Halloween in London: 3 top spooky events

Get your ghoul on this weekend with some of the capital’s creepy offerings.

1. Alice Cooper: Welcome 2 My Nightmare Movies, £13 (concs £9.75 & members get £1.50 off)

On 28th October, this famously theatrical rocker will walk the ‘black carpet’ to the BFI Southbank and discuss the effect that film has had on his song-writing, performances and life. Alice will present chosen a range of film clips to illustrate his talk before putting questions to the audience. The night includes some special guests and freakish performers, and finally a screening of the classic horror film, Halloween.

When: Fri 28 Oct, 6.30pm
Where: NFT1, BFI, Southbank (nearest tube Waterloo)
Web: bfi.org.uk
Box office: 020 7928 3232

 

2. Belle Epoque Party: Halloween Special, £20

Step into a spell-binding world of absinthe-tinged fantasy, daring dancers and vampish drama with the Belle Epoque’s seasonal party this weekend. The music hall venue will be draped in velvet and the organisers encourage costumes as elaborate as you dare… Men should look ‘devilishly dashing’ and ladies, you are asked to ‘reach into your inner desires’. Ooooh. Expect a lavish night of cocktails, enchantment and trapeze artists throwing shapes above you.

When: Sat 29 Oct, 8pm-2am
Where: The Grand Hall, Euston Road, London, WC1
Web: belleepoqueparty.com

 

3. You Make A Cake Halloween Parties, £28 each for groups of age 5+, £35 each age 5+ if attending a workshop

Children (and adults) will love these fun workshops and group baking sessions. You Make A Cake provide all ingredients and utensils, so all you need to do is turn up, follow some simples steps, give your kids a major sugar-overload and come away with 12 delicious cakes. Classes and workshops to help you create creepy cakes are currently being run in the build up to Halloween.

Parties for groups last about 90 mins and workshops attended by individuals last for about two hours. Under-8s must be accompanied by an adult.

When: Until Sun 29 Oct
Where: You Make A Cake, 10 Bellevue Road, London, SW17 7EG
Web: youmakeacake.com

May’s flick of the month

Attack the Block  

There’s been a whole lotta hype about this one – and for good reason: we have a new Brit director out there in the moviesphere. Feedback from Joe Cornish’s first foray into film-making has been pretty glowing, but having been burnt in the past by believing the hype I went into the film with an open mind. It paid off.

Set in deepest darkest Oval, the story follows a group of troublesome yoofs as they attempt to save mankind from a very dark black bunch of bitey aliens. Nurse Sam, posh stoner Brewis, and slob dealer Ron (Nick Frost) all get caught up in the action and some unlikely camaraderie comes about.

Despite the film wanting to be too many things at once (the film contains nods to B movie horrors but then some slick sci-fi effects, occasional film noir-esque lighting and an out-of-place opening title sequence reminiscent of Star Wars) Cornish creates a wonderfully ludicrous situation in a mundane setting that the viewer can’t help but romp along with. Our new director also presents us with a load of new acting talent playing the teenage gang – most notably John Boyega (hoodie leader Moses) who gives a truly outstanding performance. With a healthy dose of both tension and comedy, Attack the Block is a good fun flick that you should definitely catch while it’s on the big screen.
P.S  I did notice one big plot-hole. When you’ve seen the film, come back and read this, below. See if you agree…

SPOILER ALERT: Did anyone else wonder why the aliens were trying to kill rather than hump all the characters covered in pheromones? Thoughts please.