To celebrate the release of our second Self Made Hero book of M. R. James adaptations – Ghost Stories of an Antiquary Vol 2 – we’re going to be counting down to Christmas in true Jamesian style, with a new haunting image and nugget of info every day.
In our Big Cartel shop, between now and the 20th of December, you can get Vol 1 & Vol 2 together for the very special price of £15.
On top of that, we’ll be giving away a copy of the book via Twitter every Sunday in the lead up to Christmas. Check the #MRJ2GIVEAWAY hashtag for details of how to take part.
1988’s Scrooged has dated strangely, or perhaps it was always a bit of an odd film. Ghostbusters (1984) was essentially a comedy horror which kids really got into, but which was never really all that kid friendly or appropriate in lots of ways (Dr. Ray Stanz’s weird spectral-sexual dream being one scene I’d flag up by way of example). Scrooged – starring Dr. Peter Venkman, Bill Murray, himself – was evidently pitched to appeal to the same demographic. One of the film’s tag-lines was “Bill Murray is back amongst the ghosts, only this time it’s three on one“. Scrooged is more of a Black Comedy – it’s darker and more cynical than Ghostbusters ever was — which makes it’s ultimate transformation into a feel good, upbeat, family friendly sing-along all the weirder, and more jarring.
Bill Murray and Bobcat Goldthwait’s performances aside, the stars of this 1980s retelling of Dickens’ Christmas classic are undeniably the ghosts, specifically those of Jacob Marley (played by Jamie Farr of M*A*S*H fame, in zombie make-up) and The Ghost of Christmas Future. This latter is equipped with a TV screen for a face, and carries with it a host of tortured souls, inspiring the fear which Dickens intended in his Ghost of Christmas Yet-to-Come:
The Phantom slowly, gravely, silently, approached. When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery. It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand. It thrilled Scrooge with a vague uncertain horror, to know that behind the mask there were eyes staring at him.