Written and directed by Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman, based on their play of the same name. Starring Nyman, Martin Freeman, Paul Whitehouse, Alex Lawther, Paul Warren and Nicholas Burns.
Plot: three scary stories have a sinister connection to a Professor Goodman (Nyman), who has devoted his life to exposing phony supernatural happenings.
Professor Goodman has a hero. A man, Charles Cameron, who also debunked supernatural theories in his time. Cameron tells him that they were both wrong and the supernatural does exist and he gives Goodman three cases to prove it to him.
The first case is about a man named Matthews (Whitehouse) who works in an abandoned asylum and has one really bad, really freaky night. The second case is about a boy named Rifkind (Lawther) who is driving without a license, hits some sort of creature and then breaks down on the side of the road. It is also freaky. The third case is about a man named Priddle (Freeman) who is home alone, awaiting the birth of his child, when he hears a sound upstairs and goes to investigate.
Just so we’re clear, me and DJ would NEVER work in an abandoned asylum. We would NEVER take the shortcut through the woods alone. And we would NEVER go upstairs alone to investigate a strange noise. That’s just Horror Movie 101. That being said, we were still both very freaked out by the things these three guys witnessed. I was so scared I was watching most of the movie through my fingers.
Aside from both being scared though, me and DJ didn’t agree much on the film’s intentions. He thought that at the end it shit the bed and made a huge joke of itself. I disagreed. At the end, I was existentially horrified and disturbed on a major level that the song “Monster Mash” playing through the credits couldn’t cure. DJ just didn’t know why after such a serious movie, they decided to play a song with such playful undertones.
We both liked the cast and the specials were great, but only I liked the script and the story. DJ would never rewatch it, but I would. Just not by myself. Never by myself. This is one IFC Midnight film I truly recommend. DJ, however, does not.
I suppose I could list my favorite movies here, but instead I'll give you a strange glimpse into what makes me TaraRomero.
1. I met George Romero. He was the kindest and sweetest man. He talked to me for longer than he should have with the line getting longer. He also held my hand. And when he noticed the ladybug I have tattooed on my wrist, he said he liked it and asked me it's name. Till then, it had not had a name. Now, I call him George.
2. I love stickers. All stickers. I just adore them. I even ask for stickers for Christmas! As a matter of fact, the birthday that just past, every member of my immediate family gave me sticker packs as gifts. Affordable and extremely appreciated.
3. I have never put much stock in astrology or horoscopes, but I LOVE the magic of the MBTI. Omg. I am an INFP and it actually sounds just like me. Introverted mostly. Creative always. Heart before head and not the most logical. Totally me! For better or worse.
4. It's no surprise I count horror so high up on the list of things that make me, me. However, it's so within my soul that I was part of the Horror Club in college. Interesting bunch. And even took a Horror Lit class as an elective. I got an A.
5. Coffee always makes me happy. Always. I'm particularly fond of caramel macchiatos. But I'll drink black coffee if it's the only thing available.
6. I hate shock for the sake of shock and endings that depress me. I always mention the movies Within (2016) and the Eli Roth produced, written and starred in, Aftershock (2012), as proof of this distate I have. I abhor the idea that just because I like horror, some people think I'd actually praise a movie that lets you think the "Final Girl" just made it through the night, only to slap her in the face with a tsunami.
7. We are big time animal people. I mean, if I could, I'd have an elephant, a bear, a zebra, a penguin, an otter and a meerkat, living with me. Seriously though. We have 2 dogs right now and 2 cats. Both cats we picked up when they each came to our front door hungry. And both dogs we got from 2 different sets of neighbors. Both who, unfortunately, don't know how to care for pets long-term. But they're happy and healthy now!!
8. Revisiting my love of horror, one of the above cats, my cat, is a little black guy named Church. Because Pet Sematary. His middle name is even Pascow. To give credit where credit's due, the name was DJ's idea. But he loves horror too!
9. I'm big into art. Along with movie posters and an Anne Frank quote, I have some actual paintings on my wall. I really think Dali paints beautifully when he wants to. And if I don't get to see Michaelangelo's Pieta in person some day, I will be very disappointed.
10. Lastly, I find Emily Dickinson's poetry intriguing. I took an elective course about her as well. But do you know I injected horror even there? I was given a poem to dissect and I picked one on death, of course. Then, I researched old "Death Photos" and even printed out copies for everyone in the class. They were so interested in looking at them that it stopped them from all looking at me, and I was able to deal quite well with my stage fright. Haha
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