The Horror....

For the last four August bank holidays, I have been experiencing the horror. No, not the M25 at this time of year, but the world's best celebration of new horror and fantasy films, the superb London Frightfest (www.Frightfest.co.uk). A wonderfully organised film festival which now runs for four days. I have never managed all four days, but this year I did manage to take in seven films over three days. As well as the pre-release movies, you get to see the directors introducing the films, Q/A Sessions, giveaways, and have much fun in the process. The organisers, Paul McEvoy, Alan Jones and Ian Rattray really do put everything into the festival and have made it such a friendly event, where everybody talks to each other about the films between showings. It is also superbly paced with enough time to grab a much needed "calming" beer or two, inbetween being scared witless.

My pick of the crop, this year were Guillermo Del Toro's stunning Pan's Labyrinth, an unusual film about a young girl who escapes the reality of a brutal civil war, by escaping into the labyrinth of the title. An adult alice & wonderland style fantasy world, populated by some incredible monsters. For a genre piece, it was also incredibly moving.

Also striking, for different reasons was The Lost, Chris Sivertson's stylish tale of a loathsome teenage killer who gets away with brutally killing two girls for four years, before returning to his old ways. This was a gripping film, but the last half hour of stomach churning violence, even managed to jolt the hardcore Frightfest crowd. It is as good or bad as Wes Craven's enfamous Last House On The Left, depending on your opinion.

Finally, I draw your attention to ''Them'' a French chiller which I urge everybody to watch when it is released. I have never seen a film which so manages to convey the dread you feel when you hear something go bump in the night. I will not reveal any more but expect to be bloody terrified.

However all this horror did take an eventual toll....
I left the Odeon West-End on sunday night at eleven thirty, after a day of serial killers, descents into madness, German cannibals, loss of limbs and creepy mansions aplenty. I had to travel back to Croydon where some friends of mine had kindly let me stay for the weekend. On the midnight train back, I began to feel a little freaked out. By the time I was walking through the surprisingly deserted Croydon suburbs, the fear was kicking in big time. By the time, I reached my friend's welcome abode, I was a nervous wreck! . Luckily, a medicinal glass of red wine was waiting for me.

As a lover of seriously scary films, I did not think they affected me anymore, but four on the trot had well and truly done the job. Well done again to the Frightfest team, and I cannot wait for next year's line-up.

Licence to Shut Them Up !

It is now only three months until the movie event of the autumn, if not the year, when the long awaited new 007 film, Casino Royale opens on November 17. Along with most of the movie going public, I was not happy with the way Pierce Brosnan was dumped from the role, when he clearly did not want to revoke his licence to kill. However, the films are bigger than one man, and I have enjoyed all the different Bonds, including the under-rated George Lazenby.

Leaving this initial controversy behind, Bond fans should be elated that the 21st film is on its way, but crazily a sizeable number of them are still harping on about Daniel Craig, not being right for the role. Some have even set up a stop Daniel Craig website which is full of personal abuse. Honestly, this sort of geek behaviour gives film fans a bad name.

It has been reported this week, that the actor himself has been shocked at the level of vitriol being flung at him and rightly so. The new James Bond should be man enough to take a few punches, but I think so called fans should have the decency to watch the film before casting judgment. After all, the fans favourite, Sean Connery was initially criticised by none other than Ian Fleming as being too "uncouth" for the role. As for Craig being the first blonde Bond, check out Roger Moore's blonde streaks in The Man With The Golden Gun, and matching safari suit. Hardly, the saville row suit wearer of Bondian lore was he.

The teaser trailer for Casino Royale is top notch and it looks like Craig will play Bond far grittier than before, more like the character of the books who is basically someone who kills for a living, not afraid to shoot first and ask questions later. The more serious Bond films, From Russia With Love, OHMSS, Licence To Kill and For Your Eyes Only are among the best in the series, and it looks like Casino Royale will join this cannon.

Daniel Craig came to fame in the Beeb's gritty drama Our Friends In The North, which also starred one Christopher Eccleston. Eccleston, years later was announced as Dr Who, much to the horror of some Dr Who fans, who did not think he was at all right for the part. They later acclaimed him as one of the best, and were left sobbing into their beer when he quit the Tardis after one series. I think Craig will equally excel as his populist character, and the same geeky fans currently behaving like fools, will be waxing lyrical about "how he is the definitive bond" etc etc.

We can all make up our own minds when Casino Royale opens on November 17th 2006.

Ding Dong...

It's been reported yesterday that Tony Blair has ruled out a state funeral for Lady Thatcher if she dies on his watch. This has apparently angered the Tories. May we remind this increasingly irrelevent political party that the only Prime Minister of the Twentieth Century to receive a state funeral was Winston Churchill. Churchill at the helm, stood up to Hitler, and helped the country defeat Nazi Germany, so his send-off was very well deserved indeed.

Why the hell does Thatcher qualify for one? gleefully destroying the miners? taking away milk from school kids? causing record unemployment? ruining the railway infra-structure of this country for ever? . I do not wish anybody harm, she can live to One Hundred and Twenty five for all I care but a day off to remember Thatcher, Get out of here, I would rather go to work for once.

With the greatest of respect to her nearest and dearest, the only national act of rememberence taking place, when she does kick the bucket should be a country-wide rendition of that song from The Wizard Of Oz....'Ding Dong The Witch is Dead..The Wicked Old Witch at last is Dead'.