10 Great Overlooked British Horror Films of the 1970s
 

An interesting article from the BFI here.

I must track down Full Circle at some point - the only one I've yet to check out.

Full Circle is the only one i don't own.

I must pick up Symptoms at some point.

There's a couple of versions of Full circle (haunting of Julia) on Youtube at present, i don't even think there's a decent dvd release available.
I watched it a while back.
It's based upon a Peter Straub novel.
I read that as a kid and it always stuck in my head so had to try and see the film.:pop2:

The Haunting Of Julia had a pre-cert video release in the UK many, many moons ago.

Cheers Nos - I know what I'll be watching tomorrow night now. :pop2:

Doesn't sound promising for a dvd release does it?

Being a big fan of British films of the era it really pisses me off that there are so many gems still not out. The odd one creeps out like Craze on Nucleus or Baby Love on Network but that's about it each year, two or three if we are lucky. We might be getting four this year with the BFI releases of Symptoms and Psychomania.

Why can't 88 do a British range of films? I'm sure they'd sell better than Ironmaster.

The Shuttered Room
 

This use to be shown on telly allot,and I know it has a region 1 release,but a UK release would be good,its no classic but i remember liking at the time.
I know it 1967 but thats close ,;)

I wish someone would release 'The Appointment', an intensely creepy Brit film from the early eighties starring Edward Woodward. I'm surprised it didn't feature in that BFI list.

Someone should release a proper U.K version of Mutations.
Also Dream Demon.
And Arrow should pull their finger out and do a Michael Reeves box.:nod:

The article was only about 70's films, Frankie. It's headline is -

10 great overlooked British horror films of the 1970s

But yes, these films need a release, especially in the UK, their country of origin.

I was waiting for you to point that out, Dem. Glad you didn't disappoint me!

Why isn't Trog on the list....

What you really mean is 'Thank **** at least one person reads my posts'. :tongue1:

Now I'm pretty sure that most if not all on that list would be considered a 'flop' as far as box office at the time (no home video deals or rental tape dosh back then) so I wonder if they were written off as a dead loss for tax, it does seem odd that even the most dire tosh from all over the world makes it onto dvd/BD but we Brits are bereft of quite a bit of 70s U.K. cult cinema, or maybe the rights holders just want silly money (like the Italians back in the 80/90s*)

*Back in the day I remember reading that an Italian distributor wanted over £150k for U.K. rights to a 70s 'nasty' Nazi flick that was on the DPP list.:pound:

Better than no-one at all, Dem...

That's debatable. :lol:

Got to be honest, i think your reviews are absolutely required reading. :nod: :cool:

There are so many British films from the 70's in the genre we so love that have been neglected on dvd, never mind blu-ray.

The Corpse
Fragment of Fear*
Tam Lin*
Trog*
Endless Night
The Night Digger*
What Became of Jack and Jill
Seagull Island
Dominique
Absolution
Voices
The Brute

That's just a few off the top of my head.

*These are available as on demand dvd-r's from various reputable studios but haven't had legitimate dvd releases.

I remember watching Fragment of Fear late one night on the BBC, years ago. It kind of reminded me a little of Blow Up with its plotline and the fact it starred David Hemmings in the lead role. Good film.

Like Dem says, the article is only in reference to films from the '70s. I completely agree with you about The Appointment though it's long overdue a release.

Tam Lin actually has a US DVD (and Blu-ray ;)) release.

Thanks. I didn't research before i typed. I do have it in my wish list but thought it was perhaps a dvd-r.

Overlooked by whom?? As The Haunting Of Julia is the only one not available (SADLY!!!! :computerfix:). The Shout being the Streets Of Fire of Brit horror notwithstanding hahaha. Still if it gets folk watching them......

It too is on YouTube ( and also had a UK video release on 3M?, that seems to ring a bell) and is well worth watching. Here's a taste, I think you'll all enjoy it. :nod: :pop2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeNO49KF5p0

Lindsay Shonteff's Night After Night After Night is another that definitely needs to be seen, but apparently Shonteff's son is a nightmare when it comes to acquiring the rights.

Hear! Hear! Somebody should shoot off an email asking what the chances would be on a British range. :nod:

Cough tell me about it. A sad state of affairs

I would love to see How Sleep The Brave again. I remember that being a cracking little war film.

I know someone who was in touch with the Shonteff estate and the son who's now the rights owner and he has absolutely no interest at all in making his fathers films available again. This wasn't just a quick email either it was a discussion that went on for weeks.

It's quite sad in a film history sense but i doubt we'll ever see any Lindsey Shonteff films on dvd aside from Devil Doll and Permissive.

I actually have that on dvd. It's quite obviously filmed in an English wood. :pound: I've also got Ice Cold in Phoenix.

It's a shame but they aren't the Shonteff films we are after.

Isn't it just :pound:
Still though....

420 there is a 23rd Century dvdr of HSTB out there under the title Combat Zone btw!!

That's the one i have. :nod:

If you know them, their "quality" leaves something to be desired cough:rolleyes::rolleyes:.

Have run out of time, but wait until I relate the tale of Gordon, The Black Pirate!! :lol:

Must admit i too thought that. There are some truly fine films on that list that i for one, and you and probably others on here certainly haven't overlooked.

The film quality is in decent condition. The film itself...well that's not so good. :lol:

Noooooo! He should be charged with crimes against cinema! :nod: :jedi:

If I'm not mistaken, is it not well ahead of its time to be one of the very first films to deal about the American involvement in the Vietnam war?

Nice one, I'm going to have to have a wee search for that. :nod: :thankingyou:

I guess I'm going to have to delve into my videos to find my Zappers. It looks like the only way to see the films now.

It is.


If you don't include Taxi Driver, Targets, The Green Berets, Death Dream, The Visitors, Coming Home, The Deer Hunter, Go Tell the Spartans, Apocalypse Now.... :tongue1:

Sorry, 420. Just messing with you. :happy: