Sci-fi screening was ‘truly electrifying’, says film fan who made 1200-mile round trip to Thurso
A film fan was “swept away with total nostalgia and enjoyment” after making a round trip of well over 1000 miles to see his favourite movie on the big screen in Thurso.
Mark Wagge travelled from King’s Lynn in Norfolk last month to watch the 1979 sci-fi cult classic The Black Hole – the first instalment of a “Disney Dark Era Trilogy” presented by the Picture House community cinema project, led by Cinema For Thurso (CFT). He described the experience as “truly electrifying”.
The next in the series is Dragonslayer (1981), on October 21, followed by Tron (1982), on November 26. They are being shown in Screen 1 of Thurso’s Merlin Cinema and tickets are now on sale.
The events, hosted by local film-maker Darren Manson, recreate the original presentations as they were shown at the former Picture House in Thurso and by the Moving Picture Show mobile cinema. They include music, adverts, trailers and short films from the year of a film’s release to give what Darren calls “a fully immersive experience”.
The Black Hole was shown on September 21 and Mark was delighted to end a 44-year wait to see his favourite film on the cinema screen again.
“I loved the mystery that surrounds the story,” Mark said. “The film really captured my imagination and continues to do so.
“Nothing compares to seeing it as intended, up on the big screen with your favourite confectioneries at hand.
“I’m a member of a Black Hole appreciation Facebook group. When I saw the Thurso screening advertised, I knew I had to be there even though it meant a 1200-mile round road trip.
“Sitting in the cinema immersed in total darkness listening to John Barry’s powerful opening score was truly electrifying, a true message from heaven. By the time I got to the end of the opening credits I had tears in my eyes, much to my son’s amusement.
“I was swept away with total nostalgia and enjoyment. Viewing the film as it was intended to be seen is one of my favourite cinema experiences ever. The film looked and sounded fantastic.”
He added: “The Picture House screenings are a must for the discerning movie fan. They are presented with true love along with period music, adverts, trailers and short ‘B’ movies.
“I’m a geek and proud of it and would not have missed this opportunity for the world.”
Darren said: “Mark’s efforts to get here are those of a true fan to let no obstacle stand in the way of seeing a favourite film at the cinema. He and I both share a love of this movie and the cinema experience.
“Creating a wonderful experience and lifelong memories is what cinema is all about. Nothing can match seeing great movies on the big screen.”
Darren described The Black Hole as a “criminally underrated film”, adding: “It is significant, being the first movie to have a digitally mastered soundtrack and it also has CGI vector graphics in the opening titles – marking the start of a new era in animation at the famed Disney studios.”
As a filmgoer in the early 1980s, Darren first saw The Black Hole in London while on a tour with his primary school, Miller Academy, and later saw it at Thurso Picture House.
Since 2017 CFT has hired the town’s cinema to present classic films from the 1970s and ’80s as well as other special screenings including The Silver Darlings, based on the Neil Gunn novel of the same name, and its own film, Kirk of Secrets.
Next up is Dragonslayer, which according to Darren is “rated as the best dragon film ever made”.
