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Plymouth has an enticing range of cinemas where film fans can enjoy a movie on an IMAX screen or even sitting on a sofa.
The city has its multiplexes and an arthouse cinema too. It’s even staged outdoor showings in Tinside Lido.
But in Mutley Plain, movie lovers have also been meeting to watch films in a cellar. The Eek! Film Club has been showing spine-tingling thriller and horror movies every month since April 2023.
The films are screened in the basement below Wilful Beer usually on the second Wednesday and Thursday of each month, from 6.30pm. It comfortably seats 35 people.
It was a popular feature when the building was run by Bulletproof Tap Haus and, after it moved out, new owner Wilful was more than happy for Eek! Film Club to continue.
“We have shown more than 30 films in three years,” said club founder Eleanor Tomas. “It is mostly horrors and thrillers, anything that makes you go ‘eek’.”
(Image: Submitted)
The club was born out of the isolation caused by the Covid pandemic. Eleanor is from Plymouth, and after graduating from Bristol UWE in 2017 with a degree in graphic design, got a job in Exeter as a junior designer for award-winning studio Buddy Creative, living there for two years.
She told PlymouthLive: “I met my now husband at a Lindy Hop dance event, and he happened to live in Plymouth.
“By 2020 I found myself slowly moving back home. The Covid pandemic hit and it was pretty isolating.
“By the time 2023 rolled around I was looking to build up my social circle and make new friends.
“I went to several meetup groups, and had some minor success but found it a bit hard to get to know people without a sort of buffer in place.
“It was quite awkward at least for me trying to find common ground. That’s when I had the idea to use my design and organisational skills to create a pop-up film club.”
(Image: Submitted)
Eleanor said she wanted to create a space for people to watch a film, enjoy a pint and chat afterwards about what they thought of it.
“And if they got on, brilliant,” she said. “Making friendships is so much harder to do in adulthood, and I wanted to create a space that could facilitate that.
“I had a lot of support and encouragement from Plymouth Design Forum too, and it was their signature beer mats they’d give away at each of their socials that gave me the idea to further support and encourage our creative community in Plymouth by commissioning artists each month for our posters.
“I am also very grateful to have been hosted by Bulletproof during their time at the premises. I am also incredibly grateful for the new leaseholders Andrew (Williams) and Tom (Anderson) of Wilful to have invested in the club with a new refurb downstairs with a new surround sound speaker system, paintjob and new comfortable seating. It was a great way to kick off 2026 for us.”
(Image: Submitted)
The club began with a showing for Eleanor’s favourite sci-fi/horror The Thing, with The Wicker Man coming in a close second.
This month it showed the original, 1962 version of Cape Fear, starring Robert Mitchum. It will stage its yearly art show on May 14 where it displays the 12 posters from the previous cycle.
“It’s free, and people can enjoy the art, socialise, and support the local creative community by buying bigger prints and other work for sale,” said Eleanor.
Tickets for the showings cost £9 and each “Eeker” gets a free A5 poster and popcorn. A loyalty card scheme means moviegoers get their 10th film free.
“We like to think of it as a rite of passage,” said Eleanor. “Some of our more ardent followers are closing on their 30th.”
This year’s programme continues in June with vampire horror From Dusk Till Dawn, followed by Saw in July, It Follows in August and Aliens in September.
In October there will be a mystery film where moviegoers should just turn up on the night for a surprise film fit for Halloween.
In November, Cabin In The Woods will be shown and fans can choose which movie to watch in December.
(Image: Submitted)
“Each month we commission an artist, illustrator, designer or maker to create a unique poster to go with our film screening,” said Eleanor.
“What we really love about our collection is how each creative approaches the brief, and because of that there is such a diversity in style.
“ In February we had Sam Goodwin create a linocut for the film Cube. In January we had seasoned Eek! artist Sam Holland illustrated an amazing poster for us for the film Misery, and in June last year we had the amazing Meabh Mullholand, organiser of the Part Timers Art Fair, create a very cute and vintage-inspired illustrated poster for Child’s Play.
“All these posters from June-April this year will be available to purchase along with other work at our Art Show and Evening Social in May.”
For more information about Eek! Film Club visit https://eekfilmclub.co.uk/
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