Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 12th July 2026.

12th July, 2026.

It’s Sunday … and, right at the moment … ?

I don’t think I’ve heard a train go past!

In case you didn’t know?

I live next to the Shenfield to Liverpool Street line: not five minutes walk from Brentwood Station.

So, as regular as clockwork?   I’ll hear cars going past: and trains.

On a regular basis.

It’s usually quieter on a Sunday: but you still hear the things chuntering past.

To the point where you don’t notice them.

Apart from days like today … when you notice the fact there’s no trains going past!

Literally none have gone past, this morning.

I’m wondering if there’s work being done: or a strike.

It’s unnervingly quiet!

So much so, I’ve just checked the website.

Apparently, there’s a reduced service: because there’s been a fire at Stratford Station.

That’s that, explained!

~≈🚂≈~

Bathory: blood, guts and poodle cuts.

Hmmm …

You know, I’ve got to confess, I think me, Movie Night Adrian, Kevin D, and his wife, Tootles Sarah, managed to do something rather unusual, last night.

We actually managed to catch something fairly art-house …

Well …

When I say art-house, I don’t know if the 2008, Juraj Jakubisko directed Anna Friel film, Bathory actually counts.

Certainly not with Friel’s rather 16th century poodle-cut.

But I’m thinking that it’s about as art-house as we’re likely to get …

Bathory loosely sees Anna Friel as the eponymous Countessa Erszabet Báthory, the legendary Countess of Blood from 16th Century Upper Hungary: in what’s now the Slovak Republic.

And attempts, as director, Juraj Jakubisko says in his Wikipedia entry, “She supposedly murdered 650 people during her lifetime. I think this theory is absurd and thought of creating my own legend, which would show her in a completely different light …”

I’m thinking he manages to mostly succeed, there. But he also adds that he added in a couple of investigating monks to try and lighten the mood of the piece.

Which I know for a fact didn’t sit especially well with Kevin and Adrian …

»»•««

Actually, I’ve to got admit, I’m none too sure if I was impressed, myself.

You see, I got hold of Báthory mostly on the back of the fact it had actress Anna Friel in it: someone I always thought was frankly cute, ever since I clapped eye on her in Brookside.

And … ?

And while I think she — and the film’s overall look — is riveting in this, I’m thinking that — at 2 hours, 14 minutes — Báthory isn’t necessarily the best way to spent an evening.

Not unless it gets a lot of editing work done to it.

And maybe some re-writing. Just to make it a little pacier …

»»•««

Báthory

Paul: Nice but forgettable ★½☆☆☆

Adrian: Nice but forgettable ★½☆☆☆

Kevin: Watchable ★★☆☆