Arab Strap 'Strawberry Moon' by David Arthur
Rob Ulitski - 8th Apr 2024
In an event as rare and unexpected as an earthquake in Cowdenbeath, Scotland's famously miserablist indie band Arab Strap have made a horror comedy inspired by 1980s werewolf movies - courtesy of director David Arthur.
The promo for Strawberry Moon also brings the band's two members to the screen in a music video for the first time in 20 years: Aidan Moffatt as a troubled priest and Malcolm Middleton as a crazed werewolf on the loose in Glasgow.
Much of the action takes place in a nightclub exclusively for members of the Church, where Moffatt encounters a sexy nun, other boozed-up priests and Middleton transforms into the beast, leading to a final showdown in a hillside Glasgow graveyard. Prepare for some divine clergy dance moves, mobility scooting, holy water pistols and the patented ginger werewolf POV cam.
All of the small budget is there on screen, with a sizeable cast of extras, great locations, costumes and scooter, and excellent werewolf make-up design by the SFX make-up artist Karen J Shields. And Arthur maintains a strong narrative grip throughout, greatly abetted by the natural on-screen charisma of the two bandmembers, particularly Moffatt.
“I am a big Arab Strap fan from way back, so when I was asked to pitch on this it was a very exciting prospect," says Arthur. "Listening to the song with its growling bass hook and lyrical references to the moon and sin made me imagine Aidan as a priest hunting down a werewolf, played by Malcolm… I think the band were tickled by this idea too, and talking to them I realised they were really up for making something fun. So we really went for it.
“It was a challenging shoot because of the ambition of creating this world of a wayward priest drawn to the temptations of city nightlife, along with a parallel story of a mysterious ginger werewolf killing off clergy, and leading to a showdown in a graveyard at night.
“Aidan and Malcolm were both a joy to work with and they really went with the madness of this, and our cinematographer Darren Hercher worked fast with a small camera and lighting setup, whilst still making it look brooding and cinematic.
"I called in major favours from my favourite post-house Blazing Griffin and colourist Taryn Calverey and sound mixer Scott Patterson really took the picture and sound to the next level. For eagle-eyed 80s movie fans there are several references to classic films I loved as a kid like An American Werewolf in London and Teen Wolf.”
Rob Ulitski - 8th Apr 2024
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Credits
Production/Creative
- Director
- David Arthur
- Producer
- Josefin Bagge
- Production Company
- FB
Camera
- Director of Photography
- Darren Hercher
- 2nd AC
- Myles Docherty
Wardrobe
- Make-up
- Karen J Shields
Casting
- Lead actor
- Martin Docherty
- Cast
- Stephen McCole, Elysia Welch
Editorial
- Editor
- David Arthur
Grading
- Colour Producer
- Maeve Mulgrew
- Colourist
- Taryn Calverey
- Colour grade company
- Blazing Griffin
VFX
- VFX
- Ciaran Lyons
Commission
- Label
- Rock Action
Rob Ulitski - 8th Apr 2024