#james croke

[fearsmagazine]

LATENCY - Review

DISTRIBUTOR: Lionsgate

SYNOPSIS: Hana, a professional gamer struggling with severe agoraphobia, receives an intriguing offer to test cutting-edge gaming equipment that utilizes AI to decipher brain activity. Seeing an opportunity to sharpen her skills, Hana embarks on this technological journey. However, the boundaries between reality and Hana's subconscious start to dissolve as she delves deeper into the experiment, prompting her friend Jen to urge caution. Hana grapples with doubts about the true purpose of the device and its potential for malevolent consequences.

REVIEW: James Croke presents a gripping narrative of a troubled character who beta tests a cutting-edge technology, leading to a gradual unraveling of her hold on reality and life. This timeless and cautionary science fiction tale explores the potential perils of technological advancements.

The narrative of LATENCY revolves around Hana's agoraphobia, confining her to a single location. Despite her limited interactions, each one is strategically designed to shed light on her character. Jen, more than just a friend, acts as Hana's lifeline to the outside world, simultaneously enabling and challenging her situation.

A crucial element in the story is the tech—a brain interface that allows Hana to control her computer with her mind. The device's instructions emphasize the importance of prolonged use for improved functionality. However, as Hana wears it, the boundaries of her reality begin to blur. The question arises—is the device influencing her experiences, or is it her subconscious, her id, directing the device?

This plot concept bears similarities to the classic 1956 film The Forbidden Planet, where an alien technology manifests Dr. Morbius' id. However, LATENCY differs in that it is a smaller-scale tale set 20 minutes into the future, exploring contemporary themes relevant to our discussions surrounding smartphone usage. Croke's plot is firmly grounded in reality, serving as a cautionary tale about the potential consequences of our current technological advancements.

The production design of the film focuses on Hana's apartment, creating a fairy-tale-like environment while simultaneously presenting a darker and more sinister world outside, reflecting her phobia. The messy and gloomy production design mirrors Hana's mental state. Director Croke utilizes computer effects and subtle physical effects to open and close the film, gradually introducing and building upon the visual effects that play on the viewer's expectations of Hana's experiences. Croke's visually compelling shots build mystery and tension, though some sequences could have been trimmed to maintain the film's energy. Hana's character does not undergo significant costume changes, and the same is true for the other characters. J-Punch's score effectively enhances the film's atmosphere and complements the intensity of the CGI action sequences.

The film relies heavily on Sasha Luss's performance as Hana. Luss brings a vibrant energy to the role and does well in the limited physical action scenes. She effectively conveys the emotional distress and fear of the growing terror, creating a likable character with her natural charm. The rest of the cast provides admirable support, their performances are largely in support of Luss's portrayal of Hana. With the exception of Alexis Ren, who plays Hana's friend Jen, the other characters remain in shadow or are hidden behind Hana's apartment door.

LATENCY is an intriguing science fiction tale with horror elements that resembles episodes of "The Twilight Zone," "Outer Limits," or "Black Mirror." Although the film boasts a great atmosphere, impressive visual effects, and a commendable performance by Sasha Luss, it still has some rough patches. These slow the film down and if trimmed might have made it more effective as an intense hour-long episode of a sci-fi series. Nevertheless, director James Croke displays a talent for creating atmospheric films and elicits an excellent performance from his lead actress. Considering that this is his feature film debut, one can expect his next project to be even more impressive.

CAST: Sasha Luss, Alexis Ren, Margarita Bakhvalova, & Robert Coleby. CREW: Director/Screenplay - James Croke; Producers - Wych Kaosayananda, Gary A. Hirsch, Barry Brooker, Jordan Gertner & Scott Clayton; Cinematography - Wych Kaos; Score - J-Punch; Editor - Thunchanok Suthanintr; Production Designer - Toey Jaruvateekul; Costume Designer - Siyachanin Rungpatchararoj; Prosthetic Artist - Nithichote Porncahi; VFX Supervisor - Damon H Chung; Key Visuals - Wiriyah Phetchkij; OFFICIAL: N.A. FACEBOOK: N.A. TWITTER: N.A. TRAILER: https://youtu.be/704AfJhfckU?si=ZrSx1Gim8exYsQXf RELEASE DATE: In theaters June 14th, 2024

**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay), or 👎 (Dislike)

Reviewed by Joseph B Mauceri

Listen to Our Interview with director & writer James Croke - HERE

[cinemablind]

Actor and online influencer Alexis Ren has signed on to star in Latency, a gamer action thriller written and directed by James Croke.

[halloweendailynews]

[Interview] Director James Croke Talks Gaming Thriller 'Latency', A.I., and Halloween

[Interview] Director James Croke Talks Gaming Thriller 'Latency', A.I., and Halloween

The new gaming horror movie Latency arrives in theaters this week, and we recently talked to writer and director James Croke about his inspirations for his feature film debut, plus his personal views on A.I., and more. In the film, when Hana (Sasha Luss), a professional gamer who suffers from acute agoraphobia, is asked to trial sophisticated new gaming equipment which uses A.I. to interpret the…

[moviesandmania]

LATENCY Female gamer vs. sinister AI - trailer and release date

‘Fear is reality’ Latency is a sci-fi action horror film about a young female professional gamer who receives AI equipment that enhances her skills. However, she soon wonders if it is reading her mind… or controlling it. Written and directed by James Croke. The Kaos Entertainment production stars Sasha Luss and Alexis Ren. Plot: When Hana (Sasha Luss), a professional gamer who suffers from acute…

[geekcavepodcast]

Latency Trailer

Hana is a profeccional gamer with acute agoraphobia. She is asked to participate in a trial for "sophisticated new gaming equipment which uses AI to interpret the electrical activity of her brain, she sees an opportunity to enhance her game. As Hana and her best friend Jen experiment with this new technology, the line between reality and Hana’s subconscious quickly begins to blur and she starts to wonder if the device is helping her or serving a more sinister force." (Lionsgate)

Latency stars Sasha Luss (Hana) and Alexis Ren (Jen). The film is directed and written by James Croke.

Latency releases to select theaters on June 14, 2024.

[horrorpatch]

Official Trailer & Poster For Sci-fi Thriller LATENCY!

Lionsgate has released the official trailer and poster for its new sci-fi thriller LATENCY! The movie marks the debut of writer-director James Croke. Sasha Luss and Alexis Ren star in the film. It will release into select theaters beginning on June 14, 2024. Take a look at the trailer and get more info about the feature on the other side. From The Press Release See the Official Trailer and…

[greenbagjosh]

Days 5 - 7: Belfast - Dublin, the start of a tram system, Grafton Street and an excellent bacon sandwich to go with my Guinness pint.

Hi everyone, Welcome to Day 5 of my visit to Europe in Summer 2004. It is now Thursday 29th July 2004, and I had stayed two nights in Belfast, and had gone up and down that part of the UK. It is time now to go to Dublin, in the Republic of Ireland. I have breakfast at the rail station, called "Ulster fry", take the international train to Dublin, stopping only at Portadown, and arriving about 10:30 AM in Dublin Connolly. I went on a walking tour from the central post office on to Grafton Street, also viewing the Book of Kells at Trinity College. I took a ride on the LUAS from St. Stephen's Green down to Sandyford and back. The next day I went on a clockwise bus tour of Dublin, walked to Drumcondra, rode the train to Dublin Connolly, took the train to Howth and back, ate supper in Howth, then took a bus back to the hostel to sleep for my next journey on 31st July. Hope you will join me.

Dia daoibh, Fáilte go Lá 5 de mo chuairt ar an Eoraip i Samhradh 2004. Is é Déardaoin an 29 Iúil 2004 anois, agus d'fhan mé dhá oíche i mBéal Feirste, agus chuaigh mé suas agus síos an chuid sin den RA. Tá sé in am anois dul go Baile Átha Cliath, i bPoblacht na hÉireann. Tá bricfeasta agam ag an stáisiún traenach, ar a dtugtar “Ulster fry”, tóg an traein idirnáisiúnta go Baile Átha Cliath, ag stopadh ag Port an Dúnáin amháin, agus ag teacht timpeall 10:30 AM go Baile Átha Cliath Uí Chonghaile. Chuaigh mé ar thuras siúlóide ón oifig phoist lárnach go Sráid Grafton, ag féachaint ar Leabhar Cheanannais i gColáiste na Tríonóide freisin. Thug mé turas ar an LUAS ó Fhaiche Stiabhna síos go Áth an Ghainimh agus ar ais. An lá dár gcionn chuaigh mé ar thuras bus deiseal go Baile Átha Cliath, shiúil mé go Droim Conrach, mharcaigh mé ar an traein go Baile Átha Cliath Connolly, thóg mé an traein go Binn Éadair agus ar ais, d'ith mé suipéar i mBinn Éadair, ansin thóg mé bus ar ais go dtí an brú chun codladh do mo chéad lá eile. turas ar 31 Iúil. Tá súil agam go mbeidh tú páirteach liom.

Ciao a tutti, Benvenuti al 5o. giorno della mia visita in Europa nell'estate del 2004. È giovedì 29 luglio 2004, e sono rimasto due notti a Belfast, e ho viaggiato su e giù per quella parte del Regno Unito. Ora è il momento di andare a Dublino, nella Repubblica d'Irlanda. Faccio colazione alla stazione ferroviaria, chiamata "Ulster fry", prendo il treno internazionale per Dublino, fermandomi solo a Portadown, e arrivo verso le 10:30 a Dublino Connolly. Ho fatto un giro a piedi dall'ufficio postale centrale a Grafton Street, visitando anche il Book of Kells al Trinity College. Ho fatto un giro sulla LUAS da St. Stephen's Green fino a Sandyford e ritorno. Il giorno dopo ho fatto un giro in autobus in senso orario di Dublino, ho camminato fino a Drumcondra, ho preso il treno per Dublino Connolly, ho preso il treno per Howth e ritorno, ho cenato a Howth, poi ho preso un autobus per tornare all'ostello per dormire per il mio prossimo viaggio il 31 luglio. Spero che vi unirete a me.

Bonjour à tous, Bienvenue au cinquième jour de ma visite en Europe cet été 2004. Nous sommes le jeudi 29 juillet 2004 et j'ai passé deux nuits à Belfast et j'ai parcouru cette partie du Royaume-Uni de long en large. Il est temps maintenant d'aller à Dublin, en République d'Irlande. Je prends mon petit-déjeuner à la gare ferroviaire, appelée "Ulster fry", je prends le train international pour Dublin, je m'arrête seulement à Portadown et j'arrive vers 10h30 à Dublin Connolly. J'ai fait une visite à pied depuis la poste centrale jusqu'à Grafton Street, et j'ai également visité le Livre de Kells au Trinity College. J'ai fait un tour en LUAS de St. Stephen's Green jusqu'à Sandyford et retour. Le lendemain, j'ai fait un tour en bus dans le sens des aiguilles d'une montre à travers Dublin, j'ai marché jusqu'à Drumcondra, j'ai pris le train jusqu'à Dublin Connolly, j'ai pris le train jusqu'à Howth et retour, j'ai dîné à Howth, puis j'ai pris un bus pour retourner à l'auberge pour dormir avant mon prochain voyage le 31 juillet. J'espère que vous vous joindrez à moi.

Hallo zusammen, Willkommen zu Tag 5 meiner Europareise im Sommer 2004. Es ist jetzt Donnerstag, der 29. Juli 2004, und ich habe zwei Nächte in Belfast verbracht und bin durch diesen Teil des Vereinigten Königreichs gereist. Jetzt ist es Zeit, nach Dublin in der Republik Irland zu fahren. Ich frühstücke am Bahnhof, das „Ulster Fry“ heißt, nehme den internationalen Zug nach Dublin, halte nur in Portadown und komme gegen 10:30 Uhr in Dublin Connolly an. Ich habe einen Spaziergang vom Hauptpostamt zur Grafton Street gemacht und mir dabei auch das Book of Kells im Trinity College angesehen. Ich bin mit der LUAS von St. Stephen’s Green nach Sandyford und zurück gefahren. Am nächsten Tag machte ich eine Bustour im Uhrzeigersinn durch Dublin, ging zu Fuß nach Drumcondra, fuhr mit dem Zug nach Dublin Connolly, nahm den Zug nach Howth und zurück, aß in Howth zu Abend und nahm dann einen Bus zurück zum Hostel, um dort für meine nächste Reise am 31. Juli zu schlafen. Ich hoffe, Sie begleiten mich.

On Thursday 29 July 2004, I had been staying at the Belfast YHA hostel. It was time to check out, and go south to Dublin, in the Republic of Ireland. I would take the international train from Belfast Lanyon Place, then called Belfast Central, and ride in first class to Dublin Connolly. The train would stop only in Portadown, just north of the border. I checked out, with my luggage, walked to the Botanic rail station, took a 80 class train to Lanyon Place station, and went upstairs to the cafe for "Ulster Fry". Ulster Fry is not much different from Full English breakfast, except that it has a few more fried items. I had egg, bacon, sausage, a "potato farl", kind of like a hash brown patty, and a fried mushroom. I had one cup of tea, and another of coffee. About 7:50 AM, I went downstairs to the platform where the train to Dublin would depart from. I found my seat in First Class. Somehow I ended up in the dining car, but did not order anything.

The train left about 8 AM. I had my radio with me, on one of the local FM stations, they played "Ninety Miles from Dublin" by Christy Moore. The train made a prerecorded announcement of the train arrival in Dublin Connolly in the middle of the song. Later on, I heard "Lola's Theme" by the Shapeshifters as well as "Inner Smile" by Texas (a Scottish band that started in the late 1980s but did not achieve fame until at least their "White on Blonde" LP in 1997 / 1998). It seemed, from Belfast to Dublin, that it would be impossible to notice the difference between Northern Ireland and the Republic. It was only after the train passed through Drogheda (pronounced "Draw-dah"), that I would notice that I was in the Republic of Ireland. The train did not make any stops between Portadown and Dublin Connolly. The weather was a bit on-and-off rainy.

Most of the Irish railway system is unelectrified. Only from Howth to Bray was there any electrification on the main line, when I last read an article about the Irish railway system. I was surprised, already at Malahide there was electrification. The train was not very far from Connolly station. The train arrived about 10:30 AM on its own track. The exit was gated, so I had to go through the gates to exit the station for the bus to the hostel. I did not see any left luggage area in that station, though I have been told that there is one at the Heuston station due west of Connolly.

Leaving Connolly station, the statin building itself looks like something I might have seen in Northern Italy, kind of like from the Sforza family of Milan. Across the street from Connolly Station is the Busaras, or the central bus station. I asked about how to get to the hostel, but I was told to go to O'Connell Street by Abbey Street Lower and get a city bus from there. Although the LUAS red line tracks were being tested, that line would not go into operation until at least September or October that same year (2004). I had to walk along the sidewalk following the tracks to O'Connell Street. I saw a few light rail vehicles pass by. I knew of the green line, but it would not go farther north than St. Stephen's Green for many years (in 2024 it goes as far as Broombridge).

The Central Post office is at 47 O'Connell Street Lower. In at least one of the six Ionian columns, bulletts were shot into them in the 1920's struggle for independence from Great Britain. Nearby is an obelisque and on the opposite side of the road, towards Connolly Rail Station, is a statue of the writer James Joyce, who wrote "Ulysses". Incidentally, James Joyce was buried in Zurich, Switzerland, which I would visit on 7th August that same year. Only in the early 2020's, did the LUAS green line start operating along O'Connell Street Lower.

When I arrived at the post office bus stop, I found the bus route that went right to the hostel. It was about the corner of Dorset and Wellington Streets. Some time in the 2010s the actual building had been torn down, and has been replaced by university housing. I bought a day pass for the bus, which I think was 4 Euro back then. The bus went past Parnell Square before it made its stop on Dorset Street. I checked into a room with six beds. At the time, I did not see that an actual bed assignment would make any difference. Most of the time, no one minds if the wrong one might be accidentally taken. I would find out very early Saturday morning, that people would make a fuss. But for now, I would charge up my phone and my video camera, and in about an hour's time, walk to the bus stop at Blessington and Dorset, to go into downtown.

After I alighted from the bus at the post office, I walked along O'Connell Street. I made sure I had a good photo of the James Joyce statue. Then I walked past Middle Abbey Street, then along the Liffey to The Famine Memorial, at the Talbot Memorial Bridge. Many of the statues of the Famine Memorial looked lifelike. Then I went back to the O'Connell bridge, crossed the Liffey and stopped by the Mr. Screen cinema. There was nothing playing that I wanted to particularly see, so I walked farther south to College Street and on to Grafton Street. I entered the university at Nassau Street and went north to the library past Fellow's Square. The Book of Kells did not allow any photography. I was able to notice the pages of the bible, written on calfskin using various pigmentations.

Leaving the library, I went along Grafton Street to the St. Stephen's Green rail station. In general, Grafton Street is a pedestrian only passage. I passed by the Bewley's Cafe. They make good toffee sweets. At the time, the LUAS green line did not operate anywhere north of St. Stephen's Green. I walked to FitzWilliam Street Lower, along to Merrion Square. At the northwest end of the park, there was the Oscar Wilde statue. He was sitting, more like lying, on a rock, as if it were a bean bag. I walked by the Leinster House, the current seat of government for the Republic of Ireland, and also one of the ministries, probably for health and human services or similar.

At St. Stephen's Green, I bought a two ride ticket for LUAS. LUAS at the time, did not accept the bus pass, so I had to pay about 5 Euro for a day pass. I validated it, and boarded the next green line LUAS to Sandyford. The train went straight down Harcourt Street, before turning left on Adelaide Road, and turning right onto its own right of way. The LUAS went past Beechwood but somehow I had drifted off to sleep. I think it was still the jet lag. I was inspected by a fare inspector, and they said my ticket was fine. I alighted at Sandyford, the current southern terminus of the LUAS green line, and waited for the next one back to St. Stephen's Green. Once the LUAS arrived at St Stephens Green, I walked up Grafton Street, past the O'Connell Bridge to the post office, took the bus to Dorset Street, then went to the hostel. I think I went to sleep after that. I don't remember doing much else, other than listen to the radio and record local station broadcasts, some in English, some in Irish Gaelic.

On Friday 30th July 2004, it was a much nicer day than Thursday the 29th. I woke up, took a shower, and went downstairs to eat breakfast. The "Full Irish Breakfast" was at an extra charge, where the continental one was included in my stay. I went for the Full Irish breakfast, but it did not contain any black and white pudding, which is like a blood sausage, or a morcillo for those who know about Spanish sausages. I would hope to go into town and maybe have some black and white pudding, but I eventually waited for the next day.

I took the bus to the post office on O'Connell Street Upper, buying a day pass. There was a hop on hop off bus stop, where I could buy a ticket, good for all day transit on the hop on hop off bus. I had to wait until 10:20 AM until the bus departed. The bus went along the route past Parnell Square, the Obelisque, and back again south of the Liffey. The bus went past Trinity College, the house that Bram Stoker of "Dracula" fame once lived, the Molly Malone statue, St. Patrick's Cathedral, St. James Hospital, the Guinness Brewery, Magazine Fort, Heuston Station, and Ha'Penny Bridge. I alighted at Ha'Penny Bridge, and looked for some place to eat. On Anglesea Street just off Fleet Street, I found the Oliver St. John Gogarty pub. It also operated a hostel next door. I ordered a pint of Guinness and a bacon sandwich with fries. It was very good.

I went down the Grafton Street walkway before turning back and taking a bus to the post office. I bought some stamps for postcards at the office. Somehow there after I ended up walking east on Cathal Brugha Street past the Five Lamps to Clonliffe Road. I walked past the GAA Museum at Croke Park. Eventually I would end up at Drumcondra rail station. I could use my Eurail pass to gain access to the train platform for Connolly Station. The section between Drumcondra and Connolly was not electrified in 2004. I was feeling tired after walking so much. I think it was about 4 PM when I caught the train from Drumcondra to Connolly. Instead of the 80 class NIR DMU unit, I was riding on a nice commuter rail train. About where the train crossed Newcomen Bridge, the train came onto the electrified section to Bray/Greystones. At Connolly I transferred to the DART, which also recognized the Eurail Pass. It would be about 4:30 PM when I would board the train for Howth, called Binn Eadair in Irish.

The train to Howth arrived about 4:30 PM. It made about 9 stops before arriving at Howth. Howth is on a peninsula, and on the north side there is a harbor. There is also a shopping area and park close by. I had supper at the Fish Market. I think I had cod and chips along with a salad, and a pint of Guinness. It was really good, cost maybe 15 Euro. About 7 PM I went back to the Howth station to wait for the train back to downtown Dublin. Entering the station, I asked the guard if they would like to see my Eurail Pass, but he said "not particularly" instead of "No". He let me on to the platform. The train did not arrive until 7:30 PM. It departed about 7:40 PM. I stayed on the train until I arrived at Pearse Street. Pearse Street is an elevated commuter rail station. If you look eastward on Westland Row, you might think that you would be seeing a scene of "Glengarry Glenn Ross", where they say "Coffee is for closers". I took the bus back to the post office, and another one of the hostel. Then I went to sleep, at least for a while. Then I was woken up about 5 AM or so. But that's a story for another day.

I hope you will join me in my next journey, from Dublin to Milan. Question: at what airport do I get my passport checked? If you know Ireland's customs union with the UK, it may likely not be at Heathrow, but please stay tuned anyway. See you then!

[workingclasshistory]

On this day, 21 November 1920, soldiers of the Irish Republican Army assassinated 15 suspected British intelligence oofficers. In retaliation, policemen from the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) raided Croke Park stadium where a Gaelic football match was being watched by thousands of spectators. The RIC fired indiscriminately into the crowd, killing 14 people, including one of the players, Michael Hogan. 80 people were also injured. The names of the others who were killed were Jerome O'Leary, 10, William Robinson, 11, John Scott, 14, Jane Boyle, 28, James Burke, 44, Daniel Carroll, 30, Michael Feery, 30, Tom Hogan, 19, James Mathews, 48, Patrick O'Dowd, 57, Thomas Ryan, 27, James Teehan, 26, and Joe Traynor, 20. https://www.facebook.com/workingclasshistory/photos/a.296224173896073/2140764839441988/?type=3

[rhianna]

Reports of cases, argued and determined in the Court of Vice-Admiralty ... : from the commencement of the war, in 1803, to the end of the year 1813 in the time of Alexander Croke ... / by James Stewart

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Corporate AuthorNova Scotia. Vice-Admiralty CourtRelated NamesStewart, James. Croke, Alexander, Sir, 1758-1842. Language(s)English PublishedLondon : Printed for J. Butterworth and Son, 1814 SubjectsAdmiralty >  Admiralty / Nova Scotia. Law reports, digests, etc. >  Law reports, digests, etc. / Nova Scotia. Physical Descriptionxi p., 4 leaves, 596, xxx, [10], 14 p., 1 leaf ; 25 cm

[mercurygray]

Got tagged by @paulinedorchester to weigh in with my thoughts about what the heck Tristan Farnon is going to be doing with himself at the end of Season 3 of All Creatures Great and Small.

I, too, was, a bit confused about what the Royal Army Veterinary Corps would be doing, given David Webster's line at the end of Band of Brothers - "What are you DOING? You still have HORSES? Say hello to Ford and GENERAL FUCKING MOTORS."

It is true - demand for animals in the face of mechanization was declining. In 1938 the Army Veterinary School at Aldershot closed, and in 1942 the Army Remount Service, responsible for training and providing replacement horses, merged with the RAVC. Horses were still in use for Household Cavalry regiments at home, but nearer the front line there was still a demand for pack animals (and thus a need for a vet) in places where roads and local infrastructure couldn't support trucks. The North African and Italian campaigns, for instance, saw a lot of mule and camel usage. (Anyone wanting a truly different war animal story will have to check out Elephant Company, by Vicki Constantine Croke, about a group of partisans/irregulars operating in Burma with - you guessed it - elephants.)

And it wasn't just pack animals - The RVAC and US Army Veterinary Corps also provided working military dogs, which were trained for a variety of uses. The US Army Veterinary Corps also was (and continues to be) highly involved in food safety, especially in the pre-industrial era where Quartermaster Corps cooks might be doing their own butchering out in the field.

(For a bit of context about this story and World War two in general - Donald Sinclair, Alf Wight's partner and the man that Siegfried is based on, did sign up for the RAF; he was discharged after six months and returned to his practice. If memory serves, it's James that gets that storyline in the original 1970s series.)

sources below the cut!

sources:

Royal Army Veterinary Corps (Wikipedia) Army Remount Service (Wikipedia) HIstory of the Veterinary Corps Defence Animal Training Regiment (Wikipedia) US Army Veterinary Corps (Wikipedia) Use of Canines in World War Two (National Museum of the Army)

[fearsmagazine]

Filmmaker James Croke discusses his feature film debut LATENCY.

In filmmaker James Croke’s feature debut he introduces us to Hana, a gamer with agoraphobia who is asked to test new gaming equipment that uses A.I. to read her mind, the line between reality and the subconscious begins to blur and she starts to wonder if the device is helping her or serving a more sinister force.

James Croke is a freelance writer and director with extensive experience in the field of design for both stage and screen, and graduated in 2005 with a Master of Arts from the Australian Film, Television & Radio School. Starting his career in stage design, James was based in London before returning to Sydney, Australia, where he began working in the Australian film and television industry. James’ 2014 short film, Shift, which he wrote, directed and produced was screened at over twenty film festivals worldwide, and received many accolades, receiving two Australian Cinematography Society awards and the Australian Production Design Guild award for design on a short film.

Director James Croke and actress Sasha Luss on the set of LATENCY.

LATENCY will be in US theatres beginning June 14th, 2024, from Lionsgate.

The music heard in the background during this episode is from Latency, by composer J-Punch.

Read Our Review of LATENCY - HERE

[fictionz]

New Fiction 2024 - June

"Zacharias" ed. Richard Challoner (1752)

Prophecy... prophecy... prophecy...

"Malachias" ed. Richard Challoner (1752)

God expected perfection. He was mad and disappointed.

Rising Son by SD Perry (2003)

We definitely had to see what Jake was up to, but the strange part of this book is Jake is once again relegated to being a bit player among a more interesting cast of characters. He just can’t catch a break. The bright side is the new characters and events are all fascinating, if unfortunately hindered by the need to get the plot from point A to point Z. When Perry is given leeway to write moments, she writes the heck out of them.

Unity by SD Perry (2003)

I was so hyped up at the end of the last book that I had to barrel ahead to the finale. I still think the sudden appearance of certain villains and their aftermath in this book is too out of left field. However, Perry didn’t disappoint in writing great character moments, tying up the loose ends, delivering on critical development, and making this feel like the “season 8” concept is worth the journey. The ups and downs all fit the usual journey of a DS9 season. I’m real curious to see if they continued these kinda long arcs in future books.

Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (2022)

Yeah. What a perplexing book. It was difficult to read after three chapters and I almost stopped, but then I read some interviews with the author and decided it deserves a fair shake. I kept tripping over the dialogue because it just felt too quippy and out of place. But I was glad that mellowed out a bit in later chapters. I thought all the yadda-yaddaing past the middle two-thirds of the development process was funny.

Dr. Slump dev. Natsume (1999)

So refreshingly simple. Angular, contained, linear, and beautiful blue sky visuals.

50 Cent: Bulletproof dev. Genuine Games (2005)

We learned nothing.

"Today Is the Day" dir. Scumtron (2004)

Just make it.

"Hope and Glory" dir. Erik van Schoor & Adrian Martin (2024)

It's a sandbox and we're all welcome.

The Watchers dir. Ishana Night Shyamalan (2024)

Horror lore is interesting. Some might say you can't lore too much to retain horror, but I appreciate a built scary world.

When Marnie Was There dir. Hiromasa Yonebayashi (2014)

Some kinda brain wrap that may let go, but is still part of you.

Latency dir. James Croke (2024)

Doesn't quite hit the highs.

Inside Out 2 dir. Kelsey Mann (2024)

The moments were good, and maybe too real.

The Bikeriders dir. Jeff Nichols (2024)

Scorsese has ruined me for this kinda thing.

Crisis Negotiators dir. Herman Yau (2024)

Hey, I thought I'd heard this song before. But they make it their own.

Get Rich or Die Tryin' dir. Jim Sheridan (2005)

They really went for it.

Kinds of Kindness dir. Yorgos Lanthimos (2024)

The beginning and the end are on point.

Scavengers Reign (2023)

Oh whuff, that's amazing and I want more.

Night Gallery - Season 1 (1969-1971)

The 70s-ness of it is the most charming.

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James Croke Interview | Latency (2024)

Writer/Director James Croke Interview by Big Gold Belt Media –Synopsis:When Hana (Sasha Luss), a professional gamer who suffers from acute agoraphobia, is asked to trial sophisticated new gaming equipment which uses AI to interpret the electrical activity of her brain, she sees an opportunity to enhance her game. As Hana and her best friend Jen (Alexis Ren) experiment with this new technology,…

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Friday Releases for June 14

Friday is the busiest day of the week for new releases, so we've decided to collect them all in one place. Friday Releases for June 14 include Ultraman: Rising, Reverse the Curse, Tuesday, and more.

Ultraman: Rising

Ultraman: Rising, the new movie from Shannon Tindle and John Aoshima, is out today.

With Tokyo under siege from rising monster attacks, baseball star Ken Sato reluctantly returns home to take on the mantle of Ultraman. But the titanic superhero meets his match when he reluctantly adopts a 35-foot-tall, fire-breathing baby kaiju. Sato must rise above his ego to balance work and parenthood while protecting the baby from forces bent on exploiting her for their own dark plans.

Reverse the Curse

Reverse the Curse, the new movie from David Duchovny, is out today.

Reverse the Curse follows Ted (Logan Marshall-Green), a failed writer-turned-Yankees Stadium peanut slinger who moves back home after learning of the failing health of his Red Sox-obsessed father, Marty (David Duchovny). While Marty strives to make amends for his past, his health drops abruptly whenever his beloved Sox lose a game. To keep his dad’s spirits up, Ted takes matters into his own hands and manufactures a winning streak with the help of a crew of dad’s neighborhood pals. In the process, Ted strikes up a bond with Marty’s charming “Death Specialist,” Marianna (Stephanie Beatriz), and the prospect of a new love reignites his ambitions. An ode to the bond between father and son, this warm and witty film demonstrates how life truly belongs to the losers, and that the longshots are the ones worth betting on.

Tuesday

Tuesday, the new movie from Daina Oniunas-Pusic, is out today.

A mother (Julia Louis-Dreyfus, in a profoundly moving performance) and her teenage daughter (Lola Petticrew) must confront Death when it arrives in the form of an astonishing talking bird.

Ride

Ride, the new movie from Jake Allyn, is out today.

Desperate to raise money for his daughter’s cancer treatment, a retired bull rider teams up with his estranged son and resorts to robbery to secure payment before time runs out. But after the heist goes awry, keeping the money—and their freedom—requires the duo to outwit a dogged pair of local law enforcement officers, including a justice-minded sheriff who soon suspects that the key to her case may lie uncomfortably close to home.

Latency

Latency, the new movie from James Croke, is out today.

When Hana (Sasha Luss), a professional gamer who suffers from acute agoraphobia, is asked to trial sophisticated new gaming equipment which uses AI to interpret the electrical activity of her brain, she sees an opportunity to enhance her game. As Hana and her best friend Jen (Alexis Ren) experiment with this new technology, the line between reality and Hana’s subconscious quickly begins to blur and she starts to wonder if the device is helping her or serving a more sinister force.

Ghostlight

Ghostlight, the new movie from Kelly O'Sullivan and Alex Thompson, is out today.

When a construction worker unexpectedly joins a local theater’s production of Romeo and Juliet, the drama onstage starts to mirror his own life.

Firebrand

Firebrand, the new movie from Karim Aïnouz, is out today.

In blood-soaked Tudor England, twice married, accomplished, and educated Katherine Parr (Vikander), reluctantly agrees to become the sixth wife of the tyrannical King Henry VIII (Law). Her consent to marry him carries great personal risk, given that her predecessors are either vanquished, beheaded, or dead. When Henry appoints her as Regent, the nation’s ruler during his absence when he departs to fight overseas, he lays a dangerous path for her. Henry’s courtiers, suspecting she’s sympathetic to radical Protestant beliefs that have taken root in the kingdom and are a threat to their power, scheme against her and cast doubts upon her fidelity to the increasingly ailing and paranoid King. Once Henry returns to England, his courtiers convince him to turn his fury on the nation’s radicals, including Katherine’s childhood friend Anne Askew, who becomes one of the scores of people convicted of treason and burned at the stake. Horrified and privately grieving, Katherine finds herself under ever-increasing scrutiny and suspicion. Knowing that even a whisper of scandal might lead to her downfall, Katherine must unleash her own scheme to fight for survival.

Bad Behaviour

Bad Behaviour, the new movie from Alice Englert, is out today.

Lucy, a former child actress, seeks healing from the traumas of her life. She embarks on a spiritual retreat, only for it to become anything but healing: she’s easily annoyed by the other attendees and wants attention from the retreat’s new-age guru Elon Bello. Even worse, she has become destructively obsessed with the retreat’s celebrity guest, a model named Beverly. As Beverly finds “enlightenment” easily, Lucy’s feelings of insecurity continue to rise to the surface. During this time, Lucy also tries to connect with her stunt performer adult daughter, Dylan who’s currently on set in New Zealand. Dylan’s falling into an obsession of her own: a bad romance with the main actor Elmore, whose insistence on doing his own stunts will have disastrous consequences. Brutal incidents in both women’s worlds force them to back together to confront their personal demons and their own relationship.

Inside Out 2

Inside Out 2, the new movie from Kelsey Mann, is out today.

Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” returns to the mind of newly minted teenager Riley just as headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely unexpected: new Emotions! Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust, who’ve long been running a successful operation by all accounts, aren’t sure how to feel when Anxiety shows up. And it looks like she’s not alone.

Nightmares and Daydreams

Nightmares and Daydreams, the new TV series from Joko Anwar, is out today.

Tales of supernatural sci-fi phenomena unfold in this collection of seven mind-bending stories imagined by writer-director Joko Anwar.

Fallen Aces

Fallen Aces, the new game from Trey Powell, Jason Bond, and New Blood Interactive, is out today.

The A.C.E.S, watchful guardians of Switchblade City, are being taken down, one by one. Now it's up to one man, with two fists, to get to the bottom of it all. Fallen Aces is a crime noir FPS that plays right out of the '90s and looks like it's right outta the comics.

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Hidden Gem Irish Music Venue’s

Ireland has always been a country that is blessed with a rich history of legendary venue's that has attracted some of the top worldwide talent. Slane Castle, 3 Arena and Croke park are all names that come to mind initially but what we are interested in is uncovering some of the smaller unknown gems that are dotted around the isle.

Ballykeefe Amphitheatre

Kicking things off we have the Ballykeefe Amphitheatre located in Kilmanagh, Co. Kilkenny. I think the pictures shown above really tells all you need to know about this incredibly unique venue....

But if you want us to go into detail we will. The 850 seater venue has similarities to an open air Italian theatre. The setting provides visitors with a large open space, tiered limestone seating and countryside quaintness combined into one. The Amphitheatre has welcomed the likes of Gavin James, Dan McCabe and Mike Denver to just name a few. A stacked lineup in 2023 also shows an exciting future for the rural location.

De Barra

To the untrained eye De Barras Pub in Clonakilty Co.Cork may just look like your run of the mill rural Irish pub, but this venue offers so much more. When on the hunt to find a great “Gig" or "Session" De Barra's has got to be right up there with the best places to get your fix. The actual entrance to the venue is extremely deceiving as passer byers may not recognise the magic that takes place inside. Musicians from all genres and walks of life have contributed to this locations notorious status. The family run venue has been producing some amazing events for the past 40 years and has achieved a pedigree that far exceeds the boundaries of the rebel county. We would encourage all people in the area to just take a look inside and the place will do the rest, De Barra's can guarantee visitors with good times, great people and even better music!

If you have visited or even enjoyed reading up about these two hidden gems in Ireland please feel free to leave a comment below letting us know your thoughts?

As always we appreciate your continued support for Sound of the Isle and we will be back on Friday with another blog.