Doomwatch (1972)

The waters surrounding an island become contaminated by chemical dumping, and people who eat fish caught in those waters become deformed and violent.

Director:

Peter Sasdy

Writers:

Kit Pedler (series "Doomwatch"), Gerry Davis (series "Doomwatch")

Stars:

Ian Bannen, Judy Geeson, John Paul

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ian Bannen	...	Dr. Del Shaw
Judy Geeson	...	Victoria Brown
John Paul	...	Dr. Quist
Simon Oates	...	Dr. John Ridge
Jean Trend	...	Dr. Fay Chantry
Joby Blanshard	...	Bradley
George Sanders	...	The Admiral - Sir Geoffrey
Percy Herbert	...	Constable Hartwell
Shelagh Fraser	...	Mrs. Betty Straker
Geoffrey Keen	...	Sir Henry Leyton
Joseph O'Conor	...	Vicar
Norman Bird	...	Brewer
Constance Chapman	...	Miss Johnson
Michael Brennan	...	Tom Straker
James Cosmo	...	Bob Gillette

Storyline

The waters surrounding an island become contaminated by chemical dumping, and people who eat fish caught in those waters become deformed and violent.

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Plot Keywords:

water | island | chemical | apology | bedroom | 

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Taglines:

An ecological nightmare gone berserk!

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Genres:

Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

January 1976 (USA)

Also Known As:

Island of the Ghouls

Filming Locations:

Coverack, Cornwall, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Tigon British Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Based on a BBC TV series in production, it uses four of the regulars from the show but largely sidelines them in featured roles, having a new character played by Ian Bannen as the lead alongside Judy Geeson's local schoolteacher, who aids him on Balfe.

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Connections

Featured in Doomsday with Judy Geeson (2016)

User Reviews

Slightly disappointing

Scientist, Dr. Del Shaw is sent to a remote Cornish island to investigate the effects of a tanker spill on the local wildlife. On arrival on the island, he is immediately struck by the strangeness of its inhabitants, they are dismissive and suspicious of him, they seem wary of outsiders and he struggles to find a room for the one night of his stay. As he goes about his business collecting marine samples, he is aware that he is being followed, he begins to feel he may be in danger, some odd nocturnal goings on make him even ,ore suspicious that there is something amiss on the island and when he finds the shallow grave of a child he knows for sure there is. The set up is excellent, both in mood and atmosphere, one is left with the distinct impression that a Wicker Man type plot is imminent, but sadly the film never lives up to those lofty heights and instead turns out to be more of an ecological drama, interesting but never as compelling as it could have been.