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The Shout (1978)

Started by Isnt Anything, June 24, 2018, 09:12:34 PM

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Isnt Anything

Little-known (by which i mean i had never heard of it until a week ago despite being a big fan of these kind of films) avant-garde low-key psychological / supernatural British horror film starring Alan Bates, Susannah York, John Hurt and, in a minor role, Tim Curry.

I caught this on Talking Pictures last week, all but the first 15 minutes which luckily IMDb successfully filled in for me. The entry is here https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0078259/ but dont read it until after as even the headline description has a massive spoiler in it.

Directed by Jerzy Skolimowski, it was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 1978 Cannes Film Festival and tied with Bye Bye Monkey (1978) for the Jury's Grand Prize.

A quirky film, not for everybody, but very atmospheric and allows multiple readings of what actually happened.

Several IMDb commenters mention it in the same breath as 'The Wicker Man' and 'Dont Look Now' with some adding 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' and 'The Last Wave'. I am not quite sure it bears the comparison with TWM, however i can certainly see the DLN resemblance, which seems particularly apt given that Nicolas Roeg was asked to direct 'The Shout' but wasnt available.

The electronic music seemed a cut above the usual crappy synth-heavy horror movie score, so it came as little surprise to discover Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford were involved.

Coming into it cold i was expecting to have a laugh at some old cheesy camp 70s horror thing but i was rapidly disabused of that notion and ended up absolutely enthralled. One of those films that you cant quite work out why you like it so much but it really sticks with you.

Searching for it on here i found the following brief passing positive mentions -

Quote from: clingfilm portent on February 21, 2016, 02:20:18 PM
Has anyone seen The Shout (1978), with Alan Bates as mystic drifter? It's pretty mental, and highly recommended. Nothing I say about it will do it any justice but I will say its a unique film.

Quote from: Sin Agog on January 23, 2018, 03:18:50 AM
Was watching The Shout (great film) tonight and I realised ....

Quote from: prwc on August 20, 2013, 04:00:16 PM
Quote from: GeeWhiz on August 20, 2013, 02:28:49 PM
I put together a list of overlooked Brit horrors for Den of Geek, which inevitably brought out the nerd rage for not being obscure enough. Link is here:

http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/18165/10-overlooked-british-horror-curios

I've only seen The Shout, Eden Lake and The Abomnible Dr. Phibes from those, all of which I liked a lot ....

Anyway, recommended. Part of me wants to say 'highly recommended' but i think i need to see it again to be sure. In which case the good news is...

...its on again this evening at 00:15, again on Talking Pictures. Sorry about the short notice but been an unexpectedly busy weekend.

Hope you enjoy !


P.S. if that isnt enough for you, it also has Jim Broadbent in his first ever film role, in a brief but fairly unmissable appearance.

BlodwynPig

I think I bought it thanks to a recommendation from here too. I remember loving it but have only vague memories of what happened. Will give it another watch now that you've mentioned it.

another Mr. Lizard

One of the first films I rented on VHS (blimey, almost forty years ago...). Good to see two of Derbyshire's finest sparring in this one. I love it so much that I recently treated myself to a copy of the poster. As many fans point out, although it's a British film directed by a Pole, it really does have the feel of the contemporary late 70s Australian supernatural stuff like Long Weekend, Picnic at Hanging Rock, etc.

Howj Begg

I've got Freeview but no ch 81 wtf? Jumps from 79 to 83. Anyway, will try and watch the film anyhow.

Isnt Anything

#4
I think it recently moved from being on Freeview HD to normal (SD) Freeview, so you probably need to get your box to rescan its channels.

Thrilled to see other love for it here. :)

Howj Begg

Quote from: Isnt Anything on June 24, 2018, 10:14:01 PM
I think it recently moved from being on Freeview HD to normal (SD) Freeview, so you probably need to get yiur box to rescan its channels.

Ugh. effort. Anyway Ive found it on vv@r3z and will watch it and report back.

zomgmouse

This is an amazing film.

Please also watch Deep End by the same director.

Sin Agog

It really is a tight, perfect little dark fable in the Brimstone & Treacle (first, banned version, nubs) mould.  I can't remember much I've seen from Alan Bates, aside from a Potter Play For Today as Jesus, but he really crowds the screen in his black woollen trenchcoat...like a sorta neo-pagan Nosferatu.  Can vaguely recall the dudes on the commentary track saying that his career spiked with this film, from then onwards until his early death it was mostly just trifling roles, which is nuts as he had a swarthy, Mephistophelian swagger that was only really matched by Oliver Reed.  Lots of earthy naked shexiness with Susanna York and Hurt as well in the Don't Look Now vein. Also i think it was based on a short story by the I, Claudius bloke, which surprised me, as I had no idea he even knew the modern world existed.  Only bit I wasn't mad about was the posho cricket game bookend with Tim Curry (I think that's this movie?), but that's just the Ragged-Trousered Socialist in me.  Politics aside, it did kind of impurify, and slightly take the sting out of the tail of, the ancient, archetypal tale at the centre of the movie.  Very minor quibble, though.

Anyway, great thread, and glad you liked it.  Some cats in the Hereditary thread were knocking '60s and '70s British cinema recently, but all the movies in the BFI Flipside series (like this) are fascinating classics, so they can smeg the fuck off. ;)

Isnt Anything

Quote from: Sin Agog on June 25, 2018, 05:27:58 PMI can't remember much I've seen from Alan Bates, aside from a Potter Play For Today as Jesus, but he really crowds the screen in his black woollen trenchcoat...

Yeah, an amazing screen presence, and a shame we didnt see more of him career-wise. although i did laugh at the IMDb guy who said that every character of his was different - to me theyve always seemed very similar although tbf not seen many of his films in the last 30 years so my memory might be wrong.

Startled to see he was in The Mothman Prophecies though, i dont remember that so maybe IMDb guy was right after all but certainly in all those classic 60s / 70s British films he always seemed very similar.


Quote from: Sin Agog on June 25, 2018, 05:27:58 PM.... he had a swarthy, Mephistophelian swagger that was only really matched by Oliver Reed.

You mean to say youve never seen Women in Love ?  Oh boy ....


Quote from: Sin Agog on June 25, 2018, 05:27:58 PMOnly bit I wasn't mad about was the posho cricket game bookend with Tim Curry (I think that's this movie?), but that's just the Ragged-Trousered Socialist in me.  Politics aside, it did kind of impurify, and slightly take the sting out of the tail of, the ancient, archetypal tale at the centre of the movie.  Very minor quibble, though.

Yes it is this movie. Although ive yet to see the opening bookend (but have read about it) i liked that conceit as it means theres multiple ways of reading the interior story.

im very much looking forward to watching it all properly when i get some quality time to do so, hopefully my opinion of it will only improve as a result.

garbed_attic

Quote from: zomgmouse on June 25, 2018, 03:08:32 AM
This is an amazing film.

Please also watch Deep End by the same director.

I got my first-year undergrads to watch that one and it caused all kinds of outcry and consternation!

One student was very insistent that Mike should have raped Susan as well as killing her since this would have demonstrate that Skolimowski clearly viewed him unequivocally as a villain.

zomgmouse

Quote from: Sin Agog on June 25, 2018, 05:27:58 PM
Only bit I wasn't mad about was the posho cricket game bookend with Tim Curry (I think that's this movie?), but that's just the Ragged-Trousered Socialist in me.  Politics aside, it did kind of impurify, and slightly take the sting out of the tail of, the ancient, archetypal tale at the centre of the movie.  Very minor quibble, though.

This was at a mental institution though if that at all helps you.

Isnt Anything

Too late for most i guess sorry but this is being shown again in around 90 mins time, Tue 18th Sep 1.45am Talking Pictures.

was also on last Friday i meant to flag up tonights back then but forgot cos i is crap

a duncandisorderly

#12
Quote from: Isnt Anything on June 24, 2018, 09:12:34 PM
The electronic music seemed a cut above the usual crappy synth-heavy horror movie score, so it came as little surprise to discover Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford were involved.

this flick came up in a facebook convo a while back... I'm fb pals with various folks who own vintage synths, & own an EMS synthi myself. I think one of them was involved in the scenes where john hurt's studio is seen.
anyway, it's also noteworthy that besides the two charterhouse lads, rupert 'quantum jump' hine was involved.

the same guy who plays keyboards on the b-side of the rush album '2112' & sang the preposterous made-up native-american word at the beginning of 'lone ranger'. him.

oops- wrong thread.

[edit] yes, here's john h with a couple of VCS3 synths: