Sounds Of Silents: Gothic Film and Gothic Fiction

As if October could get any more spooky, Norwich Sound & Vision festival put on possibly the gothest event ever (yes, ‘gothest’ is an actual word). St Lawrence’s church (one of the three churches holding events that evening on St Benedict’s street) played host to an evening of gothic literature, poetry and film by candle light. Award winning writers read excerpts from decidedly gothic novels - not all set in graveyards and haunted houses as one farmyard story demonstrated – all with a sense of horror and genuine talent for such a young group. There was also poetry from local lady Helen Ivory, whose short pieces about serial killer Bluebeard brought shudders. In keeping with the theme of the evening, red wine and bloody marys were served in the interval. The classic 1922 vampire film ‘Nosferatu’ followed, with an impressive live score by award winning group Minima. The four-piece were not what most would expect – the instrument most commonly associated with silent film scores, the piano, was not present for instance. The bass guitar was used to convey suspense in some scenes and warmth in others and, rather than overbearing, the drums created an empty and dark noir atmosphere. The group also used moments of silence to great effect, sometimes comedic, sometimes terrifying, and the best thing they did was make the viewer forget they were there at all. The audience left buzzing from a deliciously gothic evening, although that could have been the bloody marys of course.

As if October could get any more spooky, Norwich Sound & Vision festival put on possibly the gothest event ever (yes, ‘gothest’ is an actual word). St Lawrence’s church (one of the three churches holding events that evening on St Benedict’s street) played host to an evening of gothic literature, poetry and film by candle light. Award winning writers read excerpts from decidedly gothic novels - not all set in graveyards and haunted houses as one farmyard story demonstrated – all with a sense of horror and genuine talent for such a young group. There was also poetry from local lady Helen Ivory, whose short pieces about serial killer Bluebeard brought shudders. In keeping with the theme of the evening, red wine and bloody marys were served in the interval. The classic 1922 vampire film ‘Nosferatu’ followed, with an impressive live score by award winning group Minima. The four-piece were not what most would expect – the instrument most commonly associated with silent film scores, the piano, was not present for instance. The bass guitar was used to convey suspense in some scenes and warmth in others and, rather than overbearing, the drums created an empty and dark noir atmosphere. The group also used moments of silence to great effect, sometimes comedic, sometimes terrifying, and the best thing they did was make the viewer forget they were there at all. The audience left buzzing from a deliciously gothic evening, although that could have been the bloody marys of course.