The Scarifyers: The Nazad Conspiracy [Audiobook] [Audio CD]

SPOILERS BELOW

This is an 87 minutes duration radioplay which British Horror Fans should definitely check out. It has many popular elements in it which should appeal. A heavy smattering of M.R. Jamesisms, an ageing Morse-like Police Detective Inspector who still behaves like Jack Regan, a 1930's backdrop Britain, a Devil Rides Out-esque mystery, a fabulous cameo from the most wicked Aleister Crowley, the Rasputin mythos, Rune Casting, The Fly and a Russian "Night of the Demon".

The author has obviously been heavily influenced by all the very best of British horror and yet has still managed to create a highly original, blackly humorous, occult based play. Professor Dunning is essentially the epitome of M.R. James being dragged out of his complacent story-telling in front of the fire, to actually confront the elements contained from within his own imaginings. This is suitably voiced in an endearingly eccentric, intellectual, verging on dotty, Professor, by Terry Molloy - aka Davros from Dr Who! Dunning, of course, was the name of M.R. James' runic targeted victim.

Professor Dunning is perfectly paired with Inspector Lionheart - a nod to Theatre of Blood perhaps - who is voiced by Nicholas Courtney - also of Dr Who fame as the Brig. Alastair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart. He portrays the perfect cynical, non-believer who finds himself involved in things 'more than are dreamt of in his philosophy'!

The other vocal characters are all well done - but a special nod should go to the hilarious portrayal of Crowley and General Warlock by David Benson and I was also impressed by the small but excellent turn taken by Stuart Silver as the particularly creepy morgue attendant Dr Slither, and the incredibly jaded and bored Man Servant Pickering. The author has a very great talent for writing laugh out loud humour which he endows these characters with in buckets!

Also, the story is kept interesting with references to historical intrigue such as the Russian Czar and Rasputin scandal and murders at the start of the Russian Revolution, everyone's favourite nemesis - the clown - and upper class, closed membership, clubs indulging in the black arts. All very entertaining. There is even a female equivalent to a Karswellian/Moccata villain!

This is the first of The Scarifyers outings - there have been two subsequent stories, The Devil of Denge Marsh and a new story, For King and Country. I have not listened to these, but sincerely hope that the author has considered making his strongest characters have a more defined and integral part in the proceedings - I speak mainly of course, of Aleister Crowley's character. The humour potential for him is immense.

I think the author has chipped his way into a vastly underutilized niche - British horror comedy. I would never have thought it would work, but it has been pulled off with originality, and an obvious warm homage to classic British themed horror film , TV and Literature. The great thing is that the author has an obvious penchant for seeing humour in things usually considered very dark and disturbing. The banter between Crowley and an invoked Demon concerning how diabolically poor Dunning's supernatural writing is, was a very clever touch I thought.

All in all - an excellent play and I really do recommend you give it a listen. As soon as it finished I was wanting more - which in my book is a very good sign and I shall certainly be interested to see where the characterisations lead. It is as if we have the luxury of an M.R. James/Dennis Wheatley collaborative storyline, penned with the humour of the Abominable Dr. Phibes with the interest of a detective mystery and LOTS of Brit horror! Who could ask for more...?

Oh... and the Author/Director of this play...?

Horror comedy writer extraordinnaire, Simon Barnard.

This is an excellent full cast audio drama, set in the mid 1930s and starring Terry Molloy as Prof. Dunning and Nicholas Courtney as Inspector Lionheart, thrown together in an unlikely adventure with demons, mad Russians, clowns and Aleister Crowley.

With a cracking script that takes its cue from some classic horror stories, and contains an intelligent yet restrained wit that occasionally shines forth in an uproariously funny moment. Courtney and Molloy play it largely straight as though it were some Agatha Christie whodunit, making the occasional funny scene all the funnier. The two leads are both famously Dr. Who alumni, and the script writer provides a knowingly hilarious line for Lionheart that harks right back to Courtney's previous incarnation as the Brigadier. Other than this the Who connection is never really mentioned.

The mystery is well constructed, and provides for some interesting scenes. The main joy however is the easy going camaraderie between the two leads, they obviously have a great chemistry together. There is also a brief cameo from David Benson as a hilarious Aleister Crowley, a character that I sincerely hope returns in later productions.

Having dipped my toe in the water with this excellent set I am off to purchase the others in the series. Now that the character set up is out of the way I am hoping for even greater things.

The adventure is in 2 parts, split across 2 discs. The second disc also contains all the background music, and right at the end a short Christmas story with our two heroes. Liner notes are restricted to a cast list and chapter points. The whole set is contained in a fold out jewel case.

Excellent, 5 stars.