The Phantom Museum: Random Forays Into the Vaults of Sir Henry Wellcome's Medical Collection

i think what most people find hardest about watching Quay films is that they expect to be entertained in a conventional sense. what it is you take from a Quay film will probably not be an enjoyable or exhilarating feeling, perhaps more of a feeling that sticks with you that lets you use your imagination to think of what it may or may have not been all about. and that is what makes them excellent filmmakers, albeit slightly exclusive. if you can see beyond the surface level pretences you can see the real beauty going on in these mechanical snippets. they are a tough watch, but they will definitely do more for your mind and eyes than any tom cruise blockbuster.

As a museum containing old medical displays and models is locked up for the night, the various pieces are brought out and allowed to come to life in a variety of ways.

I had assumed this would be more along the lines of `models come to life' than it actually was. In reality the film was more about the audience just being able to watch some of these medical models being taken apart and manipulated for all to see.

It was quite interesting in it's own way but I must admit to not being familiar with the models. I might be right in assuming that these models are not open to public use and manipulation in the same way as they were in this film. If this is the case then this short stands unique as a chance to see inside the pieces etc. I was interested in this short but I did wane a little bit during it. In fairness I don't know the work and, despite some curiosity, I wasn't that interested in the subject.

The animation is quite good although a lot of it looks stop frame live action more than anything else (but I'm guessing here). Overall if you are familiar with the models in question and have an interest in them then this is a must see. For other audiences then I would imagine that this would be a rather pointless and repetitive experience after only a few minutes.