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Meat the Campbells

Simon Hynd, 2005

The new boy at school, Pete Campbell, is rumoured to have some strange tastes and eating habits. When Mark finds himself invited around to Pete's house for dinner, he becomes more than a little concerned about what he might find on his plate. Will Mark make it through dinner in one piece, or will the pressure (cooker) get to him? This creepy tale is definitely not for the faint-hearted…

Clip Details

Genre: Comedy, Horror

Country of Origin: UK

Clip Length: 09:10

Age Group: P5-P7

Classroom Activities

  • Discuss the title. What do you notice? Is there anything that stands out? Why would “meat” be spelled this way?
  • Listen to the first 45 seconds of the film without visuals. Think about the music, sound effects, speech. What did you hear? What do you notice about music? How does it make you feel? Does it remind you of anything? What background sound effects do you hear? What does the conversation tell you? Now play the first 45 seconds with visuals. Did it meet with your expectations? Where is it set? Who is the main character? Who are the supplemental characters? What clues are there to justify your answer?
  • How does the director create the unsettling feel throughout the film? Organise ideas under these headings: Colour, Sounds, Camera.
  • How can you tell that, at its heart, this is a comedy film? Are there any clues in the way it has been filmed? How do each of the characters show this?
  • What do you like? What would be the perfect meal for you if you were going out for dinner? What would be the worst combination of food for you?
  • How should Mark have acted? Was Mark’s behaviour acceptable? Which of Mark’s reactions would you consider rude? What should he have done instead? Debate with a friend, taking opposite sides of the argument.
  • Making Links (1): What other stories/films does this remind you of? What other films have similar music? What other stories do you know that start in a school? What other stories involve three friends winding each other up? What stories involve a new pupil?
  • Making links (2): This film is made with Scottish actors and a Scottish-born director. Can you name any other Scottish actors? Do you know any other stories set in Scotland, or that have a main character that has a Scottish accent? What do you think when you hear a Scottish accent on TV or film?

Clip Details

Genre: Comedy, Horror

Country of Origin: UK

Clip Length: 09:10

Education Level: Second Level