Meta Description: Explore the remarkable creativity of Mark E. Smith, frontman of The Fall, his influence on post-punk, and his foray into horror screenwriting with the unpublished screenplay “The Otherwise.”
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Mark E. Smith, Prestwich’s finest, is a name synonymous with boundless creativity. Best known as the driving force behind post-punk pioneers The Fall, Smith’s prolific output includes over 30 studio albums, a memoir, solo projects, and even a screenplay. His relentless dedication to his craft solidified his place as one of the most original artists in the United Kingdom, a reputation he maintained until his untimely death in 2018.
From a young age, Smith was deeply immersed in music and literature, gravitating towards rebellious figures in both realms. His attraction to the darker aspects of culture was evident from the start, with his first single purchase being Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid.” While The Fall rarely ventured into heavy metal territory, the dark influences that shaped Smith’s worldview were ever-present in his work.
The Fall emerged during the post-punk era, a perfect match for Smith’s rebellious nature. However, the band stood apart from the mainstream punk scene, eschewing its typical mohawks, bondage trousers, and anarchic slogans. Instead, The Fall carved out their own anti-pop identity, influenced by the era’s rising interest in horror films and “video nasties” in the UK.
Smith’s fascination with horror is reflected in The Fall’s music, from their debut album Live at the Witch Trials to their cover of the Northern Soul classic “There’s a Ghost in My House.” This theme reached a wider audience when the band’s 1982 track “Hip Priest” was featured in the iconic horror film The Silence of the Lambs.
In 2015, Smith’s love for cinema culminated in co-writing a horror screenplay titled The Otherwise with Graham Duff. The film, which never saw the light of day, featured Smith as himself, with The Fall recording a new EP in an isolated studio on Pendle Hill, near Burnley. The plot, set against the eerie backdrop of the Lancashire moors, included satanic biker gangs and time-traveling Scottish clansmen from the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745.
Despite its originality, The Otherwise was deemed too unconventional by film studios, and the project was shelved. Unfortunately, Smith’s passing in 2018 meant the film would never be made. However, the screenplay has since been published and remains essential reading for fans of The Fall and horror enthusiasts alike.
The screenplay reveals a side of Smith rarely seen in his confrontational stage persona or the cryptic lyrics of The Fall. It offers a glimpse into his eccentric, nerdy interests, blending his dry wit with the strange historical and supernatural elements of the plot. While the horror themes are prominent, the idea of Mark E. Smith pondering Scottish ghosts from the Jacobite Rebellion adds a charming layer to his already complex character.
