Oct 30, 2008 t he writings of author clive barker have had, with few exceptions, a tough time translating to the big screen. Revisiting clive barkers books of blood volume one an amazing read. This story, which eventually earned a long overdue screen transfer in 2008 is one of the most unnerving works ive yet to read from barker. Well i caught part of tonights debut of syfys being human. Based on a clive barker short storythe first in a multivolume collection called books of blood the midnight meat train has a title that perfectly evokes the cold, blunt, businesslike slaughter within. It was my first introduction to vinnie jones and i was impressed by his performance. But ive run out of time,and will let you discover them yourself. The midnight meat train 2008 the midnight meat train 2008 the image could not be loaded. In this instance its not a softening of the imaginative and perverse imagery of his. He lay under one of the seats now, sprawled along the vibrating wall of the car, hidden from view.
Its a subterranean world that holds many mysteries, dark secrets, and legends. I still enjoyed it quite a bit and find that owning this disk is worth while. The show deals with bloodthirsty vampires and werewolves who secretly live amongst humans, and feed off of them. The midnight meat train introduction to the special definitive edition. Book i the book of blood 3 the midnight meat train the yattering and jack 35 pig blood blues 53 sex, death and starshine 79 in the hills, the cities 112 book ii dread 9 hells event 170 jacqueline ess. The official clive barker website the midnight meat train. The midnight meat train like most other blood drenched slashersplatters, is devoid of a plot, scarieness, and suspense. The film suffers from many trends that now seem dated within the genre, and relies on excessive gore and jump scares to create tension. Theres a lot to say about how he eventually fucks his gf anally against her enjoyment, her dying at the end ceremoniously thus removing her from his life, his obsession with vinnie jones mahogany character the guys named after stiff wood for christs sake, his insane obsession with red meat. The midnight meat train, the first long story in the books of blood, is going to be shot in new york probably in this summer. Clive barkers books of blood tv series will include. The midnight meat train is exactly what i expected until. The first two, book of blood and midnight meat train were not bad. It can be found in volume one of six of barkers collection books of blood 19841985.
It could have been seconds or hours that passed before kaufmans eyes flickered open again, and his mind focussed on his newfound situation. Jeff buhler adapted the story and filming, in new york and montreal, was originally scheduled to begin on the 17th october 2005. The movie is an allegory for a man becoming homosexual. Books of blood are a series of horror fiction collections written by the british author clive barker. The word mythology does come closer to conveying what barker does in books of blood volumes , but the best way to perceive it as painting with words. I just watched the movie midnight meat train and boy was that a confusing movie. The midnight meat train hit closer to home than the book of blood.
The palace of delights, hed always called it, in the days of his innocence twenty five pages later, as the palace of delights received kaufmans adoration without comment. In volume one there is a short story entitled the midnight meat train and it is this story on which this film is based. Jun 04, 2014 provided to youtube by believe sas the midnight meat train gods of the underworld book of blood. The japanese director ryuhei kitamura versus, azumi chose the clive barker adaptation the midnight meat train as his us debut and manufactured a quite impressive one with this. The secret fathers of new york have kept their existence a secret in this way. My brother has a copy of books of blood and i just read the story. For those who only know clive barker through his long multigenre novels, this onevolume edition of the books of blood is a welcome chance to acquire the 16 remarkable horror short stories with which he kicked off his career. It was adapted from a clove barker short story, and i have read in several places that it is an allegory for a man accepting his homosexuality. While maybe a train isnt odd to some, leon could have avoided the plot wholesale by simply waiting to go home to fall asleep.
In 1984 the books of blood by clive barker were published and quickly gained a following worldwide. Clive barker born october 5, 1952 is a british horror and dark fantasy author responsible for over a dozen novels, several movies, a few graphic novels, some artwork, and a couple of video games as well. Stepping back on board the midnight meat train today, its clear that this brutal but lyrical short story retains a narrative power that has not been dimmed by time. If you have seen book of blood and midnight meat train, then reading the short story behind it is so very rewarding. The remaining stories, the book of blood, the midnight meat train, and pig blood blues are all enjoyable tales of horror and gore. Because books of blood is a bit restrained compared to the original source material, it is less than perfect. One of these stories was the midnight meat train following one leon kaufman as he. Based on a short story by clive barker, the midnight meat train was released in 2008 before being rushed to dvd, and honestly, it isnt hard to see why. The books of blood volume 1 kindle edition by barker. The midnight meat train radio stories clive barker elvis del valle.
The film follows a photographer who attempts to track down a serial killer dubbed the subway butcher, and discovers more than he bargained for under the city streets. Clive barkers the midnight meat train special definitive. Based on a clive barker short storythe first in a multivolume collection called books of bloodthe midnight meat train has a title that perfectly evokes the cold, blunt, businesslike slaughter within. Contents the book of blood the midnight meat train the yattering and jack pig blood blues sex, death, and starshine in the hills, the cities dread hells event jacqueline ess. Taken from the special features on the midnight meat train dvd. Provided to youtube by believe sas the midnight meat train gods of the underworld book of blood. Clive barkers short story, the midnight meat train from his books of blood collection is a brutal and unflinching look into such a world. With this begins the tedious flow of the midnight meat train. Clive barkers upcoming books of blood tv series will include all new stories something horror fans will definitely be excited about. A photographers obsessive pursuit of dark subject matter leads him into the path of a serial killer who stalks late night commuters, ultimately butchering them in the most gruesome ways imaginable. The midnight meat train released at a time when i was getting a little tired of modern horror movies.
My favorite story is from the books of blood 1 3 is the midnight meat train also, loved your comparison of barkers writing style with that of lovecrafts. Midnight meat train is one of my favorite horror movies with how grotesque it is, but book of blood fails. Clive barkers the midnight meat train special definitive edition. The word mythology does come closer to conveying what barker does in books of blood volumes. Clive barkers stories in his collection books of blood and that also inspired the movie of the same name. Her will and testament 189 the skins of the fathers 218 new murders in the rue morgue 245 book iii son of celluloid 271 rawhead rex 300. The book of blood this is the frame story for the entire books of blood series. Back in 2008, clive barkers short story the midnight meat train, his novel books of blood was adapted into a film. Out of nowhere the man takes this hammer and bashes her skull in going into slow motion.
This film is based off clive barker s short story entitled midnight meat train and it was from the first volume of mr. Nov 01, 2008 ryuhei kitamuras the midnight meat train, based on a story of the same name in horror auteur clive bakers books of blood collection, is a good horror film that tittered on being great. When the man slipped in the blood, we see a puddle extending down a few chair rows, but when the camera pulls back up there is almost no blood. The villain is a butcher named mahogany though his handle isnt revealed until the end credits, played by exsoccer. Clive is currently completing the fourth in the series. The midnight picture show planned the midnight meat train as the first of their films of blood in 2005, backed by finance from lakeshore entertainment and distribution by lionsgate. After being neutered by the powersthatbe for its limited theatrical run, the home video release of the midnight meat train restores the film to the way it was meant to be seen as an unrated directors cut. This past week bd reporter jeff otto got on the phone with horror legend clive barker to talk about the dvdbluray release of the midnight meat train. With vinnie jones, bradley cooper, leslie bibb, brooke shields. Horror two pack clive barkers book of blood midnight meat train blu. While maybe a train isnt odd to some, leon could have avoided the plot wholesale by simply waiting to go home to fall asleep ancient conspiracy. This story, which eventually earned a long overdue screen transfer in 2008 is one of the most unnerving works ive yet to.
Oct 07, 2015 ive always been fascinated and disturbed by the underground subway train systems. The villain is a butcher named mahogany though his handle isnt revealed until the end credits, played by ex. Readers of the first books of blood who pressed on after ramseys two page introduction, found that its. No one could walk out of the film claiming theyd been misled. Please do watch the midnight meat train film adaptation if you get the chance.
The midnight meat train radio stories clive barker. I recently discovered that the distributing company lionsgate was constantly pushing. We have a script and we have an idea about the directive but i cant share because we havent done the final contract stuff but its something the people will know. Another top notch offering from volume one is the book of blood s immediate successor. The midnight meat train is the best, goriest movie to watch. Although, it has captured my attention with the many questions i wish to ask.
In 1984 the books of blood by clive barker were published a. The ending, whilst disliked by some and unexpected by most, in my opinion was great and i loved the fact that at least answers are given. The first of his quintet of childrens books, abarat, was published in 2002 to resounding critical acclaim, followed by abarat ii. In the opening scene, we see a clean train car, then suddenly one of the doors and walls is splattered this blood couldnt have come from splatter when the man fell. Volume one of clive barkers seminal books of blood contains the stories.
Horror two pack clive barkers book of blood midnight. The multitalented clive barker talks about his art and the movie, which is based on the short story of the same name from volume. A dark and gritty adaptation about a serial killer. Barker came to prominence in the mid1980s with a series of short stories, the books of blood. Another top notch offering from volume one is the book of bloods immediate successor. Clive barker born 5 october 1952 is an english playwright, novelist, film director, and visual artist. A psychic researcher, mary florescu, has employed a quack medium named simon mcneal to investigate a haunted house.
The word mythology does come closer to conveying what barker does in books of blood volumes, but the best way to perceive it as painting with words. It was a look this is our unapologetic horror movie just as the title the books of blood. The midnight meat train is a 2008 horror film based on clive barkers 1984 short story of the same name, which can be found in volume one of barkers collection books of blood. Her w ill and testament the skins of the fathers new murders in the rue morgue the inhuman condition the. Midnight meat train may be no classic of the genre, but its certainly a better and more interesting film than most of what passes for horror movies these days. Horror two pack clive barkers book of blood midnight meat.
One of these stories was the midnight meat train following one leon kaufman as he in 1984 the books of blood by clive barker were published and quickly gained a following worldwide. Clive barkers the midnight meat train special definitive edition brings the original story back with allnew material. Alone in an upstairs room, mcneal at first fakes visions, but then the ghosts attack him for real and carve words in his flesh comprising the. The film follows a photographer who attempts to track down a serial killer dubbed the subway butcher and discovers more than he bargained for under the city streets. The midnight meat train is classic barker in many ways, for what starts off as a slasher flick develops cleverly into the fantastical and the bizarre. There are six books in total, each simply subtitled volume 1 through to volume 6, and were subsequently republished in two omnibus editions containing three volumes each. Revisiting clive barkers books of blood volume one. There was a bad run in the mid2000s, where stuff like hostel and even underworld were what. With the release of his 6 volume books of blood series of short stories, clive barker put the horror literary world on notice. In the story leon kaufman makes a mistake when he falls asleep on a train and wakes up to find himself. One of these stories was the midnight meat train following one leon kaufman as he discovers the origins of a series of grizzly subway train murders in new york city. There are a few more chilling scenes of blood and gore, and all of the same bonuses found on the dvd are ported over to this bluray. It was a part of the first volume of the books of blood. The midnight meat train, an unapologetically outright blood and.
Revisiting clive barkers books of blood volume one an. Stepping back on board the midnight meat train today, its clear that this brutal but lyrical short. The official clive barker website clive on books of blood. The midnight meat train is based on a 1984 short story by english horror writer clive barker. Anthony diblasi graduated film school at emerson college in boston ma. A photographer propelled to explore his dark side begins tracking a subway serial killer whose brutal butchery makes for the most nightmarish images ever captured on camera in director ryuhei kitamuras adaptation of a short story by horror heavyweight clive barker. Nov 25, 2015 true, almost a third of the book contains a reprint of the second story in the first of the books of blood, but this release of the midnight meat train from dark regions press is something new. It is devoid of all proper content, with only the foundations of a plot. The midnight meat train is a 2008 mystery horrorthriller film based on clive barkers 1984 short story of the same name, which can be found in volume one of barkers collection books of blood. Then, on page 12, clive hit them with the midnight meat train. One of these stories was the midnight meat train following one leon kaufman as he literary eminences like stephen king noticed early on the creativity and. The necessary budget was there obviously since the film has a gripping atmosphere due to its cinematography. He then studied english and philosophy at liverpool university. May 16, 2008 unknown is the hammer to this girl however as she quickly begins to fear this man and begin to move to a different part of the tram.
The calculated murders in the midnight meat train are scary to watch because of their sliceanddice brutality mahogany seems to view humans as cattle made to slaughter, and he treats them as such but even more unsettling is where the violence takes place. So, i just watched it on tv, it was a premiere on syfy at 8. In the it pains me to say this, but this book sucked. Jun 04, 2008 the midnight meat train is a 2008 horror film based on clive barkers 1984 short story of the same name, which can be found in volume one of barkers collection books of blood. Dedicated and jaded grownup horror aficionados may find something to admire and enjoy in midnight meat train s goforbroke visual violence, but any merit or message in the film is washed away in the crimson tide of bloodletting that it unleashes in the name of extreme thrills. Adapted from barkers seminal anthology, books of blood, the similarly named the midnight meat train is more than just an opportunity for some sophomoric. Literary eminences like stephen king noticed early on the creativity and powerful prose throughout the books of blood, bringing clive barkers stories to the forefront of horror fiction. He grew up there and went to dovedale and quarry bank schools the same schools that john lennon of the beatles had been to a few years before clive. Apr 06, 2020 dedicated and jaded grownup horror aficionados may find something to admire and enjoy in midnight meat train s goforbroke visual violence, but any merit or message in the film is washed away in the crimson tide of bloodletting that it unleashes in the name of extreme thrills.
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