Neil Smith

Neil Smith

Freelance Writer

Neil Smith is a freelance film critic and writer who contributes regularly to Heat, SFX and Screen International. He's a long-time member of the London Film Critics’ Circle and was a contributing editor at Total Film for many years.

Latest articles by Neil Smith

28 Years Later Review: "Enough terror, splatter and suspense to satisfy”

By Neil Smith Published

REVIEW

REVIEW
A Minecraft Movie Review: "Jack Black's irrepressible star turn helps elevate this video game adaptation"

By Neil Smith Published

review Here's our verdict on A Minecraft Movie

review
Kraven the Hunter review: "The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"

By Neil Smith Published

Review

Review
Paddington in Paddington in Peru
Paddington 3 star Hugh Bonneville addresses Mary Brown's recasting: "She just slotted in gloriously"

By Amy West, Neil Smith Published

Exclusive Exclusive: Mr. Brown actor Hugh Bonneville says it was "seamless" welcoming Emily Mortimer into the franchise

Exclusive
Halle Berry, Percy Daggs IV, and Anthony B. Jenkins in Never Let Go
Never Let Go review: "Halle Berry's new horror is a taut exploration of fear and paranoia"

By Neil Smith Published

review

review
Optimus Prime in Transformers One
Transformers One review: "A cut above most of its predecessors"

By Neil Smith Published

review

review
Twisters (2024)
Is it just me, or are belated sequels rarely worth the wait?

By Neil Smith Published

opinion A Total Film writer argues that it's better never than late...

opinion
James McAvoy as Paddy in Speak No Evil
Speak No Evil may be a lot "less explicit" than the original horror movie, but it's still "horrific"

By Neil Smith Published

Features Exclusive: Total Film talks to lead actor James McAvoy and director James Watkins about manners, mentors and mullets…

Features
Connor Swindells as Gessler in William Tell
First look at Sex Education star as the villain in new historical epic William Tell

By Jordan Farley Published

Exclusive Exclusive: “I never thought I would get an opportunity like this in my career”

Exclusive
Morfydd Clark in Starve Acre
Starve Acre review: "Morfydd Clark and Matt Smith headline a chilling and unnerving horror movie"

By Neil Smith Published

review

review
Borderlands
Borderlands review: "A frenetic and disorderly shambles gamers are likely to loathe"

By Neil Smith Published

review

review
blake lively in drama it ends with us
It Ends With Us review: "A serious subject is sensitively handled with this Blake Lively drama"

By Neil Smith Published

review

review
james mcavoy in speak no evil horror remake
James McAvoy and Speak No Evil director James Watkins say their upcoming remake is "a lot less explicit" than the original horror movie

By Emily Murray, Neil Smith Last updated

Exclusive Exclusive | The team behind the horror remake teases how it differs from the critically acclaimed 2022 original

Exclusive
Maika Monroe in Longlegs
Longlegs review: "A little Nicolas Cage goes a long way in this deeply disconcerting experience"

By Neil Smith Published

review

review
The Garfield Movie
The Garfield Movie review: "Have the writers ever seen an actual Garfield comic strip?"

By Neil Smith Published

review

review
Kevin Durand as Proximus Caesar in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes review: "Offers spectacle and thrills, but lacks the smarts and ambition of its predecessors"

By Neil Smith Published

review

review
The Idea of You (2024)
The Idea of You review: "Anne Hathaway works overtime to give this rom-com even the appearance of substance"

By Neil Smith Published

review

review
Taylor Swift during a performance on her Eras tour
Is it just me, or are concert movies better than the real thing?

By Neil Smith Published

Opinion A Total Film writer on why cinemas are the new stadiums...

Opinion
Bill Skarsgard in Boy Kills World
Boy Kills World review: "A gleefully bonkers blend of The Hunger Games and The Raid"

By Neil Smith Published

review

review
Rebel Moon - Part 2: The Scargiver
Rebel Moon Part Two – The Scargiver review: "Zack Snyder’s sci-fi epic stumbles towards the finish line"

By Neil Smith Published

review

review
Sometimes I Think About Dying (2023)
Sometimes I Think About Dying review: "Daisy Ridley demonstrates her star power"

By Neil Smith Published

review

review
Challengers (2024)
Challengers review: "A pulsating tale that's sure to get deuces flowing"

By Neil Smith Published

review

review
Civil War (2024)
Civil War review: "There's no shortage of horrors in this uncompromising drama"

By Neil Smith Published

review

review
Drive Away Dolls
Drive-Away Dolls review: "Ethan Coen's frivolous frolic is a comedy steeped in déjà vu"

By Neil Smith Published

review

review
Memory
Memory review: "Jessica Chastain and Peter Sarsgaard make a riveting duo"

By Neil Smith Published

review

review
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