Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger- Cult Movie Review

Sinbad and the Eyes of the Tiger is the third and final trilogy of Sinbad films that stop-motion maestro Ray Harryhausen made for Columbia, the others being The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958) and The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973). It was not a commercial success apparently but I have fond memories of watching it in my youth, either on a rainy weekend or some national holiday or half-term. Of the three Sinbad movies created by Harryhausen and director Charles H. Schneer, this movie is the one I remember the most because of the iconic bronze minotaur creature but was my fondness well placed or was it sepia-tinted memories of a poor film? To answer this, on a typically rainy Easter half-term afternoon, I decided to watch it again and see- thus completing my journey of the three Sinbad films.

The story is quite simple, as it has been in each time; A sorceress (and evil stepmum) wants her son to ascend to the throne and so curses the actual prince of the land, turning him into a baboon. Along the way, she tried to kill Sinbad and his crew to prevent them from helping the prince but he prevails. He also learns of a way to transform the prince back in order to repay a favour and make himself a hero worthy of the princess. He travels to an island to seek advice from a wise man, Melanthius, who might be able to turn the prince back but they need to travel to the icy north. Will the plan work though?

Patrick Wayne plays Sinbad but, whilst he certainly looks impressive with his groomed beardline, curly hair and gold earring, his acting it a bit wooden and lacks charisma, a major flaw when you are the main protagonist who is known to be dashing, swashbuckling and daring. Jane Seymour is Princess Farah and does okay with what she is given, speaking earnestly and with a slight accent to make herself suitably 'Arabian'. Margaret Whiting chews the scenery as the evil sorceress Zenobia and is effective in a Mighty Morphin Rita Repulsa kind of way. Meanwhile, Patrick Troughton's Melanthius plays the old wise man well but makes ridiculous choices like giving a hornet a potion that makes it grow larger and it then proceeds to attack him: not so wise then…

There is earnestness in the acting but the plotting is wonky at best and the special effects are not as effective as they were in the earlier film. Harryhausen is still a master but the imagination isn't flowing fully here, sure the Minoton bronze minotaur is impressive looking (and is pretty much a glorified rower) but Talos in Jason and the Argonauts was better (and done earlier). The other fantastical creatures such as the gryphon and cyclops from the earlier Sinbad films are lacking here, being replied by a huge walrus and hornet, hardly the special effects showcase we'd come to know and love from the myths and legends of the Arabian Nights. However, the final battle between the smilodon and troglodyte is well staged and suitably dramatic but is too little to late to save this film from mediocrity- a sin with a world as ripe for interpretation as Sinbad.

That said, the matte art is impressive and the location shooting in Petra, Jordan and some Balearic isles makes it a pretty journey. The costumes are great too and the soundtrack and sound effects suitable for this type of movie.

Taking the movie as a whole, it is simple daft fun; it is still worth a watch but it does lack the heart and, dare I say, fun and creativity shown in the earlier Sinbad films.

Out if the three, I'd say this was the worst of the bunch but it isn't bad per se, just underwhelming.

LINK- The Golden Voyage of Sinbad- Cult Movie Review

LINK- The 7th Voyage of Sinbad- Cult Movie Review

LINK- Into the Unknown Exhibition Shines Bright at the Barbican

LINK- Ray Harryhausen: Titan of Cinema Virtual Exhibition Experience- Review

LINK- Children of the Stones: Cult TV Series Review

LINK- Tom’s Midnight Garden: Cult TV Review

LINK- On And On And Colston ( Or, How We Kinda Sort of Learned to Talk About the Legacy of Colonialism and the British Empire)

LINK: Japan: My Journey to the East

LINK- Pure Invention- Book Review

Kolchak: The Night Stalker- Cult TV Review

I bought the Kolchak: The Night Stalker DVD collection a few years ago, but it had been sat in my pile of shame collecting dust. Earlier this month, I decided to finally bite the bullet and watch it during my annual January videogame detox.

I didn't know anything about the series but had heard it mentioned often when The X Files was at its peak. Apparently, Kolchak was an inspiration for Chris Carter when writing the adventures of Mulder and Scully, so if it was good enough for him it was good enough for me.

The 20 episode TV series followed Carl Kolchak (excellently played by Darren McGavin) investigating supernatural phenomena in his home city of Chicago. Each week he would have an investigation, facing off against mummies, vampires, werewolves and the like, whilst his likeable but ball-busting editor Tony Vincenzo (played by Simon Oakland) would be on his back about some more mundane mainstream story.

Typically, at the beginning of each tale we'd see Kolchak at his typewriter wistfully retelling the adventure he'd just had. Then, we'd go through the whole story as Kolchak slowly pieced together the puzzle to find out who the 'monster of the week' was. It's an effective story-telling device that offers a snapshot of a bygone age with its fashion, technology and concerns about the future. There are a few issues here and there with stereotyping, especially of the exotic 'other' like Hindus, Native Americans and Haitians, but it's not as problematic as many shows from that period, in fact the show stands up pretty well as Kolchak tried to understand these differences. It's not always subtle but I've definitely seen a lot worse from this era.

Kolchak: The Night Stalker

I watched all the episodes and my favourite 3 episodes were:

The Ripper- A serial killer in Chicago, who preys on women, has the same MO as Jack the Ripper, but it couldn't be him... it's been almost a hundred years, right?

Bad Medicine- When a man dressed as a Native American sorceror kills older ladies of distinction for their gems, Kolchak is on the case to see that the crime spree stops. Richard Kiel appears in an early career role and is suitably brooding as an 8ft transmitting giant who morphs into animals. Even though it is quite insensitive now, it is a great episode with lots of tension and mystery.

The Knightly Murders- When a museum showcasing medieval armour is under threat of being turned into a nightclub, the reanimated black armour of a cursed knight murders some of the Chicago folk involved in the museums closure. A crossbow, mace and lance are the murder weapons of choice but can Kolchak get to the bottom of it?

The show is highly entertaining and extremely watchable, even now. There is a gentle humour that goes with Kolchak being thrown out of places he shouldn't be and people not believing his wild sounding stories. McGavin has the confidence and charming personality to befriend some people whilst getting under the skin of others, much like Columbo. His dogged pursuit for the truth is endearing as he portrays Kolchak with warmth and good humour, rather than just a newshungry reporter.

LINK- Children of the Stones: Cult TV Series Review

LINK- Dead of Night: Cult TV Review

LINK- The Stone Tapes: Cult TV Review

LINK- Tom’s Midnight Garden: Cult TV Review

LINK- Children of the Dogstar: Cult TV Series Review

LINK- How to be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question by Mike Schur- Book Review

LINK- The Good Place and Philosophy- Book Review

LINK- On And On And Colston ( Or, How We Kinda Sort of Learned to Talk About the Legacy of Colonialism and the British Empire)

LINK- ‘Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire’ LINK: Elden Ring- Videogames As Art

Magnetic Rose (Otomo's Memories)- Cult Film Review

Katsuhiro Otomo is a manga legend, rising to prominence with his seminal masterpiece Akira. It was the first real breakthrough worldwide manga hit, spread initially by word of mouth and then gaining a cult fandom until it broke through to the mainstream thanks to the terrific but confusing film.

For his follow up work, Otomo went a little more left field, creating a comic anthology series of which 3 were turned into an animated film called Memories. I knew of the film due to the soundtrack that I purchased at Forbidden Planet for a then-princely sum of £25. I was intrigued by the cover and when I saw that one of the composers was Yoko Kanno, whose work I'd loved in 'Macross Plus, I bought it. The music was mesmerising, bringing together Puccini's Madame Butterfly with Kanno's wending jazzy brassiness. It is a hauntingly beautiful score and I played it for years before ever seeing the film.

In the late 90s, the emergence of the internet made buying, selling and trading anime much easier and so, after striking an friendship with a fellow manga and anime fan, I received a copied VHS of Memories.

Now, all three short films are worthy of attention but for this review I specifically want to shine a light on the first, Magnetic Rose. I only read one comic from the anthology series and that was Magnetic Rose, but that was after having watched the 50 minute enthralling sci-fi horror/ psychological film

I only recently found out that Magnetic Rose was written by the late, great, gone-too-soon Satoshi Kon who made Paprika, Perfect Blue, Millenium Actress, Paranoia Agent and Tokyo Godfathers, and looking at those works, the psychological angle is obvious. The storyline is about a salvage ship on their way home receiving a distress signal. Following protocol, they go to provide assistance only to find a graveyard of ships all merged together in the shape of a rose. As the crew explore the interior they encounter a facsimile of a baroque world but there seems to be a presence within which means harm.

I won't spoil it but the atmosphere created, enhances by the evocative operatic soundtrack, is second to none and the film will linger in your mind long after the denouement. The animation is sublime and has some of the most technically impressive multi-plane shots seen at the time, lending the film a lived-in free movement which is appropriate for space.

I've been into manga and anime for over 30 years and this particular film is one of my all-time favourites. Even after all these years, the film haunts me.

The Green Knight- Film Review

I have fond memories of the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. I vividly recall a teacher, Mr. Mathias, reading a version to my year 6 class back in the 80s as we were studying Arthurian legends.

The tale itself is an intriguing one, set in Arthurian legend times. On Christmas Day, the Green Knight, a creature made of wood, plants and nature, arrives and sets a challenge, for one of the knights to lay a blow and to receive the same blow a year later. Gawain, foolish in his youth, lops off the creatures head and finds to his astonishment that the creature lives, retrieves his head and restates the challenge to be complete one year hence. And so Gawain must travel far and wide to find his way to the Green Chapel to receive a reciprocal blow.

Wow, what a tale! At the time I remember being enthralled and the art in the book was stunning, as was the Loathely Lady follow up book by the same author, Selina Hastings and artist, Juan Wijingaard.

This book is one of my favourites and is an excellent interpretation of the legend.

When I heard there was a film adaptation I was excited as it’s the quintessential Heroes Journey. However, I'd heard that this version was a deeply meditative film rather than a swords and sandals epic like the Harryhausen films of old or the scale and grandeur of Lord of the Rings. Due to this I think some people were disappointed as they were expecting more action but when I heard that it starred Dev Patel in the main role as Gawain I was intrigued as he is a brilliant actor who is very nuanced and powerful in the roles he plays. Also, being a fan of a lot of art house and European cinema I went in knowing that it would be a slower paced film and so it proved. Patel portrays a deeply flawed yet human Gawain who feels the pressure to achieve as he is the nephew of the great King Arthur. The problem is he doesn’t act or speak in a knightly way, foregoing the Code of Chivalry each of King Arthur's Knights swore which included lofty ideals such as: protecting the weak and defenseless, obeying those placed in authority, and always speaking the truth, bravery, courtesy, honour and great gallantry toward women.

After watching the film I had a strange sense of nostalgia, even though it was a brand new film. After a few days ruminating upon it I think I have an idea of what the feeling was; it reminded me of late 90s/ early 2000s Bravo Channel. Please, bare with me on this aside. The channel would air some curious cult film that had deeply ethereal feels and long moments of quiet where the gorgeous scenery and silence would wash over you, often they were the more salacious films of 60s and 70s European cinema, often in the horror genre but not always. Don't get me wrong, this is not a cheaply made or looking film, or salacious at all, but it feels so experimental yet deliberate. This film looks absolutely beautiful and is well watching on that basis alone, however the story is intriguing and the ending is something special. I just can't describe the feeling but the film is kind of Lynchian in the feeling of unease it create.

The Green Knight

The film is sumptuously shot.

Anyways, I loved the film and I think its one of the finest pieces of cinema I've seen for many years. It's not for everyone but then it doesn’t need to be; it fills that niche arthouse cinema so well without trying. I do hope people will give it a chance and it finds it’s rightful place as an all-time classic

LINK- The Stone Tapes (BBC)- Cult TV Review

LINK- Twin Peaks Retrospective

LINK- Twin Peaks: The Return Series Review

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LINK- Blood, Sweat and Pixels- Book Review

LINK: Japan: My Journey to the East

LINK- An English Geek in Saudi

LINK- ‘Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire’

LINK- On And On And Colston ( Or, How We Kinda Sort of Learned to Talk About the Legacy of Colonialism and the British Empire)

The Black Angel- Cult Film Review

I first heard of The Black Angel short film whilst flicking through my monthly issue of Infinity, a wonderful cult and geeky pop culture magazine. What drew me in was the fact that it was based off of Arthurian myth, was created as a short film project with just a £25,000 budget and the director, Roger Christian, made it as a dream project with no oversight and the backing of George Lucas during the release of The Empire Strikes Back.

What emerges is a passion project with an economy of design that leans into the dreamlike work of Andrei Tarkovsky and the stunning panorama of Akira Kurosawa, both influences accredited by Christian. However, it starts like Werner Herzog's masterpiece Aguirre: Wrath of God in the way that it feels like a hypnotic dream as the first 5 minutes are silent as we see a lone traveller, Sir Maddox, slowly trotting on his white horse across gorgeous dreamlike rocky landscapes covered in morning dew and fog. He arrives at his castle and family home to find it in ruins and the only people inhabiting it are young children with 'the sickness'.

When he nearly drowns but is saved by a young maiden in white, Sir Maddox is determined to save her from The Black Angel, a mysterious figure who seems to have a hold in her.

The film itself is a strange and entrancing journey and reminds me of a film I saw recently, The Green Knight starring Dev Patel. That film also reminded me of the Bravo Channel in the mid to late 90s when they'd show strange culty films late at night. It really was a hodgepodge of content and this film would have fit in that slot before channel drift set in.

The film is available to view on YouTube on the official Famous First Films page and I look forward to the upcoming full length movie.

The Color Out of Space- Cult Film Review

Whilst suffering decision paralysis, caused by having too many choices available on Netflix and Amazon Prime, I came across a film that popped up and intrigued me… The Color Out of Space. I was familiar with the short story from H.P. Lovecraft, having read it about 20 years ago, and had loved the strange premise of a meteorite landing on a farm and bringing dreadful consequences for the creatures and humans that lived in the area. However, I didn’t know how this story could be effectively adapted for the screen as Lovecraft’s Cosmicism and existential dread, about humanity’s insignificance in the eyes of unknowable beings, would lose its power if the creature (in this case, a colour) were presented on screen as nothing is scarier than the unknown. So, suitably intrigued I selected to see who was involved and upon seeing Nicolas Cage front and centre, it kinda clinched the deal for me that this was a must watch… the man is an enigma and is pushing acting boundaries- both good and bad.

I watched the movie late at night over a couple of days and, at times, it felt like a strange lucid dream. In fact, on the second night I had to rewatch 10 mins from the previous night as I wasn't sure that I hadn't fallen asleep and dreamt it. I can reassuringly say that no, I hadn't dreamt it and yes, it was in fact as strangely, magnificently, hauntingly beautiful as I had thought.

I only knew the director, Richard Stanley, from the amazing documentary Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley's Island of Dr. Moreau when he went into the rainforest and survived off the land, playing an extra under disguise after being fired from the film shoot. However, based on this film, I can say that he is a solid director and has great vision which would have made Moreau a more exciting proposition than what we ended up with.

The Color Out of Space is a glorious B- movie and the whole feel is very The Thing or, more recently, Annihilation as it is a slow burn that slowly brings out the scares without being too graphic or gory. Cage keeps it reigned in for the first hour before he starts to Cage Rage out but he never goes Full Cage (FC) or gives the powerhouse gonzo performance we are used to and expect (Think The Wickerman bees scene). Rather, this is a more tempered and measured approach with occasional FC elements like the alpaca shooting and 'family always sticks together' speech. The rest of the supporting cast are solid and play it straight.

The cinematography is stunning and there are moments of pure spectacle. The trippy visuals and practical special effects give the film a timeless vibe in that the CGI is very good for the budget and the practical effects work well in an 80s way- the period it most recalls in its homage to the sci-fi horror genre. The soundtrack by Colin Stetson is reminiscent of dark 80s synth wave but also with some heavier beats. Overall, it's an excellent soundtrack that complements this unusual film.

I know that this is the first of a planned Lovecraft trilogy and I eagerly await the next one, which I hope will happen even thought this film was disastrous financially but won general plaudits from fans and reviewers alike. If you have a spare couple of hours and want something very unique, this may well fit the bill.

LINK- Children of the Stones: Cult TV Series Review

LINK- The Stone Tapes: Cult TV Review

LINK- Dead of Night: Cult TV Review

LINK- Tom’s Midnight Garden: Cult TV Review

LINK- Children of the Dogstar: Cult TV Series Review

LINK- Supernatural (BBC): Cult TV Review

Robin Redbreast- Cult TV Review

Back in 1970s the BBC invested a lot into its TV drama productions and in this period there were numerous wonderful programmes created. I've already reviewed Supernatural and Dead of Night, which was released in the 1970s, and now I'm here to review another film, from the highly regarded Play For Today series.

The film is quietly sinister and unsettling.

The film is quietly sinister and unsettling.

The BFI released Robin Redbreast, a revered and influential gentle horror work recently and I decided to give it a viewing. Having never seen it before but hearing a lot about its impact on British horror cinema, namely The Wicker Man I thought it was worth a look. So, is it worth a watch in this day and age or is it looked at fondly with rose-tinted glasses by fans from the time?

Well, what I can say is that Robin Redbreast is quintessential gentle British horror in that it combines folklore, mundane village life and adds shock and surprise in equal measure.

The story is quite straight forward; newly separated from her partner of many years, a television script editor, temporarily moves to her cottage in a remote English country village to rebuild her life. At first, she finds that the villagers are friendly, if a little eccentric. However, when she becomes pregnant to a handsome villager, she begins to suspect that the locals are conspiring against her to prevent her from leaving... But to what end?

Although originally shot in colour, the BFI released it in a black and white transfer I think adds to the slightly hazy, surreal atmosphere of the piece. It also means the film could come arguably from any era as it is set in a rural, unnamed place which seems to be happy in its slow paced, traditional lifestyle.

The story itself is very much in the folk horror' genre, mentioning traditions from Frazer's The Golden Bough and rituals regarding harvest and sacrifice, but this play also asks wider, more relevant questions from the time which seem pertinent even now; tradition vs. modernity, female pleasure vs. reproductive rights, marriage vs. freedom to have partners and urban vs. rural. I found it very relevant today and was surprised to see that it was televised back nearly 50 years ago when viewing habits were a lot more conservative. I think a lot of this has to do with the quality of the acting which, whilst not up to much of today's high calibre, was overall pretty solid considering it was performed in a play format with the restrictions and style that dictates the acting.

Murrain- Cult TV Review

It's no secret that I’m a big fan of Nigel Kneale, writer of such works as ‘Quatermass’, ‘The Stone Tapes’ and ‘Beasts’ (a series I am currently watching). I've been working my way through his works over the past several years and it was whilst falling down the YouTube rabbit hole I discovered an hour long short film called ‘Murrain’, which he wrote for ITV when he had a falling out with the BBC over something (what, I don’t know).

It’s a lesser known Kneale work and formed part of the 'Against the Crowd' series which were short anthology collections that were all the rage in the 70 and early 80s after the success of the ‘Play For the Day’ and ‘Armchair Theatre’ series. The anthology is not well regarded as it was pretty lacklustre apparently but this is one of the standout pieces.

The story is quite simple, a vet visits a small town which is blighted by a mysterious disease that is killing their livestock. The locals blame old lady Clemson who lives in a ramshackle cottage, accusing her of being a witch. The rational ‘man of science’ vet visits the old lady and sees that she is living in terrible conditions and endeavours to help her. However, when the mob get angry they attack the cottage with dreadful results.

The production is very cheap and there is very little cinematographic flair on show, it is all very bread and butter but then it's a simple story where special effects don’t matter as they are not needed- the story is king. Over the course of the hour, I had a sense of dread in the pit of my stomach as I feared for the old lady and thought it wasn’t going to end well. The conclusion is ambiguous but that's all part of the charm that’ll have you thinking about the story long after the viewing. Director John Cooper does a great job creating an effective atmosphere with obviously limited resources, there is an unsettling claustrophobic, insular feeling to proceedings.

The actors themselves are solid with no-one I recognise apart from M from James Bond (Bernard Lee) who has a key role as the landed gentry leading the witch hunt, whilst Una Brandon-Jones (someone I’m unfamiliar with but who is quite well known apparently) is riveting as the accused witch.

Murrain is no ‘Quatermass’ or ‘Stone Tapes’ but for a short 60 minute films with a tiny budget it is simple, effective and worth your time.

A Child's Voice- Cult TV Review

Whilst falling into the YouTube rabbit hole looking for new old things to watch, I came across 'A Child's Voice,' a half hour spooky ghost story that seemed interesting so I gave it a whirl. 

The story is about a mystery thriller writer and radio broadcaster, who nightly chills millions with his tales of horror, only to become the victim of one of his own macabre plots.

Having watched the production I can say that it shares a lot of DNA with the BBC's ‘Ghost Stories For Christmas’ series but I found out that it was a one-off production and was not part of an anthology series. It was shown on BBC 2 on 12th December 1982 over the Christmas period and I believe it may have inspired Mark Gatiss, who may have used it as inspiration for his 'The Dead Room' short film which shares a lot of the same story beats.

For its age and production it's an effective half hour of television, nothing mind blowing and not comparable to the best work of M. R. James but effective nonetheless. As the dark nights start to draw in and the weather gets a bit colder, this low budget but effective production might be just what the doctor ordered.

This Island Earth- Cult Film Review

I first heard of 'This Island Earth' when I read the book 'The Woman from the Black Lagoon', about the classic Universal monster movie 'The Creature From the Black Lagoon'. In the book, the film was stated as being a good old Technicolor sci-fi film from the 50s. This virus had given me time to explore new avenues of media and try out apparent classics, so with this spirit of exploration I thought why not give it a try! 

The story for 'This Island Earth' is quite simple; an atomic scientist is given mysterious instructions to create a machine and once completed is invited to a secret lab. However things are not as they seem as many preeminent scientists are also there to apparently solve a problem that will create world peace. But things are not as they seem.. 

The films plot is quite simple and not in any way hard sci-fi or high concept but it is an intriguing central premise. Jeff Morrow plays the quirky  Exeter with verve and the two leads, Rex Reason and Faith Domergue play well off him. 

What stands out on this production is the sheer artistry on display. The matt color backgrounds are spectacular, the models creative and the 'alien' technology inventive and unusual without resorting to the usual silver space suits. The film pops in Technicolor and is a joy to watch, clocking in at around 80 minutes. 

It's not the best sci-fi film around but it does enough to warrant a viewing. ‘This Island Earth’ is an unusual sci-fi film as it does feature a creature, lasers and other tropes of the genre but the story is different from what was around in much of the 50s and 60s. 

LINK- The Lady From The Black Lagoon- Book Review

LINK- Dead of Night: Cult TV Review

LINK- Children of the Stones: Cult TV Series Review

LINK- What Comics Have Taught Me

LINK: Japan: My Journey to the East

LINK- Nintendo: My One Constant in My Gaming Life

Ghost in the Water- Cult TV Review

The BBC used to have long running tradition of showing slightly spooky or unnerving films during the festive period, these were called 'Ghost Stories for Christmas' series and were extremely popular. In 1982 the BBC adapted the Edward Chitham book 'Ghost in the Water' into a 50 minute short film aimed at spooking teens. 

The story centres around two students, Tess and David, who are investigating the gravestones of the local church for a History project. When they find that their research overlaps on one Abigail Parkes who "Died without harm" they team up together to find out what happened to her. Along the way they find that this 19th century death seems to be linked to Tess's family in some way. When she has visions of the past and finds a tapestry in her house connects her to Abigail the mystery deepens and becomes personal...

The acting by the young cast is earnest and a bit hammy in places but it's pretty good and consistent overall. The cinematography is basic but the atmosphere created during the dark, winters evening in the graveyard does create an effective mood in the Black Country. 

‘Ghost in the Water’ is a good quick watch and whilst it won't linger long in the memory, it's a pleasant way to while away an hour and admire the fashion and hair styles of the time. It's an intriguing premise and there are twists and turns aplenty to keep you engaged right up to the end.

The Clifton House Mystery- Cult TV Series Review

I have an affection for cult and offbeat TV shows and films from days of yore as consistent followers of this blog know. I've found that many still stand up to today's scrutiny and often they are full of great ideas which are earnestly acted. Usually I pick up DVDs at random from CEX but in this case it was whilst I was browsing through Amazon, checking through the recommended links for 'Children of the Stones’, an atmospheric and eerie series that I'd picked up earlier and loved, that I came across 'The Clifton House Mystery'. The series was produced by HTV, the production company that had made ‘Stones,’ and so, based on the strength of that series I took the plunge and bought the DVD set for £4.99. It has sat on my pile of shame for a couple of years but sans WiFi and access to premium channels, I thought I'd finally work my way through this series.

The story is about the Clare family, who move into a mysterious old townhouse in Bristol. The previous family had lived in the house for generations but decided to leave under mysterious circumstances. The contents of the house are auctioned off but there are secrets attached to the items and the abode that haunt the new occupants. When they find a skeleton in a sealed room the mystery deepens and they hire an eccentric ghost hunter Milton Guest, to put the spirits to rest.

The series was aimed at school children so don't expect anything too ghoulish or scary but it is effective in its own way. The economy of sound and set design adds to the slightly unnerving nature. The story is quite straightforward and a lot of Bristolian history is thrown into the mix, which I found quite good as I’m a bit of a history buff.

The cast are relatively unknown, at least to me, however, they all play their roles with surety and earnestness. The only recognisable face is Peter Sallis who plays Guest. He would later go on to voice Wallace in 'Wallace and Gromit' and find fame as one of the old codgers riding a bathtub down many a hill in 'Last of the Summer Wine'.

Overall, the series is not as enthralling as 'Children of the Stones' or as scary as 'Moon Dial' but it is still worth a watch and, at just under 2 and a half hours, it's a nice way to while away a lazy afternoon.

LINK- The Singing Ringing Tree: Cult TV Review

LINK- Jim Henson’s The Storyteller

LINK- The Secret Garden (BBC)- Cult TV Review

LINK- Dead of Night: Cult TV Review

LINK- Children of the Stones: Cult TV Series Review

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LINK- Tom’s Midnight Garden: Cult TV Review

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The Singing Ringing Tree (DEFA): Cult TV Review

I had heard of this film through various 'Top 100 Kids Shows' and other such cheaply produced shows shows that were all the rage about a couple of decades ago. Y'know, the stuff where talking 'celebs' and vox pop tried to say funny or snarky stuff about the shows they were counting down. I know that the dwarf character scared many so I hoped I would get around to seeing it and forming my own opinion. Once again, browsing CEX in Tonbridge I came across the ‘Tales From Europe’ boxset for £5 which contained ‘The Singing Ringing Tree’ and ‘The Tinderbox,’ and so I bought it. Again, it sat on my pile of shame for about 4 years and I've only just got around to watching it due to no WiFi and the ongoing pandemic.

The sets are lavish and the artistry is show is excellent for a 1957 production.

The sets are lavish and the artistry is show is excellent for a 1957 production.

'The Singing Ringing Tree' is a 1957 fairytale of a young Prince who sets out to find the eponymous tree in order to win the love of a beautiful but conceited princess. He finds it in a fairytale garden which ruled by an evil dwarf. The dwarf and Prince strike a deal whereby the prince can have the tree on the condition that he wins the princess' love before nightfall; if he fails, he will turn into a bear. Things don't go to plan and the Prince is transformed. The Princess is taken to the Kingdom and she turns from an arrogant, conceited woman into one who is kind and considerate. Her outer beauty is matched by her inner beauty. The story is not one I know but is familiar with echoes of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ (with the Stockholm Syndrome) and pretty much any fairy tale, fable or tale where true love conquers all. It’s all pure escapism.

The set are beautiful with vibrant colours and the costumes are lush and detailed. It looks like an expensive production and thus lavishness extends to the special effects, which may look laughable now but at the time I'm sure were impressive. The film has little dialogue so the German vocal track shouldn’t detract non-German speakers as it can be seen without any talking at all, or with an English narrator or a French vocal track. Looking at the story now with no nostalgia for it at all, I can say that I thought the story reminded me of Jim Henson’s The Storyteller series which also presented many European tales with a dark edge to them.

The DVD I purchased has few extras but did include an interview with the actress who played the Princess from 2003 which is insightful as we learn that this was her first role and she was still in school.
It also contains production and promotion stills which I have to say is really quite beautiful.

Overall, I thought that the film was wonderful and is well worth a look.

LINK- Jim Henson’s The Storyteller

LINK- The Secret Garden (BBC)- Cult TV Review

LINK- Dead of Night: Cult TV Review

LINK- Children of the Stones: Cult TV Series Review

LINK- The Stone Tapes: Cult TV Review

LINK- Tom’s Midnight Garden: Cult TV Review

LINK- Children of the Dogstar: Cult TV Series Review

LINK- Day of the Triffids (1981 BBC): Cult TV Series Review

Day of the Triffids- Cult TV Series Review

The Day of the Triffids is a renown classic of sci-fi literature. I was aware of the book due to my father having read it back in the 70s when he was in school but didn't know much else. All I knew was it featured walking plants that could kill people. It didn't sound particularly appealing when I heard about it but as I got older I realised that I recognised the author, John Wyndham. He had written The Midwich Cuckoo' (which the Village of the Damned series of movies is based on) and The Chrysalis, which I had read.

It was whilst I was browsing my local CEx (Computer Exchange) in Tonbridge a couple of years ago that I came across the DVD of the 1981 BBC serial production. I have a penchant for cult TV series as you may know (check the other cult series I have reviewed in the links below if you want a quick catchup) so I  bought it  and it joined my 'pile of shame' where it sat until the pandemic and lack of WiFi gave me cause to finally visit the DVD. There were no excuses now not to view this series and I'm glad I did.

The story revolves around the eponymous plants, which are farmed for its use in the production of oil. The plants escape from a farm and kills people after a meteor shower renders most of the world blind. Society quickly crumbles as only a few people are left with their sight and it is in this scenario that our lead, Bill Masen, a Triffid Farmer/ biologist who was injured and had his eyes bandaged and so kept his sight, seeks to survive in this apocalyptic and dystopia world. The beginning is very 28 Days Later as Bill walks around the silent hospital and then the quiet streets of his city.

Now the premise is pretty standard sci-fi fare; something dreadful escapes the lab and changes the world into a preppers wet dream, but what makes this story interesting is the focus on the human angle. There is no deus ex machina that fixes the world and the protagonist gets beaten up trying to stop gangs from raping, pillaging and hunting the blind. It is quite unflinching in its portrayal of the downfall of society.

The actors are all relative unknowns, at least to me, however my wife was convinced that one of the small roles was played by a guy from Howard's Way, but they act with such earnestness and conviction that it doesn't matter. You empathise and feel for them as they are being hunted down by walking rhubarb. The special effects could have been silly or ridiculous but the fact that we rarely see the Triffids, and when we do the cinematography presents them at an interesting angle, means the production has aged well and can be appreciated as a period piece. The introduction credits are spooky sounding and quite eerie until a lady gets hit on the face with a quite-obvious foam stinger (see the video below at 37 seconds).

Having watched quite a few of these cult TV serials what I find holds up the most are the shows with an economy of design; it is the silences and the moments of tension that bring classic BBC productions much acclaim. Much like 'The Stone Tapes' and 'Children of the Stones', this series does not have much in the way of music but the uncomfortable silence lends the proceeding an air of ever present dread.

At 6 episodes, Day of the Triffids clocks in at just over 2 1/2 hours but it is time well spent. The series is a time capsule to show the fashion, hairstyles and Cold War fears of the 80s but, more importantly, it is a good example of what can be done when you create a human story within a sci-fi setting that is not demanding on production or special effects. This is a masterclass in the story being king.

LINK- Dead of Night: Cult TV Review

LINK- Children of the Stones: Cult TV Series Review

LINK- The Stone Tapes: Cult TV Review

LINK- Tom’s Midnight Garden: Cult TV Review

LINK- Children of the Dogstar: Cult TV Series Review

MirrorMask- Cult Film Review

The fairytale-like story of an adolescent girl living a life as a circus performer and railing against her family does not seem like a film a 38 year old man would typically like, but if I said that the film was written by frequent collaborators Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean? It might make more sense and even pique your interest. This team worked on the seminal 'The Sandman' series together and Gaiman has also written American Gods, Coraline, The Graveyard Book, Stardust and much more. This is quite a pedigree and so, as expected, MirrorMask does not disappoint, coming across like a modern version of Labyrinth, even down to the Jim Henson Company producing the puppets that frequently the film.

The film is about young Helena, very ably played by Stephanie Leonidas, who is an aspiring artist with an active imagination. Her family run the family circus and are part of a carny community but this is transient and lacks the consistency that Helena thinks she wants. When she rebels it sends her mother into a coma and Helena enters a mirror world where the Dark Queen, an evil version of her mother, keeps the White Queen, her coma'd mother, in a deep sleeps. Can Helena find a way to rescue her mother and discover some personal truths? Of course she can but the journey is intriguing and on accession, Dr. Who-esque scary.

The actors are all very good and the special effects suit the dreamy style of the film well. I know some people have criticised the over-reliance on green screen but with an obviously limited budget, the film does a commendable job of bringing McKean's art and drawings to life. The story is intriguing enough and the singular art style make this film a worthwhile watch but it does feel like an incoherent journey, actions happen and you have no idea of it is good or bad and the bloom effect starts to grate after a while. Don't get me wrong I liked the film just fine but didn't love it. It's no Labyrinth, but then... what is?

Twelve Forever- Complete Series Review

Twelve Forever is a 25 part animated series centred around Regina (Reggie), a 13 year old girl who doesnt want to throw away her toys. She instead travels to a fantastic land, called the Endless, where her toys come to life and she becomes Twelve, the super awesome athletic hero of the world. Todd, her best friend, has morphing powers and their friend Esther has flying abilities. Together they fight the ills of society and puberty. The show is cute and sweet as it is presented in a superflat art style, familiar with fans of Adventure Time, but it deals with real weighty emotional issues such as dealing but being a young carer, societal expectations of beauty, negative formative experiences and much more.

In episode 2, we are introduced to the big bad of the show, the Butt Witch, voiced by Matt Berry of It Crowd and Disenchantment fame. For the duration of the series he tries to destroy the optimistic and fantastical world of Endless by corrupting its citizens.

Across 25 episodes the three lead characters go through many of the perils we've all probably experienced in our lives but it is presented through the fantastical world of Endless. If I were being pretentious I would say that the series was showing the pre-pubescent to pubescent forms of Ego, Super Ego and the Id and its effect on youth. According to Freud's psychoanalytic personality model, the id is the primitive and instinctual part of the mind that contains our innate human drives and hidden memories, the super-ego operates as a moral conscience, and the ego is the realistic part that mediates between the desires of the id and the superego. The three characters represent the 3 parts of Freud’s theory which is a characterisation common in many stories ranging from Harry Potter to Lord of the Rings; Reggie is the Id, Esther is the Super Ego and Todd is the Ego.

As you can see, for a 'kids' cartoon this show does get deep and it presents quite difficult concepts at a child friendly level. As a grown up man-child the show had me reflecting on my own childhood and some of the trials and tribulations I faced. Twelve Forever is a solid show that looks at positive representation and with each episode being only about 13 minutes long, it is easily bingeable if that's your wont to do. Check it out on Netflix!

An English Geek in Saudi Arabia

Precisely a month ago today, my wife, children and I left the UK. When deciding to move abroad and work away for a few years, I was excited to leave but something was holding me back. Yes, family and friends, but I knew we'd still be in touch regularly through various means (all being well) but something else... it was my large comic book collection. Yes, I know it sounds incredibly materialistic but I'll explain.

Whilst clearing through our belongings and deciding what to put into storage, I decided to sell most of my 300+ DVDs and 200+ CDs to CEX for a pittance. I thought I'd miss parting with my collections because I'd built it over many years and I’d always reasoned I'd need them in case streaming services or the internet went kaput. However, thinking through this process I realised that in a Mad Max-style dystopian world people would have more pressing concerns than getting a CD of Jean Michel Jarre's Oxygene or a VHS copy of Hello Dolly, and yes that was a timely reference to Wall-E.

However, with my comics I felt differently... I couldn't bare to part with them. For me it wasn't even an option. I started comic collecting when I was about 7 years old and my first loves were Tintin, Iron Man, Spiderman and Zoe Ball. The affection I have for my comics collection isn't just based on the rather large financial commitment required over the years but more to the memories and nostalgia I have attached with them. I still vividly remember lying in bed listening to Interpol's Antics whilst reading Maus in 2005, or lying in bed reading Craig Thompson's Blankets whilst listening to Bjork's Vespertine. A lot of my memories involve me lying in bed and listening to music, especially when it comes to comics and graphic novels. The music I listened to and certain comics I read are forever intertwined in me as they were often formative.

At the time of leaving England, I had built up a mighty and eclectic collection of over 500 graphic novels and many comics too. I had signed ones by Alan Moore (Watchmen, V for Vendetta, Swamp Thing, League of Extraordinary Gentleman) , Jeff Smith (Bone), Erica Henderson (The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl), Becky Cloonan (Demo, Chance or Providence) and many more. This may not sound impressive and compared to many collectors out there, it isn't, but what I loved most was meeting each and every one of the artists or writers I had sign my graphic novels. This was more important than the signed comic itself, the chance to have a quick chat and tell my heroes what I thought about them and their work. I remember this one time, whilst browsing the basement area of Orbital Comics in its original location opposite the British Museum, I saw Alan Moore signing his works quietly. There was no queue or gaggle of fans, just Mr Moore, two of my friends and I. Trying to be nonchalant, I walked up to him and spoke of my admiration of his work. I walked away feeling like a boss, feeling like I’d spoken with eloquence and gravitas until my friends informed me I had sounded like a pre-pubescent teen and had been shaking all the time I had been talking to him. Nope, this was not my finest moment but one I will treasure forever because… comics!

I thought that by going to Saudi Arabia I might have to put a lot of this behind me as comics and the availability of pop culture paraphernalia was limited, at least from what I had heard and been led to believe. I know that you can get comics on tablets, phones etc but in the same way I put up with reading books on my Kindle for convenience sake rather than a love of the format, I knew I would miss the tactile nature of holding a comic, smelling the print and all that other stuff old duffers like me often say. Comic shopping is quite a social thing, although for many newbies going into comic shops it may not seem so… but, once you break through the knowledge-bomb dropping bravado, comic nerds are alright and just want to talk about their hobby.

However, having been here only a month so far, I have been excited to learn that Saudi Arabia does actually have a quite vibrant fandom scene. Okay, it’s not London level fandom but it is growing. In the past few weeks I have been to various game sessions and many more game-meets have been planned for the future. Also, I learnt from a colleague that the local hypermarket was running a models and maquette meetup. Fellow model enthusiasts brought along their elaborate models and dioramas to share with an appreciative audience, which included video game, anime and comic fans. Also, whilst shopping at the local shopping centre I came across Toca Boca clothes (they make cool educational apps) and Cuphead figures!

I have also been incredibly surprised and pleased to learn that the school I work at now houses a very impressive graphic novel collection in its library. Granted, the more controversial and adult-themed comics aren't there, it is a school after all, but what is there is mightily impressive and has pleased this old comic fans heart.