Watch Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire
- NR
- 1985
- 1 hr 35 min
-
5.6 (350)
Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire is a quirky and innovative British comedy-drama, released in 1985. Directed by Alan Clarke and written by Trevor Preston, this movie stars Phil Daniels as Billy Kid, Alun Armstrong as The One, and Bruce Payne as Maxwell Randall. The plot is an unusual blend of a western and a horror movie, set in the world of professional snooker. Billy Kid is a young, aspiring snooker player, who dreams of becoming a world champion. However, he is constantly hampered by his fear of failure and his distractibility, which leads him to spend his prize money on wild parties and drugs. He is also haunted by a strange, green-haired vampire, who seems to follow him everywhere he goes.
The vampire, who is never given a name, is a mysterious and unsettling figure, who appears at key moments in the movie, always accompanied by an eerie green glow. Whether he is a supernatural entity or a manifestation of Billy's psychological state is left up to the viewer's interpretation.
The One is another important character in the movie, a snooker player who acts as a mentor to Billy. He is a grumpy and cynical man, who has seen it all and knows the harsh realities of the sport. He tries to teach Billy the secrets of the game and warns him against the dangers of fame and success.
Maxwell Randall is the villain of the movie, a wealthy and ruthless businessman who controls the snooker world with an iron fist. He runs a corrupt tournament where the players are forced to use his own customized snooker balls, which are rigged to favor his favored players. He is also involved in shady deals with gambling syndicates and is not above using violence to get his way.
The movie features some thrilling snooker scenes, which are shot with great attention to detail and create a sense of tension and excitement. The players use creative and unconventional techniques and try to outsmart each other at every turn. The final tournament, where Billy faces off against his arch-nemesis Maxwell Randall, is a nail-biting sequence that keeps the viewers on the edge of their seats.
What makes this movie truly unique, however, is its surreal and absurdist approach to storytelling. The characters are exaggerated and eccentric, the dialogue is sharp and witty, and the visuals are often surreal and bizarre. The movie uses music, dance, and fantasy sequences to create a dreamlike atmosphere that defies conventional narrative logic.
Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire is a movie that defies easy categorization. It is a sports movie, a horror movie, a comedy, a drama, and a musical all rolled into one. It is a celebration of the human spirit, of the power of ambition and perseverance, but it is also a cautionary tale about the dangers of obsession and addiction. It is a movie that will entertain, surprise, and challenge its viewers, and leave them wondering about its meaning and significance long after the credits have rolled.
Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire is a 1985 western with a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.6.