Fantastic follow-up

Blade Runner 2049 (15) ●●●●●

Denis Villeneuve has managed to create that rarest of beasts; a sequel that surpasses its predecessor.

Ryan Gosling shines in a challenging role, Sylvia Hoeks makes for a chilling villainess and a returning Harrison Ford adds old-school charisma.

The film looks and sounds fantastic but, crucially, also delivers plentiful emotional beats.

Batman: Gotham by Gaslight (15) ●●● ●●

The Caped Crusader taking on Jack the Ripper is one heck of an intriguing storyline that, for the most part, leads to an entertaining watch.

Seeing Batman in 19th century Gotham is fascinating and Bruce Greenwood voices the hero with pathos. But this animation’s story struggles to fill even its slight 78-minute running time.

Flatliners (15)

The original Flatliners was serviceable but far from a classic; ripe for a superior remake, then?

Alas not, as the script is full of predictable developments performed by a largely unremarkable cast.

Perfunctory directing from Neils Arden Oplev fails to elevate the familiar goings-on and his reboot takes itself far too seriously.

Kiefer Sutherland returns but, bizarrely, not as the character he played in the original in what feels like little more than stunt casting.

The flick’s biggest flaw, however, is that it’s just not scary. At all.

There aren’t even any notable jump scares, which even some of horror’s worst have utilised to evoke at least mild discomfort.