Film: Detective Kien - The Headless Horror & Baroque Classics by Candlelight

Last night, The Hideout was headed to see Clown in a Cornfield, in the Vue West End. However, I found what I thought was a better horror film, also showing in Leicester Square, but in the Cineworld - Detective Kien: The Headless Horror is a Vietnamese film, set in the late 19th Century. Sadly, it started about the time the others were meeting for a social, or I'd have joined them. Anyway, I did, of course, head to Bella Italia Cranbourn Street beforehand, as usual.

The bus driver actually decided, en route, to stop short - never mind, I changed to a more direct bus, and actually got there early! Was seated without problems, and dinner was as delicious as ever. Over dinner, I got a message from someone attending Clown in a Cornfield - I explained my situation, and he suggested we meet after our films were over, for a drink! So cool, I agreed to that.

Finished in good time for the cinema - and when I went in, only one person was in the screen ahead of me. However, the screen was to fill up.. in fact, when I did meet the others, coming out of the other film, the organiser of that event sounded jealous, saying he'd tried to get a ticket for that but it kept being sold out! And you know, I wasn't paying that much attention - but yes, when he said that, I did remember the couple that hadn't been able to get seats together (I was in a seat they wanted to book), so they asked me to move: which I happily did, and indeed moved an extra seat down, as, at that point, there was the space. The spaces on the other side of me eventually filled up, but that spare seat never did - still, might have been that the person who booked it just couldn't make it. So yes, seems this is attracting some attention..

And rightly so. Frankly, this isn't really scary at all - unless you're of an extremely nervous disposition. The story reminds me more of The Hound of the Baskervilles than of any horror film I've seen - a famous detective arrives to solve a case that apparently involves the supernatural, only (something of a spoiler) to find that it's not really supernatural at all..

But it doesn't matter. Forget about the story - what you're going for is the incredible scenery, the terrific cinematography. The mountains surrounding this small village are stunning - drone shots lovingly pan across the landscape, and with everyone travelling on horseback, we have plenty of time to gaze at the country they're riding through. Every opportunity they have, they take, to showcase the mountainous backdrop. The costumes were apparently meticulously researched too, and some of the buildings they used are 200 years old.

As to the story - it mightn't be scary, but it is engaging, as our famous detective grapples with this peculiar case, while fending off the flirtations of the lady who summoned him, whose niece is the latest victim of the "headless river monster", or whatever they're calling him (the victims are decapitated). The characters are engaging - someone asked, as I described it to The Hideout group, whether it was "Western-style", and I'd have to say it is, quite! There's some gentle comedy too. In all, a very enjoyable watch - and of course, just you wait for that scenery..

And so it finished, and I popped to the loo and then outside to wait for the others. The cinema where they were is only a few doors down from where I was, and I spent some time hanging around outside, looking suspicious. Discovered it has its own mini-walk of fame!

And when the group emerged at last, I got the lowdown on Clown in a Cornfield - and figured I'd made the right choice..

There is really only one sensible option locally for drinking at 11.20pm - so I took my companion to The Hippodrome. He'd never been, so this was an educational trip - now, as usual, I headed first for what is now known as the Permission Lounge - but gee, this was absolutely chaotic, hosting at least one hen party, legs in the air and who knows what. So the guy at the door asked whether we'd ever been to the downstairs bar.. which we hadn't..

Now, turns out this place has code entry - you get a code on booking, or, well, get a staff member to let you in! Very secure, it's also a lot quieter than the main section - well done them, this is a great idea! My companion remarked it had the feel of a speakeasy. It's primarily a cocktail bar, but they have a limited wine selection - for white, only albarino, which was just fine with me! In fact, I liked that albarino so much that I checked with my companion, and we got a bottle.. also some Chinese food, which they bring from the adjacent Chinese restaurant in the Hippodrome. And we passed a great time there - until that bar closed at 2am, and we decanted the last of the wine into our glasses. Dinky little bill folder they give you:

And so we were dismissed to the main bar again, where we finished our drinks and ultimately departed, me by bus, he delighted to find the Tube was still running. A lovely evening, in all! And I'll be back to that secret, downstairs bar.. Now, by the time I made it home, the sun was coming up and the birdies were cheeping, so I decided to leave the blog.

This evening, I was with London Classical Music & Theatre Group for Baroque Classics by Candlelight at St. Martin in the Fields. Tickets cheaper with resellers, mind - I was with TAC again. Booked to eat at Bella Italia Irving Street, this time! and St. Martin's sent me my ticket this afternoon. Now, I really should have had time to blog before I left, but well.. I didn't..

I was slightly delayed on heading for the bus - but oh my, when I saw the traffic..! Checking alternative transport options, there wasn't a better alternative - so I waited. I don't know what the problem was, but when the bus finally came and I boarded, I overheard the driver's radio communicating that all routes were experiencing difficulties. It took us a solid 15 minutes just to get around the corner.. as we hoped, the traffic was just terrible for a short piece, but it did enough damage - there wasn't a hope of me making my restaurant booking. By the time I got there, it was nearly 5.30 - they wouldn't have held my table, and anyway, I wasn't going to be able to eat in that time. So I headed for the nearest Pret, around the corner from the church, which was - like everything in sight - rammed, people escaping from the pouring rain. Grabbed one of the last two salmon sandwiches, and about the last seat, and finally satisfied my gnawing hunger.

You see, we'd been advised to meet in the church cafe, but I'd seen it closes at 5 every day except Thursday and Friday. In retrospect, I really should have said something to the group - but I didn't realise the crypt door would also be locked! I sheltered in the church porch for a while, messaging the organiser - good thing she mentioned there was a guard I could explain to that I was attending the concert, who would then let me downstairs. He wasn't there at first, but when I checked again, there he was. So I got to get in from the rain, and got to meet a group of people I'd actually never met before - they were all newcomers to the group! And we chatted away until it was time to go in.

Well, TAC did it again - for a knockdown price, I got to be right near the front:

Performing, we had St. Martin's Chamber Ensemble - and the programme (we got a free programme schedule as we entered) was an hour's worth of baroque, by various composers. The music, serene as it was, soared - but the highlights, for me, had to be the ones I already knew - Bach's Air on the G String, and Pachelbel's Canon. Two, frankly, breathtaking pieces, which I've always loved - and which always tend to appear in classical collections. Those pieces alone made the trip worthwhile.

Afterwards, we met outside, and most of us headed for a bite to eat. Our organiser lives on Villiers Street, as it happens, which sounded like an excellent place to look for somewhere - and we ended up in All Bar One. Upstairs, to escape the deafening music they were playing - and we found a nice, big table, then went to order. I have to say, the one who took my order had severe difficulty - probably new, she had to be rescued by a more senior colleague, who found the table for her on the system, and smoothed the process somewhat. But hey, it worked out ok in the end - and I was fed, properly this time, trying the chicken milanese here for the first time. Which was excellent! As was the conversation. Very nice group of people - hope to see them again before too long.

Tomorrow, I'm also planning film - heading to the Cine Lumiere. The film I'm interested in is Au Revoir les Enfants, about a couple of schoolboy friends in an exclusive Catholic French boarding school, around the time of the outbreak of the Second World War. The secret that one of them carries, however, is that he's actually Jewish.. Now, only thing is, it's on quite early, and I thought I might not feel like getting up for it, being so far away. So I didn't book - it wasn't selling out yet anyway. Next on the list is in the same place that evening - The Marching Band, again French, but contemporary, is a comedy I've been meaning to see for a while. But when I checked just now, Au Revoir les Enfants was mostly sold out - so I've booked for that. I've also booked for dinner in the Zetland Arms, a pub just over from the French Institute, where the cinema is - for a time that should suit me for either film, being in between! In the upstairs room, which I thought might be quieter. I just tried to move the booking forward by an hour, to no avail.. ah well, I'll be in no major rush anyway.

On Monday and Tuesday, I'm with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) - Monday for Stereophonic, in the Duke of York's Theatre. Supposed to be the most Tony-nominated play of all time, this is set around the music industry. Got a cheaper ticket with CT. I'm eating in Cote St. Martin's Lane beforehand.

On Tuesday, heading with them to the National Theatre for London Road. Eating at The Archduke - and hoping for better service than last time!

Wednesday sees me back, at last, for storytelling at Torriano! Hosted, as ever, by Nell Phoenix, this one is The Shahnameh - Persian.

And on Thursday, back with UITCS, again at Sadler's Wells, for Matthew Bourne's The Midnight Bell. Love Matthew Bourne! Tried to book at The Wilmington as usual, but couldn't get a booking, except for drinks.. until, again, I just checked now, and two timeslots had opened up! So I've booked at last. Then I'm back to Ireland - for the last time this month - for my mother's Month's Mind. Now, I only just booked my flights - quite last minute - and while the return flight was quite expensive, I was pleasantly surprised at the low cost of the outbound one! Can it really be because it's on Friday the 13th..?! ;-)