Regie:
Alan ClarkeScenario:
Trevor PrestonCamera:
Clive TicknerMuziek:
George FentonActeurs:
Phil Daniels, Alun Armstrong, Bruce Payne, Ben Cole, Caroline Quentin, Danny Webb, Trevor Cooper, Richard Ridings, Don Henderson, Neil McCaul, Liza Sadovy (meer)Samenvattingen(1)
This bizarre spectacle, combining horror, rock opera, and an ostentatiously faked mise-en-scène à la gothic, was perceived in the Thatcher era as a parable with socio-critical overtones. Billy the Kid is a young cockney while demonic snooker champion Maxwell Randall is an unscrupulous predator – but here they symbolize a generational conflict or the struggle between good and evil. (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival)
(meer)Recensie (3)
Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire is, without a doubt, the most obscure musical film I’ve seen so far. And quite possibly one of the strangest films I’ve had the privilege to come across to this day. And indeed, it’s really just about Billy the Kid and the vampire playing snooker together. It’s hard to describe – what might have been the creators’ intention when shooting this flick? In any case, the characters, the dialogues, the behaviours, oh and even the people’s names are like from another dimension, which is just tons of fun for the viewer! Through the unconventional acting, crazy lyrics and other odd elements, one can have glimpses of good direction and interesting camera work. A truly bizarre finding! [KVIFF 2018]
()
This film is an illustrative example of how the theoretical concepts of story and narration differ from each other. Strictly speaking, the film consists of a single billiards duel and the previous performance of its protagonists and organisers. But it is precisely the depiction of this event in the film’s narrative that is stunningly enchanting – if one does not have an aversion to modern musicals. In a minimalistically stark setting, but with all the more colourfully stylised figures, the film sets out a phantasmagorical féerie about the ultimate battle of two generations and their life and (pop-)cultural styles. During the first minutes, the film puts a silly grin on one's face, which does not disappear until the closing credits. At the 2018 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, the Caban brothers presented the film as their carte blanche, noting that they did not remember the film at all and would like to watch it again (which, by the way, is a great approach to a dramaturgical concept that is obstinately taken seriously). Thanks to last year’s screening of their Don Gio at the same festival, some surprising parallels with the Cabans’ debut became apparent when watching the invigorating and hyper-stylish and meagrely minimalist British musical – mainly in the minimalist film set and avant-garde theatricality, which offsets the hyper-expressiveness of the characters, as well as in the masterful camera work.
()
Total nonsense! An obscure billiards musical full of bizarre characters that I quickly grew fond of - especially Maxwell the vampire is unforgettable. However, in this film you won't see a vampire sucking people's blood, but crushing them in snooker. A marginal matter even in the field of cult craziness. The characters are crazy and pushed to the extreme - all actors are extremely exaggerated and sprinkle one silly line after another. The most fascinating aspect of the film for me are the dialogues and song lyrics. They are so crazy and sometimes even lacking sense, that your head will spin. The film shows that it was directed by an experienced director who mastered the craft - it is captivating enough with a playful touch of interesting camera techniques. Therefore, I think the film is much smarter than it may seem at first glance. For seekers of semi-forgotten trash, Billy the Kid and the Billiard Vampire is like the Holy Grail. Seeing it on the big screen was a huge experience in itself - thanks a lot KVIFF, without which I might have never come across it. Maybe next time we'll watch it at the Festival of Tough Viewer.
()