Toonzilla strikes: cinema unveils weekend of Hallowe'en horror

Campbeltown Picture House is inviting people to sign up for a weekend of Hallowe'en horrors like no other featuring frightening Japanese fun.

 

The entertainment will include monster turtles, giant pigs, family anime, whisky tasting, claymation, filmmaking and possibly the scariest movie of all time!

 

The cinema is preparing to celebrate Japanese monsters and horror on film on Saturday October 30 and Sunday October 31 as part of the national BFI Japan 2020 season along with a separate screening and Japanese whisky tasting on Friday October 29.

 

Globe-trotting model-maker Jim Parkyn, who has worked with Aardman Animations and the BBC, returns to run special monster-making workshops which are open to everyone aged eight and older.

 

Anyone can join to make a monster with Jim's expert guidance and a selection will then be filmed in the style of 1960s creature features like Godzilla and Gamera, the original Kaiju – Japanese monster – movies, set in Kintyre rather than Kyoto.

 

"attachment_578664" "aligncenter" "300"] 1960s Japanese monster movie Gamera will be screened following the launch of Toonzilla.

 

Watch out for monsters emerging from Campbeltown Loch before rampaging through the Wee Toon and causing havoc.

 

Toonzilla will be made over the weekend by Jim and filmmaker Alasdair Satchel and premiered at 2pm on the Sunday before a screening of Gamera, which sparked no fewer than 11 sequels.

 

Jim last visited Campbeltown in January 2020 when he worked with school pupils to make their very own Morphs, Gromits and Shaun the Sheep.

 

He's looking forward to making a whole new batch of claymation monsters, saying: 'I can't wait to come back to Campbeltown to create new characters for our film. I was very impressed with the skills of everyone who took part in the last workshops so I know there's going to be some great models.'

 

The workshop takes place from 11am to 12.30pm on the Saturday; spaces are limited and must be booked in advance, at a cost of £5, which includes a free ticket for Sunday's screening of Toonzilla and Gamera.

 

"attachment_578667" "aligncenter" "300"] Model-maker Jim Parkyn, photographed during his previous visit to Campbeltown, will lead monster-making workshops.

 

Jim is also leading a special 'community claytime' online workshop, free and open to everyone in any location.

 

This will take place at 7pm on Wednesday October 20 and can be joined via Jim's Instagram – www.instagram.com/jimparkyn/ – all you need is plasticine or any kind of modelling clay.

 

The weekend kicks off on Friday night with a special screening of the outstanding Oscar winner, Lost in Translation, starring Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson, accompanied by a delicious Japanese whisky flight with Watt Whisky.

 

On Saturday afternoon, there will be family anime with Studio Ghibli's multi-award-winning Spirited Away, considered to be one of the greatest animated films.

 

In the evening, for horror lovers who are brave enough to be scared out of their skins, there's a rare opportunity to catch the original Ring – Ringu – on the big screen.

 

"attachment_578670" "aligncenter" "300"] There will be a rare opportunity to catch the original Ring – Ringu – on the big screen.

 

'What more could anyone want of Hallowe'en – giant fire-breathing prehistoric turtle monsters, parents turned into pigs, claymation fun, terrifying horror and a chance to enjoy some rare whisky and a great film?' asked Ellen Mainwood, Campbeltown Picture House manager.

 

'We're delighted to be part of the BFI Japan 2020 season, a nationwide celebration of the best of Japanese film.'

 

Tickets for all events are on sale now at www.campbeltownpicturehouse.co.uk