Top of the Dots - Horror, Sci-FI and Cult Films 🍿🎬

We wanted to spread some love from our studio and let you in on our designer Oli (and the rest of team's) favourite Sci-Fi, Horror and Cult Classic films that feature in our Business As Unusual set of Cold Calling Cards. The cards reimagine the jobs of characters from movies presented as fictional businesses.

Sonny’s picks:

Horror: American Psycho
I love how Bateman's card has the imperfections from the film included in the design. Oli's attention to detail is what makes the Calling Cards so special; there's easter eggs referencing the film hidden in pretty much every card. In this instance, the missing space in 'Pierce &Pierce' and the misspelling of 'Acquisitions' mirrors that of the film. These deliberate errors are what I love about American Psycho. They force the audience to distinguish themselves between Bateman's reality and psychosis, giving everyone their own opinions on what actually happens. If you're bored, I’d recommend diving into American Psycho theories on Reddit forums, that'll keep you busy for a while!

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Sci-Fi: The Matrix
The Matrix's calling card is so easily identifiable with the 0's and 1's, which have become associated with the franchise, plastered across the card. At a glance, it almost feels too obvious until you discover details about Thomas Anderson's character hidden amongst the binary sequence.

Everyone's seen it, but I rewatched the Matrix recently and was surprised at how well the film had actually aged. With the whole 'AI revolution' of recent times, a world where there's a machine enforced simulation enslaving humans in order to farm their energy doesn't seem too far removed from our own. Essentially a 2 hour Black Mirror episode, made in the 90s, with a $60 million budget and a lot of kung fu. Brilliant.

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Cult Classics: There Will be Blood (2007)
I picked this card mainly because of my love for the film, but also because its design compliments how P.T.A. perfectly encapsulates the dismal side of both Capitalism and the origins of the' American Dream'. I love the detail of the black-on-black thumb print (finished with gloss foil) which mimics an oil stain in a classy nod to the films premiss, whilst also alluding to Plainview's guilt and wrongdoing throughout the story. Contrary to recent reports I also think Paul Dano did a great job.

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Charlotte’s Picks:

Horror: Shaun of the Dead (2004)
I couldn’t not pick this film solely based off the nostalgia attached to it. I remember watching this film with both my brothers growing up and as I have grown older, I feel as though it subconsciously triggered a love for darker dystopian fiction and intrigue into post-apocalyptic media. The blend of comedy with horror in Shaun of the Dead is executed in such a seamless manor, which to me makes the perfect introduction into the fascinating universe of horror films. When I saw Oli’s design of the business card it appealed to me most. I suppose you could say it almost mirrors the simplicity of the plot of the film, but it’s the way in which it is executed is super clever.

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Sci-Fi: Back to the Future
I think the first film in the trilogy is the first I remember watching where my mind was blown away, trying to figure out how it was possible to time travel whilst simultaneously being completely endorsed in the storyline and asking my Grandad questions like “how has he done that?!” what felt like every other second. I also love the thought that no matter how old this film is or how much technology develops, the awe transgresses across generations. The fact that my grandad must have watched Back to the Future in the 80s and been so fascinated that he has felt obliged to introduce it to his children and grandchildren and so on, speaks volumes about the excitement the franchise generates. Zemeckis and Gale created a set of timeless movies which showcase the answer to the questions we have all asked someone, ‘what would you do if you could time travel?’ and ‘would you go to the past or to the future?'. The films show an insight into the past and a possible future and I think it is quite interesting to see how popular culture during the 1980s influenced their idea of the future. Comparing it to the reality of 2015, fashion isn’t too different from their depiction, but shoes don’t lace themselves… yet!

Image © DorothyImage © Dorothy

Cult Classics: The Godfather
I just love the creativity behind the design of the card - it is exactly how I would imagine Vito Corleone’s business card to look. There are probably too many reasons to list as to why it is my favourite film out of the Cult Classics collection in a short paragraph, but I went off the fact that for me, The Godfather is an era defining film for the gangster genre and Hollywood in general. It’s a seminal film everyone should watch at least once in their lives.

Rachael’s Picks:

Horror: Silence of The Lambs
I first watched this film when I was 16 at a sleepover and watched it mostly through my fingers because I was too scared. However, I bravely re-watched more recently and absolutely loved it. The scariest bit was Clarice walking past the cells to get to Hannibal. My favourite part of the film is the relationship between Hannibal and Clarice - his soft spot for Clarice and helping her I found almost endearing, but then I remember he’s a cannibal. I also love that it’s a female amongst a nearly all male team who manages to do what none of them could. I think the best moment was Hannibal’s phone call to Clarice right at the end… “I’m having an old friend for dinner.”

Image © Dorothy

Sci-Fi: The Truman Show

It helps that Jim Carey is one of my favourite actors, but this film was so good. I watch a lot of reality TV (sorry, not sorry), so thought the concept of this film was so interesting and creepy even with all the funny elements. The way things start to unravel around him is great and I was just desperate for him to figure it all out. The ending scene is one of my favourite ending scenes of all time, as the producer and all the crew watch dumbfounded as he sails to his freedom, when he gets to the painted wall at the edge of the sea, I was so emotional. Then after Christof’s plea to get him to stay he says his catchphrase live to the nation as a final goodbye, and it was just perfect!!!

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Cult Classics: Drive

Drive is such a great movie. I love that you’re encouraged to follow the plot with visual leads rather than dialogue, which I found so engaging. I think Ryan Gosling speaks under 900 words in the whole film. The soundtrack is amazing too. This film was an easy pick because the card is actually my favourite from the set too. I love the foiled pink edge with the blind deboss text reflecting Goslings secretive service, and the gold scorpion pulled from his iconic bomber jacket.

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Oli’s Picks:

Horror: Texas Chainsaw Massacre
I love how short this film is, it is only 83 minutes long which really builds up the suspense and keeps the audience engaged throughout. I am a believer in thinking that soundtracks make films, and Tobe Hooper and Wayne Bell’s selection of tracks perfectly complements the slow-paced unnerving atmosphere built up by the lack of action in the first half hour or so of the film, but when the horror comes in, it happens super quick. I think it’s great that the actors in the film aren’t necessarily Hollywood all-stars, it feels more authentic. Texas Chainsaw Massacre is by far my favourite horror film, similarly to Rach with ‘Silence of the Lambs’ I avoided watching it for years and was under the (wrong) presumption that it was a bit cheesy, but I was proven wrong!

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Sci-Fi: Her
I love how believable this film is, there isn’t loads of aliens which differentiates it from your more typical Sci-Fi. I think the casting for this film is great: Scarlett Johansson, Joaquin Phoenix and Amy Adams play out a complex plot by balancing convincing storytelling with realistic character development. I’d recommend for anyone who enjoys soft Sci-Fi and a bit of heartbreak.

Cult Classics: Boogie Nights
I think this my favourite film of all time and again for me the soundtrack really elevates. Paul Thomas Anderson is my favourite director, and I just love the character arc of Eddie Adams/Dirk Diggler and how the struggles that come with money, fame and addiction are portrayed. The progression of fashion through the late 70s to the early 80s adds an interesting progression to the aesthetic of the film. I tried to reflect this in the design of the card with 70s style font and the bright, reflective colours mimicking tacky neon lights that we associate with that era and the early 80s.

Image © Dorothy

Jim’s Picks:

Horror: Pyscho
I love Oli’s design for this card, with Norman Bates Taxidermy on one side and Norma Bates's Bates Motel card on the reverse. I love the stripped down colour palate and the reference to the Motel sign. Psycho is a classic design movie for fans of design, not least for the strikingly iconic images within the film itself, Hitchcock began his career as a title designer and I think you can see his graphic approach within his filmmaking and also certain very well-known scenes were heavily storyboarded by the classic designer Saul Bass who also created the title sequence and film poster. Saul Bass revolutionised film title design, almost creating graphic mini-movies within movies. I love this card.

Sci-Fi: 2001: A Space Odyssey
I remember watching this for the first time, I was probably about 10-ish and was in love with Star Wars and all things Sci-fi, and was blown away, it’s so mind expanding-ly vast in its reach and scope. It’s so many films in one film. It’s slow sci-fi, but deep. It makes no sense but is deeply profound. It’s about everything yet is puzzling beyond belief. And it looks great.

Cult: Pulp Fiction
I had no idea what I was going to see, I just jumped into a friend’s car who had asked if I fancied going to see a film that night. I was 16 and they were old enough to drive, so I was in. On the drive to the cinema, we listened to the soundtrack on a cassette in the car, how do these songs work together, but they do. Dick Dale’s Misirlou, why is this amazing? It’s unstoppable. I was glad that I had no idea what I was about to see, you only get to see things for the first time once. Having no idea about Pulp Fiction meant that I wasn’t prepared for it. I’d never heard of Tarantino before that night, but that trip to the Odeon in Bromborough changed my life.

Ali’s Picks:

Horror: The Shinning
I don’t / can’t do horror. And this film really cemented that decision for me. I watched it when I was 18 years old in my first year at university. On a black & white portable TV in my friend’s bedroom in halls. It petrified me that much that I had to drag my mattress down the corridor to sleep in her room that night. I rewatched the film recently because we hosted a studio show based on Craig Oldham’s book about the film (published by Rough Trade Books) and was fascinated by the stories of Kubrick’s relentless directorial demands and by the many interpretations that have gained traction over the years. I faired a lot better the second time round, possibly because I was focused on trying to decode elements of the film rather than concentrating on the horror of the story, but it still gave / gives me sleepless nights. Jack’s business card is one of my favourites. Referencing both an iconic scene and a legendary line. So simple but so chilling.

Sci-Fi: Close Encounters of the Third Kind
I can do Sci-Fi. Most aliens don’t scare me. I watched this when I was young and I think it was the first time I’d ever seen a film where the aliens were depicted as peaceful and curious rather that hostile and aggressive which was monumental. I think it’s also the first time I saw mashed potato sculptured into the shape of a mountain which, to a young child was pretty rebellious and awesome and copied in school canteens across the country. Don’t even get me started on how I still feel when I the five notes played on the synth speed up at the end of the film. Joyous.

Cult: Parasite
Such a fantastic, fascinating film on so many different levels (pun intended). The memory of the film has been made even more remarkable for me as we were the only two people in the cinema watching it. But it was 2 days before the first lockdown.

Our Business as Unusual Cold calling cards in Cult, Horror and Sci-Fi are available to buy from here.

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