remember me - bbc drama

I watched the concluding episode of BBC's supernatural drama 'Remember Me' last night, and what a treat it was. An elderly man tries to leave his old haunted home behind, but with dire consequences to him and others.  It kept you guessing where the story was heading, and there were enough jump out shocks and surprises to keep you on your toes, so a hearty success all around.
All of the cast were believable and not too over the top (as often happens), but Michael Palin as Tom Parfitt (the old man) gave an outstanding performance, and Jodie Corner as Hannah (the teenage care assistant)   wasn't too shoddy either.  I have a hunch that awards could well be on the way.
Marvelous stuff, although l now can't get the 'Scarborough Fair' song out of my head.

Here's Simon and Garfunkel's version, originally from the 1966  'Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme' LP - one of my favourite albums.



toodle pip

the last exorcism (2010) - daniel stamm

Cotton Marcus (Patrick Fabian) is a jaded preacher who agrees to do a documentary exposing the sham that is exorcisms, and is asked to perform one on a religious and isolated young girl who's father thinks is possessed.  He acquiesces as he intends it to be his last one (hence 'The Last Exorcism' of the title), and demonstrates to the camera crew how it is faked.  After leaving the girl, she then turns up unexpectedly in his hotel, starts being sick, and is taken by the crew to hospital.  Marcus and the crew eventually go back to the girls house, and is persuaded (at gunpoint by the father) to perform another exorcism.  Strange things happen..........A pregnancy is discovered............Ablam (the demon) speaks!...........Odd shapes are thrown........There are witchcraft goings on, killings and birth, and a rediscovery of faith.  Pretty good actually.  Not as impressive (impossible) as 'The Exorcist' (a gold standard of possession movies), but better than expected.  It made the FPO jump, but then again, what doesn't?

toodle pip

the innocents (1961) - jack clayton

Based on 'The Turn Of The Screw' by Henry James, 'The Innocents' is a proper, good old fashioned ghost story that pretty much sticks to the original story.  Sure, as usual with the old black and white films, the acting and speech can be too over the top and affected, but there were still plenty of scary moments (which have become standards in horror) to keep you interested.  Deborah Kerr plays a governess who thinks the children in her charge are being possessed.  That's about all the storyline you need (although there's more, including implied sexual abuse),  and the film gets better and better as it goes along.   I don't want to make it sound as though it is one of the best films ever, as it certainly isn't that, and l thought the ending was a bit sudden and poor, but if you like your entertainment to include ghoulies (and who doesn't), this is well worth checking out.

toodle pip 

wake wood (david keating - 2011) and the woman in black (james whatkins - 2012)

HAMMER TIME!!
I don't usually watch that much horror, although l used to be a big fan when l was a nipper, buying Monster magazine, making models of Dracula etc and trying to catch all the Hammer House of Horror movies (with varying results).  The old films were great, lots of over the top and sometimes camp acting, and with copious amounts of blood and gore (plus bare boobs).  These two films are both recent Hammer efforts, and both of them had their moments, but to me at least, The Woman In Black was much superior (even without the boobs).

Wake Wood has a young girl being attacked by a dog and dying from her injuries. The parents move to a small village, and then discover a way to bring her back from the dead for three days only, so they can 'say their goodbyes', as long as she hasn't been dead for longer than a year.  Go on - you know what's going to happen don't you?  Of course they lie because her death occured just over a year before, so there are naturally consequences because of this.  It had homages to 'Death in Venice', and some decent moments, but it wasn't scary in the least.

However......

The Woman In Black featured Harry Potter himself (Daniel Radcliffe) as Arthur Kipps, heading to another small village in search of documents regarding an old estate and will.  He is made to feel not welcome, but carries on with his job, heading to the remote house on a deserted island.  Children have been dying in mysterious circumstances, and he starts to hear (and investigate) strange noises, sightings, and general disturbances in and out of the home.  There are some good jumpy moments, and although the film had many classic horror moments, meaning you (OK, me) could forecast some of the shocks and plot developments, it was still done in a good way and, especially when contrasted with Wake Wood, was one of the better recent horror movies l have seen.  Screenplay was by Jane Goldman (Jonathan Ross' wife), and much as l am against nepotism and jobs for boys (or girls) due to fame and connections (a pop column at 16 for example), she must be praised for doing a sterling job.  As for Radcliffe, he was mostly silent and looking scared (yet brave), and it was difficult to tell what kind of performance l was witness to, but overall, l would say adequate, but nothing special.

toodle pip

the super moon in march and in germany

I was thinking about the Super Moon (or, if you prefer, a Perigee-Syzygy) that happened in March, and was reminded that when l was younger, and living in Bielefeld, Germany, myself and some friends decided to camp out for the night (tent wise - not going to gay bars). At about 6am (at a guess), some of us went for a walk as we couldn't sleep. We were strolling and chatting along a wide path between some trees, when a large object appeared in the sky in front of us, with a yellowy/reddish colour. I realise now that it must have been a Super Moon, but for many years l thought l may have imagined it, as l have never seen the moon so large again. This would have been in about 1971. So, to conclude. I am not mad, l just have a crap memory (and it sure did look impressive).
By the way, that was also the same walk where l thought l saw a ghost (of my grandmother amongst some trees), but that l do think l imagined. I was probably just seeing shapes in the trees, as l was young, and would have been pretty tired. Or maybe l am mad.

toodle pi

halloween magic

Just spent the evening hiding behind the settee to avoid having to give the young kiddies some sweeties, but they are about the only things l am scared of, apart from spiders (and l mean the sweetie hunting kiddies, not the sweets themselves).

l was talking to the FPO earlier and said that, although l don't believe in ghosts, if l thought l saw one coming towards me, l would put out my hand and try to pass it through it, even if l got a bit scared at the time. It's a bit like heights. l go up tall things and mess about, but l still have a slightly worried feeling about it, l just overcome it, so l can experience more (and overcome my pathetic mind). l would do the same with a (so called) ghost (although heights are real, ghosts are not).

l also think that if l did think l was seeing a ghost, l would be convinced it was just my (pathetic) mind trying to play tricks on me. Bloody stupid thing, l will have to get it removed, but where do you start? ls the mind just contained in the brain? The possibilities are endless and it is getting late, so l will leave that argument for another time.

l do despise people who take advantage of sad gits and pretend they are communicating with the dead as in " He wants to talk to you and say everything is OK, but it's not a clear line" sort of brigade. lf they could really produce a real talking skull, l would be first in line.

l do like the old posters though.

toodle pip

the busby stoop

When I was out and about at work the other day, I had to go to Thirsk to pick someone up. On the way there, I called in at the Busby Stoop, the first time I have ever stopped there, although I have driven past it plenty of times.

It is a famous pub in Ghost hunting circles, as it had a chair in it that was an old customers favourite, and when he died, it resulted in bad luck to anyone who sat on it.

The tale goes that some soldiers from Catterick didn't believe the tale, sat on the chair for a dare, and then crashed their car on the way back to Catterick and died (if true, it probably had nothing to do with the beer they would have drunk while in the pub, I'm sure).

The chair is featured on the pub sign, and people travel to the pub because of the tales, but it is actually not there anymore, and hasn't been for some time. It is now housed in Thirsk museum, which I think is a bit crap, as it should still be in the pub. It could always be put up out of the way, I do think it was attached to the wall at one stage, but it could surely be put in a place that made it impossible for people to sit on it. Don't get me wrong, I think the tale is a load of hookum, but if true, let people sit on it and take their chances. I certainly would, just to disprove the ghostly tale, but I also guess that is why they do not want it in the pub.

Softies.

toodle pip