MovieChat Forums > Going Postal (2010) Discussion > Why does nobody get the Banshee?

Why does nobody get the Banshee?

posted 13 years ago by poisonborz
7 replies | jump to latest

For starters, I haven't read the original novel. But in the case of the Banshee, I don't think its necessary.

Everybody argues why the Banshee looks so awkward and artificial. It's totally on purpose. Just look at all the flashback scenes with Lipwig's bad deeds - they're all nods to the history of cinema and filming. The Banshee represents the dark fantasy characters of that era - not exclusively, but including - Lugosi's Dracula. The overblown acting and the similar outfit immediately snapped it in for me, and I thought it was both hilarious and genius (another such nod to old cinema: old-school fast-motion in some humorous scenes).

If all the negative characters were portrayed with strong dark parody, I don't see why the Banshee should have looked horrific and frightening.

[–] stufff11 13 years ago

Those flashback scenes with Lipwig's bad deeds were not even remotely in the book, they are an insult to all the fans in the book, so any nod to them is even more insulting and out of place.

[–] Radalan 13 years ago

There are fans in the book?

What clichés? Thats a word the wannabe critics use when they want to whinge.

[–] swamp_dragon 13 years ago

First, ignore other replier; the flashback scened take the place of written exposition.

The Banshee never really gets described all that well, aside from pale, birdy-batty critter. It's nicely vague, and I agree with you that the entire movie was done in an Old Hollywood style so their depiction fits. As to who gets the banshee, that is a bit complicated and I would suggest picking up the book. A face full of pins is only the start of his problems.

Actually, I'd suggest picking them all up - Pratchett is, I think, one of the best fantasy-satire writers to date.

[–] ghbbrown-1 11 years ago

More than Lugosi's vampire, this Banshee is a direct reference to NOSFERATU. That was a less elegant but much scarier vision. Maybe the OP is too young to have met him.

[–] ghbbrown-1 11 years ago

I don't remember which Pratchett book--and it's late, I have a cold and I'm too lazy to track it down--there's a Banshee character who has a speech impediment. So, instead of wailing, he writes out his banshee cries and slips them under the victim's door.

[–] TigerWarg 11 years ago

I thought it he was shy that he slipped the notes under the door rather than a speech impediment? Either way, the character is Mr Ixolite in Reaper Man. He's part of a club that includes a Bogeyman that is agrophobic and a vampire that was bitten by a lawyer.

[–] davidwoodall 11 years ago

I thought it he was shy that he slipped the notes under the door rather than a speech impediment?

It's both, at least according to the latest edition of the Discworld Companion. My own copy of 'Reaper Man' seems to have vanished into L-Space, so I can't check what it says in the novel.