Film: Speak No Evil

I'm back in Ireland for the weekend. Flew on Friday 13th - and would you believe, in the 13th row of the plane! Happily, no ill effects - as someone in the Spooky Isles Facebook Group remarked, the curse of 13 has been foiled again!

Film for yesterday was Speak No Evil - whose rating rose since I first looked, and is still rising (ironically, The Hideout was going the same day, in London). Now, I remember seeing the trailer for this ages ago.. I guess it's one of those that got delayed in production.. anyway, it's the story of an American family that make friends with a British family on holiday. James McAvoy is the patriarch, and invites them to stay if they're ever around where they live, in the countryside. When they arrive, however, they start to realise something is seriously wrong.. Showing in the Omniplex, and I would have booked, but the site wasn't working properly. Never mind, it didn't come close to booking out.

I left a bit early - just as well, or I'd have been late! As it was, I arrived during the ads - I always pick a seat near the door, in case I'm fumbling for it in the dark, but on this occasion they didn't turn off the lights for the ads, so I was fine anyway.

So - this film plays with you. Like a cat plays with its food. We know there's something off about James McAvoy - or do we? Because just when we think we have a handle on him, that he's proved himself weird - he reverses, laughs it off, says it was all a joke. And he's got an in-your-face kind of humour that just might actually be sincere! So we're right there with the Americans, slightly uneasy, but not sure whether that's because we have a good reason, or just because he's crossed some line of behaviour that we expected. For most of the film. Which really does make this unique in style, and is primarily why I loved it.

I tell you what else I loved - the facial expressions of the American woman. OMG, she does a great shocked face - regardless of what she's looking at, always the same shocked expression. Used to great effect near the end, when we're looking at something particularly disturbing, and the camera switches to her - and there's the shocked expression again. Truly, the entire screen where I was burst out laughing at that point..

Oh, and from now on, Eternal Flame - which features throughout the film and plays over the credits - will always remind me of this film. Excellently done, highly recommended. For those with a decently strong stomach.

Well, I was coming out just as the group was going in - so I posted that I'd loved it, and gave them my rating. Now, checking afterwards, I see my rating was higher than any of theirs - but only just. And it was lovely that they included me in the list! The group goes international, eh..?

Tomorrow, back in London, TAC is offering free tickets to a Baroque/classical mandolin concert at Cadogan Hall! They do ask for a donation to a cancer hospital of at least what you would have paid - apparently the concert is in aid of that - mind you, they don't say which hospital! Seeing a GOSH appeal during the ads before the film last Sunday, I assume it's them. I've booked for Cote Sloane Square beforehand - they, at least, fixed their service issues! Unlike the one at Hay's Galleria..

Then, three more Meetups in a row. On Tuesday, I'm with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) at The Old Vic for The Real Thing, by Tom Stoppard. Eating beforehand in The Duke of Sussex - which does sell out, so it's better to book.

On Wednesday, back with London Literary Walks for The Magic Toyshop. Meeting in The Alexandra, Clapham, which only does pizza - so I've booked at Carmen Tapas, just up the road, beforehand.

On Thursday, back with UITCS for a play called The Lightest Element, at Hampstead Theatre - and there's a terrific deal with Time Out!

On Friday, I'm back with CT for the Backyard Comedy Club, first time in ages!

And on Saturday - yay, he's back! Laurence Summers is taking the 45+ Not Grumpies on a walk around Shoreditch & Spitalfields..