BBC has made 'one of the most depressing and scary films ever' free to stream on iPlayer
Ah, there’s nothing like settling down and unwinding after work by watching ‘one of the most depressing and scary films ever’… well, for some people anyway.
While you may be more of a Netflix rom-com viewer or a fun comedy in the evening type of person, plenty would rather opt for the darker side.
So for that lot, BBC made said film free to stream on iPlayer. Rarely ever shown on TV at all, it’s described as an absolute must watch but also something you’ll only want to watch once.
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In the least cheery plot you can think of, Threads lays out the days leading up to the whole world collapsing into nuclear war before plodding through the long years of misery which follow.
Released back in 1984, it has a whopping 91 per cent from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes and yet has only been shown on telly in the UK four times.
But now, as long as you’ve splashed out on your TV licence, you can stream it as many times as you like – even if it’s unlikely you’ll be watching it regularly.
BBC iPlayer does come with the warning of ‘strong language, graphic violence and disturbing scenes’, however, that still might not really prepare you for what you're in for.
The streamer’s description of Threads says the film is a: "Grim drama telling the story of a nuclear strike on Britain through the eyes of two families, tracing the events leading up to the war and the decade of devastation that follows."
And some would argue that still doesn’t do the harrowing nature enough justice.
The film dedicates a good hour to showing the dreadful life is for those who survive the nuclear blasts experience, with characters simply saying they wish they were dead.
There are plenty of images from Threads which will stick in your mind long after the film is over, perhaps the most striking of which is that of an armed traffic warden with his head bandaged.
Michael Beecroft was the actor who portrayed this traffic warden, and according to the BBC, he was recently tracked down by a documentary crew who wanted to find the man behind the striking visage.
His face soon became one of the most iconic images of post-apocalyptic drama.
Back when Threads was previously shown on TV, the BBC stuck a much longer disclaimer before it to fully prepare viewers for the horrors they were about to witness.
The likelihood is you’re now either desperate to stream the film or absolutely set on avoiding it. But either way, it really is billed as something we should all watch once in our lives.
Threads is currently available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
Jess Battison