The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse

The League of Gentlemen are Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton, Reece Shearsmith and Jeremy Dyson, although only the first three perform onscreen. For those who haven't met the positively demented inhabitants of Royston Vasey then, be warned, this is comedy of the darkest sort - treading the fine line between humour and horror, taste and disturbing. After three series' and a Christmas special, the League have their first big screen outing as the residents of Royston Vasey attempt to prevent their imminent elimination by their creators. We therefore see Tubbs, Edward, Herr Lipp, Papa Lazarou, Pauline, Mickey and so on venture to the 'real' world to confront their creators. A suitably daft premise, but the League have always been about the ridiculous as well as the sublimely funny. Along with his other ventures, Joby Talbot has been the show's regular composer since the beginning and it's pleasing that he remains on board for the film.

After his fine score to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, it almost seems as though Talbot has become typecast in cult British comedy movies - or at an even finer level, ones that start with destruction of a world. More coincidence than design I'm sure and The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse is a rather darker prospect, indeed there is little in the way of comedy music and the balance is much more between drama, a dash of horror, plus some period ideas. The opening Apocalypse theme is an epic version of the three notes that opened the regular TV melody. Stripped Down Theme presents it largely in its original form and what a theme it is. Rarely has a theme tune captured the tone of a programme quite so perfectly; unpredictable and creepy, but with the comedy hinted at in its absurdity. Bits of the melody make fleeting appearances throughout the album, just enough to tie the score together, but not overworked.

The film works in an historical aspect and to that end, Talbot contributes a Handel inspired harpsichord theme (performed by the composer) in Pig Funeral and picked up a little later in Arise Sir Geoffrey. Obviously, no film with Apocalypse in the title is going to go by without some OTT moments and Meteors, Storm Over Royston Vasey, Back in Royston Vasey and Hilary Versus the Humunculus duly deliver. The latter is a fine, tense action cue as the village's sinister butcher proves (or not) his mettle. The closing pair of cues feature some surprisingly straight laced, good natured moments, although a little of the main theme's darkness lurks round the corner. As with Hitchhikers Guide, a few of the tracks are a little incidental - more a side effect of (dark/horror) comedy scoring than any paucity of skill or talent on display - but an otherwise fine effort; Talbot's film scoring career is definitely one to watch.