A library and a Tudor manor are hardly venues you would associate with screening movies, yet these are the locations of some of Grimmfest’s most frightening films next week.
Grimmfest have teamed up with the British Film Industry to screen some of the greatest horror films in some of Greater Manchester’s most eerie and atmospheric Gothic locations on December 13 and January 10.
Following on from a double bill of zombie carnage on October 30 and a night of vampiric expressionism on November 21 at The Dancehouse, Grimmfest is now taking events to some of Greater Manchester’s other gothic locations.
Festival coordinator Ben Ross has explained that he scoured Manchester in search of the venues that would bring the most ambiance and atmosphere to proceedings.
“We explored all manner of venues across the city, looking particularly at venues that fell under the remit of being Gothic in atmosphere and ambiance,” he said.
“Moreover, we also wanted to utilize venues where it complimented a film screening, especially ones that fell under the broad thematic areas that the BFI were looking to explore.
“What could be a more fitting setting for a double-bill screening of ghost films than a haunted manor?”
Salford’s Orsdall Hall is that haunted manor.
On December 13 the home of the ‘White Lady,’ a spirit of such persistence that ‘ghost cams’ have been set up to capture these apparitions, will be the venue for some classic horror films.
Jack Clayton’s The Innocents hailed by many as the ‘greatest haunted house movie of all time’ based on Henry James’ novel ‘The Turn of the Screw’ is the first instalment of the double bill on December 13.
Although there have been other adaptations of the novel, Clayton’s subtle, intelligent, genuinely spooky film remains unmatched.
Rounding off the double bill is also an adaptation of James novel and conceived in part as homage to Clayton’s earlier film.
Alejandro Amenabar’s The Others offers effective and affecting chills of its own, a powerful allegory about the legacy of war, and one of the greatest twist endings in modern cinema.
On January 10 for the grand finale of the Gothic Season the neo-gothic John Ryland’s library on Deansgate is the perfect venue for two classic book-born monsters.
Both films, James Whale’s Bride of Frankenstein and Jean Cocteau’s La Belle et La Bete, can trace their origins back to the earliest literary manifestations of the Gothic imagination.
Whale’s Bride of Frankenstein is a darkly funny and mischievous take on Mary Shelly’s celebrated parable overweening pride, scientific arrogance and man-made monsters.
The film offers an exploration of the need for love even among monsters in a high-camp, Hollywood-Gothic take on that of the fairy tale.
Jean Cocteau’s cinematic interpretation of the traditional tale of beauty and the beast, La Belle et la Bete, sees him utilising all of his considerable skills as poet, playwright, artist and designer.
The film is a far cry from Disney’s animated version; this is a dark delirious fairy tale that will haunt your dreams.
Mr Ross explained that the library was the ‘perfect locale’ to have the double bill screening of book-born monster cinema.
“We wanted to utilize venues in a way they wouldn’t normally be; both Ordsall Hall and the John Rylands Library don’t normally show films, so for many this may be their first chance to experience the venues in this way. It’s a unique opportunity,” said the festival coordinator.
He went onto to hint with excitement at the possibility of other venues if these screening events are successful.
“How about The Mummy at the Manchester Museum or The Phantom of the Opera at the Manchester Opera House, for instance?”
Both events will also heighten the experience by adding costumed characters and the opportunities to discover more about the atmospheric venues before the screenings.
For more information about the events or to purchase tickets please visit The Grimm Up North Website here.
Image courtesy of BBC via YouTube, with thanks.
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