10 Books that Influenced The Return

Of Interest

Writer-director Oliver Nias shares some of the books that influenced his work on psychological thriller ‘The Return’, an independent British film nominated for a Moet BIFA Discovery Award.

Fifty dead men walking cover

Fifty Dead Men Walking

Martin McGartland

2008

Introduced me to the idea of what it might feel like to be living in true fear, what duplicity and threat means to a real person. The first ‘proper’ book I was given (by my grandparents) and actually decided to read as a result.

Finite and Infinite Games

Finite and Infinite Games

James P. Carse

1987

The way we play games with each other…

Heart of Darkness cover

Heart of Darkness

Joseph Conrad

1899

One of the most intriguing reading experiences. The narrative wrapping, the layered storytelling, interior and exterior landscaping, disorientation, fever, the Horror… First time a book continued to make me feel something long after I had finished reading it.

High Rise cover

High Rise

JG Ballard

1975

A single concept taken to the Nth degree. The best.

Netforce cover

Net Force

Tom Clancy

1999-

First page turner I experienced as a teenager – mystery, guns and pure entertainment.

Oliver_Sacks

Various Works

Oliver Sacks

1970-

Things are not always how they seem…

Adobe Photoshop PDF

The Machine

James Smythe

2014

James Smythe is one of my favourite writers. Amazing concepts, amazing stories, amazing writing.

The Outsiders cover

The Outsiders

S.E.Hinton 

1967

“When I stepped out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house, I had only two things on my mind: Paul Newman and a ride home.” Best opening line I ever read. Not only that, The Outsiders has themes of brotherhood, hardship and how one bad decision affects everything.

CrimeInAPsychologicalContext

Crime In A Psychological Context

Glenn D. Walters

2011

Understanding criminals – contexts, backgrounds, profiles, motivations and recidivism. Darkly enlightening.

The Secret Agent cover

The Secret Agent

Joseph Conrad

1907

London, secrecy, extreme personalities and a ticking time bomb…