Every film that is reviewed on The Film Meister is given a star rating out of five.

There are many elements taken into account but the overall score is primarily determined by how engaging a film is, the quality of its direction, script, performances and technical elements, as well as the themes the work explores, its context and what it represents for the genre or wider industry.

Review ratings can mean different things to different people (and, indeed, can vary between publications) so here’s an overview of what the scores mean. Note half scores are awarded where a film’s scores falls between the below definitions.

5 stars – Exceptional

This is a very rare occurrence – it’s not often something is close to being perfect. It’s very unlikely a film will be awarded this rating on a first viewing – a film needs to stand up to multiple rewatches.

4 stars – Excellent

This film exceeds expectations and is very good.

3 stars – Good

This is a positive review, but certain flaws prevent the film from being very good.

2 stars – Poor

This is a negative review and while there are some positive elements, the film is ultimately not engaging.

1 star – Terrible

This film was not enjoyable and there are no positive elements.

I’m Oscar Huckle and I’ve been an avid cinephile since before my teenage years.

You’ll regularly find me at the cinema catching anything from the latest blockbuster to hunting out smaller-budget arthouse fare. Some of my favourite films include Inception, Up, The Hateful Eight and In Bruges.

I’m known for my controversial, but articulate opinions – for example, I consider Prometheus to be the best Alien film and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom the highlight of its series. 

I hold a BA English Literature and Film Studies degree from the University of East Anglia. For my dissertation, I researched the revival of the contemporary Hollywood Western through theories of genre and authorship. I also contributed many film reviews and features to the university’s Concrete student newspaper. 

I originally started The Film Meister in 2015 and to this day, continue to regularly update the site with the latest reviews and features. Please note I stick to the UK release date calendar from 1st January to 31st December – so for example, if you find a film features in an end-of-year list that was recognised in the previous year’s Awards ceremonies, that will be because it released in the UK in that respective year. 

Outside of film, I’m a keen traveller and a passionate cyclist – don’t ask how that’s related to film! I’ve forged a career in the cycling industry as a journalist and you’ll find my work published on BikeRadar.com, Cycling Plus and MBUK magazines, as well as The Cycling Meister. 

To keep up to date with my work, or to get in contact with me, you can find me on the following platforms:

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