| Author | Message | ||
     Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
The director of Creep, Severance and Triangle has a new movie coming out soon. Sean Bean stars as a leader of a band of men sent to a village during the height of the plague. This one looks very good indeed. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.31.165.34 |
Imaginative title.  | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
Check out the trailer, Gary/Prof (:, it looks better than the obviousness of the title. Really. It has quite an authentic feel to it, if such can be gained from a trailer. | ||
| John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.122.209.76 |
Lady P & I can't wait for this & we'll be first in the queue on May 28th! | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.31.165.34 |
I liked Creep, not so keen of Sev', and haven't seen Traingle. But will seek this out on your reccy, Frank. | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
I know test preview screenings are bollocks, but apparently both the critics and audience were in total agreement on this one. According to word of mouth generated by the preview, this is by far his best film, and that's pretty encouraging considering his track record. Personally, I think he's one to challenge Neil Marshall for best genre director at the moment. I'm really excited by this, and I have yet to see Triangle, which will be rectified within the next few hours. | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
Gary/Prof - I'm the opposite. Didn't like 'Creep', though to be contradictory, could see where it was coming from. Loved 'Severance', though this was more down to location and Danny Dyer (yes I know he's not everyone's cup of tea), haven't seen Triangle, but have heard nothing but great things about it. Shallow as it might seem, the trailer is enough already. | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
Loved 'Creep', liked 'Severance', thought 'Triangle' was just okay. Christopher Smith has talent but he's nowhere near Neill Marshall's league (who's yet to have a dud imo) but I'll still be going to see this hoping for a return to the in-your-face visceral horror of his debut. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.166.117.210 |
Here's my tuppence worth: Creep = very good Severance = not bad at all Triangle = film of the year | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.179.60.142 |
Yep - I thought TRIANGLE was excellent. I enjoyed SEVERANCE but feel no need to see it again, although I may do so at some point just to see what I think second time around. | ||
| John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.253.174.81 |
The JLP view: Creep - Not so good but I'll forgive that as a first effort, plus it had some nice bits amongst the dislikable characters and preposterous situations Severance - There's a review on here somewhere. I really liked it. Triangle - See Zed's comment above. This was splendid stuff. I think Smith is getting better and better and I can't wait for Black Death! | ||
| Kate (Kathleen) Username: Kathleen Registered: 09-2009 Posted From: 213.122.209.76 |
The KLP view: Creep - Blegh. Severance - Expected better. Triangle - Spectacular! Creepy and atmospheric, kept me guessing and haunted me both during and after. Which means it will be extremely hard to top, so my expectations of Black Death are naturally lowered. | ||
| Mark West (Mark_west) Username: Mark_west Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.39.177.173 |
My view: Creep - liked it a lot, especially as a first film Severance - good fun Triangle - haven't seen yet. | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
I really wanted to like 'Triangle' and there was a lot to admire in it but in the end I've seen the same theme done so much better as a half hour episode of 'The Twilight Zone'. It was brave and different for a modern horror movie but just didn't click right for me - too much padding. 'Severance' was fairly amusing and good gory fun but a long way behind 'Shaun Of The Dead' for horror and laughs I thought. 'Creep' delivered exactly what it said on the tin... a good old-fashioned grim, splattery and atmospheric ordeal horror movie with a monster and a likeable heroine being chased through the London underground - what's not to like? | ||
| Paul_finch (Paul_finch) Username: Paul_finch Registered: 11-2009 Posted From: 195.93.21.74 |
I just hope it's better than SOLOMON KANE, which was another genre adventure set in a land devastated by plague. (It also contained crucificions - as does this one, apparently). | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
I quite liked 'Solomon Kane' apart from the CGI bits (again) but 'Centurion' is much better as far as grim and bloody historical adventure goes. Looking forward to this one... | ||
| Martin Roberts (Martin_roberts) Username: Martin_roberts Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.5.239.91 |
My own views: Creep - Not bad for a riff on Death Line Severance - Great fun Triangle - haven't seen yet get your act together LoveFilm! | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 79.64.121.35 |
Martin. LoveFilm...I was with them. What did they used to be called? | ||
| Kate (Kathleen) Username: Kathleen Registered: 09-2009 Posted From: 213.122.209.76 |
Used to just be Amazon rentals, which was much easier to use! | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
Yes, they're good. They were selling entire seasons of the original Twilight Zone for seventeen quid. | ||
| Martin Roberts (Martin_roberts) Username: Martin_roberts Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.5.239.91 |
I get two rentals a month - usually Blu Ray - for £3.99 which is the lowest rate. Just sent back House of the Devil & Coraline, both of which I enjoyed. Although I must have been given half a dozen free rentals over the last couple of months so I can't complain. I was with Blockbuster several years back but found they never sent anything so I left them. Started with a FREE month trial with LoveFilm also at FULL membership which I seem to recall was 5 or more films a month. | ||
| John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.122.209.76 |
So after a bit of a delay Chrisopher Smith's new 14th Century horror picture is getting a limited release in Bristol with some familiar faces from his earlier picture Severance (including Tim McInnerny as one of the villains), a turn from David Warner and Sean Bean starring in the Gary McMahon role (watch the film & I'm sure you'll agree - well, Zed will at least  ). So what's it about? Well Sean's a battle-scarred brutish envoy of the ArchBishop charged with finding the one village in England not affected by the Black Death which is currently laying waste to the land and causing everyone to behave a bit like they're in a Monty Python picture. There are witch burnings too where it's difficult not to be reminded of Eric Idle et al but once the movie moves into Italian Cannibal Movie territory it all gets a bit more disconcerting and a lot more unpredictable. After a long (and often nasty) journey in the wilderness Sean's team of seriously nasty veterans (plus their monk guide who has his own reasons for leading them) find the Village In The Middle of Nowhere and indeed that's the cue for the Proper Horror to start. It's not as good as Triangle but this is another British horror from Smith that's well worth watching. I love medieval horror anyway, and this refreshingly doesn't treat the 'Christian Mercenaries' as being necessarily the heroes. People who don't like shaky-cam will definitely throw up during some of the battle / chase scenes (Mr Campbell take note!) and overall it's not that satisfactory a ride. The ending, however, is quite superb. Our local review called it 'Witchfinder General meets Aguirre, Wrath of God'. I wouldn't go quite as far as that - it's more like 'Mark of the Devil meets Cannibal Ferox' and if you aren't the sort who would get a kick out of those then be warned you might not think this is up to that much either. | ||
| Kate (Kathleen) Username: Kathleen Registered: 09-2009 Posted From: 213.122.209.76 |
I also thought it had a dash of The Wicker Man and was a bit like the prequel to Witchfinder General. | ||
| Ian Alexander Martin (Iam) Username: Iam Registered: 10-2009 Posted From: 64.180.64.74 |
It's incredible. I've just read this entire thread, much of it seems to be in English, yet I haven't a clue what any of you are talking about at all. All of the names mean nothing to me (well, except the "Gary McMahon" one; he's pinched my bottom, you know), the titles of all the films have no resonance at all (except the reference to ...and the Holy Grail), and the concept of crucifying people who have the Black Plague just seems like a recipe for how to spread the disease as quickly as possible. If I could locate a photo of a bunny with a pancake on its head, it would show up right here. I have learned, however, that Ramsey doesn't deal well with hand-held camera work, so it's not been a total loss. | ||
| Kate (Kathleen) Username: Kathleen Registered: 09-2009 Posted From: 213.122.209.76 |
Ian, there's like this other country, you know? Called "The UK" and stuff? And like, they make films that don't have like, big American stars in them and weren't shot in LA and probably don't get shown anywhere but here? I know you're like, from that other country that's north of LA? But it's probably kinda the same. Or something.  | ||
| Kate (Kathleen) Username: Kathleen Registered: 09-2009 Posted From: 213.122.209.76 |
Oh, and Ian?  | ||
| Ian Alexander Martin (Iam) Username: Iam Registered: 10-2009 Posted From: 64.180.64.74 |
Thank you for the pancake-wearing bunny. I so very much love that long suffering, endlessly patient, little feller. I honestly can't take my eyes of him while composing this reply, what with it being directly above the box and all. Granted, I'd welcome him roasted as well... To be honest, I know lots of UK films, and most are my favourites in their respective genres. The Third Man is about as British a film as you can have, even if you count the two stars are US citizens, it's set in Vienna, and the sub-plot involves the laudatory literary worship of an author of Western pulp novels. Still: all British, no waiting. I've been to the UK thrice, you know! THRICE! I am quite egalitarian when it comes to pop culture: no matter what the nation it may emanate from, it's not worth my personal candle of attention. Begone with your reality TV, films with things what go 'boom', and rohipnal-driven hype machines! BEGONE, I say! | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.170.180.134 |
'Granted, I'd welcome him roasted as well' I hear a kid has just microwaved his brother's hamster, the sick fuck. He needs locking up let alone two years without pets, which was what he got. | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 82.17.252.126 |
I'm with you, Tony. The kid at least needs strict monitoring by the authorities (now he's come to their attention) as a potential danger to those around him. It's how they all start... makes me shudder. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.106 |
and Sean Bean starring in the Gary McMahon role That made me chuckle... I'm a little bit in love with John Probert | ||
| Ramsey Campbell (Ramsey) Username: Ramsey Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.93.21.74 |
Thanks for the warning about shakiness, John and Kate - another one that must wait for a DVD viewing, I fear... Ian, you've seriously never heard of The Wicker Man or Witchfinder General (admittedly retitled in America as The Conqueror Worm)? Mark of the Devil was infamously released in America with barf bags for the audience but banned in Britain for many years, and Aguirre is one of Werner Herzog's finest. | ||
| Craig (Craig) Username: Craig Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 75.4.253.193 |
This sounds exactly like SEASON OF THE WITCH - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0479997/ - what's with all the Black Plague/rampaging evil movies?!... | ||
| John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.122.209.76 |
I'm a little bit in love with John Probert | ||
| Ian Alexander Martin (Iam) Username: Iam Registered: 10-2009 Posted From: 64.180.64.74 |
Sorry Ramsey, I ought to have re-scanned the list above. Those you name are known to me, barring Mark of the Devil, which only rings a vague bell. Sadly, even though I know of these particular films, I have seen nought of them (and refuse to see the re-make of The Wicker Man, as if that happens then Guy Adams will remove my lungs via my 'back passage' in order to teach me a lesson for doing so). | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.21 |
I saw this last night, and thought it was fantastic. I was expecting something along the lines of Lord Probert's review, and while John gives a pretty accurate account of proceedings, I think this film is one of the contenders for horror film of the year. It was a smart, intelligent, gorgeously shot, powerfully directed movie. My only gripe, too short. The acting from everybody is superb. Not just Sean Bean, though I must say he is determinedly rooted heart and soul in the archbishop's envoy. I REALLY believe Smith to be the stronger of the two genre directors at the moment. I am of course referring to Neil Marshal as that 'other director'. Neil Marshal is great, but he's, for me, too intent on replicating his own personal love letters to the genre, while Smith is engaged on a more personal quest. I find Marshal's characters are basically stock characters, lovably played sometimes, like Sean Pertwee, but Smith's characters seem to be, 'warts and all', real people, or attempts within the confines of the genre environment. Marshall's films are big, bold, epic-like, and are clearly mapped out on previous films, and he does it with finite attention to detail, a teenage boy's infectious love of the genre, and superlative skill. He's a talented man. I thought Centurion was a riproaring gem of a movie, but apart from Fassbender, the movie was intended to bolster the genre, not enhance it, or push it forward. Don't get me wrong, I didn't like Creep, Smith's debut, as I thought it was terribly cliched, though it did have its moments, but I believe he's much more interested in bringing something new into the genre (or at least trying out old ideas in more interesting ways). I suppose at the end of the day that it's not appropriate to compare the two, as they are two distinctly different types of directors. I'm always for old-fashioned fun, but I believe the genre both in fiction and in film, needs to keep looking for the equally important matter of serious artist. I know that sounds pretentious, but if the genre wants people to take it seriously, then it needs to let old-fashioned (and I DO love old fashioned, honetsly), take a back seat, while we start looking for our new Cronenbergs, Lynch's and maybe one day, our own Ramsey Campbell of cinema (though in that case I personally think Ramsey should say what the hell and go and direct his own movie). | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.21 |
I meant to say that Marshall's films are personal, too. But that Smith's are much more recognizable as his own work (forgive the different spellings of Marshal/Marshall's name). | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 82.17.252.126 |
I'd say Christopher Smith is certainly the braver and more ambitious of the two directors, so much so that his ambitions frequently flounder imo, but Neil Marshall has the greater directorial flair and knows his limitations. For me 'Creep' is the closest Smith has come to a perfect horror B-movie, whereas Marshall seems to be able to churn them out at will. |