Michael J. Murphy was one of the most prolific and under-seen British genre filmmakers of the last several decades, churning out dozens of 16mm no-budget feats of ingenuity with an unabashed love for the medium.

This July, Spectacle is proud to present two of his fantasy films, AVALON and ATLANTIS, made in consecutive years with overlapping cast members (many of whom pop up across his extensive filmography).

Look out for more Michael J. Murphy miniseries in the not-too-distant future!

AVALON
dir. Michael J. Murphy, 1989
UK. 80 min.
In English.

SATURDAY, JULY 6 – 3PM
FRIDAY, JULY 12 – 7:30PM
TUESDAY, JULY 16 – 10PM
MONDAY, JULY 29 – 10PM
GET YOUR TICKETS!

A time of strength against evil.

The adventure begins when Owen, a travelling swordsman, rescues a woman from some Druids. He offers to help track down her lover who has been enslaved by the evil Morgana. They set off on their quest, accompanied by Keiran, a cowardly thief.

Set in the world of King Arthur and Merlin, AVALON is wildly ambitious and committed to its premise. Despite the clear budgetary limitations, it manages to transcend into something genuinely absorbing, many lesser parts transmuted into a greater whole through sheer passion. Featuring home-brew matte paintings, stop motion animation, and a slew of other ingenious effects, AVALON is a ride well worth taking for any fantasy fan.

ATLANTIS
dir. Michael J. Murphy, 1990
UK. 80 min.
In English.

SATURDAY, JULY 6 – 5PM
MONDAY, JULY 8 – 10PM
THURSDAY, JULY 18 – 10PM
WEDNESDAY, JULY 24 – 7:30PM
GET YOUR TICKETS!

When a raiding party from the city of Atlantis kidnaps a man and his two daughters for slavery, he contrives to bring about the destruction of the ruling class utilizing the powers of the mysterious crystal child.

Like AVALON but without the pre-existing mythological world of King Arthur to slot into, ATLANTIS is another wildly ambitious, if convoluted, entry in the Michael J. Murphy micro-cinematic cannon. Some might be tempted to say its reach exceeds its grasp, but this programmer would argue otherwise – the limited means combined with a flat refusal of any irony has a uniquely transportive effect.

The sets are covered in paper mache and nylon, unventilated basements turned into caverns and gladiatorial rings, the score is mostly a haunting Casio drone – what more could you want from a movie this scrappy?

Both films screened from new remasters courtesy of Powerhouse Films Ltd.