Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

Screen talks to the British actor about his feature directorial debut, which receives its world premiere today [Aug 28] at Film4 FrightFest.

Set to be one of the most original films of this year’s Film4 FrightFest, Aaaaaaaah! is a twisted family drama with a difference: there is no dialogue, with all actors speaking in animalistic grunts and moans.

It marks the feature directorial debut of British actor Steve Oram who, along with Alice Lowe, wrote and starred in Ben Wheatley’s Sightseers.

Aaaaaaaah!, produced by Lincoln Studios, receives its world premiere today [Aug 28] and Oram believes FrightFest is the ideal place for the film to make its bow.

“FrightFest accepts and celebrates the weirdos, and we think we fit in quite well there,” enthuses Oram. “It’s the perfect showcase for us. It’s totally un-snooty and just about people who love strange films and horror films. It’s a big opportunity to show it to the people, which is all I care about really.”

• Continue reading at Screen Daily.

Sightseers co-writer and star Steve Oram delivers his demented directorial debut AAAAAAAAH! at FrightFest this Friday 28th August. The mad as a plate of badgers, monkey horror/ sci-fi hybrid previews in Discover Screen 1 with Steve, Toyah Willcox and other cast members due to attend.

With stateside screening dates booked, AAAAAAAAH! looks to destined for cult status and is sure to set Steve on a path to greater film-making opportunities. We chatted to Steve about AAAAAAAAH!’s inception and production along with the state of modern indie cinema and the secrets to mining comedy genius.

How do you pronounce the title is it AAAAAAAAH!?
However you want, I will leave that to the viewer. You can say it like AAAAAAAAH! or AAAAAAAAH! or AAAAAAAAH! Many variations. Multi.

How did you come up with such a warped idea? Did it evolve from something else or was it more of a light-bulb moment?
It’s something that has always fascinated me: how ape-like we all are and yet we rarely reference it in our every-day lives. I’ve always been a big fan of Planet of the Apes and did a short film with the same concept a couple of years ago. So I guess it grew from there.

Was it an easy casting process?
I always had a few names in mind: the two Julians (Rhind-Tutt and Barratt), Tom Meeten but Toyah Willcox I wasn’t expecting, I just sent her the script which she loved and was very enthusiastic about. I think if you tell an actor they have to do run around being a monkey, they’ll probably do it. They love that sort of shit.

The soundtrack to AAAAAAAAH! was pretty amazing. As a musician, did you have much involvement?
The main person who provided the soundtrack was Robert Fripp who donated a largely improvised album to us to use however we wanted. So that’s all just the genius of Robert really. I did most of the shit stuff that sounded like an ape made it.

• Continue reading at HeyUGuys.

Aaaaaaaah! has its world premiere at FrightFest 2015 on Friday 28th August at VUE West End, Leicester Sq (with a Director/Cast Q&A, including Toyah). It will also show at Picture House Central, London on Friday 4th September (this also has a Q&A which includes Toyah), End Of The Road Festival, Dorset on Saturday 5th September and Mayhem Film Festival, Nottingham which runs between 15th – 18th October. Director Steve Oram will also participate in Q&As at these two festival screenings. There is also the, just announced, LA premiere (see below)

FrightFest said: “Oh, and wait until you see Steve (SIGHTSEERS) Oram’s AAAAAAAAH!, which we guarantee will World Premiere to a sea of open-mouthed astonishment.”

MAYHEM FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCE FIRST GUEST AND CLOSING FILM

Mayhem Film Festival are thrilled to announce Steve Oram’s Aaaaaaaah! and Karyn Kusama’s The Invitation as the first two films from this year’s line-up.

Taking place on 15-18 October, Mayhem Film Festival will close its 11th edition with Karyn Kusama’s The Invitation. Hailed as Kusama’s strongest work by Variety, The Invitation is a deeply disturbing, slow burn horror thriller from the director of Jennifer’s Body.

This year, the festival will also welcome back Steve Oram (Sightseers) with his directorial debut Aaaaaaaah! produced by Andrew Starke and executive produced by Ben Wheatley (Rook Films). The film, which contains no traditional dialogue, is an insane and hilarious collision of Romeo and Juliet and The Planet of the Apes in suburbia. Steve Oram will make the trip to present the film and take part in a post-screening Q&A.

• Continue reading at Broadway. Further info on Mayhem Film Festival 2015 is available by clicking below.

Browse Dreamscape’s Aaaaaaaah! news archive by clicking below.

“The Cult Movie of the Year”

Britflicks takes a look at the British films at this years FrightFest 2015. From classics like Hellraiser to Aaaaaaaah!, the directional debut from Kill List and Sightseers writer Steve Oram.

Alpha Male Smith and his Beta, Keith, move to take over a local community. They hook up with restless Female, Denise, igniting a deadly feud in which emotions run high and deep-seated grudges resurface amongst the tribe. Are we not men? Or are we simply beasts? Steve Oram, the actor/writer from Sightseers and Kill List stars in his long-awaited debut feature with a host of his friends.

Get ready for the most unusual celluloid primal scream – an anarchic, hilarious, disturbing and touching look at the human condition. Themroc meets Pink Flamingos in the Cult Movie of the Year.

• Continue reading at Britflicks. Browse all of Dreamscape’s Aaaaaaaaah! news and updates here. The premiere of the film is approaching fast, keep an eye on Toyah @ Twitter for direct updates on Aaaaaaaah!

• Film4: FrightFest 2015: Thursday 27th August – Monday 31st August: Film4 FrightFest 2015 marks its 16th year with its largest line-up ever. Over the August Bank Holiday weekend, the UK’s leading event for genre fans will return to the Vue West End, Leicester Square to present 76 films across five screens, plus a host of special events – Continue reading…

• End of The Road: Cinema: We’re delighted to announce that Will Hodgkinson will be taking over the film tent at this year’s End of The Road Festival – As well as presenting a “Country Life” themed Friday, a “Rock ‘n’ Roll” Saturday and a Sunday of “Glamour”, he’ll be bringing actor Steve Oram along to discuss and screen his directorial debut Aaaaaaaah! with actors Alice Lowe and Julian Barratt – Continue reading…

• Hollywood Reporter: U.K.’s FrightFest Genre Festival Unveils Biggest Ever Lineup: FrightFest is set to screen the world premiere of comedy shocker Aaaaaaaah! by Steve Oram, star and co-writer of Ben Wheatley’s 2012 comedy Sightseers – Continue reading…

• IGN: Howl, The Hallow and More Play at FrightFest 2015: We’re looking forward to Deathgasm, Turbo Kid and AAAAAAAAH!, which looks weird, wonderful and deeply disturbing – Continue reading…

• British Horror Revival: Baker’s dozen British features at Frightfest: Frightfest have announced their line-up for 2015 and as usual it includes a good selection of British features. Thirteen in total – Continue reading…

• Games Radar: Film4 FrightFest 2015 reveals full line-up of films: Film4 FrightFest 2015 has unveiled its largest line-up ever, with the festival set to present seventy-six films across five screens, plus a host of special events… Home-grown highlights include Steve Oram’s darkly comic Aaaaaaaah! – Continue reading…

• Aaaaaaaah! @ Dreamscape: Browse all of our Aaaaaaaah! news here…

Huge online reporting of the FrightFest 2015 Line-Up Announcement. Aaaaaaaah! is, of course, mentioned in them all – and some include the still of Toyah from the film.

• Horror Channel: FrightFest 2015 Serves Up A Fearsome Feast With A Record 76 Films, Embracing 20 World And 42 UK And European Premieres: FrightFest always takes great pride in platforming the brightest British and Irish talent and 2015 is an outstanding year. Apart from opening with David Keating’s Cherry Tree, there is the world premiere of Steve Oram’s hilarious and very disturbing AAAAAAAAH! – Continue reading…

• SciFiNow: Film4 FrightFest 2015 line-up is announced! So many horrors!: The massive line-up for Film4 FrightFest 2015 has arrived, and there’s so much to see… Steve Oram’s beserk-looking AAAAAAAAH! makes its world premiere – Continue reading…

• Failed Critics: Film4 FrightFest 2015 Preview: In the discovery screen 1 – Aaaaaaaah! from Steve Oram looks worth a watch, starring Toyah Willcox – Continue reading…

• Entertainment-Focus: Film4 Frightfest returns for 2015: Film4 FrightFest 2015 marks its 16th year with its biggest line-up to date. From Thurs 27th August to Mon 31st August, the UK’s leading event for genre fans will return to the Vue West End, Leicester Square to present 76 films across five screens, plus a host of special events – Continue reading…

• Britflicks: Film4 FrightFest Announces Full 2015 Line-Up: Bigger, bolder, bloodier…Film4 FrightFest 2015 marks its 16th year with its largest line-up ever – Continue reading…

• Scream: Film4 FrightFest Reveals Full 2015 Killer Line-Up: Film4 FrightFest, the UK’s undefeated heavy-weight champion of genre festivals, is all set to serve up its 16th helping of the finest in home-grown and international horror at London’s West End at the Vue, Leicester Square, between August 27th – 31st – Continue reading…

• Dread Central: Film4 FrightFest 2015: Line-up Announced; Image Blow-Out!: One of the best damned film festivals on the planet, Film4 FrightFest, has unveiled its 2015 line-up; and as always, it is absolutely killer. Read on for the details and DOZENS of new stills – Continue reading…

• Aaaaaaaah! @ Dreamscape: Browse all of our Aaaaaaaah! news here…

A teaser, or as The Velvet Onion put it, a “Teaseaaaaaaaah!”, for Aaaaaaaah! has been made available at You Tube. Click on the screen caps below to watch.

Aaaaaaaah! is coming soon. Written/directed by Steve Oram, starring Julian Barratt, Toyah Willcox, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Steve Oram, Noel Fielding. Soundtrack by King Crimson ProjeKcts.

• Browse Dreamscape’s previous news and updates on Aaaaaaaah! here…

“I’m so very pleased and proud to be a part of this truly strange and wonderful film!” TOYAH xxx

The film poster for AAAAAAAAH! has been released. A film by Steve Oram (Sightseers), the British film stars Julian Barratt, Steve Oram, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Noel Fielding, Alice Lowe, Toyah Willcox, Sean Reynard, Tom Meeten, Holli Dempsey, Shelly Longworth and Tony Way.

The film is set for release in 2015.

Written and directed by Steve Oram | Produced by Lincoln Studios | Featuring music by King Crimson ProjecKts.

• Continue reading at The Official Toyah Willcox website.

Proudest bloody day of my life. Us here at Lincoln Studios have finished our first ever feature film!!!! It’s called AAAAAAAAH! I almost had to be given the kiss of life when I finished watching it round the director’s place last night. I collapsed to the floor head in hands, I was so overwhelmed. It was better than when I finally opened the salon in Grantham after 16 months of crap with the contractors. It is a fantastic feeling for me but the credit goes to the brilliant actors, crew and production team.

Here’s the poster for AHHHHHHH!!!! Shitting hell it’s brilliant isn’t it! And f-ing creepy. Won’t be putting it on my wall. Don’t fancy seeing that when I get up for a pee in the night, I’d probably wet myself on the landing!!!! Designed by an American feller called Jay Shaw I think, who has relatives in North Hykeham. Yours. Derek Evans

• Continue reading at Lincoln Studios.

The eye-catching poster for Aaaaaaaah!, the new film which includes Toyah in its cast, was made available yesterday. Please click below to view a larger version.