Doomwatch [DVD] [1972]

Unfortunately, Prism Leisure have not done a good job at putting this title on DVD. Although the picture quality is reasonably good, parts of the sound track are seriously damaged throughout the film. These faults are present in the form of a click, immediately followed by a drastic drop in volume. The sound then fades back in, until the fault happens again. This caused me not to be able to hear key parts of dialogue, and I am amazed that Prism Leisure have let this through their quality control.

Another less important point, is that they have presented the film in 4:3 (full frame), instead of it's original widescreen format. My personal preference is that films be presented in their original cinema ratios.

I think computer graphics have taken some of the shock and intrigue out of films these days and you don't even need a storyline if you use enough of them.

This is another from the stable of great old movies that had all the horror and suspense of todays movies (if not more) but none of the overdone explosions and superfluous sex scenes.

The Cornish "accents" were entirely unrealistic but that's usually the case (fair enough, if they had used Cornish actors the wider market may not have understood what was being said)

Just in case people don't realise, the Cornish aren't all mutated hillbillies either(my family are Cornish so I thought I'd better set that straight LOL). But I think the film warrants suspension of beleif.

All in all a good movie if you like this sort of thing and worth watching even if you don't.

P.S.
Wayne, NJ United States
"...anyone familiar with Britain the scenes seemed to have been shot in Scotland. A minor quibble but..."

I don't wish to appear to be pedantic but it said filmed in Cornwall and Pinewood studios in the credits so I'd say it was probably Cornwall not Scotland.

The Cornish and Welsh coastlines can be quite similar to Scotland's because they all rose from the same backbone of rocky outcrop up the west coast of Britian.

I agree with the point about the medical knowledge. I can't believe they thought that it was possible to reverse physical defects even in 1972. This does affect the credibility of the film but it's not a major problem.

It was an enjoyable way to spend an hour and a half though, not what I expected and I would definitely recommend it. However, I have to pick up on a point from an earlier reviewer - Ian Bannen was no spring chicken, granted, but Judy Geeson would have been 24 at the most. Therefore, your comments about them being middle aged were hardly fair. And a stirling job was done by both Bannen and Geeson.

And if anyone spots Pam St Clement, who is listed in the credits, please let me know!