“Our grandfathers always lived on Earth, and we are the first people ever to undertake such a journey. You can be proud that you’re here. Your grandfather, who volunteered to come, was a great man, and we’ve got to do everything to make sure that the Station keeps running.”Thirteen to Centaurus (Peter Potter, 1965)
May
4
Star Wars Day
Dr Francis (Donald Houston) and Abel (James Hunter). DP: tbd.
Intergalactic travel on Star Wars Day. May the Fourth be with you.
– Dr Francis (from Thirteen to Centaurus, J.G. Ballard, 1962)
A ship travels the universe, on its way to Centaurus. On board is a group of people, fourteen in total, one of them a teenager named Abel. His recurring nightmare about a glowing disc prompts to sessions with the on-board psychologist, and the only one with knowledge of Earth, Dr Francis.
horror
– Do you realise what today's date is, Rex? – April the, er, 29th, why?The Devil Rides Out (Terence Fisher, 1968)
Apr
29
The menacing Mocata (Charles Gray). DP: Arthur Grant.
Misterios de la magia negra [Mysteries of Black Magic] (Miguel M. Delgado, 1958)
Apr
12
Two well-dressed women, one of them prostrated on a stone slab. DP: Víctor Herrera.
“and in big, spidery writing, he wrote
'In search of unicorns.'
The End”Images (Robert Altman, 1972)
Apr
9
National Unicorn Day
Cathryn's desk. There's a small framed reproduction of one of the six La Dame à la licorne tapestries, a sketch of a galloping unicorn, and a dried seahorse. DP: Vilmos Zsigmond.
A unicorn for National Unicorn Day (UK)
– quote from “In Search of Unicorns”, written by Susannah York
Cathryn (Susannah York), a children's book author, works on a book called “In Search of Unicorns”. Her desk, and mind, are occupied with images from a obscure diegesis.
“Did you know that the germs can come through the wires? I never call and I never answer. It's a good way to get sick. Very, very sick… That's how I got so sick! SOMEONE CALLED ME ON THE TELEPHONE!”Sisters [Blood Sisters] (Brian De Palma, 1972)
Mar
27
Danielle and Dominique Blanchion (Margot Kidder) – one beaming one gloomy – wearing bathing suits. In the background, Emil Breton (William Finley) in a therapy pool – fully clothed – with a woman and small child. DP: Gregory Sandor.
The Gruesome Twosome (Herschell Gordon Lewis, 1967)
Mar
27
1967
The March 27, 1967 newspaper headlining CAMPUS PUZZLED! and GIRLS VANISH and FATE STILL A MYSTERY. It's Monday. DP: Roy Collodi.
– Burn witch, burn witch, burn! – Dig that crazy beat, man.The City of the Dead (John Llewellyn Moxey, 1960)
Mar
3
Nan Barlow (Venetia Stevenson), exploring. DP: Desmond Dickinson.
“I like the settings where the lights and desire cross path. The desire to communicate with the invisibles in the darkness, or in memory, or in the future. It's always related to cinema and we as insects that are drawn to lights.”สัตว์วิกาล [Sud Vikal / Vampire] (Apichatpong Weerasethakul, 2008)
Mar
2
Dr. Seuss' birthday
Applying blood to attract the Nok Phii. It's cold. DP: Chaisiri Jiwarangsan.
Imaginary animals or food for Theodor “Dr.” Seuss Geisel's birthday (1904).
– Apichatpong Weerasethakul, via
Villagers in the north of Thailand reported a rare sighting of a male and female Nok Phii, an elusive species of bird that feeds on animals' blood. It is unknown if the sighting was reliable, and if this vampire does, or ever did, exist.
“The conquest of new worlds always makes demands of human life. And there will always be men who will accept the risk.”First Man Into Space [Satellite of Blood] (Robert Day, 1959)
Feb
28
1958
A newspaper headline for February 28, 1958 reading THE HIGHEST MAN IN THE WORLD. DP: Geoffrey Faithfull.
“You don't think I sat there all evening with an eight-foot mamba in my pocket?”Murders in the Zoo (A. Edward Sutherland, 1933)
Feb
20
A couple walks into a room, only to discover a lifeless man and a headless snake. DP: Ernest Haller.
– Eric Gorman