In terms of quantity, output and blockbusters per square inch the British film industry is a flea on the shoulder of a very large American dog. Beethoven, perhaps, or even K9.
However there are some things we do that the American movies cannot, we can do stupid English likeable fool (see Hugh Grant), English eccentric (see John Cleese) and many variations herein. Redeemingly though we can also do tension, grittiness and realism.
The one other thing that British filmmakers can do is clubbing scenes; our skill is heightened by the fact that most American teen movies have come a cropper here - making the task even easier.
Fortunately Long Time Dead has the plus points from above: tension, grittiness and good clubbing scenes. The story is pretty simple, when a group of students take timeout from clubbing to dabble with a Ouija board, what starts out as a high-spirited séance soon dissolves into a surreal and horrific nightmare.
The board spells out a terrifying message and unleashes an evil spirit, triggering a succession of grisly murders amongst them.
Joe Absolom (previously an Eastender), Marsha Thomason and Alex Newman play the main characters of Rob, Lucy and Liam and with their friends Annie (**Melanie Gutteridge), Stella (Lara Belmont), Joe (Mel Raido) Spence (James Hillier**) and American Webster (Lukas Haas) all on the hit list of this evil fire spirit.
Before the next victim is claimed, the remaining friends must find how to banish the demon, and they are, in the most part pretty unsucessful at this.
The tension in this movie is fantastic, if not totally surprising. You do find yourself saying 'don't go in there on your own' but even though you often know what's coming this movie is still great, with tense music in all the right places.
The acting is good, the story plausible and there is a great twist at the end, this is the best British horror for ages.
-
8Jim Bowes's Score