English Gothic

It's been a little quiet regarding Series 4 of Twisted Showcase recently. Apart from something really exciting I found out recently thanks to Neil Jones. We are given a mention in the new updated version of English Gothic - Classic Horror Cinema 1897 -2015 by Jonathan Rigby.

I was excited by the mention as I love Jonathan Rigby's book on Christopher Lee which I bought years ago and have read a few times. It feels good to be part of horror history featuring in the book and to be noticed by someone with such vast and good taste in horror. And alongside such other great series. You can see our mention below and I would really advise buying the book, it's a beautiful thing.

As for being quiet recently, all that is about to change as to make Series 4 possible Twisted Showcase needs to ask for your help to be crowdfunded. We've got a much bigger series planned, with some great people involved, some great surprises and as always we hope to fill you with our own unique blend of psychological terror. 

If you thought Norman Lovett pooing in a bucket, chopping Gareth David Lloyd's head off or an episode about an Empty Sofa were as odd as we can go you're not going to be ready for this.

Over the coming weeks we'll be announcing more, including the launch date for the crowdfund, plus some leftover bits and bobs from Series 3. Plus I will be posting a few things of how Twisted Showcase has come together and stuff I've learnt along the way. 

Thanks for everything so far.

The Lodger Live soundtrack

This comes with a warning that it won't be for everyone, if indeed anyone. A few months ago, myself and my friend Jim (who has a fantastic blog at www.thereisspaceshipsoverdeeside.blogspot.) got together with a few strange instruments and decided to try our hand at recording an experimental soundtrack over a silent movie. We chose Hitchcock's The Lodger, and set a camera rolling so we could listen back to what we did.

I'd recommend watching the film properly, before watching this, as it is just a recording of my TV. But here it is if anyone is interested, our bizarre, improvised soundtrack.

Twisted Showcase Story Collection 1 on Sale

I'm learning how to do new things. Like embed links to some stuff I've written for. Hopefully I'll be able to build this up to a page where I can link to everything I've got out there in print at the moment.

Even though prose storytelling hasn't been my main focus for a while I've still managed a good amount of short stories for these collections, and might have some more stuff on it's way.

To celebrate this, and the run up to story collection 2, our first collection is 99p. Click on the new thingy at the side and treat yourself to some odd stories for under a quid. If you like it you might want to look out for our second collection on June 2nd.

5 star films: April 2015

A quick one this month, or last month now as I'm a little late posting this up. I'll be honest with you I didn't realise the month had gone by so fast.

Even though I watched a lot of films last month, up to 99 for the year now, only one got a 5 star rating this month, and I'd seen it before too, but a long time ago.

2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY - You'll either love or hate it, but you'll definitely have an opinion. I find it beautiful, epic film making. The soundtrack combined with the images is perfect, and it has some great moments, creepy, unnerving. After watching I was thinking about it for weeks, and I'm sure it didn't have as much impact last time. It's a film you've got to see, just to make up your own mind, of a film which will feature in top 100 films to see before you die lists everywhere.

5 star films : March 2015

Four 5 star films again this month, but loads that were brilliant but had niggly things about them. Yeah, it's been a good month for watching movies.
Here's my 5 star choices -

THE GOLDEN DREAM - Beautiful film making, this feels so real, performances, naturalistic shooting and narrative really help that feel. A visual metaphor which punctuates the act breaks resonates more and more throughout. Seek this out, it's absolutely heart breaking, and the young cast are impeccable. Another film I don't want to give too much away about.

CENTURION - On another viewing this wouldn't be a 5 star film, but I really enjoyed it. Was completely in the mood for it. It felt like a great bank holiday movie with added gore, and after Doomsday it restored my love for Neil Marshall.

WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF - This is almost a perfect movie. My third or fourth time watching it and I love how the tension builds, the cinematography is so sharp throughout, and the ending still catches me off guard in it's bizarre sweetness and affection. Watch it for Burton and Taylor but leave feeling nourished on every level.

MAMMOTH - In March I reached the end of my Lukas Moodysson marathon, and through Hole in my Heart and Container, although both had their merits, it felt like a marathon. this was his first film mainly in the English language. It did have a completely different feel to it. This time focusing upon an affluent family rather than the down trodden, it continues his theme of responsibility to children, advancing them from bringing them into the world from Container to being present for them. People are calling We are the best his return to form, which I also watched this month and loved, but I think he'd already returned to form with Mammoth.

Twisted Showcase LIVE

Over a week ago now we hosted an event to launch the Twisted Showcase exhibition. It featured poetry, the best episodes of Twisted Showcase and was headlined by the brilliant Norman Lovett.

We wanted a feel of a traditional variety show, fused in out own Twisted way. Which we achieved, it was a great night. I was too busy to enjoy it as it happened, but enjoyed people's reactions, and got to watch Norman Lovett perform a great set. The third time I've seen him and the best yet. A real honour for us to have a great talent like him launch our exhibition.

Our exhibition can be viewed at UN DEG UN Thursdays - Saturday 12pm -4pm until April 8th. We will also be uploading the exhibition online ASAP. We're just thinking of different ways of doing this to bring you an immersive experience. Whilst thinking about this we probably looked as lost and confused as we did on the night, see evidence in the picture below, kindly provided by Voicebox.

This has been a great experience, a lot different from what we're used to as reclusive writers, it has been great to get out there into different areas, and we never thought there would be an exhibition for our little show featuring, posters, props, an entire wall of scripts and a viewing place where you can relax on the sofa and watch Twisted Showcase.

Seeing the series in this light and getting a chance to watch the films again really seems like a great way to draw a line under it. Don't worry the series isn't ending, we're going ahead with Series 4, but like Empty Sofa sort of ended that last cycle of films, and this reflection on them has sealed that part of Showcase in the past, the next series will hopefully be a progression. As always with Twisted Showcase we aim to be different, but with that essential Twisted ingredient that ties it together.
Make sure you go an see the recipe of what made Twisted Showcase Series 1-3 whilst it's being exhibited.

5 star films - February 2015

I really need to blog about the Twisted Showcase Live event, but I have promised to keep this monthly blog going where I list films I've watched in the last month that I'd rate as 5 stars. Seen loads of great films this month, but with lots of them I've had quibbles, little minor niggles that have stopped them being a 5 star film.

So this month there are 4 films which get the 5 star rating. Here they are: -

LILYA 4 EVER - Another month, another Lukas Moodysoon film. Hard going as it focuses on homelessness and sex trafficking involving children. The tone is slightly alleviated by a fairytale feel to some aspects, but the bile and anger can be felt here. This film is sickened at the world but trying to find beauty, if you have the courage, give it a go.

ROBOT & FRANK - A subtle, low key treat with plenty of charm. If you liked Baymax in Big Hero 6 you might take to the robot in this, although the tale takes this to darker places. It hurt my heart but won't explain why as don't want to ruin this if anyone chooses to watch it. That's what I find hard writing these, getting across why I like them while allowing people to experience it for themselves.

THE BLACK CAULDRON - I'd never seen this Disney film, it's got some great, terrifying imagery and a lovely folk tale feel. It doesn't overplay it's cute characters and really made me laugh and make my eyes bulge out in fear.

THE LIVES OF OTHERS - Oppressive and plain looking with some disconcerting edits early on that keep you feeling a little on edge. The film, like it's lead character, slowly reveals its soul for a film that is beautiful in it's love of art and humanity, whilst also being tense and about a period of time and place I embarrassingly lack much knowledge of. Seek this one out for note perfect film making.