Paul Risker

While technically an English-based film critic and interviewer, Paul shows his political disgruntlement towards his homeland by identifying instead as a European writer. You’ll often find him agreeing with the late great French filmmaker, François Truffaut, preferring the reflection of life to life itself – he’ll even tell you that the cinema is more important than life. Often mistaken for a cynic, he prefers to think of himself as a disappointed idealist. Unsurprisingly he likes skulking in the sanctuary of the dark confines of the cinema.

Described as 'philosophically inclined', Paul has a broad taste in cinema. His film writing has been published by academic and non-academic publications, including, amongst others: PopMatters, Little White Lies, Cineaste, DMovies, VideoScope, Eye For Film, Film International, The Quarterly Review of Film and Video, and Filmmaker Magazine. He’s also on the advisory board of Mise-en-scène: The Journal of Film & Visual Narration (MSJ), the official film studies journal of Kwantlen Polytechnic University, where he serves as interview editor. He regularly contributes to the Arrow Films blog, the FrightFest festival programmes and online blog.

Latest Film Reviews

Cicadas
A woman whose marriage is crumbling and is struggling to care for her ageing parents has an encounter with a single mother that leads to an unexpected bond.
Bad Attitude: The Art Of Spain Rodriguez
Legendary underground cartoonist Spain Rodriguez is profiled in this intimate portrait by his wife, Emmy-nominated filmmaker Susan Stern.
I Am Not A Serial Killer
A teenage sociopath tries to hunt down a killer.
Magnus
Documenting the 'Mozart of Chess'.
Dog Eat Dog
Two former convicts are torn between going straight and returning to their old lives.
Free Fire
A meeting between two gangs in a deserted warehouse turns into a shootout.

Features

Interview with Claire Bueno about Cleanin' Up The Town: Remembering Ghostbusters and Cleanin' Up The Town: Remembering Ghostbusters, A Cast And Crew's Memoir Of Ghostbusters
09 Apr 2025
Interview with Claire Bueno about Cleanin' Up The Town: Remembering Ghostbusters and her book
Interview with Tracie Laymon about Bob Trevino Likes It
06 Apr 2025
Tracie Laymon on laughing at pain together and Bob Trevino Likes It
Interview with Ryan J Sloan and Ariella Mastroianni about Gazer
02 Apr 2025
Ryan J Sloan and Ariella Mastroianni on spiral stories and creating Gazer
Interview with Cam Banfield about How Was Your Weekend?
01 Apr 2025
Cam Banfield on breaking social rules and How Was Your Weekend?
Interview with Peter Catteneo about The Penguin Lessons
30 Mar 2025
Peter Catteneo on adapting a true story in The Penguin Lessons

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