Just in case you were wondering, no this wasn’t at Frightfest. I’ve become rather interested in Ralph Vaughan Williams, mainly because the universe keeps conspiring to bring him to my attention - he’s in this month’s Fortean Times too - so when i saw this well-regarded overview of his life and music was playing at the BFI I decided it would be churlish not to go. It’s pretty good too; respectful but also enlightening.
Archive for September, 2008
Year in film 41: Death Race
It’s like this: if you saw the trailer, and didn’t see anything objectionable, then you’ll probably like the film, as it really just extends that to 100 minutes. To put it another way, if the idea of Paul W Anderson directing Jason Statham in a remake of a George Romero helmed SF film from the early 1980s doesn’t in any way put you off, then you will probably enjoy this film.
- Posted on September 19th, 2008
- by nick.brownlow
- 2 Comments »
Year in film 40: The Disappeared
Whilst this was a competently made, well acted piece - which came as something of a relief after the short showcase - I found it a bit directionless and unoriginal. The possibility of a ghost has become the most common horror trope outside of the slasher/survival horror genres, and this really doesn’t do anything new with it. I also thought it wasted the setting - a genuinely haunting inner-city London housing estate. Ultimately disappointing, but certainly not without merit.
- Posted on September 19th, 2008
- by nick.brownlow
- No Comments »
Year in film 32- 39: Frightfest Short Showcase
32. The Amazing Trousers
This was great which was a shame because it was all downhill from here. Fortunately, it’s on Youtube, so I can share it with you all.
33. The Chest
The most unpleasant experience I’ve ever had in a cinema. And I don’t mean that in some ironic, complimentary way.
34. He Dies at the End
Not bad actually; in parts genuinely creepy.
35. Psycho Hillbilly Cabin Massacre!
This wasn’t too bad either, albeit fairly predictable. It did however have a sense of humour, which goes a long way when you’re only a third of the way through a somewhat dubious-looking programme of shorts, most of which seem to be about torturing women in some way.
36. Homework
All I can really remember about this is it contained some lacklustre CGI animation, and was really dull.
37. Total Fury
There was a funny idea in here somewhere, unfortunately it was kind of lost amongst the misogynistic, torture-obsessed nonsense.
38. Anyone there?
Stylish, but utterly devoid of content.
39. Norman J Warren Presents: Horrorshow
Shorts within a short. I’ll treat this as one entry I guess. I should point out though that on the whole it was fairly crap:
Neon Killer - a reasonable send up of some shlocky 1980s trash horror movie. Probably the best segment.
The Flea - second baby-murder of the day.
The Incursion - contained a crap twist that wouldn’t have flown in a Terror Tale from the 1970s.
The Initiation - contained possibly the worst acting of the lot, which is saying something.
Smile - I quite liked the direction in this one actually, although I’m sure I’m encountered the same twist in some form or another a thousand times.
- Posted on September 19th, 2008
- by nick.brownlow
- 4 Comments »
Year in film 31: The Dead Outside
A no-budget Scottish zombie-apocalypse scenario in which two damaged survivors find themselves holed up on a farm facing the same old threats, both internal and external. Very predictable, and really rather dull.
- Posted on September 19th, 2008
- by nick.brownlow
- No Comments »
