Captain’s Log

There’s a word I don’t use very much – no, it’s not that word, I probably do use that quite a lot – because it’s something that tends not to be thrown around in relation to modern cinema that often. That word is “masterpiece”.

That’s how I feel about Denis Villeneuve’s Dune. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it – the scale, the beauty, the sound, it’s all quite breathtaking.

Who knows where it will land in a world that largely doesn’t realise it predates, and indeed directly influenced, a lot of the blockbuster sci-fi franchises – and probably doesn’t care to educate itself otherwise. I know we’d be robbed if we don’t get to see Part Two.

You’ll see that we’ve tried to dip a little into the wider Dune universe here – from the posters and concept art postcards (included with UK copies of the mag) celebrating Arrow’s gorgeous 4K release of David Lynch’s 1984 movie, to a look back at the television series, as well as chats with pivotal behind-the-scenes members of Villeneuve’s team. It’s been an absolute joy to put this all together, and I hope you allow the indulgence for a property I felt deserved special treatment.

Thank goodness for people like Denis Villeneuve – and all those other sci-fi fans out there – who took their childhood fascination and love for something “nerdy” and never once let go of that dream. The world (and universe) is a better place for them.

There’s no rest for the wicked though, as we’re already well underway with another mammoth issue of SFX next month – and it’s my favourite time of the year: Halloween!