Film critic, radio broadcaster and now author, Stephen “Spling” Aspeling, has announced the release of a book trailer for his new book, ‘The Essence of Dreams: An Anthology of Film Reviews’. The trailer, which can be viewed below and on YouTube, gives a glimpse into the book’s collection of Aspeling’s best-reviewed and most transportative films. Spling playfully suggests you “Crank the volume up to 11 for maximum enjoyment.”

“I wanted to create a trailer that would capture the essence of what this book is about,” said Aspeling. “These are films that have stayed with me long after I’ve seen them. They’re films that have transported me to other worlds, made me think about the world in new ways.” The cover photographed by Gérard Rudolf has a surreal and Lynchian feel, tying into iconic imagery from Lost Highway and the trailer features music that recalls Lynch’s work, more specifically Twin Peaks. While the 2001 Space Odyssey inspired opening of the ‘The Essence of Dreams: An Anthology of Film Reviews’ was devised by editor and illustrator Alan Lamprecht.

The book trailer features sketches inspired by some of the films included in the book, such as Everything, Everywhere All at Once, Parasite and Licorice Pizza. It also features comments about the book and Spling from authors and industry professionals who had a chance to review the anthology as an ebook before it went into print as a paperback.

“I hope that this trailer will give people a taste of what the book is about,” said Aspeling. If you’re a fan of film, or want to access a readymade movie bucket list, ‘The Essence of Dreams: An Anthology of Film Reviews’ is available now on Amazon with signed copies via splingmovies.com.

Aspeling is a passionate advocate for film, and he believes that cinema has the power to transport us to other worlds. While we’ve been inundated with animated and superhero films of late to drive escapist cinema experiences with spectacular feats of filmmaking, there’s a plethora of pure cinematic gems waiting to whisk you away into someone else’s dream or nightmare. Much like cinema, this multi-faceted book blends artful visuals and words as a celebration of cinema’s ability to harness the power of dreams.