Video Bazaar is proud to present the second part of ‘A Hell Like Ours’, a landmark series at The Garden Cinema, exploring the anxieties of the ‘Yuppie Nightmare’ subgenre and the dark side of the American Dream. This next instalment features a darkly comedic thriller that delves into the unsettling undercurrents of family dynamics and personal ambition in late 20th Century cinema, Paul Flaherty's Clifford.

Prepare for a night of unsettling humour and creeping dread as we unravel the narrative of Clifford, a film that subverts the conventions of family comedy to reveal a sinister exploration of obsession, manipulation, and the fragility of innocuous family suburbia. This darkly humorous tale follows Clifford Daniels, a disturbingly precocious 10-year-old boy whose seemingly innocent exterior masks a malevolence that threatens to upend the life of his ambitious uncle, Martin Daniels.

Martin, portrayed by Charles Grodin, is a successful architect whose meticulously planned life is thrown into chaos by the arrival of Clifford, played unnervingly by Martin Short. What begins as a seemingly benign family visit quickly descends into a nightmarish struggle for control, as Clifford's relentless schemes and bizarre demands expose cracks in Martin's veneer of success and stability. The film navigates themes of ambition and the dark side of childhood innocence, casting a disquieting light on the perils of psychological anguish and the corrosive nature of the American family unit whilst capturing the escalating anxiety and desperation of a man whose orderly world is slipping through his fingers.

The screening will also feature a pre-show seminar from writer and musician, William Deacon, who will dissect the film's subversive take on the family comedy and its place within the 'Yuppie Nightmare' subgenre. The talk will explore Clifford's deconstruction of the American Dream, the psychological warfare waged within familial relationships, and the societal anxieties reflected in this unconventional comedy thriller.

This screening is presented by the cult film collective, Video Bazaar, who are proud to show these rarely screened films and are dedicated to bringing the weird and the obscure to London audiences at The Garden Cinema. Please note this event will feature an intro and carefully curated pre-show material.

Cast:
Martin Short, Charles Grodin, Mary Steenburgen