The Lewton films were the first on the bill, but some of the second features have remained favourites as well. Peter Fonda and Warren Oates in an RV being chased by Satan worshipers in Race With The Devil (1975). What more could a young man ask for? How about George Romero’s The Crazies (1973)? Not Romero’s best, that would be one of his zombie films, but still good and a film that pointed the way to my future viewing.
That was the final year of classic pairings. It was a fitting time to end as well; shortly thereafter, we got our first VCR and that meant we’d no longer have to stay up to watch them. Yet part of the fun was staying up 'til the wee hours with my Dad and it just wouldn’t have been the same watching them on video the next day.
However, video was also a blessing for a horror fan, allowing me to see films that wouldn’t or couldn’t be shown on TV. But that, as they say, is a tale for another day…
British Horror Films has a complete list of the BBC2 horror double bills.
Article comments
1 - Lisa McKay
Congratulations! This article has been chosen as an editor's pick this week!
2 - STM
The coming Ashes series should have roughly the same effect, then?