Delving into the Depths of War and Madness: A Review of ‘Taped Up Memories’ by Sam Mason Bell!
Sam Mason Bell is a workhorse in the UK. Since the mid 2000s he’s directed, written, and produced over seventy movies — yeah some are just pieces within anthologies (such as A Taste of Phobia review here) but a vast majority still stand as full flicks.
A couple have found their way onto Severed Cinema, of course, Terror at Black Tree Forrest (see review of Terror at Black Tree Forest), and Lonely Hearts (see review of Lonley Hearts from Trash Arts), as well as other creations I’ve seen of his all follow a similar formula — there’s a lot of talking (none of it sounds scripted as the cast always speak like everyday folk), the locations, but now and then certain teasers are leaked into the running time as to what might happen. Sam doesn’t usually splash loads into effects, leaving it to shock cuts and extreme blood splatters to drive home the point. This outburst of violence which happens in his movies generally occurs in the last reel.
This time around with Taped Up Memories, Sam is working with Jackson Batchelor, another manic worker on my shores who, aside from mainly being an actor, has directed Monstrous Disunion, Trash Arts Killers: Volume One, and the upcoming, I Curse This Land.
Sam relies on his cast here (chosen to build flesh onto his characters) and, aside from some elements in Lonely Hearts, the lengthy scenes of conversation rarely get tiring because you know damn well something bad is coming. This time around, we’re back to the early 2000s and Taped Up Memories is an anti-war film, showing the effects on individuals and those around them.
Starting with a written, on-screen declaration that this was recovered from a damaged camera discovered at the side of a road, south of England, in 2003, etcetera, it was also not far from the scene of multiple murders. It’s shown unedited, in its entirety.
After much fucking around with various footage – y’know how old camcorders were, if you weren’t a crisp editor, you’d get split moments of older stuff, or overlaid bits seeping through. We’re into a raw rough crackly movie like August Underground. One lad, Steve, is being filmed by his patriotic brother, Alan (played by Sam Mason Bell) on his last day before heading off to the Middle East and the conflict tearing the country up. Alan constantly reminds an obviously nervous, Steve, how he’s doing the family proud and such.
Taped Up Memories is pure old school doused in off hues, and colour saturation recording style. They meet up with two cousins and decide to head on a road trip to give Steve a huge send off. Rhea is, as Alan puts it, ‘a hippy, and she’s very anti-war.’ In truth she’s scared to lose Steve, but Alan is living through his lil bro so will hear nothing other than how Steve is a hero and he’s fighting for Queen and country.
We constantly cut to a veteran who speaks about his recent times in battle, and how he now feels being back home, plus a few scenes filmed of their uncle who drinks heavily to hide what is contained within him.
As the journey progresses with much banter and character building, the tape also cuts to earlier holiday vids, chopped between what I’ve covered above. Suddenly the whole thing cuts to a severe bloody beating scene! A girl who could be Rhea, coated in blood is crying and screaming in the gloom as the camcorder itself bashes her skull in — it’s the same day that all this road trip is happening!
Back to the jokes, chats, and degeneration into arguments — Alan Vs. Rhea, with Steve hopelessly agreeing with his dominating big brother and Connor trying to settle things down. Our veteran, Dave (dated five months earlier) comes in more and more, he details his time as a commando. Soon the film cuts to a later in the evening scene, as the four of them stand around the car in the dark, flat tyre. They mention a hitch hiker who was kicked out of the vehicle earlier, they’re getting scared. It seems he also took the camera.
As they speak, they are being filmed from nearby, the person is sniggering now and then.
“Have you guys never seen a horror film?” says Connor as the rest of them agree to pick up a lone hitch hiker. The man won’t tell them his name, but he does say he’s a Gulf War veteran when he hears that Steve is on his way to fight soon. This is the only time the stranger smiles properly before the end game starts to unfold.
The tension is all over as the conversations are so unpredictable. The hitch hiker has twitching mood swings, sometimes (claiming) he’s joking, other times totally flipping over to accusations and snapping. Jackson Batchelor portrays this guy to knife edge perfection. Maybe taking inspiration from Paddy Constantine in the absolute classic, Dead Man’s Shoes (see review of Dead Man’s Shoes here), there area few similarities between the two battle torn psychologically damaged characters (even the beard).
The acting in Taped Up Memories is spot on, aside from Jackson totally stealing the show. We also have Chris Mills as Connor trying to be the diplomatic but strong peacekeeper. Then there is Ella Palmer as Rhea, torn by her emotions, Peter Tilley as Steve is unsure but is egged on by his brother, and Sam as Alan, sounds like a complete dickhead, yet it’s all he’s known and been fed to believe. UK underground regular, Annabella Rich (A Pocket Full of Superstitions, Hacker, Eating Miss Campbell) makes an appearance, for a few seconds. She did film most of the USA holiday footage and the makeup.
By the way, Richard Millyard deserves a mention as the big burly distance-eyed veteran who gradually through his interviews goes from how proud he was, to being another disillusioned lost ex-soldier. The only downside I found was the foot dragging final scenes. I get that it’s supposed to be unedited, but c’mon!
Other than my grandfather, who rarely spoke about his years in WW2, or funny stories to entertain, I’ve known two other veterans — young guys — and both have so much bubbling under their skin. One rarely leaves his house to this day. All said and done, Taped Up Memories has a brutal and truthful message that doesn’t drive it into your face, but instead shows you in correct measures. Just remember, the media will not show you everything, only the eyes of the survivors know what really goes on…
You always know a Sam Mason Bell monster. If I put this one on without knowing, I’d click within minutes. His style is something of a culture shock to first time arrivals or fleeting visitors, but stick with his stuff, it’s usually worth it in the end.
Incidentally, Sam told me that this is part of a trilogy, and the prequel is on its way soon.
Directed by: Sam Mason Bell, Jackson Batchelor
Written by: Sam Mason Bell, Jackson Batchelor
Produced by: Sam Mason Bell, Jackson Batchelor
Editing by: Sam Mason Bell, Jackson Batchelor
Special effects by: Sam Mason Bell, Annabella Rich
Cast: Peter Tilley, Chris Mills, Ella Palmer, Sam Mason Bell, Jackson Batchelor
Year: 2023
Country: UK
Language: English
Colour: Colour
Runtime: 1h 4min
Studio: Trash Arts Productions