Film: Together

This evening, back with The Hideout for Together - a new body horror about an unsuspecting couple who move to a rural area - and I tell you, it had something to live up to after the last few days. Showing in the Vue West End, whose listings were finally released on Tuesday. And when I knew what we were doing, I booked for Bella Italia again.

I finished a bit early - what with the hour extra we get off during the summer - and thought what I'd like to do with the time. And decided that what I'd like to do was sleep. So I set my alarm for when I needed to move, and had a lovely nap. Unfortunately, when it came time to leave, I needed to go to the loo.. so I was late for the bus, and if I was going to make my restaurant booking, I'd have to take the Tube. At least, at this time, it wasn't crowded - and I had a seat for most of the way..

Of course, I ended up making my booking early - which was fine, and I got my regular table, and my usual great welcome. I was stuffed when I finished - was waiting to pay when someone messaged to say she was already at the cinema, next door. As it happened, I arrived at the same time as the organiser - and we clambered up the non-working escalator to the non-staffed bar. Conversation was good though, and I made a bar run downstairs.. happily, the bar queue was a lot shorter than the concession queues (a group of girls in front of me were buying tickets for our film, one hoping it wasn't too scary).. but when I tried to buy a drink, I was told they couldn't sell it until 20 minutes before the film! She consoled me that there was seating upstairs - "Yes," I replied, "you just can't get a drink!" I managed to buy a water for our organiser - who, when he heard the story, took himself downstairs and kindly came back with a wine for me (and later, another for another group member).. it's a great knack to have, and one I definitely don't. But again, it drives me to distraction when that upstairs bar isn't staffed..

The escalator down to Screen 1 wasn't working either, and it wasn't fun walking down it. Given that the screen was mostly empty, most of us decided to sit together - however, two people arrived and claimed two of our seats. We ended up moving - but as one of the group remarked, could they not just have sat a bit to the side? There was plenty of space. Goodness knows, I've changed my seat often enough when I've discovered someone sitting in mine. Anyway, given that this was a horror film, the trailers were all for upcoming horror films.. which was nice..

So, this film stars a real-life married couple - she's starting a job in the middle of nowhere, and he, well, plays in a band, and as a friend of hers remarked, isn't that a bit of an adolescent fantasy for someone in his thirties? Seems he never even got his driver's licence, so she takes him wherever he needs to go. Well, one day they head out on a hike - and come across (actually, fall into) an underground cave. There are all these bells around with a sun symbol carved on them, and actual pews embedded in the cave walls.. there's an underground pool that they grab a drink from. And therein, as the man said, lies the rub, because this is a Bad Idea, as we know from a preamble to the story, very reminiscent of The Thing, what with dogs that have drunk from it subsequently melding (really not a spoiler, you could have guessed as much). And so it begins..

Yeah, you could say from then on, they're kind of drawn to each other. Physically. And there's some suggestion of some underground church that probably grew up around this weird pool, with its supernatural properties. And of course, the whole idea is a play on the "two become one" idea of marriage - hell, she's even a Spice Girls fan (and I will never listen to that song in the same way again!). But mostly, what we're there for is to watch the special effects.. which are terrifically done. One thing a lot of people at the screening remarked on was the comedy - there's a lot of humour in it (and indeed, these actors are primarily known for comedy). Me, I really liked it - loved the effects, appreciated the comedy: and I thought the ending was really clever. But no, your standard horror it ain't.

Tomorrow, my monthly ex-colleagues' meeting again, probably at The Phoenix - and probably just James again, as Ivan is distracted by family matters, and there still is no word from Martin.

On Sunday, back with LoMAZ.. dependably busy on weekends, on that day they're off to Dover Castle. This time, Uber didn't seem to recognise the journey - I booked on Trainline instead. My sometime travel companion has decided to come along, but she'll be driving.

On Monday, was thinking film again - and top of the list is another Palestinian documentary, Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk - the photojournalist interviewed in the film was apparently killed the day after the film was released. The Garden Cinema has the closest showing to me - and when I saw today that it was selling out, I booked, with my member's discount.

Tuesday, also thinking film - best up seems to be This Is Spinal Tap, a mockumentary about a fictional rock group. 40 years old, and I haven't seen it yet - it's about time! Showing in the Prince Charles (PCC), and I'd better keep an eye on it, because the later showing was sold out yesterday, but I see today they have one seat left, at time of writing..

On Wednesday, back with CT for a play called Saving Mozart at The Other Palace - hoping for a musical accompaniment to that.

On Thursday - the first monthly social in months held by The Hideout and their sister group, Movie Roadhouse London (MRL).. whee! The organiser has been busy with family matters, you see - and there's really nobody like him for organising a social. Happening in the Balcony Bar of the Riverfront Bar at the BFI, as usual, and I've booked The Archduke for beforehand.

Next Friday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats for The Pitchfork Disney. Showing in the King's Head Islington, it promises to be a rather weird, and thought-provoking, look at the nature of fear. Goodee!

On the 30th, back with The Hideout and MRL for the 50th anniversary showing of Jaws - at the BFI Imax! Now, that should be spectacular..

On the 31st, back with The Hideout for The Toxic Avenger, at the PCC again - well, the organiser plumped for a free ticket for me, so..

And on the 1st, I'm headed to Every Brilliant Thing, a play about depression at Soho Place. Four different actors are taking the part in succession - I'm getting Jonny Donahoe.