[cdp206]

Hi folks,

I'm relatively new to these boards so won't go barging in! Some good suggestions, although I'll admit, not being an avid film-goer ot TV watcher, some title have passed me by - sorry folks!

However, one film which seems to be missing from these lists is Barry Hines' "Threads". It's both pre- and post-apocalyptic, in terms of nuclear war and was for a long time, banned by the BBC. I think it was shown recently on BBC 4 though. The full movie is on Google movies but I don't think I can due to lack of posts (or dare, in case I'm modded off!) put up a link to it. For the time (1984) and it's very low budget, it's quite a thought provoking piece of work.

What makes it chilling is, it centres around the ordinary lives of two families and the first half centres around them - you hardly notice the build-up to nuclear confrontation going on until it's too late. Unlike many post-apocalyptic films, the second half, after the bomb(s) have been dropped, it continues for ten years after, charting the progress of the daughter of one of the main characters.

Another aspect, which makes it more believable, is the science behind it. The battery of advisors listed at the end of the film, including Carl Sagan, is huge. It's also made like a documentary and uses real locations in a British northern industrial city. Also, what hammers things home is - there's absolutely NO music at all.

Just don't watch it before bed time. I'm in my mid-forties and it still scares the willies out of me!

A Google search for "Threads+nuclear war" should find it

It's also listed on IMDB. The user comments are very telling.

Now to try and think of something to lighten the tone...........