Latest news with #BarryHines
Spectator
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Spectator
Those remaking Threads mustn't soften the horror
I was 11 years old when I saw the mushroom cloud go up but this wasn't Hiroshima or Nagasaki in the 1940s – it was Sheffield in the 1980s. I was one of nearly seven million people who sat down on the evening of 23 September 1984 to watch a BBC drama called Threads, written by Barry Hines. For many viewers, choosing to watch this film about a nuclear attack on Britain turned out to be an epochal decision. Threads begins as a kitchen-sink drama, focused around a young couple in Sheffield. The realism of their lives is deftly blended with a documentary narration, making everything seem as real as any fictional drama ever could. The creeping horror of the first half, with the build-up to war played out through news reports in the background of the characters' ordinary lives, made me want to scream, to make them see the horror that was obviously coming. The tension was built so mercilessly that it became physically painful for the viewer. Then came the attack itself: first, the blast, then the firestorm and then the radioactive fallout. The fact that it was ordinary British homes and high streets being blown to pieces – including the destruction of British Home Stores and Woolworths – meant Threads packed a particular punch. There were charred corpses, writhing cats and a woman wetting herself, all punctuated by screaming. Following the attack there's a swift descent into weapons-grade madness, on both a societal and individual scale. A traumatised mother cradles her dead baby and glares into the viewers' eyes accusingly; fathers play with the toys that are the only traces of their lost children; limbs are amputated without anaesthetic in a hospital overflowing with blood and agony; and then our heroine is forced to offer sexual favours in return for some dead rats to eat.
Daily Record
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
BBC war film so 'realistic and horrifying' it was banned from screens for 20 years
Threads first aired on BBC2 in 1984 and was watched by more than 6m people but was subsequently withdrawn from public view and not broadcast again for 20 years This 'horrific' film premiered on BBC2 in 1984 but then vanished from the public eye for two decades. Threads is a chilling apocalyptic war drama that delves into the aftermath of a nuclear war in Britain, portraying its "realistic" medical, economic, and environmental impacts that initially left viewers shell-shocked. Over time, the grim predictions of the film have seemed increasingly plausible. The script, penned by Barry Hines and direction by Mick Jackson, hauntingly depicts the struggles of families in Sheffield enduring the catastrophic effects of a Soviet nuclear attack. The scale of the calamity is immense, with widespread chaos and countless casualties across Britain. One viewer said: "I first saw this when it came out – the public were often still fairly innocent about the bomb, and of course the Berlin Wall still existed, a symbol of issues with Russia. 40 years and many disaster films later, all with special effects and everything, and this old TV film still hits extremely hard." They added that Threads' portrayal of "normal people" renders the film "absolutely horrific". They said: "It's hard watching, but it does what it means to do – underlines that there are no winners in nuclear war. Fantastic film which still holds its own, if extremely depressing. Bring a tissue or two.", reports the Express. What sets the film apart from other war movies of its era is its unique focus on ordinary civilians caught amidst destruction rather than glorified war heroes. Threads portrays the aftermath of conflict as individuals attempt to navigate their lives in a world scarred by death and devastation. The chilling impact of the film continues to resonate to this day, cementing its status as a "unique" masterpiece in the annals of British cinema. It has even beckoned a new generation of filmmakers, one of whom is Charlie Brooker, the mind behind Black Mirror. Brooker shared his poignant experience of the film on Desert Island Discs in 2018, reflecting on the confusion and dread it stirred in him at the age of 13: "I remember watching Threads and not being able to process what that meant, not understanding how society kept going... While the world has changed in so many ways since Threads was first broadcast, it retains its harrowing power." Despite a period of prohibition, the film managed to garner a staggering seven BAFTA nominations, ultimately securing four wins that included Best Single Drama and Best Design. Critics and viewers alike attribute the film's "realistic and horrifying" quality to the meticulous and deliberate artistic choices made by its creators. One review reads: "It is bleak to its very final frame and is something I can understand most viewers only watch once. Very well made and a powerful message. "Though I do debate the accuracy of some of its claims, this is an important film for multiple generations to see." More than four decades after its debut, amid escalating worldwide tension, movie enthusiasts are encouraging folks to view Threads, currently accessible on BBC iPlayer.
Daily Mirror
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Film so 'horrific' no one could watch it for 20 years now on BBC
The BBC film, Threads, first aired in 1984 and has since been banned from screens due to its graphic content. Now, over forty years on from its release, the film is available on BBC iPlayer This 'horrific' film shocked audiences when it premiered on BBC2 in 1984 before vanishing for decades. Threads is a harrowing apocalyptic war drama that explores the grim aftermath of a nuclear attack on Britain. The "realistic" portrayal of its medical, economic, and environmental fallout stunned viewers, who find the fiction eerily close to potential reality now more than ever. Penned by Barry Hines and helmed by Mick Jackson, this war flick lays bare the heartbreak of surviving families in Sheffield following a Soviet nuclear onslaught. The depicted catastrophic effects show a UK ravaged, with millions dead or injured in the wake of the disaster. One fan said: "I first saw this when it came out – the public were often still fairly innocent about the bomb, and of course the Berlin Wall still existed, a symbol of issues with Russia. 40 years and many disaster films later, all with special effects and everything, and this old TV film still hits extremely hard." The viewer emphasised how Threads' attention to "normal people" renders it "absolutely horrific". They added: "It's hard watching, but it does what it means to do – underlines that there are no winners in nuclear war. Fantastic film which still holds its own, if extremely depressing. Bring a tissue or two.", reports the Express. What sets this film apart from other war flicks of its era is its focus on the ordinary folks caught in the chaos rather than glorifying combatants. "Threads" delves into the aftermath of conflict, portraying the struggle of civilians attempting to resume their normal lives amidst the ruins and having stared death in the face. The chilling impact of "Threads" continues to resonate, earning it a reputation as a "unique" gem in British cinematic history. It even sparked the imaginations of future storytellers, such as Charlie Brooker, the mastermind behind " Black Mirror." Charlie Brooker reflected on his pivotal encounter with "Threads" at the tender age of 13 during an episode of "Desert Island Discs" in 2018. He said: "I remember watching Threads and not being able to process what that meant, not understanding how society kept going... While the world has changed in so many ways since Threads was first broadcast, it retains its harrowing power." Despite a period of prohibition, "Threads" garnered critical acclaim, securing seven BAFTA Award nominations and clinching four, including Best Single Drama and Best Design. It's the deliberate artistic choices by the filmmakers that audiences credit for the film's "realistic and horrifying" experience. One review said: "It is bleak to its very final frame and is something I can understand most viewers only watch once. Very well made and a powerful message." Another comment read: "Though I do debate the accuracy of some of its claims, this is an important film for multiple generations to see." More than four decades after its release, amid escalating global tension, movie buffs are encouraging folks to watch Threads, currently available on BBC iPlayer.
The Independent
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Adolescence team announce ‘harrowing' new TV adaptation of acclaimed war film
The production team behind the Netflix hit Adolescence has announced that they are adapting one of the bleakest war movies ever made into a new TV show. Threads, often described as one of the most harrowing movies ever made, was first aired on BBC Two on 23 September 1984 at the height of the Cold War, when nuclear tensions were as prevalent a talking point as they are today. The film was made for BBC TV by The Bodyguard director Mick Jackson and Kes writer Barry Hines, with Jackson wanting to focus on the scientific ramifications of a nuclear attack and its fallout. Although the film revolves around the conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union, after the latter invades Iran, it predominantly focuses on the lives of a couple in Sheffield, England and how the war devastates the region. The horrifying picture is now being turned into a drama series by the Sheffield-based production company Warp Films, best known for their work on Adolescence, This is England and The Virtues. In a statement, Warp CEO Mark Hervert said Threads is an 'unflinchingly honest drama' that 'imagines the devastating effects of nuclear conflict on ordinary people'. He added: 'This story aligns perfectly with our ethos of telling powerful, grounded narratives that deeply connect with audiences. Reimagining this classic film as a TV drama gives us a unique opportunity to explore its modern relevance.' Echoing these thoughts, Warp CCO and executive producer Emily Feller said: 'This adaptation will allow us to uncover fresh interpretations in light of today's world. 'We imagine highlighting how resilience and connection can offer hope even in the most challenging of times. Through this lens, an adaptation of the incredible film can reexamine its significance for then and for now – allowing us to engage with a modern audience.' Despite having a budget of just £400,000, Threads was the first film to ever depict what a nuclear winter would actually look like, giving an uncompromising and brutally bleak outlook on the implications of nuclear war and the devastation it would create. It has been widely praised by critics and audiences alike ever since and holds a 100 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It has only been repeated on BBC TV three times since its original broadcast, with the most recent being on 9 October, to celebrate its 40th anniversary.
BBC News
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Adolescence team to remake Threads nuclear attack epic
Warp Films, the maker of worldwide hit TV show Adolescence, is to develop a series based on 1980s nuclear war film Threads, it has Sheffield-based firm plans to turn the 1984 movie, which tracks the aftermath of an attack on the city, into a TV film, written by Kes author Barry Hines, has gathered a cult following for its bleak storyline and vivid portrayal of a post-apocalyptic South Yorkshire.A spokesperson for Warp described the 112-minute original as "groundbreaking" and added: "This adaptation will explore prescient issues through rich, character-driven storytelling." Warp founder and chief executive Mark Herbert confirmed to BBC Sheffield that the firm had obtained the rights to Threads for a new version."Threads was, and remains, an unflinchingly honest drama that imagines the devastating effects of nuclear conflict on ordinary people. This story aligns perfectly with our ethos of telling powerful, grounded narratives that deeply connect with audiences," he told the Radio on a low budget and directed by documentary maker Mick Jackson, who would later go on to helm Hollywood blockbuster The Bodyguard, Threads managed to horrify people at a time when nuclear war seemed a very real a kitchen sink drama focused around a young couple in Sheffield, the film showed society breaking down as nuclear winter sets was only shown a handful of times between its original transmission and its 40th anniversary. It is now available on to the BBC in 2023, actor Reece Dinsdale, who played the film's central character Jimmy, said the film had a special screening in Sheffield in front of 500 people before it was shown on TV."There was complete silence and all you could hear was various people sobbing around the room," the actor recalled."People blame me to this day for scarring them for life."People say it is the most scary thing they've ever seen in their life and remains so to this day." Warp, which also created the This is England film and TV series, is also behind the BBC One drama Reunion, which began on has become the most talked-about show of the year so far after it launched on 13 first episode was watched by 6.45 million people in its first week, according to ratings body is the biggest audience for any streaming TV show in the UK in a single week, beating the 6.3 million who watched Fool Me Once on Netflix in January won praise from critics, viewers and politicians for its hard-hitting story of a 13-year-old boy who is arrested on suspicion of murdering a girl from his school, with the drama made more intense by filming each episode in a single cast, including newcomer Owen Cooper as young Jamie, and Stephen Graham as his dad, have received plaudits for their performances. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
