Alan Moore to write film anthology Show Pieces on Shudder

Last Updated on July 31, 2021

You know that old saying, "if you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself?" Well it seems legendary graphic novel writer Alan Moore (WATCHMEN, V FOR VENDETTA, LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMAN) feels that way too, as he has written a film anthology series – the first time he's ever written anything specifically for the screen. It's called SHOW PIECES that'll stream on the Shudder.

Now, while I enjoy most of Moore's film adaptations to some degree (yes, even LXG, it's dumb fun), I fully understand Moore's frustration with them. Even his best, or at least most accurate adaptation (WATCHMEN) takes a lot of liberties, and some drastic thematic deviations (though I love that one too). At least in this way Moore has much more control with how the final product will turn out.

Anyway, here's the official statement:

Set in the town of Northampton, UK, Show Pieces is the first work by Alan Moore written specifically for the screen and the first work to explore the bizarre world and characters that frequent an otherworldly gentleman’s club. The five chapters of Show Pieces create a tapestry of madness, malevolence and murderous misdeeds, intersecting to form an original, occult noir thriller with Alan Moore himself appearing in character on screen.

In Chapter One: Act Of Faith, Faith Harrington, a young newspaper reporter with an exotic private life, prepares for a stimulating evening at home that doesn’t go according to plan. In Chapter Two: Jimmy’s End, louche and hard-drinking womanizer James Mitchum finds himself wandering into one strange bar too many. In Chapter Three: Upon Reflection, Faith’s first bewildered arrival at the club is captured in a fixed security mirror above the club’s oddly anachronistic lounge bar. Whilst in Chapter Four: A Professional Relationship, the unusual relationship between the club’s two managers is explored and in Chapter Five: His Heavy Heart, a dreadful realization hits James Mitchum as he is shepherded into his unenviable afterlife.

The soundtrack to Show Pieces features original lyrics by Alan Moore set to music by Adam Drucker and Andrew Broder working as Crook & Flail with help from a cast of vocalists including Tunde Adebimpe (TV On The Radio), Alan Sparhawk (Low) and Nona Invie (Dark Dark Dark).

I'm definitely down, even if I haven't exactly loved Moore's recent output. The man gets a free pass for WATCHMEN alone. Here's hoping it holds up.

Meanwhile, SHOW PIECES will be unleashed on Shudder June 29th.