other than a disappointment, and boy did it deliver. There are few game worlds that feel as alive and immersive as this one. The lands are vast, with miles of beautiful American landscapes. Animals roam the open world as do other outlaw and towns folk just going about their business. It’s easily the best-looking game to date, and features a high-quality story that Hollywood would be jealous of, full of twists and turns that will keep you hooked throughout its massive campaign. Even if you’re not interested in game narratives, there’s so much to do here with the games many mechanics, it feels like a dozen games in one.

Red Dead Redemption 2 review

4) A ROBOT NAMED FIGHT!

CJ: The last of our “officially this didn’t initially come out in 2018” games, ARNF!‘s Switch release in April ’18 – accompanied by several huge updates throughout the rest of the year – is enough for it to qualify. Entirely made by a single person (the obscenely talented Matt Bitner), ARNF! is a roguelite Metroidvania set in a distant future where the appearance of a monstrous being known as the Megabeast threatens to destroy the world.

It’s very Metroid, right down to the pixel art style, but given a modern sheen with procedurally generated levels and plenty of current-gen mechanics. ARNF! was already fantastic when it was first released, but its new lease of life on the Switch has enabled the developer to continue adding even more content. New areas, items, powerups, bosses, and even a multiplayer deathmatch mode have been generously given to players free of charge over the last few months, truly making this a must-play for fans of the genre.

A Robot Named Fight! review

3) SUPER SMASH BROS. ULTIMATE

SJB: Nintendo have made an absolutely massive game with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Forget about the fact that there’s over seventy characters, over a thousand spirits to collect, and numerous modes and customisation options – there’s also a 25+ hour RPG-like single player campaign to dig your teeth into. Make no mistake though, there’s been no compromise here and the gameplay is as tight as ever. It’s slightly faster than the previous game, and tons of tweaks and improvements have been made along the way.

Ultimate is not just a name, it is truly that. Pro gamers will continue to debate which Smash is the best for years to come, but for everyone else, there’s no doubt that this is it. It’s unlikely we’ll ever see a fighting game as packed with content as this one again. It’s a phenomenal achievement and yet another masterpiece on the Nintendo Switch.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate review

2) WANDERSONG

CJ: Wandersong follows the adventures of a bard who sings his way through his quest to halt the end of the world. We’re told that this is going to happen regardless of anybody’s efforts, but the bard is determined to do whatever it takes to make a difference to the lives of everybody he encounters during the final days.

The premise might sound a little heavy and serious, but Wandersong is one of those rare games that manages to put across a positive message without being too in your face and overbearing. Quirky and eccentric, incredibly charming, warm and witty, a bright and colourful papercraft art style, and inventive gameplay combine to make this a true standout title. We really can’t praise it highly enough, and urge you to seek it out as soon as possible!

Wandersong review

1) ASTRO BOT: RESCUE MISSION

CJ: Astro Bot offers a glimpse into the future of VR games in much the same way as Super Mario 64 opened our eyes to the possibilities of 3D platforming all the way back in 1996. Both games certainly share the same sense of joy and wonder too, throwing players into some delightfully unexpected situations that never fail to raise a smile (and quite often an audible “wow”).

Superbly immersive use of the DualShock controller and the PSVR headset itself, flawless gameplay (which is quite an achievement considering this type of VR game hasn’t even been attempted too often before), beautifully animated visuals and a killer soundtrack make this the undisputed highlight of 2018.

Collecting coins, rescuing robots, punching bad guys’ lights out and grinning uncontrollably like an absolute maniac the entire way through, it’s a genuinely magical game from beginning to end. All things considered, it’s by far the most fun we had with any game in 2018, and fully deserving of the top spot on our list.

Astro Bot: Rescue Mission review

And there we have it! 2018 was an absolutely tremendous year for gaming, with plenty for genre fans to get to grips with. The coming year is shaping up to be just as exciting, so perhaps in twelve months’ time we’ll have to go for a top 30 instead of “just” 20… Join us again next January to see how great 2019 was!

STARBURST’S TOP 20 GAMES OF 2018 – PART 1

2018 was an incredible year for videogames – possibly one of the best of the decade so far. While a fair few AAA games fell a little short, some of the big names did manage to live up to expectations, and there were even a couple of surprise hits from some unexpected corners of the gaming world. An amazing amount of high quality indie games proved that you don’t need a multi-million dollar budget to create something fun and exciting, and a welcome price drop for Virtual Reality headsets lead to the realisation for many players that VR is much more than just a gimmick… So here’s the first part of our top 20 games of 2018, featuring numbers 20 to 11. Part 2 follows shortly!

20) NINE PARCHMENTS

Sean Only: Nine Parchments is an action RPG released in late 2017/early 2018 (so it counts!) for all platforms by Frozenbyte. Taking cues from classic team-based top-down RPGs such as the Diablo series and Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Nine Parchments focuses predominantly on the magic side of combat, largely eschewing the hack and slash style often associated with these games.

Set in a rich fantasy world with extremely colourful and lush environments, Nine Parchments offers an awful lot of eye candy. Most of the characters are somewhat cartoonish, and comedy is often the order of the day as there is a lot of humour in the story and the whole presentation in general.

We feel there has been a distinct lack of quality action RPGs in recent times, and Nine Parchments more than fills the gap in the market while we eagerly anticipate Diablo 4. Easily some of the best couch co-op action of the year.

19) OVERCOOKED 2

Stephen J. Boothroyd: Overcooked put relationships and friendships to the test more than Monopoly ever dreamed of, and the sequel does it all again but even better.

Not much has changed since the original – the gameplay has just been tweaked slightly, with the addition of being able to throw uncooked items to other players. This small difference allows for completely new concepts in the level design, which is as tricky as ever but now forces you to overcome challenges such as a complete level redesign halfway through a level as the hot air balloon you’ve been working on crashes to the ground.

It’s a simple game, and a simple concept. You make orders for customers. However, Overcooked‘s use of cooperation between players makes for absolute chaos that will leave you screaming at each other, saying thing you’ll regret, and no longer on speaking term with one another. What more could you want?

18) SHIKHONDO: SOUL EATER

SO: Released in August on Switch, Xbox One, PS4 and PC by Digerati, Shikhondo: Soul Eater is a “bullet hell” style vertically scrolling shmup in a similar vein to Cave / Psikyo’s classic arcade shooters. What makes Shikhondo stand out is its striking art style (reminiscent of hand drawn oil paintings) and shocking, Korean horror-inspired boss battles – some of which are borderline terrifying!

Of course, all of this wouldn’t amount to very much if the gameplay wasn’t there, but thankfully S:SE delivers in that department too. In order to rake up mass amounts of points and also despatch the multitude of enemies a bit easier, players must fill up their soul gauge for a variety of special attacks. The best way to do this is to guide your ship as close to the obscene amount of bullets as possible without getting hit.

All in all, Shikhondo delivers all the adrenalised thrills that you could want from a shmup, and then some.

17) TETRIS EFFECT

Chris Jackson: Spending six long years in development, Rez and Lumines producer Tetsuya Mizuguchi’s music-based version of Tetris finally saw the light of day in November 2018.

It’s still very much “just Tetris”, but each stage has its own unique background animations and music, both of which combine to elevate the game way beyond any preconceptions. The soundtrack is especially stunning, with notes being added to the music each time Tetrominoes are rotated or dropped into place and lines are cleared. You’ll definitely want headphones for this one.

A few different game modes are included, all of which are worth trying out, and VR compatibility places you right in front of a skyscraper-sized Tetris grid that – with the aforementioned visuals and soundtrack caressing your eyes and ears – needs to be experienced by as many people as possible.

Tetris Effect review

16) INTO THE BREACH

SJB: A roguelike turn-based strategy game seems like something that shouldn’t work, but Subset Games (the creators of FTL) pulled it off marvellously with Into The Breach. Labelled as “X-Com meets chess”, it’s a game that relies on you staying two steps ahead of the AI, and its roguelike nature means that the slightest loss can be crippling going forward and defeat feels astonishingly punishing.

Upgrades, challenges and new units keep the game interesting, and its difficult later levels kept us coming back for more. Even months later, it’s a great game to come back to, to give your brain a bit of stimulation.

Initially released on PC, it plays brilliantly into the strengths of the Switch’s handheld capabilities with its short levels and pick up and play nature. It’s a simplistic game with a lot of depth and a truly addictive personality that makes it a welcome addition to the Switch’s library.

Into The Breach review

15) THE PERSISTENCE

CJ: A close runner-up to Resident Evil 7 in the spooky virtual reality stakes, The Persistence is a PSVR-exclusive sci-fi survival horror from Liverpool’s Firesprite Studios.

Set on board an abandoned spaceship where something terrible has happened (no spoilers), your first few hours are likely to be spent getting the hang of the game’s mechanics and upgrading your character, but when you reach a point where you finally feel strong enough to take on anything the game throws at you, The Persistence really comes into its own. Roguelike elements mean that each playthrough is different to the last, but permanent upgrades ensure you’re always getting stronger every time you die.

The VR integration is pretty much as good as it gets, almost making you feel like you’re living on a spaceship rather than playing a game. Quite simply, The Persistence is one of 2018’s very best VR games.

14) MEGATON RAINFALL

CJ: We’re slightly cheating with this one, as it was first released for PS4/PSVR and PC back in 2017… but we reckon its arrival on the Switch and Xbox One in 2018 – along with Oculus and PCVR support – is enough to justify its inclusion!

Playing as a character known as The Offspring, it’s your job to save the world from an army of alien invaders. Equipped with an array of powerful attacks that would make even the greatest superhero envious, soaring up through the clouds to zip across to the either side of the world in a matter of seconds before swooping back down to confront the bad guys is always an absolute blast.

It might not be the best looking game on the list, but it’s one of the most fun non-superhero superhero games we’ve ever played. Completely playable on regular consoles, the addition of VR takes it to a whole other level – as long as your stomach is strong enough to cope with the insanity…

Megaton Rainfall review

13) THE MESSENGER

CJ: Released in August for PC and Nintendo Switch, The Messenger is an action platformer that takes many of its cues from the original Ninja Gaiden games. Tight and addictive gameplay propel the player through a fairly linear adventure, until you beat what you assume is the final boss and you realise you’re not even halfway done… The game then turns into a mind-bending Metroidvania spanning two 8 and 16-bit timelines, with more abilities, upgrades and challenges than you can chuck a throwing star at.

Less serious than the games that inspired it, The Messenger contains tons of humour in its excellent writing, and its jaunty soundtrack adds to the feeling that – despite its difficulty – this is a game to be enjoyed rather than endured. A real highlight of the indie library and well deserving of the praise that it’s been getting, here’s hoping for a wider release on other home consoles in 2019.

12) POKEMON: LET’S GO PIKACHU / LET’S GO EEVEE

SJB: A modern remake of a classic – the game where it all began – Let’s Go recreates Pokemon Red/Blue with beautiful 3D HD visuals and an awesome modernised soundtrack, and with the Pokémon finally roaming the world, Kanto has never felt so alive.

It’s not just the aesthetics that have been changed in the game however, the gameplay has been given a big overhaul. Redesigned to be more accessible, to encapsulate the technology of the Switch, and to remove some of the grindier parts of the series, these changes for the most part are for the better, though not without their shortcomings. It’s more about catching than ever before.

Overall, Let’s Go is an excellent remake. The aesthetics are better than they’ve ever been, and the gameplay changes make it less grindy and keep catching Pokémon as addictive as ever. There’s never been a better reason to go catch ‘em all.

Pokemon Let’s Go review

11) MEGA MAN 11

SO: The long-awaited return of Capcom’s iconic Blue Bomber to a full release main title game had some awfully lofty expectations to meet, but we feel it lives up to its highly regarded predecessors more than adequately.

Released onto all main platforms in October, Mega Man 11 looked to erase the sour taste left in a lot of people’s mouths by the (almost) universally panned Mighty Number 9. Slick platforming, tight controls, awesome run and gunning and genius level design are the order of the day here, and in terms of gameplay, the Bomber’s eleventh offering holds up against any of his classic earlier titles.

It’s not exactly like Capcom are trying to reinvent the wheel here, but there are enough new play mechanics and developments to keep things fresh, and let’s face it – if it ain’t broke, why fix it?

Mega Man 11 review