Features
Ten Reason's you should buy the new SFX Horror Special Edition.
The guys over at SFX don't only bring you the world's greatest Sci-Fi magazine every month, every few month they release a special edition magazine. In the past these have included ghosts, vampires and zombies., no though, they turn there focus onto the horror genre.
The new magazine is out now and will set you back £7.99, below are ten very good reason's you should go and pick it up as soon as you finish reading this.
1. Free Gifts! - Not only will you get the wonderful magazine, you will also get four, yes four, free gifts. A DVD that contains two episodes of the Masters of Horror series. John Carpenter's 'Cigarette Burns' and Dario Argento's 'Pelts'. As the DVD has a 18 certificate, you have to be 18+ to buy the magazine. A double sided poster for American Horror Story could soon be gracing your walls. A sheet of stickers that you can use to decorate your horror collection - our personal favourite "I miss Peter Cushing". Finally you will get five postcards that feature iconic images of Stanley kubrick's 'The Shining' to coincide with the release of the never before seen in the UK extended cut this November.
2. It features an impressive A-Z of horror including Anthologies, Franchises and Television.
3. Interviews! We all love reading interviews with our favourite horror star's and this doesn't disappoint! Interviewee's include: Mark Gatiss, Tom Six, Axelle Carolyn and many more!
4. A special look at Some Guy Who Kills People.
5. Reviews of the Halloween, Friday the 13th, Scream and many more Franchises.
6. It's well written, apart from the Halloween reviews (HAlloween 4- two star?!)
7. It covers EVERYTHING from european horror to the Human Centipede films to slasher films.
8. There is a rather brilliant look at Leatherface, the murderous cannibal in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre franchise.
9. A brilliant competition where you have the chance to win nine classic video nasties on DVD including 'Zombie Flesh Eaters', 'Island of Death' and 'Don't go in the House'.
10. It's only £7.99 For all of the above! Bargain.
James Voller
The new magazine is out now and will set you back £7.99, below are ten very good reason's you should go and pick it up as soon as you finish reading this.
1. Free Gifts! - Not only will you get the wonderful magazine, you will also get four, yes four, free gifts. A DVD that contains two episodes of the Masters of Horror series. John Carpenter's 'Cigarette Burns' and Dario Argento's 'Pelts'. As the DVD has a 18 certificate, you have to be 18+ to buy the magazine. A double sided poster for American Horror Story could soon be gracing your walls. A sheet of stickers that you can use to decorate your horror collection - our personal favourite "I miss Peter Cushing". Finally you will get five postcards that feature iconic images of Stanley kubrick's 'The Shining' to coincide with the release of the never before seen in the UK extended cut this November.
2. It features an impressive A-Z of horror including Anthologies, Franchises and Television.
3. Interviews! We all love reading interviews with our favourite horror star's and this doesn't disappoint! Interviewee's include: Mark Gatiss, Tom Six, Axelle Carolyn and many more!
4. A special look at Some Guy Who Kills People.
5. Reviews of the Halloween, Friday the 13th, Scream and many more Franchises.
6. It's well written, apart from the Halloween reviews (HAlloween 4- two star?!)
7. It covers EVERYTHING from european horror to the Human Centipede films to slasher films.
8. There is a rather brilliant look at Leatherface, the murderous cannibal in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre franchise.
9. A brilliant competition where you have the chance to win nine classic video nasties on DVD including 'Zombie Flesh Eaters', 'Island of Death' and 'Don't go in the House'.
10. It's only £7.99 For all of the above! Bargain.
James Voller
Top Ten Creepy Horror Posters
With the release of the Texas Chainsaw 3D poster this week, we started to think of creepy horror film posters. Films you went to see basically because the poster have freaked you out a little bit, this is what we came up with.
10. Texas Chainsaw 3D
10. Texas Chainsaw 3D
9. The Last Exorcism
8. The Crazies ( Suggested by our editor James.)
7. FearDotCom (Suggested by nelmes316 on Twitter and backed up by negativethree)
6. The Omen
5. A Nightmare on Elm Street (Suggested on twitter by The_nu-Saint)
4. Grave Encounters 2 (Suggested on Twitter by Luke Morris)
3. Paranormal Activity
2. The Haunting in Connecticut
1. The Changeling
The Timeslip
Making a good short film can be hard work. So you can imagine our respect for filmmakers who have made a string of both good and entertaining short films. Jonathan and Richard Chance (Known as their “alias” The Chance Brothers”) have made not only a number of short films BUT they have made good short films.
Today we are going to focus on their latest work – The Timeslip. (We may ask them nicely and see if we can get hold of their back catalogue to watch and review for you guys!)
The Timeslip has an intriguing premise. A normal everyday businessman in London crosses the road only to find himself in a different time. Cars and the famous London buildings have been replaced by endless forest. The man wonders around, obviously dazed and confused, lost and scared. Days pass and the man suddenly starts to realise he is not alone and it’s something far worse then mere wolves that are stalking him in his forest hell.
Having been selected for more then 11 festivals throughout the world and wining various awards including best Sci-Fi film at last years Geek Independent Film Festival, The Timeslip may be on its way to a festival near you, and if it does, I advise you o check it out.
We are very pleased to have had the opportunity to ask co-director Jonathan Chance a few questions about the film, his current projects and any possible feature films that may be in the pipeline.
HH - How did the idea of The Timeslip first come about?
JC - Richard and I were looking to make a short film that was entertaining and thought provoking at the same time. We always like to make films that make you think under the surface. We brainstormed ideas about how modern science is important for mankind but in society today our priorities are directed toward consumerism absolute. Which is a real sorry shame. I feel if we were smarter the ozone layer wouldn't be wrecked! So how would a person of today fair in an environment of people of yesteryear? Or tribal times - people of the earth? Back when we fought for food, survival and fought for a position at the top of the food chain. If we threw someone from today back to then - the comparison would be dire for most part. Most people are pampered or lazy. It's essentially like throwing a poodle into the wild.
HH - Any amusing on set stories you'd like to share?
JC - Using places we're not supposed to comes with the guerrilla film making territory. London Underground, woodland etc. Now, running around in loin clothes in a busy dog walking path - you have to laugh! Raised a few eyebrows. Also running around barefoot where Stuart Armitage (A talented musician who made some great music on other films for us in the past) and I were picking out the tiniest thorns - hundreds of them from our feet for weeks! And Richard certainly didn't have it easy doing a fair few takes falling down a nettled hill either! We are used to doing it all by this point.
HH - Did you find it difficult to make the audience "feel" for your main character in a 15 minute film?
JC - It's those 1 minute films they're the tricky ones! No, Richard and I would try different things but generally he is a natural. People say they felt for his character - i hear it a lot and that makes me happy we got the message across. Even though Richard barely speaks - he has this way (even though he seems like your typical business snob at first) of conveying emotion through his expressions and actions. He knows nothing of this new environment but he really wants to try and learn. Which says a lot about his character - that he is willing to evolve or digress (whichever way you look at it) to his surroundings.
HH - It has an intriguing premise, do you think it would work as a feature film?
JC - We never thought of it to be a feature film. Though it would make a good idea for a series, if someone was interested. We like to use shorts as our way to express what we can do with what we have. Like an quality snap shot of promise. A good short shows promise of quality. A feature produced from The Chance Brothers with something of a budget (An indie amount to us is like Hollywood Jackpot money) i would love to see - and people to get excited about one of our films on a grander scale to see what we're capable of. I know of so many films with budgets that haven't got into many festivals or awarded etc like us. I think that says something about the quality of our films and writing. We had next to nothing (i really mean that - not like when someone says 10,000 is nothing) Money doesn't make a good filmmaker. No result of polishing makes a film great if the source is without substance. So if you have something original and innovative in the start - a higher production will only undoubtedly enhance your work and give you a bigger canvas to paint with. Which i can't wait to be given the chance!
HH - Any upcoming festivals you can talk about?
JC - It just showed at a film festival and sci-fi convention Chicon 7 in Chicago at the end of August. Before that it showed at the Frighten Brighton launch party in June which went well! Next up it will be at Tri-Cities International Fantastic Film Festival in October which we're looking forward to! But always check our website at www.chance-encounters.org or The Timeslip IMDb page for up and coming screenings. More screenings are on the way - so do check frequently!
HH - Any upcoming projects you can talk about? Feature films possibly?
JC - Firstly,
Yes! I am pleased to announce i am a semi-finalist at one of the best horror festivals in LA Shriekfest for my screenplay Something Like a Phenomenon. I am very proud. This is a tough one to get in. I will be going to the event, doing the rounds to any ears willing to listen to a pitch on a great British true horror story i would love to make into a feature length film. It's truly a modern myth deserving a place in cinema!
Second,
Calling everyone! Anyone can get involved with our latest film called The Last War an interactive sci-fi feature film project we have going on. We placed a casting call for images of people to become characters incorporated into the film. Also - if any CGI artists are interested to get in contact as well! Go here to get in contact with Richard or if you have any further questions!
James Voller
Today we are going to focus on their latest work – The Timeslip. (We may ask them nicely and see if we can get hold of their back catalogue to watch and review for you guys!)
The Timeslip has an intriguing premise. A normal everyday businessman in London crosses the road only to find himself in a different time. Cars and the famous London buildings have been replaced by endless forest. The man wonders around, obviously dazed and confused, lost and scared. Days pass and the man suddenly starts to realise he is not alone and it’s something far worse then mere wolves that are stalking him in his forest hell.
Having been selected for more then 11 festivals throughout the world and wining various awards including best Sci-Fi film at last years Geek Independent Film Festival, The Timeslip may be on its way to a festival near you, and if it does, I advise you o check it out.
We are very pleased to have had the opportunity to ask co-director Jonathan Chance a few questions about the film, his current projects and any possible feature films that may be in the pipeline.
HH - How did the idea of The Timeslip first come about?
JC - Richard and I were looking to make a short film that was entertaining and thought provoking at the same time. We always like to make films that make you think under the surface. We brainstormed ideas about how modern science is important for mankind but in society today our priorities are directed toward consumerism absolute. Which is a real sorry shame. I feel if we were smarter the ozone layer wouldn't be wrecked! So how would a person of today fair in an environment of people of yesteryear? Or tribal times - people of the earth? Back when we fought for food, survival and fought for a position at the top of the food chain. If we threw someone from today back to then - the comparison would be dire for most part. Most people are pampered or lazy. It's essentially like throwing a poodle into the wild.
HH - Any amusing on set stories you'd like to share?
JC - Using places we're not supposed to comes with the guerrilla film making territory. London Underground, woodland etc. Now, running around in loin clothes in a busy dog walking path - you have to laugh! Raised a few eyebrows. Also running around barefoot where Stuart Armitage (A talented musician who made some great music on other films for us in the past) and I were picking out the tiniest thorns - hundreds of them from our feet for weeks! And Richard certainly didn't have it easy doing a fair few takes falling down a nettled hill either! We are used to doing it all by this point.
HH - Did you find it difficult to make the audience "feel" for your main character in a 15 minute film?
JC - It's those 1 minute films they're the tricky ones! No, Richard and I would try different things but generally he is a natural. People say they felt for his character - i hear it a lot and that makes me happy we got the message across. Even though Richard barely speaks - he has this way (even though he seems like your typical business snob at first) of conveying emotion through his expressions and actions. He knows nothing of this new environment but he really wants to try and learn. Which says a lot about his character - that he is willing to evolve or digress (whichever way you look at it) to his surroundings.
HH - It has an intriguing premise, do you think it would work as a feature film?
JC - We never thought of it to be a feature film. Though it would make a good idea for a series, if someone was interested. We like to use shorts as our way to express what we can do with what we have. Like an quality snap shot of promise. A good short shows promise of quality. A feature produced from The Chance Brothers with something of a budget (An indie amount to us is like Hollywood Jackpot money) i would love to see - and people to get excited about one of our films on a grander scale to see what we're capable of. I know of so many films with budgets that haven't got into many festivals or awarded etc like us. I think that says something about the quality of our films and writing. We had next to nothing (i really mean that - not like when someone says 10,000 is nothing) Money doesn't make a good filmmaker. No result of polishing makes a film great if the source is without substance. So if you have something original and innovative in the start - a higher production will only undoubtedly enhance your work and give you a bigger canvas to paint with. Which i can't wait to be given the chance!
HH - Any upcoming festivals you can talk about?
JC - It just showed at a film festival and sci-fi convention Chicon 7 in Chicago at the end of August. Before that it showed at the Frighten Brighton launch party in June which went well! Next up it will be at Tri-Cities International Fantastic Film Festival in October which we're looking forward to! But always check our website at www.chance-encounters.org or The Timeslip IMDb page for up and coming screenings. More screenings are on the way - so do check frequently!
HH - Any upcoming projects you can talk about? Feature films possibly?
JC - Firstly,
Yes! I am pleased to announce i am a semi-finalist at one of the best horror festivals in LA Shriekfest for my screenplay Something Like a Phenomenon. I am very proud. This is a tough one to get in. I will be going to the event, doing the rounds to any ears willing to listen to a pitch on a great British true horror story i would love to make into a feature length film. It's truly a modern myth deserving a place in cinema!
Second,
Calling everyone! Anyone can get involved with our latest film called The Last War an interactive sci-fi feature film project we have going on. We placed a casting call for images of people to become characters incorporated into the film. Also - if any CGI artists are interested to get in contact as well! Go here to get in contact with Richard or if you have any further questions!
James Voller
Inbred - Exclusive Interview
"Its a horror with comedy, not a comedy with horror" explains writer/director Alex Chandon on stage after a special screening of his new film Inbred. For those of you lucky enough to have seen Inbred already you will appreciate the cult following it is gathering. If you have not had the chance to catch the film yet, a special screening will be taking place at Film 4's FrightFest this year on Saturday 25th August at 1pm and best of all its a free event and even better then that? You may end up on the DVD extras as this will be filmed and some of the cast and crew will be present talking you through the film with a live commentary.
Inbred is a delightful mixture of horror and black comedy that follows a small group of innocent(ish) people that stumble upon a small village in the English countryside. They soon realise they are not entirely welcome in the village as the sick and twister locals soon turn on them and start to kill them one by one in brutal but brilliant ways.
We were extremely lucky to be able to ask director Alex Chandon a few questions about the film, the future and his favourite horror film:
HH -How did the original idea for Inbred first come to you?
AC - INBRED first came about as a treatment for a feature film I wrote shorty after CRADLE OF FEAR in 2001. It was called Inbred back then, and I can't believe no-one else called a film Inbred in the years in-between. Anyway the original idea was similar but different... and only a couple of scene's from that idea remain in this version. The original idea is actually more suited to the Inbred prequel that would be fun to make!
I've always enjoyed back-woods type horror film and so the thought of doing a UK version was an obvious one for me... it seemed to be an untapped part of the genre in the UK. Since writing the treatment way back in 2001 I have watched a plethora of back-woods horror films come out... not many of them good. This made me even more keen to make an Inbred type film.
HH- You are obviously are obviously a huge horror fan, did you sit down with the cast and crew and watch any certain films before filming?
AC - I am a massive horror and genre fan film fan in general, and take a load of inspiration from things I've seen and am all into subtle homages to my favourite movie moments. I didn't sit down and watch specific films with the crew... apart from the pub scene in American Werewolf in London which we watched the night before shooting our pub scene. But I did ask my brilliant Director of Photography Ollie Downey to re-watch some 70's films like DELIVERANCE, DON'T LOOK NOW and STRAW DOGS. I love The League of Gentlemen and it was impossible not to have the same style of humour, as that is the 'Inbred' style. I wasn't set on having our baddie wearing the 'black face' make up purely because it was done in League of Gentleman but I was persuaded by the Yorkshire crew members and co-writer, as the whole black face thing was big in Yorkshire!
HH- There are some brutal and interesting death scene's in the film, how did you think of the unique ways to kill people?
AC - I had great fun with Paul Shrimpton, co-writer, and also a massive horror film fan, thinking of death's that would be fun to film and would go down a storm with horror fans. We would have a few ciders and smokes and sit together up in Yorkshire devising all sorts of nasty county-side related deaths. The ones we filmed are the ones I felt confident we could achieve giving our limited funds. There were a whole lot more that we came up with that would be too ambitious... but I've got them in store for another film! Having a knowledge of cinema death's as well as my own morbid fascination with real life death and accidents meant it wasn't too difficult to come up with yukky moments!
HH - Where you worried that people in Yorkshire may take offence to the title seen as you filmed in Yorkshire?
AC - No. Yorkshire people have a very broad sense of humour and can take the piss out of themselves. Writing it with a Yorkshireman made all the difference really... it was Paul's assurances that we would not get a kicking that persuaded me it was safe to set it in Yorkshire and film it in Yorkshire, and call it Inbred.
HH - Any amusing stories from the set that you can share with us?
AC - By the very nature of making a low budget film means that shit goes wrong, and one must always at the bright side... so what might not seem amusing on set could be hilarious to reminisce about. Like thinking about trying to direct animals: rolling around in a field of cow shit to get a reaction from an owl or chasing the goat as it escaped from the set and made a break for freedom. An electric fence around a field at one of our locations caused us much amusement to some and much pain to others... which in turn led to amusement! You really had to be there to understand the madness... we have made some on set making of films that I think capture the insanity rather well and I hope to make these available with the Blu-Ray release of Inbred.
HH - The film screened at the Cannes Marketplace this year, how did that go?
AC - I didn't go but I hear it went well... for a market screening. Market screenings are rather odd... and not really the sort of place for me. It's all a bit too "business" orientated, and not necessarily a place for creatives like myself. Inbred was being represented by our sales agents Arclight, who are doing a really great job, and after Cannes they said they were very happy with the progress. We are currently in negotiations with various territories as to distribution. We have a great UK distributor, Anchor Bay, and so the film comes out here in the UK this Autumn.
HH- Whats next for the film?
AC - The Anchor Bay UK release and more festivals and more distribution deals... we hope! The film industry is a very tough place and its so difficult to get noticed without a massive budget behind you so we just hope Inbred manages to do very best a mall independent film can do... we don't expect a huge return financially but we want to recoup our cost's and get it seen by as many people as possible. We really feel we have made a film that fellow horror fan's would enjoy and we really want them to be able to see it. So we hope for a US release in 2012 as well.
HH- Whats next for yourself?
AC - More movies! I hope ad prey Inbred opens a few door's for me as I have lots of lovely ideas I'd like to develop that need some investmant. I am currently writing some new treatment's for simple less ambitious ideas and I will write the best one into a script that I think we could feasibly raise the money for.
HH - Who is your favourite horror director?
AC - Very tough question to list just one, and what is a 'horror director?'... would Hitchcock, De Palma, Raimi and Peter jackson count? I would have to say early John Carpenter if I had to go more 'horror', or early Cronenberg.
HH- And finally, favourite horror film?
AC - Best film... I have my stock answer... JAWS is my favourite horror film of all time, but for a strictly horror film, fuck its difficult to name one, THE SHINING at this moment.
Inbred will be released on DVD this year. For more information take a look at the films official website : http://www.inbredmovie.com
James Voller
(Kate played by Jo Hartley in Inbred)
Inbred is a delightful mixture of horror and black comedy that follows a small group of innocent(ish) people that stumble upon a small village in the English countryside. They soon realise they are not entirely welcome in the village as the sick and twister locals soon turn on them and start to kill them one by one in brutal but brilliant ways.
We were extremely lucky to be able to ask director Alex Chandon a few questions about the film, the future and his favourite horror film:
HH -How did the original idea for Inbred first come to you?
AC - INBRED first came about as a treatment for a feature film I wrote shorty after CRADLE OF FEAR in 2001. It was called Inbred back then, and I can't believe no-one else called a film Inbred in the years in-between. Anyway the original idea was similar but different... and only a couple of scene's from that idea remain in this version. The original idea is actually more suited to the Inbred prequel that would be fun to make!
I've always enjoyed back-woods type horror film and so the thought of doing a UK version was an obvious one for me... it seemed to be an untapped part of the genre in the UK. Since writing the treatment way back in 2001 I have watched a plethora of back-woods horror films come out... not many of them good. This made me even more keen to make an Inbred type film.
HH- You are obviously are obviously a huge horror fan, did you sit down with the cast and crew and watch any certain films before filming?
AC - I am a massive horror and genre fan film fan in general, and take a load of inspiration from things I've seen and am all into subtle homages to my favourite movie moments. I didn't sit down and watch specific films with the crew... apart from the pub scene in American Werewolf in London which we watched the night before shooting our pub scene. But I did ask my brilliant Director of Photography Ollie Downey to re-watch some 70's films like DELIVERANCE, DON'T LOOK NOW and STRAW DOGS. I love The League of Gentlemen and it was impossible not to have the same style of humour, as that is the 'Inbred' style. I wasn't set on having our baddie wearing the 'black face' make up purely because it was done in League of Gentleman but I was persuaded by the Yorkshire crew members and co-writer, as the whole black face thing was big in Yorkshire!
HH- There are some brutal and interesting death scene's in the film, how did you think of the unique ways to kill people?
AC - I had great fun with Paul Shrimpton, co-writer, and also a massive horror film fan, thinking of death's that would be fun to film and would go down a storm with horror fans. We would have a few ciders and smokes and sit together up in Yorkshire devising all sorts of nasty county-side related deaths. The ones we filmed are the ones I felt confident we could achieve giving our limited funds. There were a whole lot more that we came up with that would be too ambitious... but I've got them in store for another film! Having a knowledge of cinema death's as well as my own morbid fascination with real life death and accidents meant it wasn't too difficult to come up with yukky moments!
HH - Where you worried that people in Yorkshire may take offence to the title seen as you filmed in Yorkshire?
AC - No. Yorkshire people have a very broad sense of humour and can take the piss out of themselves. Writing it with a Yorkshireman made all the difference really... it was Paul's assurances that we would not get a kicking that persuaded me it was safe to set it in Yorkshire and film it in Yorkshire, and call it Inbred.
HH - Any amusing stories from the set that you can share with us?
AC - By the very nature of making a low budget film means that shit goes wrong, and one must always at the bright side... so what might not seem amusing on set could be hilarious to reminisce about. Like thinking about trying to direct animals: rolling around in a field of cow shit to get a reaction from an owl or chasing the goat as it escaped from the set and made a break for freedom. An electric fence around a field at one of our locations caused us much amusement to some and much pain to others... which in turn led to amusement! You really had to be there to understand the madness... we have made some on set making of films that I think capture the insanity rather well and I hope to make these available with the Blu-Ray release of Inbred.
HH - The film screened at the Cannes Marketplace this year, how did that go?
AC - I didn't go but I hear it went well... for a market screening. Market screenings are rather odd... and not really the sort of place for me. It's all a bit too "business" orientated, and not necessarily a place for creatives like myself. Inbred was being represented by our sales agents Arclight, who are doing a really great job, and after Cannes they said they were very happy with the progress. We are currently in negotiations with various territories as to distribution. We have a great UK distributor, Anchor Bay, and so the film comes out here in the UK this Autumn.
HH- Whats next for the film?
AC - The Anchor Bay UK release and more festivals and more distribution deals... we hope! The film industry is a very tough place and its so difficult to get noticed without a massive budget behind you so we just hope Inbred manages to do very best a mall independent film can do... we don't expect a huge return financially but we want to recoup our cost's and get it seen by as many people as possible. We really feel we have made a film that fellow horror fan's would enjoy and we really want them to be able to see it. So we hope for a US release in 2012 as well.
HH- Whats next for yourself?
AC - More movies! I hope ad prey Inbred opens a few door's for me as I have lots of lovely ideas I'd like to develop that need some investmant. I am currently writing some new treatment's for simple less ambitious ideas and I will write the best one into a script that I think we could feasibly raise the money for.
HH - Who is your favourite horror director?
AC - Very tough question to list just one, and what is a 'horror director?'... would Hitchcock, De Palma, Raimi and Peter jackson count? I would have to say early John Carpenter if I had to go more 'horror', or early Cronenberg.
HH- And finally, favourite horror film?
AC - Best film... I have my stock answer... JAWS is my favourite horror film of all time, but for a strictly horror film, fuck its difficult to name one, THE SHINING at this moment.
Inbred will be released on DVD this year. For more information take a look at the films official website : http://www.inbredmovie.com
James Voller
(Kate played by Jo Hartley in Inbred)
Before Dawn - Exclusive Interview
A farm house, a shopping mall and an underground army base have all been the settings for legendary zombie films, as of this year you can add the Yorkshire Dales to this charming list of locations where the living dead roam, thanks to Dominic Brunt’s first zombie film: Before Dawn.
Dominic, who plays Paddy Kirk in Emmerdale, is a self-obsessed zombie fanatic and has been running the Leeds Zombie Film Festival since 2008 with fellow zombie fan and Emmerdale actor Mark Charnock. With Dominic been a huge zombie fan and an actor, a feature length zombie film was always going to happen and now it has.
Over the past few years Dominic has been a very busy man, coming up with the original idea for the film, acting in the film and directing. Filmed entirely in the Yorkshire Dales this could well be Yorkshires first zombie film, and hopefully not its last. Dominic surrounded himself with zombie fans including Marc Price, director of the ground-breaking zombie film Colin. The film recently played at Cannes and we were lucky enough to ask camera operator and special effects artist Neale Myers a few questions.
HH– How did the idea for before Dawn begin?
NM – Before Dawn was born from an argument between husband and wife, Dominic Brunt (Paddy from Emmerdale) and Joanne Mitchell. The film’s original came from 2 opinions of what makes a good zombie and what frequently makes a bad one, whats missing and what needed adding to.
The idea was to give a depth to the characters involved and tell a story which would captivate, build and intrigue, without forgetting its core purpose which was to entertain the gore hounds and fulfil the thrill seekers. Before Dawn was in pre-production for more than a year while money, a crew, special effects, cast and a gap in everyone’s calendar was found. Marc Price (Colin, Magpie, Way of the Monkey’s Claw) joined as executive producer and Helen Grace (Left Films) joined as producer early in 2011 with filming commencing in June. Marc Illis, novelist and screen writer had built the working screenplay following the structure of the original idea by Joanne and Dominic. Before Dawn is proud to be part of a British Horror Movie resurgence which has strong drama at its heart while never apologising for being part of the Horror genre.
HH – Did you watch any Zombie films before filming Before Dawn?
NM – All the people involved were big zombie movie fans. Marc Price the executive producer wrote, directed, operated the camera, edited & produced Colin, the £45 zombie movie.
We knew what we wanted as far as the look and feel of the movie were concerned and as Dominic’s baby he knew shot by shot what was needed. The zombies in the movie are scary. You might have seen some of the high res photo’s close up of them and the make up by 2Baldies FX is stunning. The teeth, bottom and top dentures, are individually made for each actor and make up took 2-3 hours for each zombie. We were working in HD and used 3 Canon 7D cameras for the movie, so it stood up to being blown up onscreen 15ft plus high.
It was important to us that people were able to become absorbed in the movie without being distracted by detail so we tried to ensure that all the detail in the film was precise.
HH – What inspired you to place Zombies in the Yorkshire Dales?
NM – We shot during the summer of 2011 and the countryside just looked stunning and beautiful, so setting this against a sickening zombie horror bloodbath was a natural juxtaposition. A lot of the cast and crew live in the area as well so it was good to have Hebden Bridge as a base. We did get the occasional walker or runner suddenly turn up in the middle of shooting which led to some shocked locals, some however just seemed to take it in their stride, like it was nothing unusual. We love Yorkshire.
HH – Do you plan on doing a trilogy of Zombie films like Romero?
NM – We would love to be in the position where we were able to make a trilogy. We were all blown away by a message from George Romero, wishing us luck and he said he was looking forward to seeing the film. Of course there is also a loose connection with the film being called Before Dawn; it’s a kind of nod to the Romero Dawn movies as well as explaining the events that preceded the dawn of the zombies. We’re all big Romero fans and have huge respect for what he has done for the horror genre.
HH – Do you think there is a niche in the UK for Zombie films?
NM – Yes, not just the Zombie genre but UK horror films are among the best in the world.
HH – How do you think American and British Zombie films compare?
NM – I don’t think you can compare the two. Good horror is good horror regardless.
HH – How long do you think you would survive in the event of the Zombie apocalypse?
NM – All the crew are zombie experts now, we would hope to be one of the last to go in the event of a Zombie apocalypse. We spent hours and hours in pre-production talking about how zombies behave to stimuli, what their impetus is and how we could kill them. It’s serious stuff! We have both slow and fast zombies in the movie so we know how to deal with both.
HH – What’s your favourite Zombie film?
NM – My favourite is 28 Days Later and I have a soft spot for the wonderful ‘Horde’ especially the scene in the kitchen where it takes forever to dispatch a resilient zombie. Dominic’s favourite is Dawn of the Dead. I think you might get a different answer from each of the crew.
HH – Do you have any advice for any students wanting to make zombie films?
NM – Story and schedule first. You need to care about the characters otherwise the audience can’t engage and empathise. Plan, plan, plan and then plan again. You can’t make a good film from poor original material. The cinematography by Alex Nevill was so extraordinary. Make sure you have the best sound person you can. The sound can transform a film. Bad sound and you are sucked back into reality, good sound and you are transported into the world created by the film, and again in post, the last thing you need is to be wading through sound and removing hiss or spending hours in ADR. We were so lucky to have an original music soundtrack produced by Tom Ragsdale of Ghosting Season. Also when you first start making films you hear the phrase “We’ll sort it out in post-production” so much; but when you get into post production you start to wish that you had sorted it in camera, on the day, so as much as possible try to get what you need there and then. 10 minutes re-shooting on the day may save several hours in post, so weigh it out. Finally, just plan, prepare and do it.
Before Dawn opens in cinemas later this year.
James Voller
Dominic, who plays Paddy Kirk in Emmerdale, is a self-obsessed zombie fanatic and has been running the Leeds Zombie Film Festival since 2008 with fellow zombie fan and Emmerdale actor Mark Charnock. With Dominic been a huge zombie fan and an actor, a feature length zombie film was always going to happen and now it has.
Over the past few years Dominic has been a very busy man, coming up with the original idea for the film, acting in the film and directing. Filmed entirely in the Yorkshire Dales this could well be Yorkshires first zombie film, and hopefully not its last. Dominic surrounded himself with zombie fans including Marc Price, director of the ground-breaking zombie film Colin. The film recently played at Cannes and we were lucky enough to ask camera operator and special effects artist Neale Myers a few questions.
HH– How did the idea for before Dawn begin?
NM – Before Dawn was born from an argument between husband and wife, Dominic Brunt (Paddy from Emmerdale) and Joanne Mitchell. The film’s original came from 2 opinions of what makes a good zombie and what frequently makes a bad one, whats missing and what needed adding to.
The idea was to give a depth to the characters involved and tell a story which would captivate, build and intrigue, without forgetting its core purpose which was to entertain the gore hounds and fulfil the thrill seekers. Before Dawn was in pre-production for more than a year while money, a crew, special effects, cast and a gap in everyone’s calendar was found. Marc Price (Colin, Magpie, Way of the Monkey’s Claw) joined as executive producer and Helen Grace (Left Films) joined as producer early in 2011 with filming commencing in June. Marc Illis, novelist and screen writer had built the working screenplay following the structure of the original idea by Joanne and Dominic. Before Dawn is proud to be part of a British Horror Movie resurgence which has strong drama at its heart while never apologising for being part of the Horror genre.
HH – Did you watch any Zombie films before filming Before Dawn?
NM – All the people involved were big zombie movie fans. Marc Price the executive producer wrote, directed, operated the camera, edited & produced Colin, the £45 zombie movie.
We knew what we wanted as far as the look and feel of the movie were concerned and as Dominic’s baby he knew shot by shot what was needed. The zombies in the movie are scary. You might have seen some of the high res photo’s close up of them and the make up by 2Baldies FX is stunning. The teeth, bottom and top dentures, are individually made for each actor and make up took 2-3 hours for each zombie. We were working in HD and used 3 Canon 7D cameras for the movie, so it stood up to being blown up onscreen 15ft plus high.
It was important to us that people were able to become absorbed in the movie without being distracted by detail so we tried to ensure that all the detail in the film was precise.
HH – What inspired you to place Zombies in the Yorkshire Dales?
NM – We shot during the summer of 2011 and the countryside just looked stunning and beautiful, so setting this against a sickening zombie horror bloodbath was a natural juxtaposition. A lot of the cast and crew live in the area as well so it was good to have Hebden Bridge as a base. We did get the occasional walker or runner suddenly turn up in the middle of shooting which led to some shocked locals, some however just seemed to take it in their stride, like it was nothing unusual. We love Yorkshire.
HH – Do you plan on doing a trilogy of Zombie films like Romero?
NM – We would love to be in the position where we were able to make a trilogy. We were all blown away by a message from George Romero, wishing us luck and he said he was looking forward to seeing the film. Of course there is also a loose connection with the film being called Before Dawn; it’s a kind of nod to the Romero Dawn movies as well as explaining the events that preceded the dawn of the zombies. We’re all big Romero fans and have huge respect for what he has done for the horror genre.
HH – Do you think there is a niche in the UK for Zombie films?
NM – Yes, not just the Zombie genre but UK horror films are among the best in the world.
HH – How do you think American and British Zombie films compare?
NM – I don’t think you can compare the two. Good horror is good horror regardless.
HH – How long do you think you would survive in the event of the Zombie apocalypse?
NM – All the crew are zombie experts now, we would hope to be one of the last to go in the event of a Zombie apocalypse. We spent hours and hours in pre-production talking about how zombies behave to stimuli, what their impetus is and how we could kill them. It’s serious stuff! We have both slow and fast zombies in the movie so we know how to deal with both.
HH – What’s your favourite Zombie film?
NM – My favourite is 28 Days Later and I have a soft spot for the wonderful ‘Horde’ especially the scene in the kitchen where it takes forever to dispatch a resilient zombie. Dominic’s favourite is Dawn of the Dead. I think you might get a different answer from each of the crew.
HH – Do you have any advice for any students wanting to make zombie films?
NM – Story and schedule first. You need to care about the characters otherwise the audience can’t engage and empathise. Plan, plan, plan and then plan again. You can’t make a good film from poor original material. The cinematography by Alex Nevill was so extraordinary. Make sure you have the best sound person you can. The sound can transform a film. Bad sound and you are sucked back into reality, good sound and you are transported into the world created by the film, and again in post, the last thing you need is to be wading through sound and removing hiss or spending hours in ADR. We were so lucky to have an original music soundtrack produced by Tom Ragsdale of Ghosting Season. Also when you first start making films you hear the phrase “We’ll sort it out in post-production” so much; but when you get into post production you start to wish that you had sorted it in camera, on the day, so as much as possible try to get what you need there and then. 10 minutes re-shooting on the day may save several hours in post, so weigh it out. Finally, just plan, prepare and do it.
Before Dawn opens in cinemas later this year.
James Voller
The Woman in Black 2 Announced
Earlier in the year news emerged that legendary British film studio, Hammer were under way developing The Woman In Black 2.
The Woman in Black was released in the UK on February 3rd 2012 and has since gone on to become the most successful British horror film ever making over 100 million at the box office. If you have seen the film you will know how atmospheric and brilliant it is and you will know the story, if you have not seen the film, why the hell not? The Woman in black, based on the popular novel on of the same name by Susan Hill, tells the chilling story of young solicitor Arthur Kipps, played by Daniel Radcliffe in his first post Potter role, who is sent to the eerie Eel Marsh House to handle the estate and paperwork after the elderly owner had died. Upon arrival Kipps starts to see a mysterious Woman in Black. The locals all seem afraid of the mysterious woman, Kipps then learns of the local legend that whenever the Woman in Black is seen, the children in the village start to die, so its obviously bad news when Kipp's maid brings his son to the village. Now without giving away the ending, I do want to say this to the Harry Potter fan girls that clapped at what they thought was the end in the cinema that I was in, I bet you felt pretty stupid when, if actually, you worked out what really happened at the end!
I honestly thought after first watching this film, which I gave a 5/5, that it would not get a sequel. This is Hammer for god sake, not Holly-lets blow everything up and then make a sequel and blow more things up-wood, but when I thought about it, and as a film student this should of occurred to me straight away, it dawned on me that it is a money maker. Over 100 million, a sequel was always going to appear. The good news though is that it is Hammer and the same creative team that will be working on it, working from a new story by Susan Hill which means it wont be made by fresh out film school students and shown on the Horror channel at midnight (I have nothing against the Horror channel, I very much like it). There is currently no word of a director, I would like to see James Watkins return to directors chair as he did an excellent job on the first film. The screenplay writer though has been announced and no unfortunately it is not Jane Goldman who wrote the script for the first film, it is instead Jon Crocker (Don't worry, I've never heard of him either) but just because we have never heard of him doesn't mean we can't trust him... does it? I trust Hammer and if they think he is the right man for the job, well he is the right man for the job.
The title of the second film will be: The Woman in Black: Angels of Death and it will continue the story of the cursed Woman in Black. It will be set four decades later and will focus on a couple and the experience they encounter Eel Marsh House. Lots of possibilities here, one thing I am banking on though is that this couple will have a child or she will become pregnant during the film, The Woman in Black after all is basically a child killer. So, normally I would be moaning about the fact that we make too many sequels and prequels but I am looking forward to this one. Hammer make good films, its just a fact like the sky is blue and the grass is green, Hammer make good films.
So as the end of the last film proved, Daniel Radcliffe probably wont return, but will Liz White? Lets face it, you couldn't tell it was her so the new director wont have to worry about ageing her, saying that do ghosts age? It would be nice to see her return, and not just because we haven't really seen her in anything since Life on Mars, but I am sucker for authenticity, she played her in the first film, she should play her in the second film, the way she moves is unique and no other actress will be able to do it exactly how she does it. There is no word so far of the cast.
So I am excited about this film, one thing that really bothers me though is the title: The Woman in Black: Angels of Death. Angels of Death remindes me of Hells Angels in America, that then makes me think Woodstock and the Meredith Hunter case. How the hell did I get from the highest grossing British horror film of all time to Meredith Hunter in one article?
So to recap, film looks good, title does not.
James Voller
The Woman in Black was released in the UK on February 3rd 2012 and has since gone on to become the most successful British horror film ever making over 100 million at the box office. If you have seen the film you will know how atmospheric and brilliant it is and you will know the story, if you have not seen the film, why the hell not? The Woman in black, based on the popular novel on of the same name by Susan Hill, tells the chilling story of young solicitor Arthur Kipps, played by Daniel Radcliffe in his first post Potter role, who is sent to the eerie Eel Marsh House to handle the estate and paperwork after the elderly owner had died. Upon arrival Kipps starts to see a mysterious Woman in Black. The locals all seem afraid of the mysterious woman, Kipps then learns of the local legend that whenever the Woman in Black is seen, the children in the village start to die, so its obviously bad news when Kipp's maid brings his son to the village. Now without giving away the ending, I do want to say this to the Harry Potter fan girls that clapped at what they thought was the end in the cinema that I was in, I bet you felt pretty stupid when, if actually, you worked out what really happened at the end!
I honestly thought after first watching this film, which I gave a 5/5, that it would not get a sequel. This is Hammer for god sake, not Holly-lets blow everything up and then make a sequel and blow more things up-wood, but when I thought about it, and as a film student this should of occurred to me straight away, it dawned on me that it is a money maker. Over 100 million, a sequel was always going to appear. The good news though is that it is Hammer and the same creative team that will be working on it, working from a new story by Susan Hill which means it wont be made by fresh out film school students and shown on the Horror channel at midnight (I have nothing against the Horror channel, I very much like it). There is currently no word of a director, I would like to see James Watkins return to directors chair as he did an excellent job on the first film. The screenplay writer though has been announced and no unfortunately it is not Jane Goldman who wrote the script for the first film, it is instead Jon Crocker (Don't worry, I've never heard of him either) but just because we have never heard of him doesn't mean we can't trust him... does it? I trust Hammer and if they think he is the right man for the job, well he is the right man for the job.
The title of the second film will be: The Woman in Black: Angels of Death and it will continue the story of the cursed Woman in Black. It will be set four decades later and will focus on a couple and the experience they encounter Eel Marsh House. Lots of possibilities here, one thing I am banking on though is that this couple will have a child or she will become pregnant during the film, The Woman in Black after all is basically a child killer. So, normally I would be moaning about the fact that we make too many sequels and prequels but I am looking forward to this one. Hammer make good films, its just a fact like the sky is blue and the grass is green, Hammer make good films.
So as the end of the last film proved, Daniel Radcliffe probably wont return, but will Liz White? Lets face it, you couldn't tell it was her so the new director wont have to worry about ageing her, saying that do ghosts age? It would be nice to see her return, and not just because we haven't really seen her in anything since Life on Mars, but I am sucker for authenticity, she played her in the first film, she should play her in the second film, the way she moves is unique and no other actress will be able to do it exactly how she does it. There is no word so far of the cast.
So I am excited about this film, one thing that really bothers me though is the title: The Woman in Black: Angels of Death. Angels of Death remindes me of Hells Angels in America, that then makes me think Woodstock and the Meredith Hunter case. How the hell did I get from the highest grossing British horror film of all time to Meredith Hunter in one article?
So to recap, film looks good, title does not.
James Voller
Horror Films You May have Missed
One thing we aim to do on the site is to promote horror films you may of missed for whatever reason, they didn't get a cinema release, they are not in the english language or you simply missed them!. Below is the first of many lists of ten films you should see but may have missed.
1. Triangle (2009) - Directed by Christopher Smith and starring Haddonfield favourite Melissa George. Triangle tells the story of Jess (George) who goes on a sailing trip with friends, only for their boat to capsize, luckily they are picked up by a cruise liner. Once aboard the group soon discover not all is what it seems on the ship and Jess has a strange case of Deja Vu.
2. Trick 'r Treat (2007) - directed by Michael Dougherty and starring Brian Cox. Trick 'r Treat is an anthology of horror films that come full circle with breath taking results. Brilliantly directed and written by Daugherty.
3. Them (Ils) (2006) - Directed by David Moreau & Xavier Palud and stars another Haddonfield favourite in Olivia Bonamy. This French horror film tells the story of Clmentine (Bonamy) who is terrorised in her home by a group of youths. Think Eden Lake meets The Strangers, but in french.
4. Death Line (Raw Meat) (1973) - Directed by Gary Sherman and starring Donald Pleasence. Set on the London Underground Death Line tells the story of Inspector Calhoun (Pleasence) investigating a number of disappearances with grisly results.
5. Peeping Tom (1960) - Directed by Michael Powell and starring Karlheinz Bohm. Considered by many to be one of the greatest horror films of all time, Peeping Tom is pretty much what it says on the tin, a young man murders women but films it.
6. Black Christmas (1974) - Directed by Bob Clark and starring Olivia Hussey. This gem of a slasher was released before Halloween and is relatively unknown to a wide audience. A sorority house is plagued by murders over a christmas break.
7. The Orphanage (El Orfanato) (2007) - Directed by Juan Antonio Bayona and starring Belen Rueda. This is a real gem. Laura (Rueda) moves into what was the orphanage she grew up in and before long he son makes a new friend, a new friend that Laura can not see.
8. Colin (2008) - Directed by Marc Price and starring Alastair Kirton. Colin takes the zombie genre in a new direction as it is told from the zombies point of view. Impressively it was made on a budget of only £45!
9. Dead Silence (2007) - Directed by James Wan and starring Ryan Kwanten. After Saw, Wan's next directorial duty was this, the story of a widower who returns home to search for answers in his wife's murder case which are linked to the creepy tale of a murdered ventriloquist.
10. All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (2006) - Directed by Jonathan Levine and starring Amber Heard. Mandy Lane (Heard) is invited to a weekend party on a ranch, as the party gets into full flow the number of attendees suddenly starts to drop.
James Voller
1. Triangle (2009) - Directed by Christopher Smith and starring Haddonfield favourite Melissa George. Triangle tells the story of Jess (George) who goes on a sailing trip with friends, only for their boat to capsize, luckily they are picked up by a cruise liner. Once aboard the group soon discover not all is what it seems on the ship and Jess has a strange case of Deja Vu.
2. Trick 'r Treat (2007) - directed by Michael Dougherty and starring Brian Cox. Trick 'r Treat is an anthology of horror films that come full circle with breath taking results. Brilliantly directed and written by Daugherty.
3. Them (Ils) (2006) - Directed by David Moreau & Xavier Palud and stars another Haddonfield favourite in Olivia Bonamy. This French horror film tells the story of Clmentine (Bonamy) who is terrorised in her home by a group of youths. Think Eden Lake meets The Strangers, but in french.
4. Death Line (Raw Meat) (1973) - Directed by Gary Sherman and starring Donald Pleasence. Set on the London Underground Death Line tells the story of Inspector Calhoun (Pleasence) investigating a number of disappearances with grisly results.
5. Peeping Tom (1960) - Directed by Michael Powell and starring Karlheinz Bohm. Considered by many to be one of the greatest horror films of all time, Peeping Tom is pretty much what it says on the tin, a young man murders women but films it.
6. Black Christmas (1974) - Directed by Bob Clark and starring Olivia Hussey. This gem of a slasher was released before Halloween and is relatively unknown to a wide audience. A sorority house is plagued by murders over a christmas break.
7. The Orphanage (El Orfanato) (2007) - Directed by Juan Antonio Bayona and starring Belen Rueda. This is a real gem. Laura (Rueda) moves into what was the orphanage she grew up in and before long he son makes a new friend, a new friend that Laura can not see.
8. Colin (2008) - Directed by Marc Price and starring Alastair Kirton. Colin takes the zombie genre in a new direction as it is told from the zombies point of view. Impressively it was made on a budget of only £45!
9. Dead Silence (2007) - Directed by James Wan and starring Ryan Kwanten. After Saw, Wan's next directorial duty was this, the story of a widower who returns home to search for answers in his wife's murder case which are linked to the creepy tale of a murdered ventriloquist.
10. All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (2006) - Directed by Jonathan Levine and starring Amber Heard. Mandy Lane (Heard) is invited to a weekend party on a ranch, as the party gets into full flow the number of attendees suddenly starts to drop.
James Voller
Peter Cushing - A Tribute
I’m not sure when I fell in love with Peter Cushing but it was some years ago. I can’t remember which film he starred in I saw first. It may have been when they used to show Hammer films late at night on BBC2 and I used to watch them on the little black and white portable you tuned in by a dial on my own in my bedroom. I fell in love with his dashing and debonair Dr Van Helsing... or it may have been on a camping holiday in Wales watching him play a sinister scientist in The Creeping Flesh on the same portable television and I flinched everytime the wind whipped the awning... or maybe it was seeing him as Dr Who in Dr Who and The Daleks, a film which played repeatedly in my youth. Or at the very least it felt like it did.. But whatever film it was he was marvellous in it and frankly I’ve never looked back.
I haven’t seen all his films but I have seen lots of them and I always make a beeline for them at film festivals or record them if they are on the television so I’m not sure which of his is my all time favourite.
I love his arrogant and callous Dr Knox in The Flesh and The Fiends – made in 1960 it is a very fine atmospheric telling of the time when bodies for dissection for medical research were hard to come by and Burke and Hare hit upon the labour saving idea of killing people and taking the bodies straight to Dr Knox as juicy fresh specimens rather than digging the decomposing corpses out of the ground. Donald (Un)Pleasance as I always call him made a marvellous Hare and Melvyn Hayes makes a good Daft Jamie.
Maybe it’s his turn as the kindly and appallingly treated Mr Grimsdyke in Tales From The Crypt – a marvellous portmanteau film which I could watch over and over again, or maybe it’s his Sherlock Holmes in the Hammer version of Hound of the Baskervilles – a glorious retelling of the tale of the hound from hell, or maybe it’s the over confident pilot in Cone of Silence which also stars the very marvellous George Sanders or the improbably accented and not used enough Dr Christopher Lungren in the frankly ridiculous but nonetheless marvellous The Beast Must Die.
He starred in over 80 films and one of his most critically acclaimed performances was as the beaten and tortured Winston Smith in the 1954 tv adaptation of 1984. A performance I was very grateful to get the chance to see at the Media Museum (Bradford) – if you get a chance to see this you must, Nigel Kneale did a superb job of adapting the story for the screen and the set design is excellent. This added to incredible performances from all the actors in it make it one of the most gripping films I have seen in years, plus when you consider that it was broadcast live you really get an idea of the enormity of his acting talent.
As I have read more about him and seen more of his films my appreciation of both his acting skill and him as a person has grown, he is always believable no matter how unbelievable the film he might be in is. I was lucky to listen to Peter Sasdy talk about working with him at the Fantastic Films Weekend at the Media Museum. Peter said he was one of the most professional and exact actors he’d worked with. He checked every prop before a take (much to the frustration of the prop people) as that way when it was a take he could relax knowing things worked and just concentrate entirely upon being the person he was there to play. The love he had for his wife shines through the pages of his biographies and the way he talks of her death and how he felt afterwards in Past Forgetting Memoirs of the Hammer years is one of the of the most profoundly moving and heart rending pieces I have ever heard.
I was trying to think of the first time I’d seen Peter Cushing on the big screen and it must have been when I went to see the re release of Star Wars (til then I’d only seen it on the telly) and it made me chuckle to see him on screen being so magnificently evil knowing all the while he was wearing carpet slippers as the boots they’d provided were so uncomfortable and George Lucas kindly agreed to mostly shoot him from the knees upward so he could wear his slippers instead.
But the first film I saw with him as lead on a big screen was Horror Express at the Fantastic Film Festival. It is a marvellously daft film starring him and Christopher Lee as over curious scientists. It is quite simply brilliantly bad and both Cushing and Lee are glorious in it. Basically, it is a salutary tale about the dangers of disturbing old fossils of missing links, I mean you might think you’re just been clever when taking what appears to be a dead creature from its snowy tomb and putting it on a train so you can take it back to your lab to investigate it further but in fact you’re unleashing a murderous brain sucking alien with the power to create zombies and wear uncomfortable looking lenses with red bulbs behind them.
It has a whistly soundtrack somewhat reminiscent of spaghetti westerns, good and bad dubbing in places, Telly Savalas as a hard drinking Cossack and the costumes were lovely. My favourite bit in the film is when Lee and Cushing are asked if they could be the monster to which they reply in incredulous and affronted unison ‘we’re british’ so they couldn’t possibly be. I always applaud at that bit.
But back to Mr Cushing himself – along with watching his many films, I listen regularly to his recorded memoirs, watch his many wonderful appearances on the Morecambe and Wise show and Wogan on Youtube and I would implore you to do the same if you want to see a very fine actor at work and a true gentleman.
Morticia Maguire-Broad
I haven’t seen all his films but I have seen lots of them and I always make a beeline for them at film festivals or record them if they are on the television so I’m not sure which of his is my all time favourite.
I love his arrogant and callous Dr Knox in The Flesh and The Fiends – made in 1960 it is a very fine atmospheric telling of the time when bodies for dissection for medical research were hard to come by and Burke and Hare hit upon the labour saving idea of killing people and taking the bodies straight to Dr Knox as juicy fresh specimens rather than digging the decomposing corpses out of the ground. Donald (Un)Pleasance as I always call him made a marvellous Hare and Melvyn Hayes makes a good Daft Jamie.
Maybe it’s his turn as the kindly and appallingly treated Mr Grimsdyke in Tales From The Crypt – a marvellous portmanteau film which I could watch over and over again, or maybe it’s his Sherlock Holmes in the Hammer version of Hound of the Baskervilles – a glorious retelling of the tale of the hound from hell, or maybe it’s the over confident pilot in Cone of Silence which also stars the very marvellous George Sanders or the improbably accented and not used enough Dr Christopher Lungren in the frankly ridiculous but nonetheless marvellous The Beast Must Die.
He starred in over 80 films and one of his most critically acclaimed performances was as the beaten and tortured Winston Smith in the 1954 tv adaptation of 1984. A performance I was very grateful to get the chance to see at the Media Museum (Bradford) – if you get a chance to see this you must, Nigel Kneale did a superb job of adapting the story for the screen and the set design is excellent. This added to incredible performances from all the actors in it make it one of the most gripping films I have seen in years, plus when you consider that it was broadcast live you really get an idea of the enormity of his acting talent.
As I have read more about him and seen more of his films my appreciation of both his acting skill and him as a person has grown, he is always believable no matter how unbelievable the film he might be in is. I was lucky to listen to Peter Sasdy talk about working with him at the Fantastic Films Weekend at the Media Museum. Peter said he was one of the most professional and exact actors he’d worked with. He checked every prop before a take (much to the frustration of the prop people) as that way when it was a take he could relax knowing things worked and just concentrate entirely upon being the person he was there to play. The love he had for his wife shines through the pages of his biographies and the way he talks of her death and how he felt afterwards in Past Forgetting Memoirs of the Hammer years is one of the of the most profoundly moving and heart rending pieces I have ever heard.
I was trying to think of the first time I’d seen Peter Cushing on the big screen and it must have been when I went to see the re release of Star Wars (til then I’d only seen it on the telly) and it made me chuckle to see him on screen being so magnificently evil knowing all the while he was wearing carpet slippers as the boots they’d provided were so uncomfortable and George Lucas kindly agreed to mostly shoot him from the knees upward so he could wear his slippers instead.
But the first film I saw with him as lead on a big screen was Horror Express at the Fantastic Film Festival. It is a marvellously daft film starring him and Christopher Lee as over curious scientists. It is quite simply brilliantly bad and both Cushing and Lee are glorious in it. Basically, it is a salutary tale about the dangers of disturbing old fossils of missing links, I mean you might think you’re just been clever when taking what appears to be a dead creature from its snowy tomb and putting it on a train so you can take it back to your lab to investigate it further but in fact you’re unleashing a murderous brain sucking alien with the power to create zombies and wear uncomfortable looking lenses with red bulbs behind them.
It has a whistly soundtrack somewhat reminiscent of spaghetti westerns, good and bad dubbing in places, Telly Savalas as a hard drinking Cossack and the costumes were lovely. My favourite bit in the film is when Lee and Cushing are asked if they could be the monster to which they reply in incredulous and affronted unison ‘we’re british’ so they couldn’t possibly be. I always applaud at that bit.
But back to Mr Cushing himself – along with watching his many films, I listen regularly to his recorded memoirs, watch his many wonderful appearances on the Morecambe and Wise show and Wogan on Youtube and I would implore you to do the same if you want to see a very fine actor at work and a true gentleman.
Morticia Maguire-Broad