Film: The Housemaid

This evening, I was supposed to be back with The Hideout (TH) for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, but the release has been postponed. Heard about that during my trip, but I was so busy I completely forgot about it! So instead, their sister group, MRL, advertised The Housemaid for this evening - looked a bit like a comedy horror, with Amanda Seyfried advertising for a housemaid, but turning out utterly psychotic. Sydney Sweeney is the unfortunate job applicant. And gee, as per the trailer, they have equally really long hair.. They were seeing it in Picturehouse Central, drinks beforehand. I heard rumours there was a waitlist for it - limiting numbers is unprecedented for this group, in my experience, and something I certainly hope doesn't become a habit..

I did, of course, cut it fine - but TFL did a sterling job of getting me there, and I arrived pretty much on the dot. No sign of anyone. I checked the event page, and was surprised that we were to meet downstairs - there's an awful draught from the door, on what was a very cold night, and the downstairs cafe is sorely understocked and understaffed. Not to mention the toilets are upstairs, the tickets are to be purchased upstairs, the popcorn is upstairs.. I seemed to spend much of the night sending people upstairs for whatever they wanted! Anyway, we found each other, and a good chat was had before we headed upstairs (again) to the film. Except the screen wasn't open yet..

The screen wasn't half as full when I checked online earlier as it was by the time the film started.. And ooh, heh heh, I loved this! Funnily enough, earlier today, I was chatting to someone who'd just seen it and hated it - mind you, it rather gave the game away when she remarked that the ending was bloody, as I assumed that was what she had a problem with. And she was dead right, it is bloody!

There was also some chat beforehand about Sydney Sweeney's acting abilities, to which I paid due attention during the film - eh, she's all right, although I doubt she'll get any awards for this. Amanda Seyfried, on the other hand, has great fun bouncing off the walls as the deranged wife. Spectacular house, they've got - apparently designed by the gorgeous, long-suffering husband. Working in his dad's tech business, he's obviously a frustrated architect, even designing a dolls' house for the daughter to exactly the specs of the family home..

Ah, it's got one of those plots to die for.. the twist is divine, one of those that makes you rethink the entire story to date. And what a satisfying ending.. Honestly, I couldn't but give it a 10 when we came to rate it. High scores all around, from those who voted anyway..  The book must be a helluva read - the film differs from it slightly, with a more active ending. I'd have loved to hang out a bit with people from the group, but when they found out how late it was, they passed. Wow, it was a cold journey home too, subzero temperatures and freezing fog..

Tomorrow, back with London Museums A-Z for T is for Thirst: In Search of Freshwater, an exhibition at The Wellcome Collection. Advertised, would you believe, while I was looking at my phone but not especially busy, in The Rockingham Arms - and this being the next unscheduled date in my diary, I was one of the five to snap up a place in the first minute! Social afterwards at the Marquis Cornwallis.

On Monday, with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) again, for Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo - a dark comedy set in Iraq - at the Young Vic. Booked for Bar + Block Southwark beforehand. Ooh, another place I haven't been in an age..

And on Tuesday, I'm back with London Classical Music and Theatre Group for The Makropulos Affair, by the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Simon Rattle, at the Barbican - one of the group with a wildcard ticket couldn't go and kindly offered it for free, so I snapped it up. Eating at Cote Barbican beforehand - it'll be fun trying to get the discount on my app. And gee, you guessed it.. Haven't been there since September, but was with the group slightly more recently, in October..

I was having terrible trouble finding anything for Wednesday - and then Nell Phoenix came to my rescue, with another storytelling evening at Torriano Avenue! (I see she's still advertising it as £7, but it's actually £10.) Anyway, that evening, it's Yamamba, with Laura Sampson!

Then a few more days of Meetup. On Thursday, back with UITCS for Safe Haven, at the Arcola - the true story of Operation Safe Haven (1991), which protected, and provided humanitarian aid to, Kurdish refugees in Northern Iraq after Saddam Hussein defeated the Kurdish rebellion. Jeez, hard to imagine it happening these days..

On Friday, back with La Isla Flamenca Club, olé! This show is called Light & Shadow, and is happening in The Gold Bar in the COLAB Tower (walkable, lovely.. as long as the weather warms up a bit) - tickets from We Got Tickets. I managed to get an Early Bird ticket, but they're now sold out - regular and student tickets available.

And next Saturday, that postponed trip with TH to see 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple..