| Author | Message | ||
     Niki Flynn (Niki) Username: Niki Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 78.32.69.29 |
Someone should put out a compilation DVD of terrifying British public information films. They're proper horror. A friend was telling me about one such film, Apaches, that traumatised him as a child. I tracked it down on YouTube and yes, it's truly horrific. The description even says "Traumatised a whole generation of British children". So I'm glad to see someone's given it the proper horror film treatment with a "redux" trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4GvWk9maGg And here's a link to part 1 of the actual film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omdCXEdVCT0&feature=related (Parts 2 and 3 should be visible in the box to the right.) I saw some of the "Protect and Survive" clips on a Channel 4 100 Scariest Moments show one night and found them truly disturbing. Here's the one on "Casualties": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGMdnod8VPI&feature=related It's the matter-of-fact discussion of what to do with the bodies that really makes my skin crawl. And then there's this little gem, Dark and Lonely Water: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sg6IVUvVsAs Anyone know of any other seriously creepy ones? | ||
| Simon Bestwick (Simon_b) Username: Simon_b Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 86.24.165.182 |
Niki, this is brilliant and the Dark and Lonely Water one is fantastic. I've watched the beginning of Apaches and had to stop because even though nothing bad had happened yet the feeling of dread was so intense. You just know something awful is going to happen. That was the power of these films. Not surprised Apaches packed such a kick seeing who directed it, though.` | ||
| Coral (Coral) Username: Coral Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 90.215.237.100 |
I'll admit to having a great deal of difficulty passing beneath overhead electric cables after seeing one of those things. But, "oh look, Petunia, 'e's waving" caused a whole generation of phoney northern accents so lost it's power a bit. | ||
| Niki Flynn (Niki) Username: Niki Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 78.32.69.29 |
The first death in Apaches is a real shocker. And each segment lets you engage just enough with the kids' games so you forget what you're watching. I'm amazed there aren't hundreds of farm-phobic adults in Britain as a result. Or maybe there are. But I confess I don't know the director. Should I? | ||
| Simon Bestwick (Simon_b) Username: Simon_b Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 86.24.165.182 |
John Mackenzie- went on to direct 'The Long Good Friday'. Also directed a TV adaptation of Alan Garner's 'Red Shift.' I'm going to psych myself up to watch the whole thing. Soon. Eventually. | ||
| Steve Bacon (Stevebacon) Username: Stevebacon Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 90.209.220.47 |
I love that Dark and Lonely Water one. Makes Arnie sound camp when he says, "I'll be back..." | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.241.143 |
Oddly enough, I've just written in my zombie novel about a character who masturbated to that very public information film in his youth. Just thought I'd share that.  | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.159.87.15 |
Oddly enough, I've just written in my zombie novel about a character who masturbated to that very public information film in his youth. "Write what you know", eh?  | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.241.143 |
Oh, no. That would get me either arrested or sectioned. I'm serious. | ||
| Niki Flynn (Niki) Username: Niki Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 78.32.69.29 |
I wonder what the term for a public information film fetish would be?  | ||
| Steve Bacon (Stevebacon) Username: Stevebacon Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 90.209.220.47 |
PIFophilia? Pifography? | ||
| Tom English (Deadletterpress) Username: Deadletterpress Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 68.10.197.98 |
Thanks for the links. The narrator of Dark and Lonely Water sounds a bit like Donald Pleasance. | ||
| Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin) Username: Richard_gavin Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 69.157.37.29 |
You Brits are lucky to have had such great public service films to tie your childhood psyches into knots. I don't think we ever had anything as zesty as these here in Canada. Any of the safety and public service films I remember being shown as a child were pretty bland; their only horror element being a lot of bad early '70s polyester clothing and thick eastern Canada accents ("Noo doot aboot it!") | ||
| Simon Bestwick (Simon_b) Username: Simon_b Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 86.24.165.182 |
Tom- I think it IS Donald Pleasance on Dark And Lonely Water. | ||
| Niki Flynn (Niki) Username: Niki Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 78.32.69.29 |
I always thought it was Donald Pleasence, but one of the YouTube clips referenced "a Donald Pleasence sound-alike", so I decided it wasn't him. But I just looked it up and enough reputable websites (BBC, Wikipedia) say it IS him, so I believe it is. Surprised no one's overdubbed some Dr Loomis dialogue from HALLOWEEN over it!  "Death has come to your little town, Sheriff." American public info films were decidedly lame, but I remember this one from childhood. My brother and I used to make up far worse stories about what Mr Yuck could do: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLsONa3gKIQ |