Red Riding Hood in Armchair Theatre- Cult TV Review

I do love an anthology series as you are never too far away from a new world and new ideas. By it's very nature, some episodes of an anthology series will stick with you more than others but that's the nature of the beast. I was born in 1981 so had never heard of Armchair Theatre, a series that ran from 1956 to 1974, but had heard that there were a few episodes that were still fondly remembered by those who had seen them. One of these was Red Riding Hood, written by John Peacock, which takes the old Grimm fairytale into a modern setting.

The tale is of Grace, played with wide eyes innocence by Rita Tushingham, who is a put upon librarian. She lives and cares for her elderly annoying father and travels to see her entitled ungrateful grandmother who lives further away. She dreams of escaping the financial pressures of her life and the rut that she finds herself in.

When Keith Barron, the killer/ wolf of this story, moves into Grace's nan's house after killing her, he has designs upon Grace. They bond over their love of books and their dreams of travel when he informs her that his nan has gone away to see family for a fortnight. Grace and the wolf connect and bond over the two weeks but her mental health starts to deteriorate as she reconcile the fact that this freedom and affection is built on the back of her nan's death and her father slowly dying from starvation.

I really quite enjoyed this 50 minute episode. The neat conceit shows that Riding Hood isn't a poor victim but actually a young who wanted to be free from the impositions put upon her by society. Even after finding out about her nan's murder she willingly decides to escape reality with the wolf, even if for a while. The denouement of Grace's fragile mental state and guilt over what may have been real or imagined overwhelms her she suffers a break whilst in the childrens' section if th library.

Overall, I really enjoyed this episode and commend the acting and barebones set design. It shows that with very little budget but a neat idea you can look at the familiar through a slight wonky lens and end up with something quite unique. Fairy tales were always cautionary tales that taught us lessons and morals to keep to the status quo and in this poor Grace tries to buck that but pays the price. This is a fascinating time capsule of 1970s fashion, gender politics and subversion of societal expectations. Women were wanting more autonomy and unfortunately much of society wasn't ready.

Dark Season- Cult TV Series Review

Dark Season is a 6 part series that aired in 1991 on the BBC but I never saw it at the time, only finding it recently whilst falling down the YouTube rabbit hole of weird British children's programmes from the 70s to 90s.

The show is about a trio of teenagers in a secondary school who understand something strange is going on within their school. In the first three episodes, the story arc is about an apparent philanthropist who donates computers for each pupil. So far so sweet, but when an EMP wave hits the school the kids get together to thwart a plan to take control of their minds.

In the second three episodes, an apparent archaeological dig on school grounds unearth a tomb of the Behemoth, a monster of lore. Ms. Pendragon and her blonde haired blue eyed crew of Neo-Nazis seek to revive the creature and create a New World Order. But, is the monster real and what are its abilities?

Dark Season is an very watchable series with a strange mix of inspirations: from the Dr. Whoesque opening credit scene, the Lovecraftian plot and a surreal sense of quirkiness in the vein of The Prisoner or Scooby Doo- Dark Season is quite creepy for a kids show.

Considering the limited budget that this show obviously had, it does well by create likable characters in an adventure story you can get behind. This is the first appearance of Kate Winslet and she does a good job of it as Reet, a tom-boyish character with a great sense of gallows humour. However, the standout is Marcie, excellently played by Victoria Lambert, the kooky teen who looks at life a little askew but is prescient in her thoughts. She carries a paddle in case, things go a bit ‘up creek.’ She doesn't always understand the world but does her bit to save it, making her a sympathetic individual who isn't all clean cut heroine material. The teacher, played by Brigit Forsyth is marvellous in her role as the unwitting supporter of the trio. She plays the role of Scully to Marie's Mulder well but becomes game each time when the truth is revealed.

I have no nostalgia for the show as I never saw it on release but I really enjoyed my time with it. It reminded me of early the revival of Dr. Who and it was upob looking further that I saw Russell T. Davis was the writer.

Also, whilst not an influence (as it came out several years later) Eldritch looks like Wesker from Resident Evil, with his sharply flat shock of blonde hair, black sunglasses and long trench coat. Grant Parsons does a great job of making Eldritch sinister and an almost anime-like villain. I wonder if Shinji Mikami was a fan of the series…

Recently, a 13 part radio show was created and the original crew returned, including Kate Winslet. It's an extraordinary victory lap for a cult show that not many people watched but those who did loved it intensely.

Goosebumps- Retro Series Review

For many people of my ages (early 40s if you must know) Goosebumps was their first entry point into horror. I never really got into the book series in the early 90s myself, preferring fantasy and sci-fi at the time of its initial popularity. I watched a few episodes of Are You Afraid of the Dark? at the time and watched the entirely of series a few years ago, which I have reviewed here. So, when many people were saying that Goosebumps was well worth a watch too, I dived in and watched the award winning TV series over a few months. With the darkness and cold night setting in, I thought the time was right to catch up with R. L. Stine and share with you the 13 best episodes, in my humble opinion of course.

The entire TV series was spread over 4 seasons and contained 74 episodes. The episodes were a veritable smorgasbord of horror tropes including classics like ghosts, vampires and werewolfs to more offbeat but no less terrifying creatures including ventriloquist dummies. The most interesting thing to note is that no matter the episode the power of the storytelling and creepy atmosphere made them all worthwhile watching, which is particularly impressive when you consider each episode had a tiny budget. Strict age rating restrictions meant economy of design and smart editing left much to the imagination and often what you imagine is worse than what is shown, as H. P. Lovecraft so often used to startling effect.

I have selected my favourite 13 episodes which are the ones I'd recommend you watch. All the episodes are PG rated so are scary without being gory  or too violent.

Welcome to the Dead House
A family move to Dark Falls as a house comes on the market that seems too good to pass up. The town is quiet and eerie, having never been the same since the chemical plant accident that occured 3 years prior.

This is a proper B-movie zombie horde double episode as the family uncover the secrets of the house and are surrounded by the town who are looking to feed. The atmosphere created is surprisingly intense, creating a gloomy and suspenseful mood that would be right at home in a Stephen King movie.

Welcome to the Dead House has a B-movie zombie horde feel to it… but in the best possible way.

Night of the Living Dummy 2
When a young girl is given a ventriloquist's dummy little does she know it is the incorrigible Slappy, a malevolent besuited insult and roasting figure that breaks up families wherever he goes. In this case he does small level stuff that gets his owner, Amy the middle child of three, in trouble. Her family turn against her and they think she might need some therapy or a psychologist. Will she be able to prove that Slappy is to blame in time?
Slappy's design is on point here and he is suitably evil but in a strictly U way. The story is quite basic but is quintessential Goosebumps. He became the kind of totem for the series and it's easy to see why on the strength of this solid episode.

Slappy is kind of the talisman of the show. He is probably its most recognised character.

Deep Trouble
A brother and sister are staying with their scientist uncle for the Summer holidays. They explore his basement and see that he is creating experiments that turn animals giant. An enlarged sea creature is on the loose and could pose a problem.
This is an effective tale as halfway through this 2 parter they end up stranded on an island with the creature stalking them nearby. It's like an old school Sinbad movie with oversized creatures, such as lizards and crabs, for tweens. The Green screen is obviously cheaply done but it gets the tone across effectively enough.

The practical effects looks cheesy now but in the 90s they were plenty effective.

Say Cheese and Die
After stealing a camera from an eccentric scientist, a young boy learns that it takes a picture of the future, showing death and tragedy.
It's an interesting concept about knowing the future in the Final Destination style. The curse is all too real and so it must be given back before something worse happens.
The camera obscura, the camera that sees the hidden world is a great idea and I quite enjoyed this story ad it wasn't too horrory.

This episode is quite quirky but fun.

The Werewolf of Fever Swamp
A family move into a home near a swamp but something is disturbing their dear. Legends of a werewolf abound but the scientist parents dont think it's real.
The atmosphere created for the swamp is excellent as it feels eerie and isolated. Also, I'm glad that with the limited budget they had, they only showed the werewolf in bits and pieces. This stops the whole 'the special effects are so naff' syndrome that so many tween horror films and series had back in the day.

The special effects are kept to a minimum and the moody atmosphere of the dark woodlands creates the requisite tension required.

Ghost Beach
A couple of kids spend their summer with their uncle and Aunt near the beach. Along the way they meet a couple of kids who tell them the legend of the pilgrim ghost who lives in a nearby cave.
The story is a simple one of 'who to trust' but is effective with a surprise twist at the end.

The twist is a novel one.

The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight
A couple of city kids go to the countryside to stay with their grandparents. At night, the young boy says he can see the scarecrows move but how have they come alive?
This is a genuinely spooky tween horror episode as the scene with the scarecrows trying to come in during the thunderstorm is suitably creepy. Cornfield are a staple of horror and rightly so as you can get disoriented and discombobulated.

The lighting really adds to this story and this scene is particularly spooky.

Stay Out of the Basement
When a botanist is made redundant, he holes up in his basement and carries out weird experiments. The children are intrigued as to what he does and venture down to find out. It doesn't go well.
This is a great episode as it creates a mood, from the autumnal leaves falling in the wind on the opening scene to the emerald green hue of the basement, it all adds tension to a surprisingly powerful ending. The actor who plays the dad, Judah Katz, gives a very creepy performance and is the MVP of this episode.

Judah Katz is excellent in his role as the slightly sinister Doctor.

A Night in Terror Tower
A couple of kids visit London and travel to a tower where princes and political prisoners were kept and tortured. They experience a time slips and travel back and forward in time to medieval times.
For show that was aimed at kids, this episode quite unsettling. The scene at the beginning when the boy is being warned off by a ghost at the top of the tower creates a sense of foreboding that is quite palpable even now. The scenes of the tour guide discussing the many contraptions of pain in his plummy English accent is suitably creepy but it's the mood, which reminds me of the old Madame Tussaud's Chamber of Horrors exhibition, which truly sends a shiver down the spine. The scene in the execution chamber is beautifully lit and the whole thing looks to be a higher production value. This is definitely one the best Goosebumps episodes in its entire run and my favourite with wobbly wobbly, timey wimey stuff in it.

This is my favourite Goosebumps episode as it is quite complex and compelling.

Be Careful What You Wish For
When a young girl who finds it hard to fit in is given three wishes for helping a stranger, she has a typical monkey paws situation where all her wishes backfire.
The episode is interesting as it looks at that old classic of being careful what you wish for. It's all pretty light hearted but does get sinister.

A typical monkey’s paw tale but for the U genration.

The Haunted Mask
A young girl with self-esteem issues picks a scary mask to wear for Halloween but it doesn't come off as easily ad it goes on.
This is an excellent episode as the actress Kathryn Long really sells the role of Carly Beth. The story is quite emotional too as it pulls the whole 'be true to yourself as be proud to be you' shtick. This is a bona-fide classic and rightly so.

For many fans, this is the best episode.

The Haunted Mask 2
A year after the events of The Haunted Mask, the possessed mask returns and takes over the shopkeeper. Now, seeking revenge a new mask of a creepy old man takes over a frenemy of Carly Beth.
This is quite an unnerving episode as the young cast do a great job of elevating the material. Kathryn Long is excellent once again and the ending is quite dramatic. A worthy follow-up to an all timer Goosebumps.

This is a solid follow up to the fan favourite.

One Day at Horrorland
When a family on a road trip are lost they come across Horrorland, a spooktacular theme park. Yet, the resident are not what they seem and the family get involved in a quirky quiz show before being left on a real cliffhanger.
The idea behind this, a theme park full of monsters, is great but the special effects are very low budget so it is a harder sell. However, the makeup and set design are on point and really sell the story of a family desperate to escape from a surreal nightmare.

This is an offbeat episode but the make-up is on point.

Overall, all these episodes are great and I'd definitely recommend them but they often follow the same premise: a family with a couple of teenagers move into a too good to be true house in the sticks. The neighbours are weird and the area is rundown but the parents got the house cheap because the previous tenant mysteriously vanished...so swings and roundabouts. Oh, and there's a creepy creature somewhere nearby but it's probably just a legend. This is tween horror 101 and is proper by the books but it doesn't mean it's enjoyable... it was a gateway to more exciting and subversive horror for many readers and watchers of the series later in life. For those looking for the same kind of vibe but in the more current age with a wider story variety I'd recommend Creeped Out.

LINK- The 13 Best ‘Are You Afraid of the Dark’ Episodes

LINK- The Secret Garden (BBC 1975 Review)

LINK- Children of the Stones Review

LINK- Dead of Night: Cult TV Review

LINK- The Stone Tapes: Cult TV Review

LINK- Tom’s Midnight Garden: Cult TV Review

LINK- Children of the Dogstar: Cult TV Series Review

Penda's Fen- Cult TV and Film Review

I first heard of Penda's Fen a few years ago when it came up on my recommended list on Amazon after purchasing the 'Children of the Stones' DVD. I gave it a miss as I had loads to other things to watch but, on a rainy, cold day recently I thought I'd give it a whirl.

Penda's Fen

The film was made in the 1970s and is a strange beast. It explores the history of Britain and is a poetic study of Britain's pagan and historical past. Main teenage protagonist Stephen is a devout Christian who has a very narrow outlook on theology. However, as he experiences visions, dreams (featuring prominent figures from Britain's past including Elgar) as well as his sexual awakening, he undergoes a transformation of sorts.

Over the past few years I've watched some cult and strange retro television shows and films (many are linked below) but this one might be one of the strangest. It shares a lot of the common DNA of those other shows; a feeling of other-worldliness and a strange ambiance which was effective and powerful, even with its budgetary constraints. However, it is also quite unique in that I can't really compare it to anything I've watched before.

I didn't fully understand the plot or various characters that make the occasional appearances but I get the general gist that it is to do with the end of local traditions and religions with the spread of monotheistic Christianity. However, the whole thing is wonderfully shot with stunning views of the Malvern Hills and gorgeous music by Elgar.

I'm sure that for people who watched it at the time it will bring fond memories but for others, who might not have seen this before like me, it is a curiosity and there are worse way to spend an hour and half of your time.