Horror Favourites – John Huddles

Sci-fi fantasy thriller The Philosophers is an enthralling story from filmmaker John Huddles (Far Harbor, At Sachem Farm), that will provoke thought and stimulate senses. We had a chat to John about his favourite horror film.

Described by the L.A. Times as a ‘provocative survival story’ The Philosophers shines a light on how humans react when their lives are threatened by a catastrophic scenario and has never been more relevant. Lauded by audiences of all ages across the globe ­and even studied as part of Palo Alto College’s Introduction to Philosophy course, the film is now set for its anticipated re-release on UK digital in its directors’ original form, on 24 May 2021 from (Yet) Another Distribution Company.

Featuring an impressive cast of acting talent including Bonnie Wright (Harry Potter), Erin Moriarty (The Boys), Freddie Stroma (Bridgerton, Pitch Perfect), Katie Findlay (How to Get Away With Murder, Man Seeking Woman), George Blagden (Vikings, Versailles), Maia Mitchell (The Fosters) and Philippa Coulthard (Howards End), the film premiered at Fantasy Filmfest to a rapturous response and was nominated for Best Motion Picture at the Sitges Film Festival.

At an international school in Jakarta, Indonesia, on the last day of class, 20 students from around the world are manipulated by their idiosyncratic philosophy teacher, Mr Zimit (D’Arcy), into conducting a final thought experiment before they can graduate. Using the tools of logic alone they must work out who among them is valuable enough to the future of humanity to merit a slot inside a specialised bunker – that only has room for 10 – during an atomic apocalypse, the rest must stay behind…doomed to be vapourised by the blasts.

Following a rapid trajectory of atomic detonations, psychological assaults and extreme philosophising, we’re taken on an ever-changing-ride across multiple realities to fascinating and thrilling effect. Petra (Sophie Lowe – Blow The Man Down, Beautiful Kate) the brightest girl in class and her boyfriend, James (Rhys Wakefield – True Detective, The Purge), take centre stage as star-crossed lovers whose romance and fate plays out with a myriad of outcomes.

The Philosophers drills into both the beauty and the desperation of human behaviour, as it explores serious questions of emotion versus reason, power versus weakness and leaders versus followers and delivers a riveting, mind-expanding thriller.

Below John Huddles talks horror:

“By far my favorite horror film is Forbidden Planet. Cinephiles who think of it only as a sci-fi film will object; but according to the experts that I checked in with, the ones who live to make lists, it’s also “techno-horror,” a sub-genre where the horror element emanates from science and technology.

Techno-horror was big in the 1950’s, but I love how one contributor to Wikipedia says that most techno-horror films of that era were “of low quality and undeserving of critical review.” Ouch. The two exceptions usually cited are Forbidden Planet and The Day The Earth Stood Still (my second favorite horror film).

Classical horror narratives, involving the eldritch or the supernatural, are tough for me: I get too shaken up to feel the pleasure in the terror. But a film that you initially think is just sci-fi which ultimately reveals itself to be driven by the intense feeling of fear and shock at how technology has damaged (or destroyed) us is the kind of horror I can sign up for.

In Forbidden Planet, we get early sci-fi at its best: innovative visual effects and sound design, music that’s still fresh to the ear with its spooky futurism, production design that’s gorgeously immersive, and costume design you can’t take your eyes off of. Plus a plot inspired by Shakespeare’s Tempest and storytelling that includes the first robot on film with personality.

Then the scary part weaves its way in. It’s no blood-fest, but for my money I’d always prefer to be scared peripherally, by seeing less, rather than frontally, seeing everything. (The best example of the peripheral approach being the treatment of the title character in 1979’s Alien. My third favorite horror film.)

When the source of the horror in Forbidden Planet is finally revealed, it’s definitely more cerebral than visceral. It makes you cogitate rather than gasp. But when you find out how science and technology ruined a highly advanced species (the crustacean-sounding “Krell”) 200,000 years ago, you can’t not feel a shiver up your spine.

If you ever wanted to see how an old-school matte painting of 9,200 thermonuclear reactors that have been running on their own for 2000 centuries can terrify you just by making you imagine the sheer loneliness of it all, Forbidden Planet is your movie. It’s a different kind of horror than what ghosts and gore bring to the party, but you can’t say it hasn’t stood the test of time.”

Thrilling sci-fi fantasy The Philosophers starring James D’Arcy comes to digital 24 May 2021

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Alex Humphrey

Alex studied film at the University of Kent and went on to work for Universal Pictures in their Post Room gaining an inside look at the movie industry from the very bottom. Constantly writing reviews in everything from local magazines to Hip Hop sites Alex honed his critical skills even spending a brief period as a restaurant critic. Read more

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