Today we are going to look at some of the best disaster movies and what makes them so great. To allow for some variety we will be offering one great example from a different disaster subgenre.

Nuclear Disaster – ‘Threads’

Few movies have ever been able to showcase the utter devastation of all-out nuclear war as Threads does. As with other disaster movies Threads spends a lot of time with its characters building up to scenes of tragedy. Showcasing the lives of the people that are going to be impacted. What makes Threads different is how natural its presentation feels. Its characters are not heroes or villains, just ordinary people trying to live their lives. While being swept up in a conflict they never asked for. All of which adds an extra sting when the mushroom clouds finally rise. Threads is dark, unsentimental and downright horrific in its depiction of nuclear war and its power to shock has not dulled with age.

Natural Disaster – ‘Banel & Adama’

Probably this list’s most left-field choice. Banel and Adama does not focus on big-scale special effects sequences. Instead, it is very much rooted in the romantic, personal and social aspects of the titular characters’ lives. However when a fierce drought visits their village Banel and Adama find themselves under serious strain. Especially since the community views them as being responsible for the heat, due to them rejecting cultural norms. This is a searing look at how a lack of empathy for nature, women and the global south brings small and large-scale destruction. It’s a film that deserves to be seen by everyone.

Man-Made Disaster – ‘The Towering Inferno’

This star-studded thriller about the attempt to rescue people trapped inside a skyscraper that catches on fire hits quite differently today compared to when it was released. In the wake of 9/11, the scenes of terror in the Towering Inferno take on a whole new layer of subtextual horror. Additionally, the theme of cutting corners costing lives hits particularly hard in the wake of events like the Grenfell tragedy. What helps the film is that it treats itself seriously and carries nothing but sympathy for all of those affected. As well as the people risking themselves to save those in need. Thus giving it the power to still emotionally enrapture audiences all these years later.

Transport Disaster – ‘Airplane’

Airplane manages an incredible feat. It effectively skewers so many pre-80s disaster movie tropes, from the overreliance on technology to the protagonist’s dramatic backstory and the pulpy dialogue, in a laugh-out-loud funny way. But it also doesn’t skimp on the presentation and self-serious tone. Meaning that if you were to swap out the jokes this could easily be played as a straight disaster film. And given how memorable the lines, the characters and setpieces are Airplane deserves to be seen as just as much of a disaster classic as others in the genre.

Pandemic Disaster – ‘The Andromeda Strain’

When it comes to pandemic disaster movies The Andromeda Strain, which tells the story of a group of scientists trying to work out how to stop an alien disease from spreading after it wipes out a small town, reigns supreme. There are no huge stars here. A lot of the action is confined to an underground bunker. With much of that boiling down to scientists doing experiments and talking to witnesses and politicians. Yet it all amounts to a thrilling experience because the grounded, unflashy production lends the story a very realistic quality. Thus as the stakes rise the tension becomes almost unbearable because of how effectively the film places us in the characters’ world. Not even a sudden laser chase scene breaks the immersion. That’s how good it is.

Also Read: Don’t Look Up Vs Moonfall: Exploring The Reactions To Both Disaster Movies

The post Disaster Strikes! A Look at Cinema’s Greatest Disasters appeared first on Big Picture Film Club.

So, today we’re celebrating our roots by recommending 5 classic British horror movies you should watch this October.

Anthology – Dead of Night (1945)

An Architect (Mervyn Johns) is heading to an old country house looking for work. But once he gets there, he has the uncomfortable feeling that he has been there before, in his dreams. He recognizes all the houseguests and fears his dream will come true if he stays. His talk of powers at work beyond his control causes the guests to begin recounting their own tales of experiences that are hard to explain logically.

Ealing Studios’ only horror film, Dead of Night is a fantastic showcase for the power of atmosphere. Each of the short stories and the wrap-around segments are fantastic at building an atmosphere in different ways. The use or lack of music, the set design, the bizarre lighting, the camerawork, and the acting all create a feeling that something is not quite right in the idyllic settings they present. Though some of the tales are more comedic than others the movie remains gripping all the way to the end.

Ghost Stories – The Innocents (1961)

The Innocents tells the story of a governess (Deborah Kerr) who moves into a country estate to look after 2 orphaned children. However, she soon begins to discover dark secrets about the seemingly angelic children and former employees of the estate. She also starts seeing apparitions wandering around the grounds and begins to believe that the children are possessed. But is this real or just in her head?

The Innocents is the classic British gothic chiller. Every element of the film is perfectly constructed to make you feel uneasy. From the use of haunting atmospheric sound to the pitch-perfect performances that make it hard to distinguish reality from fantasy. Then there’s the soundtrack that uses creepy instrumentals and singing children to create a very uncanny atmosphere. Lastly, there’s the cinematography, whose beautifully haunting images will remain with you for a long time, and the direction, that delivers effective scares that will leave your hair standing on end, without needing cheap music stings. Without a doubt, one of the finest ghost stories the UK has ever produced.

Slasher – Peeping Tom (1961)

Peeping Tom concerns Mark (Carl Boehm), a shy, introverted man, obsessed with the power of films and fear. When his neighbour (Anna Massey) takes an interest in him, Mark must try to hide the darkest part of his obsession: his collection of films, recording people’s reactions to their own deaths.

A film that sparked much controversy upon release, effectively ending director Michael Powell’s career, Peeping Tom is now regarded as one of the best horror films ever made.

There are many reasons why Peeping Tom is so effective. Firstly, there’s the writing which constructs an interesting tale about the nature of voyeurism and the disturbing implications of the cinematic art form. Then there’s the inventive camerawork that’s used to implicate us in Mark’s crimes. And there are the fine performances from Anna Massey and Carl Boehm. Boehm is exceptional for turning what could have been a simple psychopathic villain, into a compelling tragic figure. Massey also brings a great tenderness to her performance that makes her instantly likeable, and their chemistry is so awkwardly charming that you route for the pair to overcome everything, despite the horrible things that happen.

Hoodie Horror – Eden Lake (2008)

In the 2000s a bizarre British horror sub-genre emerged, hoodie horror. A genre that took the nation’s paranoia around teenage gang culture and turned their worst fears up to 11. Undoubtedly the best of these films was Eden Lake.

Middle-class couple Jenny (Kelly Reilly) and Steve (Michael Fassbender) are heading to Eden Lake for a romantic weekend. Once there they run afoul of a teenage gang who proceed to torment the couple. When Steve goes a little too far, the kids begin a deadly game of cat and mouse as they hunt the couple through the woods.

Eden Lake isn’t exactly subtle regarding eliciting shocks, but it works because of its stripped-down rawness. Its ties to real-world subjects and the natural performances of the cast make everything feel authentic. The violence is especially hard to watch because it’s played seriously and doesn’t shy away from its grim effects on the characters. When Eden Lake’s credits roll you will feel shaken and its ending will stick with you long after you’ve turned off the TV.

Nuclear Horror – Threads (1984)

This 1984 BBC TV movie focuses on a young couple living in Sheffield at the height of Cold War tensions. Initially, the threat is just another news story, drowned out by the couple’s domestic issues. But things slowly escalate until all-out nuclear war is declared. And once the missiles stop, the survivors must continue on in a world devastated by radiation. 

Being raised near Sheffield I grew up on tales of my parents seeing Threads for the first time and how it left them terrified. It isn’t hard to see why.

Threads’ horror comes from the characters being normal people. They aren’t special, just regular, flawed humans you could meet anywhere. So, you easily sympathize and relate to the characters’ situation. And when the missiles start flying, we’re treated to some of the most harrowing sequences ever broadcast on British television. But the worst part is how matter of fact Threads is. While horrible things are happening, plain white text and narration informs us coldly about the consequences of nuclear war and the damages that will be wrought upon not just the survivors but those who come after. If that isn’t true horror, what is?

So there are 5 great British horror films to watch this October. Of course, this article has barely scratched the surface of what British horror has to offer. So please share any of your recommendations in the comment section.

Also Read: Horrors On Horror Sets

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