Doomwatch: Tigon Collection – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: UK, 1972
Director: Peter Sasdy
Writers: Kit Pedler, Gerry Davis, Clive Exton
Cast: Ian Bannen, Judy Geeson, John Paul, Simon Oates, Jean Trend, Joby Blanshard, George Sanders, Percy Herbert

Release Date: September 30th, 2024
Approximate Running Time: 92 Minutes 10 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 12 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £16.99 (UK)

"After the waters surrounding the remote island of Balfe become over-polluted by chemical dumps, some of the inhabitants begin to exhibit extreme behavioral and physical changes as they transform into violent and deformed creatures." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation in original 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio."

Doomwatch comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 33.5 GB

Feature: 27.2 GB

Fidelity in Motion delivers another solid encode from an existing HD master, surpassing previous releases. The source looks clean, colors look very good, image clarity is strong, and compression is solid. Despite remaining intact, there are times when grain looks noisy.

Audio: 3.75/5

This release comes with one option, a LPCM mono mix in English with removable English SDH. Though the audio sounds clean, clear, and balanced, it is limited range-wise.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a stills gallery (11 images - home video art/stills/poster/other promotional materials), a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 45 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), a featurette titled To the Big Screen - Making Doomwatch (14 minutes 53 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with actress Jean Trend titled Saving Our Oceans (13 minutes 23 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival introduction by director Peter Sasdy (2 minutes 12 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival audio commentary with Peter Sasdy, an audio commentary with film critics Kim Newman and Sean Hogan, reversible cover art, a glossy O-ring (limited to the first pressing) and a 20-page booklet (limited to the first pressing) with an essay titled Doomwatch written by Jon Dear, and archival images. 

Summary:

Peter Sasdy directed Doomwatch. He is also known for making Taste the Blood of Dracula, Countess Dracula, Hands of the Ripper, and The Stone Tape. 

The locals on the isolated island hostilely receive the scientist investigating the contaminated water and its impact on them.

Doomwatch is an eco-themed horror/mystery hybrid based on a BBC TV series of the same name. Though the central theme is the environment and the effects mankind has on it, ultimately it is the conflict between the scientist and the locals where the tension lies. That said, the narrative’s driving force is the island locals' fear of change and the way of life they lived for 100 years.

Where other eco-themed films have showy moments that add grandeur, Doomwatch is a deliberately paced film that focuses on the reality of what’s unfolding, never sensationalizing it. When the narrative focuses on the scientific side of the story, things tend to drag, while the moments where the scientist peels away at what's happening on the island have the most potency. That said, despite the narrative's peaks and valleys, its very effective finale makes any shortcomings easy to forgive.

Though no performance stands out, all of the cast are very good in the roles. The most disappointing performance is George Sanders (Suspicion) in one of his final roles, he would only appear in two more films. The other notable cast member is Judy Geeson (Goodbye Gemini), who portrays a school teacher.

From a production standpoint, Doomwatch is a film that maximizes its resources. Peter Sasdy’s direction is exemplary, and composer John Scott’s (Symptoms) score perfectly reinforces the mood. Another strength is the visuals, which let the performances and scenic location take center stage. Also, the makeup effects for the deformed villagers are convincing.

Film adaptations of television series are a tricky proposition that few have ever pulled off. And though this film adaptation retains the core elements from the TV series, the result is a film that suffers from trying to condense too much into 92 minutes. That said, fans of the TV series will enjoy this film adaptation more than someone who's going blind.

Despite the shortcomings of the audio/video presentation, 88 Films gives Doomwatch its best home media release, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer