This was Kim Newman’s choice after an hour talk to introduce his newest edition of is groundbreaking book on the horror genre, “Nightmare Movies”, it really can not be underestimated how influential his book has been. During the hour with Mark Kermode some themes came through that I was not really expecting but what was most prevalent was the fact that ‘horror’ as a genre is not simply defined and that Kim’s love for the b-movie is evident in his choice of film screening last night.

I have to admit that Kim did oversell the film somewhat as on a very simple level the film doesn’t really try that hard to produce much of a ‘horror’ film and though at times it does maintain a credible level suspense the audience laughed and giggled more than they did jump. At my count there was only one moment in the film that makes you jump and even that was a blink and you miss it.

The Film

A trio of New York exiles, a husband and wife team and their bearded friend, move to a unmanned farm in the sticks and “Jessica” encounters from the offset a variety of odd goings on. The very start of the film has creepy shots over the lake that would play an important part in the film, added to this the voiceover of by the actress playing “Jessica”, which at times sound eerily like Jamie Lee Curtis, does give the film a frightening edge to it.

One of the more unrealistic scenes revolved around the ‘new’ housemate Emily, who they find in the house the day they move in and over the course of a few days end up asking her to stay. The scene starts out polite enough with Emily paying her lute but sound problems and a clearly less than convincing attempt at playing the lute made the audience crack up. When Jessica’s husband comes in with his double bass the scene went from slightly odd to just weird.

The movie did have some good scenes with the tension between Jessica and her husband pretty much so thick you could cut it with a knife. But with this tension came a back story that seemed more interesting than the one we get to see unfold. As she tries to convince herself that she’s not mad Jessica’s slow descent back into “madness” is sad at times because she is not actually mad.

Kim’s choice of such an obscure film is difficult to rate. The print had a pink tinge to it which denotes its age as well as a bunch of really bad sound problems but rating the film is less about giving it a 2 or 4 star as Kim himself explains it’s not as easy as that. The film does have a certain quality and ‘realness’ to it and is very firmly placed in the 1970s which does help it, but the films overall appeal is that to real fans of the horror genre and it doesn’t work on passing viewers.

And with that the overall benefit of the evening was that, horror is more than a great movie that scares you or makes you think. It’s the worst that becomes the best, it’s predicability, but most of all it has become a respectable genre within film that has critics like Kermode and Newman dedicating thick volumes to the genre.

For those not really that keen or passionate fans of horror in general then “Let’s Scare Jessica To Death” will not appeal. Kim’s updated book “Nightmare Movies” was released on Bloomsbury 18th April 2011.

The BFI is launching two national projects as part of its LONG LIVE FILM campaign to celebrate the BFI Archive’s 75th birthday. LONG LIVE FILM will give members of the public a unique opportunity to adopt a Hitchcock film with a fund-raising appeal to restore his early films: RESCUE THE HITCHCOCK 9.

And there is a national hunt for the BFI’s 75 MOST WANTED FILMS, a search for important but elusive films, including the only missing Hitchcock film, The Mountain Eagle.

RESCUE THE HITCHCOCK 9

Alfred Hitchcock’s early silent films need urgent attention to restore them to their former glory. The BFI needs YOUR help to bring these cinematic masterpieces back to life and secure them for future generations as the BFI celebrates 75 years of the BFI National Archive.

A dedicated cinema trailer, voiced by Kenneth Branagh, and a new website are part of the campaign. www.bfi.org.uk/saveafilm

Every penny counts and even small amounts can add up to help us reach our target of £1 million. From July onwards, members of the public who would like to save an important and historic film can contribute by visiting www.bfi.org/saveafilm. Donors with upwards of £5,000 ADOPT a specific film from the shortlist and receive an on-screen credit, whilst a donation of £100,000 will secure the full restoration of an individual film with their name in the credits. All donations are welcome but £25 and upwards will help RESCUE one of the films, from 50cm of film to restoring a whole scene, and make the contributor a BFI Supporter, receiving regular updates about the status of the restoration while having the satisfaction of knowing that they have helped to save a crucial part of British cultural history. With enough support, we also hope to be able to commission a new score for each film from a major composer of international standing.

Hitchcock is internationally recognised as one of Britain’s greatest ever film-makers. 30 years since his death he remains one of the world’s most influential and important directors. Funds permitting, we hope to start restoration work on The Farmer’s Wife (1928), a delightfully unexpected comedy of a farmer in search of rural matrimony.

Hitchcock’s early films are among the finest achievements of British silent cinema. On its first release The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog (1926) was acclaimed as a masterpiece and his subsequent films refined his techniques of stunning visual composition, richly cinematic storytelling linked to dramatic invention, which are uniquely Hitchcock.

New digital techniques mean that we are now in a position to transform scratched and damaged negatives into beautiful viewing copies. The original nitrate materials for all these films are in a very poor state as decades of wear and tear have taken their toll.

THE HITCHCOCK 9:

THE PLEASURE GARDEN (1925)
THE LODGER (1926)
DOWNHILL (1927)
EASY VIRTUE (1927)
THE RING (1927)
THE FARMER’S WIFE (1927)
CHAMPAGNE (1928)
THE MANXMAN (1929)
BLACKMAIL (1929)

BFI MOST WANTED

The BFI is launching a nation-wide hunt for 75 of its Most Wanted ‘lost’ films and offers audiences a rare opportunity to see a selection of the BFI National Archive’s recent discoveries.

Missing films have an aura about them, a mystery they accrue due to being unavailable and sought after. Lost titles such as Alfred Hitchcock’s The Mountain Eagle (1926) have become holy grails for film enthusiasts the world over. In 1992, the BFI compiled a list of titles called Missing Believed Lost, in a bid to track down elusive British films. Since then, 16 of them have found their way to the BFI National Archive; while not every discovery is a candidate for ‘masterpiece’ status, they nevertheless enable greater understanding of our film history and fill important gaps in the filmographies of some of our best directors.

We are very keen to find these films for the national collection. Some may exist in private collections, others might turn up in foreign archives, but the aim is to find as many as possible so it can continue to preserve and make available the nation’s film heritage.

The new project will take the form of an online resource at the BFI website, which describes the lost films using reviews, stills and original publicity materials. www.bfi.org.uk/mostwanted

In July and August, all the titles that have been unearthed since 1992 will be screened at BFI Southbank, plus some other rare films not seen in the UK for many years including Michael Powell’s His Lordship (1932) and Bella Donna (1934) directed by Robert Milton. In August, part two of the season will include new prints of The Constant Nymph (1928) and Emil and the Detectives (1935).

The Ten Most Wanted

The Mountain Eagle (Alfred Hitchcock, 1926)
Hitchcock’s second film as director: the Most Wanted’s most wanted

Two Crowded Hours (Michael Powell, 1931)
Michael Powell’s first film: a “very good little murder drama”

Squadron Leader X (d. Lance Comfort, 1943)
Thrilling war escape drama directed by the recently re-evaluated Lance Comfort

Sleep is Lovely (d. David Hart, 1968)
Intriguing late-60s London-set kidnap-and-ransom drama from a director hailed as an ‘English Godard’

Symptoms (d. Joseph Larraz, 1968)
Stylish cult 1970s horror about a disturbed female killer

Somewhere in Politics (d. John E Blakeley, 1948)
Knockabout comedy with madcap music hall star Frank Randle

The Last Post (d. Dinah Shurey, 1929)
The directorial debut of Britain’s only 1920s female filmmaker

Linda (d. Don Sharp, 1960)
Teen drama from cult director Don Sharp, with Cathy Come Home’s Carol White

A Study in Scarlet (d. George Pearson, 1914)
The immortal Sherlock Holmes takes his first bow in a British feature

Maria Marten or the Mystery of the Red Barn (d. Maurice Elvey, 1913)
True crime thriller – an early staging-post in British horror

I wasn’t sure what I was going to expect from anime.  Am not sure what it was about this type of film that made me not want to get into it and sat here at the BFI I was still a little unsure what I was going to get out of this. Justin, one of the programmers at the BFI, tells us that we, the audience that has gathered on one of the hotest days I can think of, are really lucky to get to see this film. Welcome To The Space Show has not even been released in Japan yet and tonights showing will be only the 2nd time that it has been seen by an audience.

The first screening of this film was during the Berlin Film Festival in February in which it went down a storm.  This was something of a coup for the BFI’s Anime Weekend and after the small whoop and applause from a very appreciative audience it was time for the film.  The title of the film (Uchu Show e Yokoso) is the name of the pirate TV show that is the most popular show in space.

The Opening

As the music starts to build up the pace of the film is set with a multitude of colour, light, and sound. The story is pretty simple but does not try to be childlike at the core of it is the relationship between two sisters Amane & Natsuki – though the credits don’t have them as sisters it appears to me that they are – during the start of their summer vacation.  At the school they are joined by three other kids Kiyoshi, Koji & Noriko (the unofficial leader of the group).

On first arriving at the school Amane makes a run for a cage which remains empty and we learn that (time not important) that Amane has lost her rabbit.  As they are sat around the classroom with nothing to do it is decided that they go looking for this rabbit and as Koji slips and falls down a crevice he discovers a very English crop circle which leads to the introduction of Pochi, the dog-like alien that will lead them on their summer adventure.

At it’s heart Welcome To The Space Show has the traditional feeling of that 1980′s coming of age comedy-drama that is rare to find now and even rarer to find in animation.  At only a quater of the way through the film the writing, theme, and colour is impressive.  There is almost a feel of live action mixed with the broader scenes that look almost too real, the reflections through the glass and water are so skilled and life like they really do lift this film.

Script

Some of this is simply perfect.  Whilst some might seem and come across like the usual filler some bits are a slice of heaven. What the filmmakers have managed to do is to keep the level of tension between the two main characters, ensuring that their differences and anger towards each other remains but to also add some lighthearted comedy that underpins this film perfectly, never being too over the top and never being out of place.

One bit that had that element just right was during the kids first few minutes on the moon where after Puchi hands in his report all travel to Earth has been cancelled.  This leads the group to rebel and complain but Amane comes to his defence and says ‘It’s not his fault’ at which point with almost only a heart beat to time Kiyoshi says ‘…it kind of is his fault…’ at which point the audience erupted into laughter.

Verdict

Overall the film is a triumph for both Koji Masunari (Dir) & Tomonori Ochikoshi (Producer) in their first feature film.  As the film was subtitled and not dubbed during the Q&A (which will be uploaded tomorrow) they said that some of the subtleties may have been lost but from the laughter tonight am not sure it was.  The story was clear and direct with a great twist and a beautiful confessional that brings into focus the relationship between the two protagonists.  The music is bold at points and gentle when it needs to be.  As for a first feature from the pair its clear that they have a very good and very creative.

Somehow they have managed to make a very classic Anime film but have also managed to transport part of the visual and script into a much more broader international context through the humour, story, and visuals. This is a great family film and the partnership and creative force that is Koji & Tomonori will only go from strength to strength.

Some great news to start the half-term season from the BFI from May 21 – 23, BFI Southbank presents a weekend filled with anime and manga treats with previews, guests and a selection of films. Our biennial Anime Weekend will host the world premiere of Koji Masunari’s highly anticipated Welcome to the Space Show (2010) with on stage appearances from Director Koji Masunari and Chief Studio Producer Tomonori Ochikoshi, and two special Movie Magic screenings of Stormy Night (2005) and Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva (2009).

This is going to be one Anime weekend you are not going to forget and The New Current, with great appreciation from BFI, will be at the Welcome to the Space Show screening and will bring you all the news, reviews, and questions from this amazing weekend.

The BFI Anime Weekend Screenings

Evangelion 1.0: You Are (Not) Alone Evangerion shin gekijôban: Jo

This re-imagining of the original series Neon Genesis Evangelion has been a true blockbuster in its home territory (taking 2 billion yen at the box office). Shinji Ikari is summoned to Tokyo-3 by his estranged father,Gendo. Gendo runs a top secret group who have a supply of Evangelions, massive bio-mechanical weapons which they use against creatures named Angels, and he needs Shinji to help him operate them.

Japan 2007 Dir Hideaki Anno, Masayuki & Kazuya Tsurumaki 98minFri 21 May 18:30 NFT1

Evangelion 2.0: You Can (Not) Advance Evangerion shin gekijôban: Ha

The second film continues both the critical and finanical success that the first began. So as not to spoil its twists and turns, all you need to know is that this instalment is packed with hijackings, battles and even a resurrection as the Evangelions and Angels are pitted against each other once again.

Japan 2009 Dir Hideaki Anno, Masayuki & Kazuya Tsurumaki 113min Fri 21 May 20:45 NFT1

Stormy Night Arashi no yoru ni An unlikely, secret friendship between Mei and Gav – a goat and a wolf – begins one stormy night as theyshelter in a dark cabin, unaware that they should be mortal enemies. Their friendship flourishes but outside forces conspire to ensure that they may be kept apart forever. What’s more, Gav’s hunger pangs forsome juicy goat may stand in the way of one crucial rule in any relationship: that it’s best not to eat one’sfriends.

Japan 2005 Dir Gisaburo Sugii 110min PG Sat 22 May 16:00 NFT1 Movie Magic screening: children’s tickets £1

Summer Wars Samâ wôzu

Hosoda’s spectacular follow-up to The Girl Who Leapt Through Time follows the journey of Kenji, a highlyintelligent student who is obsessed with a computer generated, virtual world called OZ. When he followshis heart’s desire to a family birthday party he inadvertently sets in motion a series of events that could result in the earth colliding with the parallel world.

Japan 2009 Dir Mamoru Hosoda 114min Sat 22 May 18:30 NFT1

Welcome to the Space Show

While away at a summer camp in a remote forest, five children help nurse an injured dog back to health. He is, in fact, an alien who rewards his new friends by taking them on an initial trip to the moon and then throughout space. This visually spectacular adventure received it’s world premiere at the Berlinale inFebruary to great critical acclaim, and is one of the most anticipated anime titles of the coming year.

Japan 2010 Dir Koji Masunari 136minSat 22 May 20:45 NFT1

Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva Reiton kyôju to eien no utahime

The star of your favourite Nintendo games leaps to life on the big screen to solve some mysteries and facesome dangerous adversaries along the way. Layton is invited to an opera by a former student who has beenvisited by a seven-year-old girl who is claiming to be her dead friend, now blessed with eternal life. Thusstarts a puzzling tale about life, death and immortality.

Japan 2009 Dir Masakazu Hashimoto99min PG Sun 23 May 15:30 NFT1 Movie Magic screening: children’s tickets £1

Chocolate Underground Chokorêto andâguraundo

When the government outlaws eating chocolate and other sweet things on health grounds, a group ofyoungsters start up a bootleg chocolate operation that ends up starting a revolution in the country. Based on Alex Shearer’s novel Bootleg, this later became a popular manga before being released as a 13-part original net animation and, now, in feature length form.

Japan 2009 Dir TakayukiHamana 87min Sun 23 May 18:10 NFT1

K20: The Fiend with Twenty Faces K-20: Kaijin niju menso den

This live-action, manga-based tale is set in a 1949 where the Second World War never happened, and the Japanese aristocracy are still very much in charge. Full of exciting Saturdaymorning- style thrills andbravado, it follows the adventures of K-20, who steals from the rich and is framed and sentenced to death. Will he escape from the clutches of evil, or are his days finally numbered?

Japan 2008 Dir Shimako Sato 137min. Sun 23 May 20:10 NFT1