Film: Vampire's Kiss

Today saw the start of two appropriately vampiric days, and three days of horror! and of Meetups. Tonight, I was back with The Hideout for Vampire's Kiss, an old comedy with Nicholas Cage, in which he thinks he's been dating a vampire (Jennifer Beals), and is now turning into one himself. Showing in the Prince Charles of course, and we were meeting in Victory House beforehand. I booked to eat in Bella Italia before that - took two goes though, the site was down the first time!

I was in the office, and glad to walk to the restaurant - the bus in to the office had been a nightmare! I ended up walking half the way there because roadworks prevented the buses from travelling the whole route, and because the bus that would've taken me closer was taking too long, so I took another.. as it was, I was 10 minutes late for my first meeting. Not a problem, I joined online anyway and there wasn't anything important for me - but I've never known the buses so problematic.

As it was, I was finished work early - well, finished anything I was likely to finish today - and arrived at the restaurant a bit early - it was busy downstairs, so I was happy to eat upstairs. It was all gorgeous, and I had time to have ice cream again. Headed to Victory House, and met a few people I knew - including the "super-organiser", who, as he said, was gatecrashing the social before heading to another film entirely, with another of the group. Anyway, we had a great chat before heading off.

I had my laptop with me, of course, and left it with reception as I went in - they don't allow rucksacks inside. Before the show, we had a brief introduction, to inform us that not only the director, but the producers, were in the house, and there'd be a Q+A afterwards. And so we were off..

Before the main feature, we had a short film, directed and written by the director of the main film, called The Dumb Waiter, about a young woman who's followed home to her flat by a dangerous stalker, who tries various methods to get in.. nicely suspenseful, nicely dark, little dialogue. 

And so to Vampire's Kiss. Very much a film of the 80s, shoulderpads and big hair for the women - and yes, sexism in the office. He gives his secretary a really terrible time - and the conference room (full of men) has a laugh at her expense, while she's literally terrified and in tears. But aside from that - it's excellent. Not really a horror film, it suffered on its initial release, apparently, from people thinking it was, and being disappointed - but what it is, is a graphic portrayal of a man going off the rails: which, of course, is what Nicholas Cage excels at! He goes through the whole range, from suave and in control, to a raving, bloodstained lunatic. One scene has a bat - as we learned in the Q+A, Nicolas Cage wanted a real bat, but the authorities put their foot down, and instead, he had to satisfy himself with, ahem, eating live cockroaches in another scene. Well, each to their own.. (The bat was, apparently, duly supplied by ILM.)

The producers piped up in the Q+A, one offering business cards to promote the screenwriter! We also heard about how the film portrays the real New York - even the mime artists that appear in the film, performing to the side, were real street performers. In all, it was a real film-lovers' evening - and by the time we made our way back outside, those who had gone to the other film were waiting, and ready for our scores, and we walked part of the way home together. Nice night.. even if my bus did sail past, ignoring anyone who wanted to get on.. I guess he knew another was coming along behind.

And tomorrow - well, one of the things London Museums from A-Z (LoMAZ) were talking about doing for their series of Dracula events was going to a ballet - and sure enough, there is a Dracula ballet in town! Supposed to be good, with a classical soundtrack - and sure enough, when I checked, it was almost completely booked up. The only tickets left were last Tuesday evening - which I couldn't manage - and the matinees yesterday and tomorrow - so I'm taking tomorrow off, and will go to it that day! Ticket was emailed to me today. Can't see I'll persuade anyone to go with me though - they'd either have to take time off work, or if not, they might not be in work, and might baulk at the price! Showing in the Palladium - I had to take the Second Circle to get the lowest price, and as legroom is reportedly tight, I made sure to get an aisle seat. Oh, and CT then advertised cheap tickets for today's matinee.. ah well..

Had booked to eat in the Shakespeare's Head (Soho) afterwards - but then London Social and Cultural Meetups (LSC) advertised social drinks for that evening in The Rugby Tavern, so I've cancelled dinner and will meet them instead, after the ballet - I can eat there.

On Saturday - back with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpies for his Nooks and Crannies of London walk - and damnit, Meetup is charging for RSVP again! (plus an extra charge, of course). And afterwards, back with The Hideout for Backrooms - the film version of Backrooms on Creepypasta, a series of liminal horror stories about featureless, unending rooms and corridors, sometimes with hostile beings in them.. stars Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve, as his psychiatrist, as - well, he might be expected to need one, with this kind of tale. Same details as before, except I won't need to book a restaurant - we'll be having lunch after the walk. 

On Sunday, I got a cheap ticket with CT for the Sunday concert at Conway Hall, with Francesca Dego and Alessandro Taverna. But with Mark and Martin cancelling last Sunday for sachertorte, we've decided to do it that day instead - the last day for it in the Lanesborough. And the weather is supposed to cool down a bit that day!

On Monday, back with Shake It Up: The Improvised Shakespeare Company, first Monday of every month in the Hen & Chickens.

On Tuesday, back with London Fun for Churchill's Urinal, about a female Chancellor of the Exchequer wanting the urinal in No. 10 removed.. showing in the King's Head. The organiser bought the tickets - and later informed us we'd been upgraded. As he says, another reason to buy the cheap tickets! (Much discussion in the group recently on the relative merits of Churchill himself.. always a heated topic.)

On Wednesday, the last scheduled from the Crick Crack Club's Story Pick + Mix in Next Door at Theatre Deli - this time, it's We Are Fox, with Alys Torrance and Lucy Lill. And it's a good job that they recently invited me to buy a ticket - I'd completely forgotten to do so! Now sorted.

Then it's five days of Meetup.. next Thursday, I'm with Up in the Cheap Seats for a reggae musical called The Harder They Come at the Theatre Royal Stratford East - the story of a young musician trying to make it in the business. 

On the 5th, back with The Hideout for the latest Scary Movie, yay! The trailer looks hilarious, with its references to horror films and popular culture.. and as usual, it'll be interesting to try and spot them all. Only thing is, it's run by the Southeast London branch.. and while I'm in the Southeast, this is far, far southeast.. we're headed to Vue Bromley. I'll have to get a train..

Then it's a LoMAZ weekend - the 6th is their bimonthly birthday bash, in the Union Jack as usual.

And on the 7th, I'm headed with them to see an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, of Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures. Off to the Brewmaster afterwards.

Finally, on the 8th, I'm back with LSC (also advertised, again, with the London European Club) for a talk at the London School of Economics - this one is Ten Years On: Brexit and Britain's Political Future. Rumours of drinks afterwards.