Director: Robert Fuest
Writers: Brian Clemens (original story), Terry Nation (original story).
Stars: Pamela Franklin, Michele Dotrice, Sandor Elès |

Just released on the Studio Canal Vintage Classics label its great to see the 1970 classic”And Soon The Darkness”finally get a well deserved UK Blu-Ray release,
It tells the tale of 2 English girls who decide to take a cycling trip off the beaten path into rural France. Whilst having a break in a local cafe they see a very cool Serge Gainsbourg look alike who one of the girls takes a secret fancy to, They finish up and decide to carry on with the journey and the cool dude passes them on his scooter, He stops at another cafe, They carry on and decide to have a break, At which point they argue about how its “Too Hot” and “You don’t like the food” In of course a typical British manner!
One of the girls then decides to take off on her own leaving the other to chill out and do a bit of sunbathing, Things then go rapidly downhill from there!
The print on the new release is superb with super vibrant colours and the booming 70’s cheesy soundtrack, I know it got remade in 2010 but the remake as with most is not a patch on the original.The story by the always brilliant Brian Clemens is full of mystery right up to the final frame. So for me it’s a solid 9/10 and one i’ll be more than happy to see on my shelf. And with this and the release of Fright i personally can’t wait to see what else Studio Canal Vintage Classics will be releasing,

Young babysitter Amanda arrives at the Lloyd residence to spend the evening looking after their young son. Soon after the Lloyds leave, a series of frightening occurrences in the gloomy old house have Amanda’s nerves on edge. The real terror begins, however, when the child’s biological father appears after recently escaping from a nearby mental institution.

Director: Peter Collinson

Writer: Tudor Gates

Stars: Honor Blackman, Susan George, Ian Bannen , George Cole.

Also Just released another on the Vintage Classics label “Fright”. Starring a great cast of British household names. I haven’t seen it in years so of course being a huge fan of 70’s British its one i had to get and so glad i did. At first i was surprised to see it has an “18” certificate but after the re-watch i can certainly see why! As with “And Soon The Darkness” the print again is superb, The setting of the story is fantastic and that other British Classic “Killers Moon” the good old 70’s loony bin comes into play, In some places it is a hard watch and if made today i suppose they would have to change a fair few things about it to say the least! Another solid 9/10 from me, So that’s my 1st 2 reviews for the Vintage Classics label and watch this space for (fingers crossed!) many, many more.

Jonny T.

BOTH ARE NOW AVAILABLE FROM STUDIO CANAL VINTAGE CLASSICS.