Ghostwatch (Blu-ray Limited Edition) (101 Films Black Label #028) [UK]

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Jul 15, 2014
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UK
Release date: October 31, 2022
Purchase links: 101 Films - Amazon UK - HMV - Zavvi
Price: £24.99


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101 Films presents Ghostwatch (1992), a BBC production that terrified Britain on 31st October 1992. Despite being part of BBC Drama's Screen One series, the presence of trusted presenters, along with the quality of the production, convinced thousands of people that the events depicted on screen were genuine, and taking place live. Title 028 on the 101 Films Black Label, this 30th anniversary edition includes a new documentary on the making of Ghostwatch, a new commentary, limited edition packaging featuring newly commissioned artwork, a booklet with new writing on the film and more.

Sarah Greene and Craig Charles report from a reputedly haunted London home for the outside broadcast, while Michael Parkinson and Mike Smith stay in the warmth and "safety" of a BBC studio. The Early family are allegedly being harassed by the ghost 'Pipes', so named as his banging and crashing were initially attributed to bad plumbing. After a deliberately slow start the tension gradually builds, culminating in a terrifying crescendo. Although entirely fictional, the masterly combination of great scripting, intuitive direction and perfect casting made the supernatural pastiche appear frighteningly real.

An inspiration to a generation of filmmakers, and years ahead of the profusion of found footage movies that would follow, Ghostwatch is regarded as a classic of the genre and remains as relevant, as terrifying, and as inspirational today.

Brand New Extras:
  • ‘Do You Believe in Ghosts?’, a brand new 30th anniversary documentary on the Ghostwatch phenomenon
  • Commentary with film historians Shellie McMurdo and Stella Gaynor
  • Commentary with writer Stephen Volk, producer Ruth Baumgarten and director Lesley Manning
  • Shooting Reality by Lesley Manning
  • Limited Edition Booklet: Includes ‘Extra Sensory Perception Management’ by Sarah Appleton, ‘Ghostwatch – As it Happened’ by Tim Murray and short story ‘31/10’ by Ghostwatch writer Stephen Volk
  • Reproduced script, annotated by director Lesley Manning
  • Set of six art cards
 
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All over this! Never forget watching it live way back in '92. Had my VHS recording for years and was a regular watch on Halloween
 
@BluSteel2012 only made me aware of this last week. Never seen it but it’s defo on my watch list. Sounds like it created a visual frenzy like war of the worlds did over the radio. And I can’t believe Parky is in it!!
 
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@BluSteel2012 only made me aware of this last week. Never seen it but it’s defo on my watch list. Sounds like it created a visual frenzy like war of the worlds did over the radio. And I can’t believe Parky is in it!!
i remember when it was broadcast, everyone thought it was real (including me) and the BBC got hundreds of complaints. no idea what it would view like now, though, but tempted to find out.
 
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i remember when it was broadcast, everyone thought it was real (including me) and the BBC got hundreds of complaints. no idea what it would view like now, though, but tempted to find out.
forgot to add, everyone thought it was real... because the people presenting were trusted serious TV presenters, so no-one guessed they would do this. :)
 
forgot to add, everyone thought it was real... because the people presenting were trusted serious TV presenters, so no-one guessed they would do this. :)
Yeah. There was even a suicide blamed on it.....! BBC never aired it again.

Watched it last week, its dated but it was ahead of its time for sure. Could see why people would think it was really happening at the time. Although some of the acting is ropey in places!

Reminded me of The Conjuring 2 The Enfield Case as it was heavily inuenced by the real life case....
 
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I went into it thinking it was real like a lot of people at the time ( was just a teen ) but yeah, soon realised it was way too good to be true when things started getting crazy near the end.
 
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