Imagine a horror movie in the vein of Fantasia, set to music and without dialogue, called Phantasmagoria.phan·tas·ma·go·ri·a - A sequence of real or imaginary images like those seen in a dream. "What happened next was a phantasmagoria of horror and mystery."
The inspiration and design of the images would come from Pop Surrealism as showcased in magazines such as High Fructose and Juxtapoz.
Above and to the left are works by Al Columbia. His work is inspired by animated cartoons from the 1930s.
However, his themes are much darker and perverse than those of Minnie Mouse or Popeye.
Each short piece in Phantasmagoria would be accompanied by evocative and disturbing music by contemporary composers.One section might be accompanied by the unsettling and intense work of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, best known for the soundtracks of The Social Network and Gone Girl. Imagine their music paired with the children's-book-creepiness of art by Don Kenn.
Other composers might include Mica Levi, best known for his work on Under The Skin (listen), or 20th-century classical composers like Gyorgy Ligeti (listen) or Krzysztof Penderecki (listen).
Soothing lullabies could be paired with ghastly animations, or Disney cuteness undercut by haunting undertones and jagged percussion.
Ultimately, the movie would explore the underlying themes of much of Pop Surrealism: the uncanny juxtaposition of childhood innocence and dread.
Imagine digital animation bringing the work of Ray Ceasar to life (below).
Phantasmagoria would be like a Pixar film directed by David Lynch, with a Disney princess as imagined by David Cronenberg.
Alas, this is again, preposterous.
