Al Kitching

Opening scene from Michael Mann’s Manhunter, William Petersen and Denis Farina sat on a piece of driftwood.

Mrs Leeds. The bloom on her.

Molly Graham (Kim Greist) and Jack Crawford (Denis Farina) framed to perfection.

Went to see The Silence of the Lambs on the big screen for the first time since 1991. Stepping back even further now to Manhunter. They’re both so good. These two movies have transcended their original sources so completely; does anybody read Thomas Harris or even associate him with these films now?

YouTube video by muzich07 niles order coffee

This immediately popped into my head. youtu.be/2oH2DJ8W2rQ?...

Oh Lord, I’m so sorry to hear this Moose. All the best to you all.

Good morning, and a very happy Edgar Froese Day to all who celebrate.

I really want to read it again now and I must’ve read it 7 or 8 times!

It’s also his best description work since WD. He really gets hedgerows and trees, wildflowers and different shades of green.

Wouldn’t want to spoil or even hint towards a possible clue on plot, but I think the overall sense of dread, of control (in what is quite a peaceful, bucolic world to begin with) being lost, are beautifully done. There’s a pitch black idea right at its core that manages to be revealed perfectly.

Yes, it’s ridiculous, really. I got through it, but it was a chore and not worth the journey.

My Plague Dogs must be in another room, also Maia, the very loose (and misjudged erotic) prequel to Shardik; I’ll go looking for them later. Watership Down is indeed the timeless one, but I still believe The Girl in a Swing is a masterpiece.

The cover of Why do Birds Suddenly Disappear? White, with the title and so forth, and the subtitle “200 birds. 12 months. 1 lapsed birdwatcher.” The back of of a goldcrest is disappearing to the right of the cover.

Ten years ago, inspired by the return of my childhood interest in birds, I set myself a target: see 200 British species in a year.

The result was this book.

Through 2026 I’ll be revisiting it, month by month. If you want to join me, just subscribe to my newsletter. levparikian.substack.com

Lost in a Landscape: Buckenham Carrs | Invisible Works Heading west of the city two days before Christmas towards Buckenham Carrs, and it's all a bit of a bind. A glue of cars sticks the inner ring-road fast, the whole route backed up with shoppers, escap...

An old piece of writing that fits this time of year. The almost supernatural spectacle that is the Buckenham Carrs Corvid Roost. www.invisibleworks.co.uk/lost-in-a-la...

5 years since the Sunday Times absolutely hit the nail on the head.

And that particular mutant virus is still at large and trotting out pretty much the same old crap for the Mail.

Rewatching Men. I think it’s wonderful. And pretty horrifying. It seemed quite divisive at the time, but seems to have vanished culturally (if I might be unforgivably wanky and condescending for a moment).

It’s on All4 for nowt if you fancy seeing Jessie Buckley and Rory Kinnear being amazing.

That is a FANTASTIC film. Brilliant.

It’s a beautiful package, by the way. And goodness, the music. All mellotron and icy reverb is fabulous.

Anyway, a newlywed couple turn up at this hotel only to find a mysterious countess, who just happens to be the vampire Elizabeth Báthory. And look, a new 4k restoration just landed; it’s been 40+ years, so here we go.

I saw Daughters of Darkness (a 1971 let’s be honest EROTIC horror) years ago late night on the BBC and it has stuck with me ever since. Not like that.

It’s set in a deserted seaside hotel in Oostende. I **love** out of season North Sea seaside towns by the way. (“Everyday is silent and grey.”)

“Red sky in the morning,
Really quite lovely indeed”

It’s amazing to think Nigel Farage was once exactly the same.

Absolutely over the moon with my new slip mat from @gailmyerscough.co.uk. You should go check her stuff out, it’s aces.

Blu-ray box set slip cover for All The Haunts Be Ours, a secondary descriptor declares that it is a compendium of folk horror. The cover graphic depicts a golden tree, before it standing stone and image of a magpie.

Images from the movies Witchhammer and Viy.

Images from the movies Il Demonio and Dark Waters

After too long hemming and hawing, picked up All The Haunts Be Ours, an astonishing compendium of folk horror containing 20 movies from around the world. Started the centrepiece documentary Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched and wondered how I’d get on (it’s 3’15”). It flew by; amazing piece of work.

A tiny kingfisher gleams out from dense overarching willows bordering a narrow river

“On a willow twig a kingfisher perches. It watches the eels with interest, but these are well-grown and too big for him to catch”

‘What to Look for in Autumn’
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe Writer:
EL Grant Watson

Yeah, with you there, but for me it’s “Doubt.” I thought she was phenomenal in that.

Talk by Lev Parikian: Birds and Flight Join nature writer Lev Parikian for a fascinating, entertaining talk about the marvel of flight, focusing on a variety of bird species

I’m giving an online talk on Thursday evening at 8pm (UK time) about Birds & Flight. It’s free to RSPB members but anyone can join for a donation. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/talk-by-le...

Gail is great, for proof look at all her cool stuff FFS.