Odeon’s Screen Unseen scheme offers mystery discounted previews.
Why, then, have people been grumbling?
On Monday night, I settled into the Odeon Dudley at 8 oclock.
You dont get lots of ads just a handful of trailers and then youre into the movie itself.
Odeon does like a little tease ahead of such screenings.
Some, for instance, were expectingThor: Ragnarok, othersMurder On The Orient Express.
But such preview and taster screenings are never going to be used for big blockbusters with massive marketing budgets.
Rather, such surprise preview screenings are used by distributors for films that need word of mouth.
Ill come to more examples shortly.
All the films picked are designed to inspire conversation and expand guests horizons.
Watch this space, weve got plenty more to come!
Most sat through the movie.
Most, based on the reaction at the end, didnt seem to like it.
A chunk of the film is spent in the company of small children running amok.
As one woman loudly protested on the way out, Ive spent a day watching the bloody kids.
That was the worst film Ive ever seen.
In truth, half the screen seemed to erupt in laughter of disbelief at the end.
Conversely, some of us left quietly, clearly shaken by the movie.
I dont believe theres a right or wrong response, by the way.
The whole idea of a secret screening is to get an honest response to a movie with few preconceptions.
Each of those films fall into the category of needing to find an audience willing to fight for it.
Many of the films concerned have become box office hits, but they were far from sure things.
ButThe Florida Projectneeds its friends.
Utilising Screen Unseen, Altitude was able to do just that.
Inevitably, you pick a surprise film, and some you win, some you lose.
Those clues, mind, really could use some work…
