Latest news with #Helga
Metro
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Children's' film The Witches is one of the scariest of all time
I was only 10 years old when my first film scarred me for life. Picture the scene: I was scrolling through TV channels in my bedroom and stumbled upon a film I've never heard of before that seemed right up my alley – The Witches. As a self-proclaimed weird kid, ghosts, ghouls, and goblins had always appealed to me. That's why you find me writing the Horror Haunt column – I love all things spooky. I was hooked before I'd even hit play. What I didn't expect, however, is the impact it would have on me. Based on the Roald Dahl novel of the same name, the film focuses on a coven of evil witches who masquerade as ordinary women to go about their daily business – ridding the world of children by turning them into mice. During a vacation with his grandmother Helga (Mai Zetterling) in Norway, eight-year-old Luke Eveshim (Jasen Fisher) is warned of the witches, and when he discovers them to be real, he must find a way to foil their plans and bring down the group led by Grand High Witch Eva Ernst (Anjelica Huston) Director Nicolas Roeg takes the beloved children's novel and turns it into straight nightmare fuel from start to finish with terrifying creatures, spine-chilling dangers, and death around every corner. Needless to say, I loved every single minute, and it's become a staple in my collection of gateway horror films and nostalgic comfort watches. Now a parent, I recently rewatched The Witches to gauge whether it might be appropriate for my eldest to see for the first time, and it remains one of the most terrifying films I have ever watched, even 35 years since its release. It is wild to me that The Witches was given a PG rating, (this was in the days before the 12A certificate) given it's an entire film about a group of women that can peel their skin off and want to eradicate children. If you've seen the film, the one scene that likely sticks in your mind is the one in which the witches, including Miss Ernst, reveal their real forms as they're ordered to 'remove their wigs.' How poor little Luke didn't scream and run for his life when secretly witnessing these women shed their shoes, as well as their hair and actual skin to reveal the horror show underneath is beyond me. It is a masterclass performance from Huston and a marvel of practical effects, but it is also sheer terror condensed into less than 10 minutes. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video But The Witches is chilling long before we get to this moment. The film doesn't waste a second on pleasantries, opening with Helga's short story explaining the child-killing witches and her hatred for them, tapping directly into the idea of 'stranger danger' as she warns Luke 'You can never be sure if it's a witch you are looking at or a kind lady.' It sets the tone of the fantasy elements at the centre of the narrative, but also the very real fear of child abduction and death that remains terrifying no matter your age of viewing. The Witches also challenge children on the people they likely trust the most at a young age – motherly and grandmotherly figures. It paints them as aggressors who can cause harm to them, something we still often do not see in films, instead opting for predominantly male antagonists. Roeg's filmmaking style makes The Witches even more nightmarish, with extreme close-ups of every grisly detail of the titular villains, and canted angles for an even more unsettling, sickening vibe. The power of that was only confirmed by the lukewarm response to the controversial 2020 adaptation of Roald Dahl's novel, with Anne Hathaway stepping into the role made famous by Huston. As IndieWire put it, 'Roeg's version may have scarred a generation of kids for life, but at least they remembered it.' The film isn't shy of the idea of death, revealing early on that Luke's parents were killed and establishing that children are not immune to the tragedies of the world. This is hammered home when the witches' evil plan is carried out – both Luke and his pal Bruno Jenkins (Charlie Potter) are turned into mice. Despite beating the witches at their own game and managing to be restored to their regular human selves, it highlights that children won't be spared from traumatic events simply because of their youth. We very nearly could have gotten a bleaker ending, with the novel of The Witches ending with Luke remaining as a mouse, being told he will only live for nine years at most. None of this would have been possible without Dahl's 1983 novel, exploring a time in a child's life in which they begin to question their realities, as well as the safety and dangers of the world. More Trending He made readers distrust every 'nice old lady' we saw, checking for a purple glint in any stranger's eye while questioning if they could do us harm, both in our childhood and through to our adult lives. The Witches and its most iconic scenes remain as memorable as they are because of its villains. Not only do they look like literal monsters, they act the part in every sense of the word as they utilise their sex appeal and natural charm to manipulate adults, while getting closer to children to axe them off. Some films marketed towards children are scarier than any R-rated slasher flick – and The Witches is a chilling example of that, like no other. The Witches is now available to stream on NOW TV and Sky . Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Horror fans 'can't wait to be traumatised' after watching new show's trailer MORE: I'm 53 and have never had savings – I thought that was normal MORE: The Thick of It used to be satire – now I'm not so sure
BBC News
08-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
VE Day reminds Lincolnshire woman how she almost starved to death
VE Day reminds woman how she almost starved to death 8 minutes ago Share Save Holly Phillips BBC News Reporting from Lincoln Share Save BBC / Holly Phillips Coby Van Riel lived in her uncle's shop cellar for three years in Holland during World War Two Coby van Riel was only 12 years old when World War Two came to an end. For many, VE Day is a time of celebration. But, for Coby, it's a bittersweet memory. Looking back 80 years means confronting how close she came to starving to death. I'm sitting across from 92-year-old Coby, who's birth name is Jacoba, in a marquee outside the International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) in Lincoln. She's smiling warmly from her wheelchair, wrapped in a coat, clearly content from her lunch with her daughter Helga and son-in-law Douglas at the IBCC café. Coby, who lives in Bracebridge Heath, Lincolnshire, is energetic and eager to share her story from nearly eight decades ago. "In the early times, we had a very easy life," Coby tells me of her time growing up in The Hague in the Netherlands. But the ease of her childhood soon vanished when German forces invaded the Netherlands on 10 May 1940. Coby witnessed the bombing of the area and says her family was forced out of their home and into the cellar of her uncle's cafe when she was just eight years old. She was told not to worry and they would only be living there for three months until the war was over. That was 1942. They lived there for three years. "It was horrible because we had sudden flooding sometimes. We had an enormous pest of fleas. There were fleas everywhere," Coby recalls. Holly Phillips/ BBC Coby helped unveil the Operation Manna sculpture at the IBCC On top of that, Coby and her family were starving. During what was known as the Hunger Winter at the end of 1944, the German occupation deliberately cut off food supplies to the western Netherlands during the coldest winter on record at the time. People were so desperate, they resorted to scavenging through bins, eating tulips - half of which were poisonous - and even eating cats and dogs. About 20,000 people died from starvation and nearly a million were classed as malnourished. Coby would steal potatoes from a German-occupied park. And once, driven by hunger as well as the sheer innocence and boldness of a 10-year-old, she stood face-to-face with a German soldier - a gun in his hand - and asked him for food. The soldier went "berserk", she says. "He said: 'If you don't go away, I'll shoot you'. Then he started to get very angry with me because I didn't stop." Coby recalls darting away in a zigzag - running from side to side so the soldier couldn't get a clear shot, even if he tried. International Bomber Command Centre Almost 535 tons of food was dropped on the first day of Operation Manna Coby remembers her parents being told by a doctor they couldn't be helped because they were so ill and needed food - which they didn't have. "After my parents were ill, my brother and I got very ill because we had nothing to eat." However, Coby says her life was saved by Operation Manna. The mission began on 29 April 1945 - nine days before the end of WW2 - when 242 Lancaster Bombers from Lincolnshire flew to drop sacks of food in the Netherlands. It was the first airborne humanitarian relief operation in history. On the first day, almost 535 tons of food was dropped. The total had reached nearly 7,000 tons after 10 days. International Bomber Command Centre During Operation Manna, 242 Lancaster Bombers flew to the Netherlands to drop food parcels Coby recalls the moment she saw the Lancaster Bombers overhead, describing it as "unbelievable". "I ran outside. It was very exciting because I could, from my place, see one of the dropping places and I saw them dropping the food there. Some came down, some broke and the flour fell out," she says. "As a child, I was so impressed. I loved it so much. I started waving - which I still do to helicopters and other planes. "Later, I met one of the pilots who said he dropped food. I said to him I waved at you and you didn't wave back - and he burst out laughing." Although the end of WW2 and the arrival of food brought joy to many, Coby says it was still painful. "There were thousands of people who died - and people afterwards as well. There were still people dying. "My parents and my brother and I nearly went, then my uncle went. I had a lot of people to thank and be pleased that the war had ended." Nicky van der Drift, chief executive officer at the IBCC, said: "Whilst we celebrate VE Day, we must know Op Manna was being carried out over this period. "It was an incredible mission because, not only did they have to try and organise what would be sent, how it would be sent, how it would be delivered, but also how it would be collected at the other end and distributed – and in a live war setting." Holly Phillips/ BBC Coby Van Riel and Nicky van der Drift holding a painting donated by Coby to the IBCC Having relocated to Lincolnshire years ago, Coby tells me she enjoys living in the rural county and spends a lot of her time at the IBCC. "It connects me more with the Lancasters and, ever since I saw them [on Operation Manna], I've been crazy about not only Lancasters but anything flying, whether that was helicopters or ordinary planes," she says. Coby will be reflecting on her memories of VE Day at the IBCC, where she will attend the centre's commemorative event with her daughter and son-in-law. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Adorable wolverine kits explore outside for the first time
ADORABLE photos show two baby wolverine kits exploring outdoors for the first time after being born at Dudley Zoo. The ten-week-old youngsters are the first of their kind born at the attraction and were welcomed on February 20 as part of a breeding programme to help save the threatened species. The cute kits have now been snapped enjoying the spring sunshine in their paddock under the watchful eye of mum Helga. It was the first time they had ever ventured outdoors by themselves and delighted staff and visitors with their playful antics. Carnivore section leader, Sam Grove, said: 'It's wonderful to see the kits starting to venture outside more now the weather is getting warmer. 'They've already lost their initial white fur and have now developed the typical dark wolverine colouration, like mum and dad. 'They seem very lively and Helga is certainly being kept on her toes with them both running around. 'But she's still very protective of them and when she decides they've had enough, she will pick them up and carry them back into the den for a rest.' Dad Floki is said to be taking a keen interest in his offspring even though male wolverines do not help with the rearing of youngsters. Wolverines are listed as 'threatened' with their numbers declining in the wild (Image: Emma Trimble / SWNS) Wolverines are listed as 'threatened' with their numbers declining in the wild across northern areas of Canada, Europe, western Russia and Siberia. Their population has steadily declined since the 19th century due to trapping, range reduction and habitat fragmentation. Although not currently an endangered species, the number of wolverines found in the wild is declining, so breeding programmes like the European Endangered Species Programme Helga and Floki are paired for, continue to be significant to their survival. Sam added: "It is very exciting news for us and incredible news for the species. "The number of wolverines found in the wild is declining, so breeding programmes like the European Endangered Species Programme Helga and Floki are paired for, continue to be significant to their survival."
Irish Times
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Ireland's call: John Mulqueen on a man who highlighted our neglect of maritime heritage
The proposal that the Naval Service – soon to be the Navy – double its number of ships is welcome news for those alarmed about the historical failure to protect Irish waters. Nobody would be more pleased than John de Courcy Ireland, the campaigner who did his utmost to draw attention to the neglect of our maritime heritage over the course of a long life (1911-2006). He first crossed the ocean as a young boy, from India, before an unhappy time in a London prep school. However, holidays in Ireland with his grandmother – 'an ardent patriot' – were joyful. She instilled in him a strong sense of Irish identity and he later remembered her as 'the light of my childhood'. Fascinated by the sea, aged 17 he fled his English public school, Marlborough, to spend the next year as a steward on voyages between Europe and South America – a 'far more civilised' experience. With his wife Betty, de Courcy Ireland visited the Aran Islands in 1938 to improve his Irish and moved to Co Donegal a year later to write a book about the Border. When the war against Hitler's Germany began, in September 1939, Penguin cancelled his contract, but the de Courcy Irelands decided to remain, in Muff, on the banks of Lough Foyle. Defending our neutrality during the war finally pushed de Valera's government into spending the money to establish a marine service, which merely consisted of a fishery patrol vessel, formerly the Helga (used in 1916 to bombard the rebels in the GPO), an armed trawler, and six motor torpedo boats acquired from the British. De Courcy Ireland joined the new local security force and participated in coastal patrols. He found work in the construction of the naval base in nearby Derry, but was fired for his involvement in a workers' delegation looking for better conditions READ MORE He then moved to Dublin to take up a teaching job at St Patrick's Cathedral Grammar School. War-time austerity measures led to trade union militants joining the Labour Party and the de Courcy Irelands played their part in helping candidates such as 'Big Jim' Larkin to put Fianna Fáil under electoral pressure, albeit briefly. In March 1943, de Courcy Ireland attracted the attention of the Standard, a right-wing Catholic weekly. Under the headline 'Comrade John Ireland', the anonymous accuser stated that he had written in praise of those 'striving to end capitalist darkness around the world'. The weekly also boasted that it had 'snooped' on him for four years and observed that this 'itinerant politician' had attended Protestant services in Muff. And, it reported, Betty was chairwoman of the Labour Party's women's section in Dublin, no less. This attack concluded with the threat that the Standard hoped 'to be able to pursue Comrade Ireland and Mrs Betty Ireland a little further.' De Courcy Ireland defended his 'Protestant Irish' background in an unpublished letter to the editor – he was proud to be a member of that 'not insignificant minority' that had produced such radical thinkers as Wolfe Tone and Jonathan Swift. The couple found themselves subject to press attention again, in December 1958, this time as nuclear disarmament campaigners. They were described in an Irish Times profile as a vigorous pair of 'do-gooders' who lived in a quiet Dún Laoghaire square of three-storey Victorian houses, in an atmosphere 'redolent of the Kingstown past'. The interviewer highlighted de Courcy Ireland's interest in all things relating to the sea. 'Inside, the first impression is of books: row upon row of them, their range giving a key to the interests of the household. Here is (its owner thinks) the largest private library in Ireland on maritime subjects, running into 13 languages.' Another 'well-thumbed' group consisted of political works, 'mostly left-of-centre'. De Courcy Ireland's energetic activism included serving as honorary secretary of the Dún Laoghaire lifeboat and joint honorary secretary of the Maritime Institute. He looked forward to the creation of a museum – 'for which an entire room of his house already contains the nucleus of exhibits'. The following year, under the institute's auspices, he played the leading role in establishing the National Maritime Museum. This found a berth, as it were, from 1978 in the former Mariners' Church in Dún Laoghaire, to which he donated his own vast collection of nautical artefacts and documents. Ireland and the Irish in Maritime History (1986) is recognised as de Courcy Ireland's foremost piece of scholarship, which surveyed our marine heritage and the activities of Irish people in the merchant and naval services of other countries. The book studied a subject, he wrote, 'positively ignored in this country'. However, words were not enough – he remained an activist. De Courcy Ireland campaigned against successive proposals for the private development of Dún Laoghaire harbour and the adjoining seafront. In 1988, his skilful approach persuaded the Fianna Fáil taoiseach, CJ Haughey, to suspend the project and order consultation with local interests. His diplomacy, Haughey remarked, proved that there were 'still gentlemen about'.
BBC News
21-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
'Adorable' wolverines born at zoo
Dudley Zoo and Castle Two wolverines have been born at Dudley Zoo - a first for the venue. The "adorable" kits - the first offspring of parents Helga and Floki - arrived on 20 February, with mum since spotted carrying her infants outside in their paddock. Although not currently an endangered species, the number of wolverines found in the wild is declining. Helga, six, and Floki, three, have been paired up under a European breeding programme designed to aid the species' survival. Sam Grove, the zoo's carnivore section leader, said the kits appeared to be thriving. "Helga is being a fantastic first-time mum. Over the last few days, she has seemed keen to move them and it was wonderful to see her appear outside in their paddock to show them both off... with dad observing from afar. "It is very exciting news for us and incredible news for the species." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
