Originally published at kemptation.com on 16 December 2014. Words by Richard Kemp

“We’re about enjoying films – just in a way the creators never intended.”

Plan 9 From Outer Space, The Room, Birdemic. These films all have one thing in common: they are considered inherently, explicitly and unequivocally bad. Yet film nerds worldwide cherish these works as much as (or sometimes even more than) their ‘good’ counterparts.

The recent rise of independent film groups has allowed for lesser-known flicks to get screenings where they might otherwise have been overlooked. Groups are popping up all over, often showing movies in more offbeat locations – everywhere from public libraries to car parks.

Taking a similar approach, Bristol movie lovers Timon Singh and Tim Popple came together to start something of their own, though with an entirely different mission: to fulfil their desire, “to see bad films on the big screen.”

More than just a point-and-laugh presentation of artwork gone wrong, the Bristol Bad Film Club (fondly known as The Other BBFC) exists as a celebration of cinema’s dark underbelly. The club has already screened 16 bad films, including Troll 2, Plan 9 From Outer Space and Hercules in New York, and is about to hit number 17 with Christmas/Nazi horror flick, Elves.

Kemptation speaks to the BBFC co-founder Tim Popple about memorable moments, his favourite music from bad cinema and meeting bad film idol, Tommy Wiseau, actor, director and writer of the 2003 cult classic, The Room.

Artwork by Tiffany Farrant-Gonzalez

Do people ever ask why you watch bad films? How do you answer?

At first, yeah. There was a sense that maybe some people didn’t feel ready to embrace ‘bad cinema’. Hopefully, experience coming along to our screenings has shown them the light! Essentially what we’re about is enjoying films. We’re just enjoying them in a way the creators never intended.

 

What’s your most memorable bad film experience?

I’m torn between screening Masters of the Universe to over 500 people outside, in Victoria Park in the summer, and meeting my bad film idol, Mr Tommy Wiseau in February. The former was an amazing experience, sharing bad cinema with so many. The latter was possibly the most surreal moment of my life. Tommy Wiseau (creator of The Room) is larger than life; a cartoon character, a mystery – and we love him for it.

 

Do you ever watch bad films alone? How does it differ from watching them in groups?

We do when we trial them, or in smaller groups. Part of the bad film experience is sharing the slack-jawed disbelief at how bad the films are with other people. It’s never going to be as entertaining on your own. That’s one of the things that make the film club so successful. Bad films work better in a big group. It’s the shared experience.

Artwork by Tiffany Farrant-Gonzalez

 

Have you had any reaction from fans (or filmmakers), who disagree with the films you rate as ‘bad’?

When we screened Supergirl in conjunction with What the Frock, the Bristol-based all-female comedy group, people disagreed that it was bad because it was a film they remembered enjoying from their childhood. But children have fewer critical faculties! And enjoying a film doesn’t mean it can’t be bad: all the films we’ve screened or plan to screen are massively enjoyable – that’s why we screen them! Supergirl, arguably, was many people’s first experience of bad cinema.

 

If you could meet anyone from a bad movie, who would it be and why?

Well, we already met Tommy Wiseau, and that was pretty immense. I’d love to meet Matt Hannon, the presumed-dead-but-actually-very-alive star of Samurai Cop. Samurai Cop 2 is currently being made, and we’re very excited about seeing that: it stars former James Bond, George Lazenby!

 

In today’s movies, music plays a big part in the overall experience. What are some of your favourite songs or soundtracks from bad movies and why?

Against the Ninja and Friends, both by Dragon Sound, from Miami Connection, are fantastic 80s cheese.

Just Hanging Out by Damien Carter, from Birdemic, is just… I don’t even know. A paean to family values, in a club scene? It’s fantastically bizarre.

And then there’s Dare by Stan Bush. Everyone remembers it from the original Transformers movie, the one with Orson Welles voicing the villain. Yes, it’s a bad film. Yes, we all love it, Yes, the song is awesome.