Monday 25 September 2017

Here’s why I won’t be reviewing films any more

This isn’t a fit of pique and I’m not upset about anything. I love writing reviews on my website and I would love to carry on writing them. It’s just that I want to do something else. I want to write something else.

When the original version of my website was launched in January 2002, the web was still in its first decade. YouTube wouldn’t be invented for another three years, Twitter a year after that. There were only four Harry Potter books. It was less than a year since Douglas Adams passed away. The BBC had no plans to revive Doctor Who.

Since then, lots of other movie review websites have come and gone.  To the best of my knowledge, no single author film site has lasted as long as mine.

Since 2002 I have written 709 reviews and posted 321 interviews. Total wordcount: 1,655,073. That’s an average of 105,000 words every year. Or one book. If I had been working in print instead of on the web, I could potentially have 18 books with my name on instead of three. Or maybe 16 books and a couple of movie scripts.

This, my friends, is why I’m regretfully packing in the film reviewing. I will be 50 next February, and while I am incredibly proud of my three published volumes, it irks me that I haven’t written more. I have several in various states of completion, not least the long gestating biography of Elsa Lanchester, which I would love to get finished in time for the 2019 remake of Bride of Frankenstein.

I'm also working on a massive catalogue of all 21st century British horror films (so I’m still writing reviews, but in 200 words not 4,000). I also have several non-film-related books I want to write.

What irks me even more than my lack of literary production is that, as I approach my half century, I don’t have a feature film writing credit. Ever since I was at primary school, I have written scripts. Back in 2002 I was finishing off my Masters Degree in TV Scriptwriting – but in those pre-Who days there was no market for sci-fi, fantasy or adventure.

My scriptwriting ‘career’ has been one of near misses: an episode of Urban Gothic (promptly cancelled); an unmade episode of the Captain Scarlet remake (stories about Gerry Anderson turned out to be true, though I did at least squeeze some money out of him); a version of Xtro 4 for a guy who claimed he owned the rights but didn’t; an adaptation of The Beetle which Variety claimed I had sold to Hammer (I hadn’t); and so on. The only script of mine that ever got made was Waiting for Gorgo, a 17-minute film that spent two years in post and then wasn't submitted to any genre festivals. Sigh.

I have spent 15 years analysing what does and doesn’t work in films, particularly low-budget independent British horror films. Theoretically, I should be the go-to guy for screenplays. But not once has anyone come to me and said, “Mike, I need you to write a script for me.” (Actually a couple of people did, but neither worked out and they joined the near-miss pile.)

I know some people who want to write meaningful, artistic works, or aspire to one day write the next Hollywood blockbuster. I don’t. All I’ve ever wanted to do is write some silly microbudget monster movie that people will complain about on Amazon. That’s what I love watching, that’s what I want to write, instead of writing about.

And if you’re thinking: go out there and make the films yourself. I appreciate the sentiment, but I have no desire to direct, and have neither the business skills to produce nor the technical skills to do anything else. All I do is write. I pick the right words and put them in the right order. It’s all I’ve ever done, all I’ve ever wanted to do. I’ve been told I’m quite good at it. It’s paid the rent, in one way or another, for 22 years.

But it seems to me that what has stopped me from writing the books and screenplays I want to write is spending all my spare time (outside my writing day job at Leicester University) writing my website. While I’ve been reviewing Zombiesaurus and its ilk, I’ve not been finishing Elsa Lanchester: Bride of the Hunchback or My Big Fat Zombie Wedding.

This website will stay live, and I’ve got a handful of reviews I’ve promised people that I’ll get up over the summer, but as of now I’m not accepting any more review copies. If you care to send me a screener, I’ll certainly appreciate it and will tweet about it enthusiastically. But there will be no more reviews. Sorry.

I’m also knocking my British Horror Revival blog on the head. Hardly anyone ever looks at it anyway. I’ll keep both Twitter accounts going. I’ll also keep writing my column for Scream.

It’s been a great 15 and a half years. Coincidentally that’s exactly how long I’ve got to retirement (if I make it that far..., cough cough) so now seems a perfect time to change direction.

Finally, I want to thank absolutely everyone who has helped me: people who sent me screeners, or invited me to screenings, or agreed to interviews, or commented, or tweeted or contributed in any way. Cheers, folks!

16 comments:

  1. I shall be sad to see you go, Mike!

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  2. Well done Mike enjoyed your reviews we very much hope to see that micro-budget monster movie on Amazon. We will be watching that when you have written it and it's released good luck....
    Horror filmmaker fans currently shooting
    Synthetic Void (2018) ........ https://vimeo.com/225115853

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  3. If your screenplay/book work as good as your reviews ... gonna be fire!

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  4. Darrell Buxton24 July 2017 at 07:20

    End of an era for sure. Who knows, if you stop reviewing terrible films maybe 'they' will stop making them! A big A+ rating from me for all you've done so far. Hope to catch up in person soon.

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  5. This is indeed very sad news, but I understand your reasons. You are a brilliant writer and I can see your talent and time being used to create many a brilliant book or screenplay. It's just sad as you seem to be the only critic (with any real authority) who can give unknown films and their makers a voice and exposure for their work, work which may now go unnoticed in the world of independent filmmaking. I have always felt that your reviews were by far the best I could ever hope for for my tiny, obscure little films. It's also sad that I'm only a few weeks away from finishing my third feature and, having had my previous two reviewed and covered on your site, I won't have the opportunity to have this one covered. But all the best for you. And I really do look forward to seeing more of your excellent books available to add to my collection and an M.J Simpson penned screenplay is the stuff of dreams. Good luck and all the best and many, many thanks again.

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  6. Good luck with the next chapter and thanks for the reviews.

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  7. Fair play and good luck Mike. Will we see no more or will you finish up what you got on your slate?

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  8. Good luck Mike. I've loved the reviews and your kind words on High Stakes remain on the DVD sleeve in pride of place. Keep on trucking and very best.

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  9. I understand your change in writing priorities and good luck with the books and scripts. However, promise us that, when they appear, you'll come out of reviewing-retirement to cover 'TrumpoSaurus', 'BrexitoSaurus' and 'Mrs Brown's BoysoSaurus'!

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  10. Thanks for all the fun and your review of The Adventures of a Plumber in Outer Space. Keep your end up!

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  11. Usually I discover web sites after they've been abandoned for 3-5 years or more. This time I'm discovering a web site 4 days after the fact. Thank you for helping me get that much closer to being up to date and good luck with your writing endeavors in the days to come.

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    1. Thanks for your comment. It's all still here so I hope you find plenty to enjoy.

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  12. Although my own site is much less mature than yours (www.darkeyesoflondon.blogspot.com) I realise the tension between delivering shorter, more deliverable pieces of writing and the longer form. I've been working on a history of the British Science Fiction Film for a while now and have the same dilemma (the fact that Kev Lyons is doing the same thing - as we found out when we swapped notes - has spurned me on a bit, a kind of literary space race), but unlike you I don't have the same heft of work in existence, which is important as a calling card. It's a difficult one. I wish you well though Mike.

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    1. Thanks David. A solid overview of UK SF films is long overdue - it's so much more than Quatermass. Hope you've got a chapter on Morons from Outer Space!

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    2. Ha. Yes indeed, although 'chapter' is stretching it. Tony Dow's U.F.O. on the other hand - an existential classic!

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  13. Thank you for enjoying and reviewing The Adventures of a Plumber in Outer Space. Hang in there until the end! Invite cards

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