ONE NIGHT IN HELL, a short film by James Hall and Jason Jameson, using a series of stereoscopic photographs to tell the story of a skeleton’s journey in to Hell.
It all started in a Portobello market some 50 years ago, when a certain Brian May came across a card with some cavorting skeletons and demons. It was a Diablerie. They were created by French artists in the 19C, depicting Satan and his cohorts getting up to all sorts. Sculpted out of clay, usually satirical in nature, they were genuinely beautiful pieces of art. However, the killer ‘app’ was, when viewed through a stereoscopic eyepiece, they coalesced into a vivid three-dimensional vision of hell.
Already a fan, due to the stereoscopic marvels he had encountered in Weetabix packets as a kid, May was now hooked – and a lifetime of enquiry collecting Diableries led to a chance meeting with Dennis Pellerin, an expert from France. A book followed in 2013, and now a short film. Using a series of these Diableries, the filmmakers James Hall and Jason Jameson have animated the scenes they depict into a narrative that takes a skeleton (a rock guitarist, played of course by May), deep in to the bowels of Hell, because Satan is rather keen that he play in his Rock Orchestra – well, of course he does! It is a brilliant concept.
The central idea is so good that you feel this could be extended to 90 minutes.
The film nods towards Ray Harryhausen, George Melies and Tim Burton, and there is a lot here in the brief 7 mins we are given. Firstly, the satirical scenes of the individual Diableries, brought to life with all their history entwined. In one they make cannon balls, for profit, we presume; in another they leave for Hell in a train from what one assumes is the Gare Du Nord in Paris – the gateway to hell! Then there is the remarkable 3D. 19th century clay sculptures, all designed to be viewed stereoscopically, are followed by the sudden apparition of skeletons in vivid green or a startling red. They lurch out of the background, reminding you that this is Hell – while a rather charming Satan is chatting up the girls.
Finally, there is the sound. Filmed in Dolby Atmos and with original music by Dr May, his signature sound popping up throughout, it adds to the charm and overall bonkers feel to the piece. And it is bonkers. You want more, much more. And that is what this short deserves. The central idea is so good that you feel this could be extended to 90 minutes, and it turns out that it just may – as they are in talks with the team behind THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS and THE CORPSE BRIDE. Well of course they are, it would be the perfect fit. Go and see this original short before the main feature, then you can tell everyone you saw the original before anyone else … a bit like a secret rock gig, really.
ONE NIGHT IN HELL screened on 4 September at 18.30 at the Light Cinema.
httpvh://youtu.be/2HHB9kvZ-LE