Witchfinder General (1968)

With themes of isolation, helplessness and anarchy, this seemingly silly revenge movie is none-the-less fun and at times unexpectedly stylish.  Vincent Price is the eponymous protagonist and as such is a great dead-pan witch hunter who genuinely believes he is “doing God’s work”.  He never once loses his cool (until he gets an axe buried in him) which adds to the detached way he views human life, apart from his own.

Skyborn

Watched this short film as part of the NFTS-run MOOC.

I really loved all the details: close-ups of various twirly bits on the flying machine; Gideon's head-torch, and the music-box on the side of his head playing "You are my Sunshine, my only Sunshine...".  This of course links with the Father calling his son Sunshine, in addition to the point of the film to fly and find the sun; very nice touch - reminds me of the "I am the one and only" alarm clock in Moon (2009).

I also liked the way that they spoke in a slightly odd way "I have news that will please you". It all added to the feeling of an established universe and put me in mind of Firefly.  Very creative use of light and sound, combined with lovely music which swelled at the moment when you realise that the father knew all along that the flying machine would never take the weight of both of them; plucking all the right heart-strings.

Really enjoyed it, and I think I have to go and watch it again. But, you know, that's just, like, my opinion man.

Skyborn from Jamie Stone on Vimeo.