Neil Smith

Social Links Navigation

Freelance Writer

Neil Smith is a freelance film critic who has written for several publications, including Total Film. His bylines can be found at the BBC, Film 4 Independent, Uncut Magazine, SFX, Heat Magazine, Popcorn, and more.

Latest articles by Neil Smith

The Iron Claw review: "Zac Efron's moment to shine"

By Neil Smith published 5 February 24

review

The End We Start From review: "Jodie Comer is a force of nature in this apocalyptic drama"

By Neil Smith published 16 January 24

review

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom review: "The DCEU's last outing should have tried to make more of a splash"

By Neil Smith published 21 December 23

review

Rebel Moon Part One review: "Risks being subsumed by its own self-importance, but delivers bombastic mayhem"

By Neil Smith published 15 December 23

review

Godzilla Minus One review: "A gargantuan and resonant epic"

By Neil Smith published 28 November 23

review

Iman Vellani, Brie Larson and Teyonah Parris in The Marvels

The Marvels review: "A disjointed mini-Avengers that doesn't make a great deal of sense"

By Neil Smith published 8 November 23

review

Five Nights at Freddy's review: "Five nights too many"

By Neil Smith published 25 October 23

review

The Kitchen review: "A startling vision of the future troublingly close to our present"

By Neil Smith published 16 October 23

review

The Book of Clarence review: "An amusing but muddled Biblical satire"

By Neil Smith published 12 October 23

review

The Bikeriders review: "This absorbing study of a Chicago motorcycle crew thrums with Scorsese-isms"

By Neil Smith published 6 October 23

review

BlackBerry review: "A lively epitaph for a device that went extinct"

By Neil Smith published 4 October 23

review

Fair Play review: "A gripping, sleek, and impressive debut feature"

By Neil Smith published 28 September 23

review

Saw X review: "Tobin Bell's comeback isn't sufficient X-cuse to resuscitate the series"

By Neil Smith published 28 September 23

review

Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in A Haunting in Venice

A Haunting in Venice review: "Third time's a charm for a franchise that's found its groove"

By Neil Smith published 9 September 23

review

The Nun 2 review: "Best stop now before it becomes a habit"

By Neil Smith published 7 September 23

review

Strays review: "You'll be wishing you were Homeward Bound yourself"

By Neil Smith published 17 August 23

review

Blue Beetle review: "There's life in the old DCEU yet"

By Neil Smith published 16 August 23

review

A Haunting in Venice producer on why the franchise is leaning into the supernatural: "We can't do the same thing over and over"

By Neil Smith published 15 August 23

Exclusive EXCLUSIVE: James Prichard also weighs in on the likelihood of a fourth Agatha Christie-inspired movie

Exclusive

Is it just me, or are too many films being made into musicals?

By Neil Smith published 11 August 23

feature A Total Film writer on why it's time for the final curtain...

feature

Gran Turismo review: "A fun if formulaic thrill-ride"

By Neil Smith published 8 August 23

review

Meg 2 The Trench review: "A listless, mechanical follow-up"

By Neil Smith published 4 August 23

review

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken review: "A playful reversal of mythical expectations"

By Neil Smith published 26 June 23

review

Jennifer Lawrence and Andrew Barth Feldman in No Hard Feelings

No Hard Feelings review: "Taste and laughs are in slim supply in Jennifer Lawrence's latest"

By Neil Smith published 21 June 23

Review

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts review: "Leans into an orgy of bombastic Bayhem"

By Neil Smith published 6 June 23

review

Fast X review: "Outrageously entertaining, entertainingly outrageous"

By Neil Smith published 17 May 23

review

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Archives

Sign up to the 12DOVE Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

1
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii review: "Sun, surf, and treasure hunting takes the series to new places at the right time"
2
Lost Records: Bloom and Rage – Tape 1 review: "This Life is Strange successor is Stephen King, Blair Witch, and Yellowjackets all rolled into one – delicious"
3
Avowed review: "No Skyrim, but an unforgettable return to form for Obsidian Entertainment"
4
Wingspan review: "One of the greats"
5
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 review: "Even if some friction can lead to frustration, its realization of medieval life remains utterly absorbing"

1
Fight or Flight review: "Slick and silly action sequences garner well-earned John Wick and Bullet train comparisons"
2
Mickey 17 Review: "Bong Joon Ho's best English movie to date and arguably Robert Pattinson's best movie ever"
3
Captain America: Brave New World review: "Anthony Mackie's Cap earns his Stars and Stripes in this uneven, un-MCU thriller"
4
The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep review – "A satisfying new anime adventure that harks back to the Netflix series' heyday"
5
The Monkey review: Longlegs director Osgood Perkins embraces his silly side in gory, surprisingly existential horror comedy

1
Reacher season 3 review: "Alan Ritchson's hero still rules as we get the best season yet"
2
Yellowjackets season 3 review: "At its best when it leans all the way into its kookier – and scarier – side"
3
Cobra Kai season 6, part 3 review: "Puts a near-perfect bow on Cobra Kai and the Karate Kid series"
4
Invincible season 3 review: "Bigger, better, faster, stronger"
5
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man review: "Freeing this creative series from MCU canon is the secret to its success"