Wickham Clayton

1 - The James Dean Story (1957) All-tman 1 (dirs. Robert Altman and George W. George)

Here’s my latest blog post- the first film in my watch-through of Altman’s filmography: the rather audacious documentary The James Dean Story.
substack.com/@wickhamclay...

internet access should be like driving you should have to pass a test when you hit a certain age and if you fail they take your phone away

bsky.app/profile/film...
Just in case you were unaware, sharing the wonderful Film Is Fabulous with my contacts 😁 @jemsaunders1.bsky.social @kjsoar.bsky.social @maidfortv.bsky.social @wick85c.bsky.social @simonbrew.bsky.social @cinefeline.bsky.social @stinaface.bsky.social @helenwheatley.bsky.social

0 - All-tman Beginning a watch-through of Robert Altman's feature films

If I don’t already have enough to do, I’ve just started a new Substack. I’m going through all of Robert Altman’s feature films so feel free to join me on this journey.

Here’s the introductory post!

open.substack.com/pub/wickhamc...

Lyrically she is way better than almost any pop star working today. She’s fucking honed that craft.

Echoing a lot of my own thoughts. Folklore is absolutely my favourite though every era has something that blows me away. I’ve really been loving Midnights lately and the more I listen to TTPD, the better it gets. And I was just thinking about how sophisticated her lyrics are.

I’m very similar. The whole mood is more subdued than I expected but the sound is so warm and cosy. I’ve listened to it through like 3 times? There are highlights but it never really dips for me. A solid listen that I’m going to have to go through many more times.

Hard agree

Thank you.

I’m starting a full watch-through of Altman. Considering posting my reviews of each film. Where is the best place to do that?
My own website?
Substack?
Patreon?
Another place?
Comment below to let me know your thoughts!

I get there are legitimate reasons to criticise TS, but when a teen girl succeeds, claws her way out of male corporate ownership, speaks against a fascist regime despite advice otherwise, and men don’t get backlash for their similar success you have to wonder if misogyny and bot farms are in play.

Three hours of brains

Starting my studies today. Very excited but also I’m going to be exhausted for the next 9 months.

This also means I’ll be in London a lot more. London friends: let me know if you want to meet up a some point!

Zoom out: It's not just Holmes Norton refusing calls to bow out. Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.), who has multiple credible primary challengers after suffering a complex partial seizure on the House floor in February, said he plans to launch his reelection bid soon. "Generational change is fine, but you've got to earn it," said Larson, 77. "It's not like, 'Oh geez, you know what, why didn't I think of that? Now's the time for me to step down because, well, it's generational change!'" Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.), 80, told Axios he is still planning to run for reelection despite facing a half dozen primary opponents and persistent concerns about his health.

Yes, literally: It's time for generational change. The leaders that got us into this mess won't be the ones to get us out of it -- all of them have to either step back or get primaried & have to defend why they're the best person to lead us forward. www.axios.com/2025/09/05/h...

Welp. I beat Dark Souls.

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The cover of the book "Games of Terror Halloween, Friday the 13th and the Films of the Stalker Cycle," featuring a color-distorted image from the film HALLOWEEN in which Michael Myers attempts to strangle Laurie.

It's a blood red-letter day! Vera Dika's early, studious, practically geometric breakdown of the slasher film, from the stalkers to the survivors, is updated and lookin' good. One to buy. @uniwalespress.bsky.social @danieljsheppard.bsky.social ‬ @wick85c.bsky.social
www.uwp.co.uk/book/games-o...

Representing my Alma mater

The experience was one of the most rewarding of my research career, and I’m so fortunate to be able to continue working with these wonderful people.

My dear friend and colleague, Daniel Sheppard and l were fortunate enough to be asked to help edit and write a foreword to this monumental and expanded publication.

…that at least someone was (insightfully and brilliantly) paying attention to these movies in their structural and formal minutiae.

It seems fitting that now, 17 years later (and on a Friday the 13th no less), I receive my contributor’s copy of the book’s much-needed and long-overdue 2nd Edition.

…the whole time I photocopied the entire book at 7p a page. I snatched a £40 used copy off eBay a couple of years later. Vera Dika’s ‘Games of Terror: Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the Films of the Stalker Cycle’ absolutely filled in huge gaps in my research, and comforted me a little…

I began my PhD in 2008, and one of the first books recommended to me by my supervisor, Stacey Abbott, was an out-of-print tome she described as “essential”. I tracked down a copy at the Bodleian Library and looked over my shoulder for punitive librarians…

DELIGHTED to receive my gratis copy of GAMES OF TERROR, courtesy of @uniwalespress.bsky.social. This revised volume contains Vera Dika’s full original text w/ additional writings, as well as an all-new foreword that I am SO incredibly proud to share, co-authored with @wick85c.bsky.social 👻📚🎉

Clock is ticking. How long until he ruins this? Taking all bets.

Mine: he’s already done it somewhere nobody is.

I had the absolute pleasure last Sunday of doing a little acting on a horror short.

It was tremendous fun and I’m thrilled to have had the opportunity.

Putting my gender on Vinted

How many versions of Tripping Billies does one person need in their music library?

Jesus Christ that’s the bulk of the disability cut savings for 5 years.