Newsfront
dir. Phillip Noyce (1978)
The tagline suggests humour but this sombre, almost melancholic biopic of (archetypal) newsreel cameramen working in Australia during World War II and the decade subsequent, bolstered by archival footage, serves more as a time capsule of life in a young, not-so-modern country.
Stand By Me
dir. Rob Reiner (1986)
A celebrated coming of age film, the success of which owes less to the journey undertaken — twelve-year-olds hiking in search of a dead body — than to the tempestuous dynamic forged by child actors Jerry O’Connell, Corey Feldman, Wil Wheaton and River Phoenix.
The Goodies – Earthanasia
(Series 7, Episode 6; first broadcast 22 December 1977)
Surely the darkest, funniest Christmas special ever made. Set at half an hour to midnight and playing out in real time, the Goodies must observe the requisite festivities yet make peace with each other and within themselves before the Earth is destroyed.
Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
dir. Henry Selick (1993)
Cue the skeleton:
“If Christmas fills your heart with woe, a schmaltz-fest souring your December
maybe you’ll prefer macabre stop-motion Halloween adventures
(but) Disney brings the curse of singing, rhymes so trying, Walt’s will lurking
Elfman’s lyrics don’t deliver Burton’s dark disturbance.”
Little Shop of Horrors
dir. Frank Oz (1986)
Rocky Horror quirkiness; a premise in predacious contrast to its 1960s-styled Motown and doo-wop musical set pieces; outstanding practical effects; and a must-see appearance by Steve Martin: the Frank Oz incarnation of Little Shop of Horrors is truly unforgettable SF cult kitsch.
The Demon Headmaster
by Gillian Cross (Oxford University Press, 1982)
The first in an award-winning series of children’s books featuring schoolkids Dinah, Lloyd and Harvey, who must fight back against the eponymous demon headmaster — a sinister man/creature who uses his hypnotic powers to take over the school… while eyeing even bigger conquests!
The Professionals, Dossier 4
[Seasons 4 (partial) & 5] (ITV, 1980-1983)
For all its featuring of shootouts, fights and car chases, this CI5 action-drama never became formulaic, hooking its viewers instead on the intrigue of original (if sometimes nonplussing) plots, strong acting and the often witty character dynamic struck between its three principals.
Valley of Lights
by Stephen Gallagher (New English Library, 1987)
Valley of Lights is a compellingly dark supernatural crime novel (often marketed as horror). Gallagher’s first person narrative draws us into a lone sergeant’s pursuit of the archetypical serial killer: a creature who can jump between human bodies, wearing them like suits.
A Rebel in Time
by Harry Harrison (Granada, 1983)
Nominally a paradox novel, A Rebel in Time was notable for bringing Harrison’s refreshingly liberal values to the field of adventure science fiction: a black army sergeant pursues a racist colonel back through time to the outbreak of the American Civil War.
The Hermit and the Bear
by John Yeoman, ill. Quentin Blake (André Deutsch, 1984)
A hermit looking to pass on his knowledge finds his work cut out for him when he takes in an enthusiastic but galumphing bear for tuition. Although not progressing much from its starting premise, this wistfully humorous YA tale retains its charm.