Splendor in the Grass (1961)

Early teenage film that shocks with its frank discussion of adolescent sexuality, with a striking performance from Natalie Wood as a girl driven mad by her urges, whilst Warren Beatty struggles with his own desires.

The Happening (2008)

Oh dear dear dear! Do not see this film. Just when I thought M. Night Shyamalan couldn't get worse than 'The Village' he turned out this poorly written, amateurishly directed, and frankly unpleasant piece of drivel. I for one can't understand the recent trend in deliberately making bad B-movies (such as the Grindhouse films) but maybe it provides a nice excuse for derivative filmmakers like Tarantino and Shyamalan to be lazy about their work.

'The Happening' provides us with the ludiocrous story of trees and plants releasing a deadly toxin into the air of North-East America, causing people to kill themselves immediately. Cue lots of references to gruesome deaths and silly close-ups of trees looking menacing - all accompanied by terrible dialogue and flinch-worthy performances from Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel.

The general impression is of a cheap, lazy film that insults its audience by offering so little in narrative, drama and depth. Clearly the film is trying to hint at the Earth's revenge for human-induced global warming but it's a very superficial message and not written well enough to really have any effect on its audience.

'Sixth Sense' was more than a fluke, I'm sure, but Shyamalan's run out of ideas since and has become more concerned with spectacle and a clever twist. Please stop letting this man make films.

Dead of Night (1945)

Very dated and not particularly scary horror film, which is nonetheless a British classic. Still guaranteed to disturb you a little, especially at the disorienting climax.

Shadow of a Doubt (1943)

Very old-fashioned domestic crime story that unsettles the American family but drags and becomes a little distracted.

The Long Goodbye (1973)

Hip and untypical detective story with a very Seventies feel, the Altman vibe of relaxed and laconic characters firmly dealing with the pressures around them - with a cool and funny Elliot Gould besting Humphrey Bogart at playing Philip Marlowe.

Odd Man Out (1947)

Brilliant and thrilling drama in Northern Ireland following the slow death of an IRA terrorist and the increasingly mad excitement that builds around him.

In Bruges (2008)

Witty and silly, but also quite touching, this film may have some awkward and contrived moments but is a strong cinematic debut for a playwright.