Last Halloween, I tackled one of my pet subjects, vampires in cinema. This year, it’s time to switch the focus to the vampire’s hairier cousin. And who better to take on cinematic lycanthropy than I’m With Geek’s own Teen Wolf obsessive? From Universal horror classics to menstruation metaphors by way of a pretty hairy basketball game, here are just some of the best werewolves in cinema.
by Hayley Charlesworth
Last Halloween, I tackled one of my pet subjects, vampires in cinema. This year, it’s time to switch the focus to the vampire’s hairier cousin. And who better to take on cinematic lycanthropy than I’m With Geek’s own Teen Wolf obsessive? From Universal horror classics to menstruation metaphors by way of a pretty hairy basketball game, here are just some of the best werewolves in cinema. by Hayley Charlesworth Delving into the “Brill” side of TerriBrill this Halloween, we look to a kids TV movie from the 1990s for inspiration. H-E Double Hockey Sticks (a common euphemism for "hell") was a Halloween staple alongside Hocus Pocus and Halloweentown in my youth, though it has sadly been largely forgotten. This is a travesty. Based on Lukas Foss’ opera Griffelkin (I know, right!), H-E Double Hockey Sticks is the story of apprentice demon Griffelkin, played by Will Friedle, who is sent to Earth by Satan (in the form of Rhea Perlman’s Ms Beelzebub) to steal the soul of hockey star Dave (Matthew Lawrence) in return for his being the youngest person to win the Stanley Cup. But via some trickery on Griffelkin’s part, they come to a very specifically worded agreement that means that Dave’s team, the Delaware Demons, will win the cup, but Dave does not necessarily have to be on the team, and Griffelkin immediately fixes his transfer to the hopeless Annapolis Angels. But after bonding with Dave, being convinced by the angel Gabrielle (Gabrielle Union) to side with Good, and a mean collapsible chair trick from Ms Beelzebub, Griffelkin is soon on a mission to secure Dave his victory, helping him become a team player and better the chances of the Annapolis Angels. by Hayley Charlesworth The London Film Festival is kicking off, and for poor Northern folk like myself, all we can do is gaze longingly from a distance. For LFF has a sterling line-up this year. In particular, there is a diverse list of LGBT themed cinema on offer, from big hitters like The Imitation Game, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Alan Turing, to lesser-known fare. Here are just some of those screening: by Hayley Louise Charlesworth The release of Pride yesterday into UK cinemas is just one of a number of films that have mined (excuse the unintentional pun) the years of the Thatcher government, and particularly the miner’s strike, for potential. Pride sees the striking Welsh miners unite with another group attacked in Thatcher’s years, the LGBT community, in protest. Thatcher’s legacy on the silver screen, with the exception of The Iron Lady, has not been a positive one, with the focus squarely on the people most negatively affected by her policies. Why that is is an interesting debate, but we need to look at the films in question to uncover it. by Hayley Charlesworth The big thing at the moment is that legions of hit films are being adapted for the small screen. Shows like Hannibal, Sleepy Hollow and Teen Wolf are already established successes, while Fargo is just getting off the ground, and Bates Motel has received mixed reviews. But with a plethora of other adaptations on the way, including The Omen and Constantine, is the market becoming too saturated with them. And just what’s coming next? Well, I’ve done Hollywood’s work for them and created some pitches for new adaptations. Some workable, some terrible, and some downright weird. Now everyone, how are are we all? Welcome back to another school year! I hope you enjoyed your break and are ready to get stuck into knowledge, excitement and yes, exams. But first, I want to know what did you all watch over summer. (this is presentation of the children's work contains spoilers) by Hayley Charlesworth Das Cabinet des Dr Caligari, or The Cabinet of Dr Caligari, is revolutionary. Considered the first example of horror cinema (released in 1920, before Nosferatu and other early classics) and one of the earliest science fiction films, before Metropolis but after Le Voyage dans la Lune, The Cabinet of Dr Caligari has had a profound effect on genre cinema, television, and popular culture in general. But even away from its great influence, this German Expressionist classic is simply a fantastic film. by Hayley Charlesworth As I’m With Geek’s resident Teen Wolf reviewer, as well as being a huge fan of Being Human, Ginger Snaps, An American Werewolf in London and the like, it’s fair to say I dig werewolves. Imagine my delight, then, when I discovered Blood and Chocolate. A werewolf movie filmed on location in some of Bucharest’s most beautiful spots, and starring Hugh Dancy? I was sold! Unfortunately, the result was not greater than the sum of its parts. |
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