Film Course - Reel Scares: the Terrifying Story Of the 1970s Public Information Film

It seemed that in the 1970s filmmakers took extra delight in scaring the hell out of young viewers. Not only were infants exposed to the late-night horror double bill and disturbing kids' TV shows such as Children of the Stones, they also had to run the gauntlet of the most horrifying sub-genre of all – the Public Information Film. Though there had been examples of the form since the war, changes in censorship and the nature of television meant that much more extreme illustrations were soon tumbling on to screens in a tragedy of stark imagery involving fireworks in the face, road traffic accidents and lethal electric pylons. This one-off course will investigate films like Lonely Water (1973), Apaches (1977) Building Sites Bite (1978) and a long history of traumatising thrills.

Tutor: Andrew Graves 

Duration: 1 x 3 hour session

When: Thursday 14 August, 7pm-10.15pm (includes 15-min break) 

Price: £15 full / £12 members & concessions / £10 under 25s