Magic in London: Whistling – Part Three

Posted on January 6, 2023 by ashleymanningwriter

Before reading this part, catch up here: https://ashleymanning.com/magic-in-london/

There was an awful sinking feeling in Chuck’s stomach as he stepped into the darkness. The thought of a train tearing through the tunnel and ripping him to pieces was more than enough to make him feel sick and he was surprised he was able to stand with how wobbly his legs felt. Never in a million years would he think to walk onto the tracks. He was the type of person who would stand as far away from the platform edge as possible even if it risked losing a place on a packed train, but he didn’t have a choice. Not with the shadow spider following him. He could just about make out Fiona in front of him, walking in the middle of the tracks and holding up the boy over one shoulder. He followed her as they followed the tracks along, twisting through the passages. From the distance a rumbling sound of moving trains echoed. They moved through different tunnels, taking different choices at random, at least that’s what Chuck felt. They carried on until Fiona stopped walking.

“What now?” Chuck called out, trying to ignore how much he wanted to curl up into a ball and cry.

“We fight,” Fiona said, coming to a stop and placing the boy down against the wall.

“What? How?”

“You just need to stand back and let me handle it. We’re safe here. These tunnels aren’t used anymore for trains, it leads to an abandoned station. So we’re safe. At least until that thing gets here.”

“Oh, God.”

“Stop whining. I’ve already got one child to look after. Just stay back and I’ll deal with it. Now that he’s asleep the monster won’t have as much power. I just needed somewhere to fight it head on. Hold this light up and point it the way we came.”

Fiona tossed over a torch to Chuck that she’d kept in her pocket. He caught it in fumbling hands. He turned it on and held it upwards towards the decaying tunnel they’d just ran down. It looked old and like it might just fall over at any moment. The roar of the monster echoed through the tunnels getting closer and closer.

“Just make sure you keep the light on it, so I can see,” Fiona said.

She took out the knife from the pocket on her trousers. It glinted in the reflection of the light. As she stood waiting for the monster to arrive, she twirled it in her hand. The blade was long and thin, with one side slightly serrated. The handle was just as thin, with a rounded end. Another roar and Chuck had just enough time to question how he found himself in the situation before the monster came into view. Its legs were pitch black as it crawled along the ceiling towards them. Chuck moved backwards, fighting the urge to turn, and run away.

“Keep that light on it Chucky boy or you’re going to be dead in a moment. I’ll make sure of it.”

The monster drew closer and roared at them both, baring its shadow fangs towards them. Its numerous luminescent eyes glistened in the light, the only part of the creature that wasn’t completely black. Fiona held the knife out in front of her and flicked it towards the beast while giving a sharp whistle, a spark glistened, and a small ball of flame jumped from the pointed end of the knife and dove through the air towards the shadow creature. The spider swiped at the ball of flame with one of its legs, extinguishing it at once, and then it dropped to the floor. The creature seemed to fold into itself and in an instant, it was standing the right way up. It started moving again, crawling towards Fiona. She moved backwards and flicked another fire ball towards it, but it ended with the same effect. She held the knife all the way up, towards the ceiling and then quickly moved her hand so it was outstretched to her side and then flung her arm forwards as if she was swinging a sword with some resistance. A vibration in the air shimmered and shot towards the approaching spider. It shielded itself from it, curling up into a ball and hiding its face, but the wave moved over it. Dust and specks of brink started to rain down from the ceiling.

“You’re a stubborn one, but I’m not trying very hard,” Fiona said.

She moved closer to it and swung her knife as if she was throwing a bowling ball, water leapt out of the ground and covered the creature, leaving it completely submerged for a moment and then seeping back into the ground. The creature continued to hide itself inside and Fiona repeated the movement. This time as the water rose and swamped the creature, she jumped upwards and kicked out from the nearest wall to gain extra height. She held up her knife with both hands and brought it down quickly onto the ball the monster was hiding within.

An ear-piercing wail escaped from the shadowy mess and the spider recoiled from the strike. A dark substance that looked like dust flew up from it, covering the walls and floating down to the ground. The spider stood up and there was a smoking darkness flowing from its eyes. Fiona held her knife in front of her face, as it swiped towards her, catching her in the side of her stomach and throwing her into the wall. Chuck moved to one side, keeping the light on the creature while straining to see if Fiona was okay.

“Stay back, this one means business,” Fiona said spitting blood out onto the group and readying her knife again as she stood up.

The shadow creature had no intention to make this quick. It had chased down its prey through the tunnels and it was time to enjoy the kill. Even though Fiona had hurt it, the creature was still sure it would be able to take her and once she was dead, the other two wouldn’t be much more effort. It lunged towards her, spreading out its legs as it did, bringing them down onto Fiona to crush her. Instead, she jumped towards the spider, thrusting her knife into its face and at the same time twisting it into its shadowy flesh. The knife connected right between two of the monster’s eyes. It roared in pain and moved backwards in retreat as quickly as it had attacked. Fiona didn’t let up, she jumped upwards and shot out fire from the knife, aiming at the open wound on the spider’s face. It didn’t have time to block with any of its legs and instead the fire drove deep into its face. She stabbed at it again, more dust flying out of every wound she created. She dug the knife into its face, forcing it to the ground as its legs wiggled about to try and connect with her. She pulled the knife out and drove it back in with all the force she could manage and then it was dead. The shadow faded and the light from the torch shone at full brightness. The only remnants of the battle were a dark and almost sludgy dust-like substance that stained the area the spider had stood.

Fiona turned towards Chuck. Her clothes were torn, and her face was bloodied. He stood there, still aiming the light in her direction.

“What the hell was that?” He asked.

“That was some kind of dream creature, that this little creep conjured to kill me.”

“What does that mean?” Chuck shouted, not really expecting an answer. “Look, I’m pretty sure I’m about to throw up, so I’m just going to find a way to get back to the surface and then I’m going to leave. I’m pretty sure I’ve missed my coach now, but I think I’ll be fine. Here’s your torch. I’m just going to place it down here and I’ll be on my way.”

“Are you being serious right now? You find out that magic exists, and your first reaction is to turn tail and flee. What is wrong with you? How can you even see us if you’re this much of a coward.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was just having a day out in London and it’s time for me to go home and write this off as food poisoning.”

“Food poisoning? Are you that thick? Just come with me, I want Arthur to meet you.”

“Nope. No, no no no no no. I’m not going with you anywhere,” he replied backing away from Fiona and the boy.

“Then how do you plan to get to the surface?”

“There will be a platform somewhere I can climb up or a service door or something.”

“I know these tunnels really well. Better than anyone else in fact. I know when its safe to move, when you need to find shelter, which parts aren’t used, and where each station is. If you go off by yourself, then you’ll be a splattered feast for the rats in about two minutes, that much I can actually guarantee. So do you want that, or do you want to come to Whistling Academy with me and meet Arthur?”

“Whistling Academy?”

“Yes, that’s what I said. Well done for repeating it to me. It’s not really an academy but its where we teach magic, well Whistling is what we call it. Down that way is the abandoned Brompton Road Station, and if we head down to it we’ll be able to get to the Academy. As soon as you’ve spoken to Arthur, I’ll show you a way back to London, or wherever you want to go. Deal?”

“Okay, deal.” 

To Be Continued…

Thanks for reading! Part Four is available here: https://ashleymanning.com/2023/01/13/magic-in-london-whistling-part-four/

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A Man Called Otto – Film Review

Posted on January 5, 2023 by ashleymanningwriter

Director: Marc Forster

Writer: David Magee

Starring: Tom Hanks, Marianna Treviño, Rachel Keller, and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo

Rating: ★★★½

A Man Called Otto, the latest film from director Marc Forster (Christopher Robin, Finding Neverland, Stranger than Fiction), and writer David Magee (Finding Neverland, Mary Poppins Returns). The film is based on the 2012 novel A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, which was previously adapted into a film of the same name in 2015. The film is a dark comedy-drama about depression and family.

Tom Hanks stars as Otto, who spends most of his time making sure the local neighbourhood sticks to the strict rules. Since the death of his wife, Otto has been suffering from depression and has taken the decision to kill himself to join her. Every time he tries to end his life, something stops him. When a young couple move into the neighbourhood, he finds something new to live for.

Tom Hanks is always lovable, even when he’s playing a grouchy man trying to end his life. He’s really good in the film, as you’d expect. Joining him is Marianna Treviño, who plays Marisol one of the new neighbours. Her personality is the polar opposite of Otto’s and she tries to bring him out of his shell and show him that he still has things to live for. Tom Hank’s son Truman Hanks also stars as a young Otto, during a series of flashbacks that add to the emotional weight of the film.

Tonally the film is all over the place. At points it’s a goofy comedy, with jokes that aren’t always funny, and quirky characters to fill out the neighbourhood. At other points it’s a emotional and heart-breaking drama about loss and depression. It’s a little hard to go from watching Otto trying to end his life to silly neighbourhood antics. The film works a lot better as a drama than a comedy and would have been a lot better if it was more focused on that. It’s like two completely different and contrasting films are trying to come out on top. There’s a balancing act that the film doesn’t always get right.

There’s surprisingly a lot of heart to be found in A Man Called Otto. It does have some funny moments, but it’s the dark moments where the film really hits. It’s heartfelt, sentimental and genuinely emotional.

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Empire of Light – Film Review

Posted on January 4, 2023 by ashleymanningwriter

Director: Sam Mendes

Writer: Sam Mendes

Starring: Olivia Colman, Michael Ward, Monica Dolan, Tom Booke, Tanya Moodie, Hannah Onslow, Crystal Clarke, Toby Jones and Colin Firth

Rating: ★★★½

Sam Mendes follows up his World War I epic 1917 with Empire of Light, a loving tribute to cinema, and art in general. The film is set in a cinema on the coast of England during the early 1980s, following the lives of the people who work there. It’s sentimental and also at points a harrowing drama about every aspect of life you can think of, and at its centre it shows how art comforts and unites us.

You can tell from the first few moments, as the opening titles start to appear on screen accompanied by the beautiful score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, that this is going to be a sentimental film about cinema. It starts with the Empire Cinema getting ready for the working day, the confectionary being lit up along with the popcorn, the screens, and there’s a gentleness to it all. Then almost immediately the film gets darker with Colin Firth’s character being introduced, Donald Ellis. He’s very sinister and someone who’s clearly taking advantage of the main character Hilary Small (Olivia Colman), who seems to be struggling with life. Something’s happened in her past, that’s only really hinted at throughout the film, that’s left a mark on her. The film contrasts the beauty of art with the horrible realities of life.

Everyone in the cast is brilliant. The performances absolutely bring this film together and make it something worth watching. Colman gives an emotional and heart-breaking performance as Hilary, someone who is on the verge of having a breakdown. There’s always a sense that she’s one bad moment away from tragedy and it’s horrible to watch, especially with her interactions with Colin Firth. Toby Jones is also excellent, playing the projectionist at the cinema, Norman, who treats cinema with such sincere reverence that his passion seeps through the screen. Michael Ward is great as Stephen, the newest employee at the cinema who grows close to Hilary quite quickly. Stephen is facing racism that is becoming more common as the 1980s continue. His experience is gut-wrenching, and it really hits because of how great Ward is.

Sadly, the film is a little messy. There are a lot of ideas floating about in the film which does mean it loses some focus at points. It’s a love-letter to cinemas, the anonymity of watching a film in a room with a group of strangers and experiencing something together. It’s also about the joy and inclusivity that art brings in all forms, whether it’s cinema, poetry or music. There are moments where it touches on the growing racial tensions in the early eighties (which sadly still seems relevant forty-years-plus later), which is harrowing and hard to watch. It’s also a love story between Hilary Small and Stephen, who are separated not just by the large age gap, but also by race. On top of that it’s also about mental illness and the abuse of power.

It’s a lot to take in and not all of it works. You could wipe out Colin Firth’s character almost completely and not lose much. The relationship between Hilary and Stephen works better when it’s platonic and just two people who are connected by both being outsiders even if they’re nothing alike on the surface. At its best moments it focuses on both the small and insular problems that Hilary is struggling with, as well as the much wider issues in society and that both have to be tackled at the same time by many people. The sentimentality towards cinema bringing joy to people’s lives also works really well and really drives home the importance of art, especially with how it brings us closer together.

Despite how messy the plot is, it’s all brought together by a stunning cast, excellent cinematography from Roger Deakins, as well as a moving and subtle score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. Empire of Light is ambitious and while not everything sticks it’s emotional, funny, and heartfelt. It may not be something that’s going to change your life and stay in your mind for a very long time, but it’s definitely enjoyable while you’re watching it.

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What I’m Looking Forward to Watching in 2023

Posted on January 3, 2023 by ashleymanningwriter

As the new year starts there’s so many exciting releases coming and they seem that much closer now. Here’s a few that I can’t wait to finally get to watch.

Creed 3

I’m a big fan of the Rocky/Creed series, and while some of the sequels definitely don’t match up to the original, I think the first 2 Creed films were simply fantastic. The third film is just around the corner and the trailer looks great. It’s going to be very strange without Sylvester Stallone appearing at all, but I am sure that Michael B. Jordan will be fantastic, both as the star and director of the latest instalment. The torch has now been passed and I’ll be there day one to see how this story plays out.

Evil Dead Rise

The Evil Dead is a series that cannot be stopped. I’ve been a fan of every iteration so far from the originals, the remake, and the TV series. I have high hopes that Rise. I’ve not seen The Hold in the Ground which is from the same director as Evil Dead Rise, Lee Cronin, but I’ve read good things about it and will definitely be correcting that soon.

Oppenheimer

I’ve said before that I have a love/hate relationship with Christopher Nolan’s films, but I do have a very good feeling about Oppenheimer. The teaser trailer has played before everything I’ve seen at the cinema for the last 6 or so months, and I haven’t gotten bored of it yet. I haven’t watched the full trailer they’ve released as I want to go in knowing as little as possible. I’m interested in the subject matter and hopefully it will be good.

Barbie

Even if Oppenheimer disappoints, there’s no doubt that Greta Gerwig’s new film will be fantastic. With a script from Gerwig and Noah Baumbach I have every faith that it will be brilliant. It’s also being released on the same day as Oppenheimer, so it will make a very strange double-bill. The cast is also brilliant. This is probably my second most anticipated film to be released in 2023.

Killers of the Flower Moon

It’s directed and written by Martin Scorsese, starring Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jesse Plemons, and Brendan Fraser. That is enough to make me excited to see the film. I know a little about the premise, it’s about a series of murders that took place in the 1920s that was an early FBI case. I haven’t read the book it’s based on, but I’m interested in reading it before the film comes out.

Renfield

Nicolas Cage stars as Dracula. The role he was pretty much born to play. That alone would make me want to see the film. It’s just a bonus that Ben Schwartz is in it, it’s directed by Chris McKay (who directed the Lego Batman film) and comes from an original idea from Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman. This will either be a highlight of 2023 or one of the biggest disappointments. There is no middle ground here.

Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One

It’s genuinely hard to think of a film series that has gone on this long and it just keeps getting better. Tom Cruise is determined to top himself with crazy stunts on every outing and Dead Reckoning Part One doesn’t look like it’s going to break the trend. I’ve really enjoyed every entry to the series, and I can’t wait to see this.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

My most anticipated film of the year by far is the new Indiana Jones film. It’s been a long wait since the last one and I find it hard to believe they actually made it after so many years of rumours and announcements, delays, and even a new director. It’s taken a long time, but the trailer looks fantastic so I have incredibly high hopes for this one.

On top of all of those films there’s also the second Dune film, a Hunger Games prequel, and I’ll stay optimistic that the new Exorcist film won’t be a huge waste of time. In the UK we’ll also be getting Pearl finally, and hopefully Maxxxine won’t be far behind. There’s also a new Japanese Godzilla film coming out in November in Japan, which will probably mean it’s coming out in 2024 in the UK at the earliest. So that will probably be at the top of my 2024 list.

So that’s what I’m most excited for this year. What about you?

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My Top Ten Films of 2022

Posted on January 2, 2023 by ashleymanningwriter

2022 was a pretty great year for films, with a huge amount of excellent releases in a wide variety of genres. For my top ten, these are the films that instantly come to mind when I look back over the last 12 months. There are some films that I reviewed very highly when they came out (some even higher than most that made it to the list) and I haven’t really thought about since so they don’t get a spot. Everything in this list has been living in my head rent free since I first saw them. In short these are the films that really left an impression on me.

Before we get to the actual list, I want to mention a few runner-ups. Most importantly, Bullet Train which is some of the most fun that I’ve ever had in the cinema. It’s one of those films that I felt was just made for me. I remember watching it and looking over at Tabby, who was clearly not enjoying it as much as I was, and just wondering if we were watching two different films. It just barely missed a place on the list, but it’s something that I would happily revisit at any point.

I loved Barbarian, and thought it was one of the best horror films of the year. I love how it blends horror and comedy together so well. Everything Jordan Peele has made has been amazing, and Nope was no exception to that. I’ve spent a fair bit of time reading theories about the film. Causeway is absolutely brilliant, a really grounded drama that’s genuinely moving. Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio is fantastic, and one of my favourites for this year and one that I will watch again. I saw this in the cinema and there were so many people crying at the end. It works so well. Studio 666 is a film that I didn’t know I needed, but I really did. Just a lot of fun.

Now onto the top ten:

10. Apollo 10 1⁄2: A Space Age Childhood

Before this film I hadn’t seen many Richard Linklater films, and I watched it purely because it was a new film on Netflix. I’m so glad I did, as I absolutely loved it. It’s such a great understated film about growing up and childhood. It has a really nice nostalgic tone, some funny moments and it really clicked with me. I also ended up watching more Linklater films because of this, and will hopefully watch even more this year.

9. The Whale

I’ve been a massive fan of Brendan Fraser since I was a child and eagerly awaited The Whale since it was first announced. It didn’t disappoint and I believe this is the best performance from Fraser ever. It’s also something that I think gets better after you’ve seen it, as the little clips that I’ve seen since watching the film have been even more emotional than the film itself. Technically this wasn’t fully released in the UK in 2022, but it was shown at the London Film Festival, which is where I saw it, which is why it’s in this list. I’m planning to see it again when it’s in cinemas, so maybe it’ll be in next year’s list as well.

8. The Northman

Robert Eggers is one of my favourite directors, and I think this is his strongest film to date. I absolutely loved it and as we walked out of the cinema I wanted to go back to see it again. It’s brilliant from start to finish. There’s a hypnotic quality about it, and the action is top quality.

7. X

I saw a trailer for X before something else at the cinema and I just knew this was going to be something I’d love and I wasn’t wrong. A throwback to films like the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and definitely one of the best horror films of the year by far. I haven’t seen the prequel, Pearl, yet as it hasn’t been released in the UK but will be seeing that as soon as possible. The trailer for Pearl looked even better than this.  

6. Scream (5)

One of the few films I saw twice at the cinema this year. I love the Scream series. It’s a yearly tradition for me to watch the original on Halloween and I’ve loved each sequel as well. I think this was a really strong entry to the franchise, even though it has one of the most horrible moments in the series to date. If you’ve seen it, you know what I’m on about. I’m cautiously looking forward to Scream 6, but I’m a little disappointed that Neve Campbell isn’t going to be in it. Seems a real shame to have a Scream film without Sidney. Still, this one is a really good slasher and one that I’m sure I’ll watch over and over again.

5. White Noise

Bizarre and uncanny is how I’d describe White Noise, the latest film from Noah Baumbach. An adaptation of Don DeLillo’s book (which I also read last year and really enjoyed). I think it captures the book perfectly and I really loved this one. It’s available on Netflix, and while I don’t think it’ll be for everyone it’s definitely worth a watch. It’s funny, morbid, and more than a little bit strange. Baumbach is one of my favourite writers/directors. There’s also a scene in this film where two professors lecture about Hitler and Elvis at the same time, overlapping each other and making comparisons between the two. It’s my favourite scene in the book, and even better on the screen. The dance sequence over the credits at the end is also really good.

4. Living

An adaptation of Akira Kurosawa’s Ikiru, which in turn is an adaptation of the Russian book The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy. A really sweet film about life, and how it’s never to late to find enjoyment and make a difference. I found this to be very emotional and life affirming. Bill Nighy is brilliant in it. Definitely a must watch.

3. The Wonder

Pure magic from start to finish that had me absolutely transfixed on the screen for the entire runtime. I didn’t know what to expect from this one, other than Florence Pugh was in it, and I thought it was absolutely stunning. A film that has really stayed with me and I have gone over it in my mind time and time again.

2. The Electrical Life of Louis Wain

For most of the year this was number 1 for 2022. It was released on 1st January 2022 in the UK and when we went to see it, I wasn’t expecting much. To me this was an emotional gut punch, and the only time I’ve cried in the cinema to date. It’s a tragic true story about the artist Louis Wain and one that’s told in a magical way.

1. The Banshees of Inisherin

Without a doubt The Banshees of Inisherin is my top film of 2022. It’s pure brilliance. When I saw the trailer I thought I was going to be watching a silly film about a broken down friendship, but it’s so much more than that. Colin Farrell is absolutely amazing (I watched After Yang a few days after this and he’s amazing in that as well) and I think he’s going to win the Oscar for this performance. Deeply moving and wickedly funny. It’s also available on Disney Plus, so if you have a subscription (or an unused free trial), and you haven’t seen it, then watch it.   

Those are my favourite films of 2022, what about you? What’s your films of the year? Let me know in the comments below!

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