Dear Auntie Beeb: commission this as a series NOW!
Being Human is currently airing on BBC3 as a one off drama (and is available for the next four days on iPlayer here) and if the idea of a cleverly written, Brit made, supernatural drama series appeals to you then I urge you to check it out and make sure the BBC know you’ve enjoyed it (either by commenting here, or over on another review I found online).
The premise is neat: Mitchell is a vampire, George is a werewolf. Tired of living the unsettled life so typical of their kind, they decide to buy a house together and try to make a go of settling down. Mitchell suggests he’ll go on the wagon (ie, not drink blood), and George is adamant that he’ll lock himself away every full moon to avoid causing any trouble.
Things take an interesting turn when the couple find their new home comes with a little bit more than just fixtures and fittings, George bumps into an old girlfriend at the hospital that he and Mitchell work in (who thought he was dead), and Mitchell’s vampire buddies put in an appearance (who disapprove of his friendship with George).
The characterisation is a joy, and there’s so much potential with the characters that this pilot introduces. The performances are spot on, particularly George (Russell Tovey) who is totally convincing throughout, whether he’s being brilliantly menacing the night before the full moon, or bursting with excitement at the prospect of getting their own house. It’s also nice to see an old fashioned Werewolf transformation too…none of that CGI nonsense here, thankyouverymuch.
So if you’ve not seen it, go an have a look. It’s probably repeated on BBC3 again anyway, but as mentioned (and linked) above, you’ve got four iPlayer days left.
I just hope my prayers get answered, and the BBC finally realise that UK audiences would lap something like this up. We’ve not had a home-grown vampire series since Ultraviolet.
By way of an update, in reverse chronological order, here’s what’s going on:
I have conjunctivitis in my left eye, which has caused it to swell up, and will only open half way. This is annoying. I’ve got drops that have to live in the fridge, so at the moment they’re sat next to someone’s home-made salad, or whatever gubbins is in that Tupperware in work’s fridge. Hope my drops don’t get eaten…anything goes in this place…
I saw Cloverfield at the weekend, and very much enjoyed it. It’s basically Godzilla, or King Kong, shot through a digital camera by a bunch of attractive-looking youths. There are parallels with Romero’s Diary of the Dead (which should get a theatrical release soon) but Cloverfield isn’t as determined to get its message across. If it even has a message. It’s more of a clever piece of viral marketing, with an end product that actually delivers for a change. I’m a sucker for half decent giant monster movies, and this certainly fits that category.
Oh, and it gave me motion sickness for the first time in my life. Seriously, I thought I was going to throw up or leave the cinema. That’s never happened before. Unless you count the Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake…but that was for different reasons.
It’s also very pleasing to see all the speculation on various Internet blogs and forums, regarding things that didn’t happen in the film. The origins of the creature, what the meaning of various clues are, and what path a potential sequel could take are all being debated on a number of sites. This makes me happy: anything that fires up people’s imaginations after they’ve left the cinema is a good thing, if you ask me. And you didn’t, but you’re reading my blog, so that’s close enough.
I took a week off from training last week. I walked to work on Monday and Tuesday, and managed to hurt my heel/ankle, pansy that I am. On Wednesday it was particularly excruciating, and so on Thursday I decided a visit to the local quack doctor was in order.
He basically told me that a) the problem would be very persistent, b) the problem would be extremely painful, and c) I’d not be able to run the race in May.
Well, we made it. I’m now back at St. Pancras, waiting for the train back to Leicester. The last film of the night did not disappoint, and is probably the best horror film I’ve seen in a while. I haven’t felt genuine terror like that since Ring. God knows how the loud snoring guy managed to nod off…
I hadn’t planned to do a full review of each film, but I now feel compelled to. So, over the next few days, look out for reviews of each of the night’s movies: Diary of the Dead, Planet Terror, Savage Streets, Frontiers, and Inside.
Who knows, maybe once they’re done I’ll get caught up with everything else!
Well, it’s almost 6am, and we have one film left to go. Savage Streets was predictably crap, although amusing in places (a sign saying “Doctors Hospital” was the high point for me). Frontieres is either the definitive freaky cannible family movie of this generation, or derivative style over substance. I’ll decide which when I’m less tired.
The fifth and final movie is L’interior, and I’m looking forward to it. More Red Bull is about to be consumed. See you on the other side.
I’d planned to do a bit of a write-up on this, or as much as my phone will allow, after seeing it. But now I HAVE seen it, I can’t bring myself to say too much.
First: I want to see it again. Partly because I missed the celebrity voice cameos, but mostly because it’s good. Very good. Romero is back on form, having made not only a great zombie movie, but a great horror movie full stop.
I’ll write more later. If I don’t, bug me in the comments until I do. I need to do Diary justice, and I can’t do that on this phone’s keyboard. Well, not if I want to retain my sanity.
Planet Terror next. And I’m about to crack the first Red Bull of the evening. Might have some chocolate too. How indulgent.
