"Urban Gothic" (2000) TV series

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Directors:

Otto Bathurst
Chris Bould

Writers:

Mike Basset (writer)
Peter Crowther (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

17 May 2000 (UK)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

Behind The Shiny Facade Of London Lurks A Dark, Dark Corner

Plot:

Behind the facade of London's shiny dockside developments, its designer boutiques and coffee bars lie forgotten dark corners and darker secrets...

Plot Keywords:

Dark | Cult | Urban | Gangster | Blood

Cast

Ania Sowinski	...	Kali Cunningham (3 episodes, 2001)
Kelle Spry	...	Rachel Winter / ... (3 episodes, 2000-2001)
Ella Jones	...	Feral Child 1 / ... (2 episodes, 2000)
William Mannering	...	Milton (2 episodes, 2000-2001)
Fraser Ayres	...	Loki Brown (2 episodes, 2001)
David Crow	...	Bendix / ... (2 episodes, 2001)
Terrence Hardiman	...	Severin (2 episodes, 2001)

Runtime:

30 min (13 episodes) | UK:30 min (22 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

Blackjack Productions

Trivia:

The head-shots in Dollhouse Burns 1 & 2 were an effect that was originally conceived for Saving Private Ryan. A tiny pyrotechnic is attached to a specially machined aluminum plate that sits on the actors forehead. This is then hidden underneath a prosthetic appliance made from gelatin. The prosthetic has a hole already cut out where the bullet hit will be which is then disguised with a soft wax material that now makes the forehead look natural. A blood tube and firing lines for the pyrotechnic are hidden in the performer's hair and then on cue the charge is detonated. Although only weak the tiny charge easily punches a hole in the wax and blood begins to flow.

Goofs:

Continuity: In "Pineapple Chunks" Eustace's cut off leg swaps sides.

Quotes:

Eustace: [Holding a pornography magazine] Look mum! Bare ladies!

Urban Gothic. Tales Of The Uneven.

Having seen the 1st Season of this TV Horror anthology series on DVD, I wanted to comment on it - as there are not many postings relating to this little late night gem.

Best way to describe the 13 episodes is to imagine "Tales Of The Unexpected" meets "Hammer Horror" on a cable station budget. Due to this the quality is very uneven, but this could be to do with the direction and production on the individual episodes, assuming the same money is allocated across the board...

I found all the episodes watchable, and allowed for the budget restraints - but there are a few real gems that stand out, and make the DVD purchase all the worthwhile (but it was going cheap..) - Vampirology, Old Nick, Cry Wolf and Boy's Club all romp along, look fantastic and are pretty scary, with new (ish) spins on standard horror themes. The filming is pretty basic, and tends to be in one or two locations - depending on the warehouse, theatre or hospital that's available - but making the most of the location, lighting and mood. The creepy London council flats in Old Nick are a great example, and you could just imagine real life horrors played out in those lifts and balconies.

I read somewhere that the writer Tom De Ville, was only thirteen when he penned these - this could be an "urban myth", or he spent way too much time with old Hammer and Amicus Films, taking in large dollops of 70's psychological drama and 80's splatter flicks along the way. The retro 70's feel could come deliberately from the directors, but the lovely Ingrid Pitt gets a mention in Vampirology, so that's a direct Hammer Horror writing nod.

The 30 minute format (even less on DVD as you lose the advert break) puts a strain on making the stories clear and straight - in fact, most are a bit muddled with slightly rushed "wrap end" endings, but I think this adds to the charm. The acting is also hit and miss, with some performances really great, and others very wooden.

Overall - a real nice run of "Old School" inspired horror, with some great ideas - especially if Mr. De Ville was only 13....