Review - Crazy 4 Cult: Cult Movie Art 2Review by Paul Fiander
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I cannot remember when I first heard the term Cult in description of a movie, but now it’s a term used to describe some of favourite films. This book Is a brilliant celebration of some of those films and the way cult movies are able to inspire not just nostalgia but also something creative. The subject matter may not have the depth of a Citizen Kane or the budget of Transformers but what they are is a touch of the imaginative that are able to appeal to some despite their flaws.
Within the pages of the book you will find films that you have seen or heard of and unless you are a total film buff never heard of. Because of this and the grand array of visual styles it's hard to review, so instead I have picked a few pieces from the book to talk about and I'll give a round up at the end.
Within the pages of the book you will find films that you have seen or heard of and unless you are a total film buff never heard of. Because of this and the grand array of visual styles it's hard to review, so instead I have picked a few pieces from the book to talk about and I'll give a round up at the end.
The Descent into madness by N.C. Winters.
This image depicting Jack from the Shining also acts as the cover art. It's a mixture of realism and something more surreal in the brightly coloured mask which is so visible in the middle of the picture. The mask acts as a way to draw you to the eyes where you can see the madness of the character is setting in. It's odd to say but I'm an eye person, for a portrait to captivate me, I need this area to be well depicted and for me this picture definitely does the job. The eyelids especially are created to show pain highlighting Jack's turmoil. The colours in the background help to keep the tone of picture subdued but again we come back to the splash of fantasy in the mask which makes this picture more than your standard portrait.
This image depicting Jack from the Shining also acts as the cover art. It's a mixture of realism and something more surreal in the brightly coloured mask which is so visible in the middle of the picture. The mask acts as a way to draw you to the eyes where you can see the madness of the character is setting in. It's odd to say but I'm an eye person, for a portrait to captivate me, I need this area to be well depicted and for me this picture definitely does the job. The eyelids especially are created to show pain highlighting Jack's turmoil. The colours in the background help to keep the tone of picture subdued but again we come back to the splash of fantasy in the mask which makes this picture more than your standard portrait.
'In George We Trust' by Eric Tan.
This piece is a mock up of a poster from Back to the Future and shows an altogether different style. The cartoony depiction of George looks like it has come straight out of a 50's comic, tying in perfectly with the parts of the first, second and third film. The sparing use of colour helps to draw the eye to the periphery of the page and most notably the word McFly. The poster shows a George running for class president and highlights the changes in his personality. His evolution from the weak willed punching bag in the early film to a strong confident character in the later sections are one of the highlights of Back to the Future and I love the artist interpretation of this. |
'Robocabbie' by Jason Edmiston.
On first viewing you could be forgiven for thinking this was just a portrait of Robocop but as you look closer the cacophony of movie images come busting out of the page. The styles are mixed and work perfectly to show the range of pictures that are within the pages of this book. Seeing everything from The Bitch to the Stay Puff marshmallow man helps to put the books range of subject matter into context. |
Cult films are not limited by genre they can be swash buckling romps like the Princess Bride, to comedy musicals like the Little Shop of Horrors or even a true Horror like Alien. One thing is for sure these films are a uniting force for many fans and thanks to the team at Gallery 1988 and Titan books you can have a piece of this phenomenon and the art it inspire on your coffee table.
Images courtesy of Titan Books
Book - Provided by Titan Books
Book - Provided by Titan Books
