Corpse (1982) dir. James Clayden. 111 mins. 16mm projection. Colour, optical sound. $10 on the door.

Produced, directed, written, photographed and edited by James Clayden. Music by Chris Knowles. Narrated by Ian Scott.

James Clayden is an Australian artist whose work encompasses painting, sculpture, performance and theatre. Clayden has also been a fixture in independent and experimental film-making for more than forty years.

In light of the resurgence of gothic-horror and vampiric films, particularly Egger’s ‘Nosferatu’ of late, we at AFW wanted to share an experimental feature that delves into the Australian landscape and plays more abstractly with ghoulish imagery.

Corpse is a poetic experimental feature which considers the interface of life and death and the mystery of afterlife. The film follows Gothic figures including a Nosferatu-like creature through an underworld of shadows in mysterious rooms and darkened Australian landscapes given an aura of otherworldliness and timelessness.

”Corpse is composed of images of intense photographic richness, particularly those aspects of the Australian landscape it captures in semi-darkness. Amidst these images are fleeting and sometimes hooded figures. A voice on the soundtrack provides a poetic commentary.” - MIFF

Note: This film is lengthy — you’re welcome to bring a cushion and there will be intermission times at each changeover of a film reel