Kim Newman

Film critic Kim Newman introduces a new series of DVDs and Blu-ray disc releases by BFI showcasing little known British films.

An all-new 72 minute featurette including interviews with Director/Producer Stephen Weeks, Actors Larry Dann and Murray Melvin, British Horror Icon Barbara Shelley, and composer Ron Geesin.

An analysis by the critic and author of Wild West Movies.

Film critic Kim Newman, Total Film news editor Rosie Fletcher, and film critic Alan Jones discuss Heavenly Creatures and the story the film chronicles, as well as Peter Jackson and his legacy.

The critic Kim Newman discussing ‘The End of the World Through the Years’. Newman covers the modern fascination with doomsday scenarios, beginning with Mary Shelley’s lesser-known novel The Last Man novel, and how such stories evolved to entertain audiences of various eras.

Offers some nice background on Japanese horror in general and this trilogy in particular, delivered with Newman's typical enthusiasm and humor.

Newman covers a lot of ground in under a half hour, including Let's Scare Jessica to Death's connections to Hammer Horror, vampire movies in the Seventies (which is a genre he claims experienced an "enormous boom" during that era), and much more.

A short documentary about the classic Universal Monster actor, Lon Chaney, Jr.

A revealing insight into the short life and times of Michael Reeves.

A documentary produced for Universal about their early Wolf Man film(s)

Lifting the lid on the world of cinema censorship, this programme has unique access to the files of the British Board of Film Classification. Featuring explicit and detailed exchanges between the censor and film-makers, 'Dear Censor' casts a wry eye over some of the most infamous cases in the history of the board. From the now seemingly innocuous Rebel Without a Cause, the first 'naturist' films and the infamous works of Ken Russell, and up to Rambo III, this frank and surprisingly warm documentary demonstrates how a body created by the industry to safeguard standards and reflect shifts in public opinion has also worked unexpectedly closely with the film-makers themselves to ensure that their work was able reach an audience.

The 12th Episode from the "Eurotika" documentary series, made for the UK Channel 4 about European exploitation cinema. This one looks at the films of British director Michael Reeves, who died under mysterious circumstances at age 25. Interviews include TV star and longtime fellow Ian Ogilvy, who starred in all three of Reeves's features, award winning author Iain Sinclair and Paul Maslansky, who produced Reeves's first movie.

This short documentary takes a look at the making of Twentieth Century Fox's 1944 film "The Lodger".

Produced for the "ultimate edition" of "Rollerball" from Capelight Pictures in Germany, 2020. The Blu-Ray of the original 1975 classic comes packed with this fascinating 85-minute documentary that charts the influence of "Rollerball" on contemporary scifi cinema, including "Mad Max", "The Warriors" and "Escape from New York", as well as the Italian variant that struck the big time with motion picture successes such as "The Bronx Warriors" franchise, "The New Barbarians" and the wonderfully trashy "Endgame".

A series of interviews about the cult Public Information Film "The Spirit of Dark and Lonely Water"

A documentary about the 'new wave' of British horror directors and their films in the 1960s and 1970s.

Commemorates 100 years since the release of the German classic, Nosferatu, by FW Murnau, and explores the general fascination of Count Dracula, a figure who resonates with audiences across the literary, art, mythological and historical worlds.

An 88-Minute documentary about how Jackie Chan broke the mold (and his bones) with his daring choreography in the 1980s.

The history of Italian zombie cinema, beginning with the breakout worldwide influence and success of George Romero's Night of the Living Dead and continuing through to Lucio Fulci's trend-setting Zombie Flesh-Eaters (Zombi 2) and its many imitators.

The focus is on the eighty-two Section 3 titles, those advised by the DPP not to be obscene, but still known to have been seized. After a short introduction, each film is discussed in turn by an expert, followed by the film's trailer.

The focus is on the eighty-two Section 3 titles, those advised by the DPP not to be obscene, but still known to have been seized. After a short introduction, each film is discussed in turn by an expert, followed by the film's trailer.

Retrospective documentary on the British horror anthology classic Dead of Night (1945).

Documentary on the making of Hammer's adaptation of "The Hound of the Baskervilles".

A countdown of the top 10 3D moments in film, television and pop music from the last 50 years.

Documentary about Nigel Kneale, creator of Quatermass.

Film historians, and producer Richard Gordon, talk about the horror movie career of cult star Bela Lugosi.

Every Video Nasty from the DPP list of dropped 33 titles is critiqued and explored, followed by the original trailers.

Diabolical. Seductive. Immortal. Vampires have been an icon of evil in folklore and popular culture for more than three centuries, yet only one name still personifies the ultimate aristocrat of bloodlust. Now join the world’s foremost experts on Dracula – including academics, authors and horror historians – as they explore the untold story of the Transylvanian Count, from the legend of Vlad The Impaler and Bram Stoker’s celebrated novel through its landmark stage productions and classic movie adaptations.

Feature length documentary on the cult sub-genre featuring interviews with Dyanne ‘Ilsa’ Thorne, Malissa ‘Elsa’ Longo, filmmakers Sergio Garrone, Mariano Caiano, Rino Di Silvestro, Liliana Cavani, Bruno Mattei, and many more.

A documentary featuring film historians, directors and authors discussing the making of Billy Wilder's "Double Indemnity."

A feature length documentary shot over 9 months taking a look at the explosion of movies that became available on VHS in the UK.

Every Video Nasty from the DPP list of 39 is critiqued and explored, followed by the original trailers.

Feature-length in-depth documentary by High Rising Productions chronicling the Giallo film genre from its beginnings as early 20th century crime fiction, to its later influences on the modern slasher film genre. Featuring interviews with Dario Argento, Umberto Lenzi, Luigi Cozzi, Richard Stanley, and more.

Retrospective on The Nightmare On Elm Street Series.

Film historians, and producer Richard Gordon, talk about the horror movie career of cult star Boris Karloff.

A biography of the short-lived character actor Laird Cregar.

This is the first and only feature-length documentary on the life and cinema of the late Jorge Grau, who is most famous for his classic social-political horror masterpiece "Living Dead at Manchester Morgue" (1974), seen by some critics as a fierce critique of the Franco government albeit set in a displaced foreign locale.

A documentary about the making of the movie "Dragonwyck"

Filmmakers and historians discuss the 1942 cult classic Dr. Renault’s Secret.

The life and career of the renowned voice actor of animation and radio. For generations, Mel Blanc was one of the most famous Hollywood voice actors with his myriad of voices for classic animated characters like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and scores of others. However, animation was only one of the fields where Blanc shone through in his long career. This film covers the life of this amazingly talented and big hearted actor, comedian and musician as he became one of the performing greats from the golden ages of American animation and radio through to the 1980s.

A look at the life and films of the expressionistic movie and television director John Brahm.

The very first feature-length discussion and breakdown of the entire "Emmanuelle" phenomenon - the atmosphere in Europe that led to the production of the original and its subsequent impact across the continent and indeed the world.

Masters of Magic: The World of Chandu

Debra Hill's documentary tells the story of her multifaceted life and of inspiring filmmakers around the world, and her legacy as a creative producer, mentor, film pioneer and activist is an enduring one.

A documentary analyzing the furore which so-called "video nasties" caused in Britain during the 1980s.

Exploring Michael Mann's 1983 film adapted from the F. Paul Wilson novel and its impact.

Tribute to Universal make-up artist Jack Pierce who created some of the studio's most famous works including Frankenstein's Monster, the Wolf Man, the Mummy and countless other creatures. Rick Baker, Tom Savini, Howard Berger, Bob Burns, Scott Essman, Kim Newman, Gregory Nicotero and others discuss the work of Pierce and his enduring legacy.

A feature-length documentary exploring the history of the Spanish zombie film.

This feature-length big screen documentary tells the riotous inside story of the infamous sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll repertory cinema which inspired a generation during Britain's turbulent Thatcher years.

Two decades after its unprecedented television broadcast, the cast, crew and fans of the notorious BBC 'Halloween Hoax' Ghostwatch look back at the show's unique production and legendary aftermath in this brand-new retrospective documentary. Includes never-before-seen material and interviews!

The highly anticipated follow-up to their critically acclaimed VIDEO NASTIES: MORAL PANIC, CENSORSHIP & VIDEOTAPE documentary, director Jake West and producer Marc Morris continue uncovering the shocking story of home entertainment post the 1984 Video Recordings Act. A time when Britain plunged into a new Dark Age of the most restrictive censorship, where the horror movie became the bloody eviscerated victim of continuing dread created by self-aggrandizing moral guardians. With passionate and entertaining interviews from the people who lived through it and more jaw dropping archive footage, get ready to reflect and rejoice the passing of a landmark era.

Documentary about the great 1940s horror movie producer Val Lewton, featured on the 2005 DVD release "The Val Lewton Horror Collection."

An exploration of our cultural obsession with vampires and what they reveal about the human psyche.

Produced for Turner Classic Movies, this documentary looks at the early days of the gangster film.

Film Noir burrows into the mind; it's disorienting, intriguing and enthralling. Noir brings us into a gritty underworld of lush morbidity, providing intimate peeks at its tough, scheming dames, mischievous misfits and flawed men - all caught in the wicked web of a twisted fate.

One-man armies, meet-cutes, casual strolls away from huge explosions — stars and industry insiders toast and roast these cinematic chestnuts and more.

Jamie and Lucy have an encounter with what appears to be a pair of ghost children. But these spooky kids, Sara and Georgie, aren’t actually ghosts. They’ve travelled forwards in time to seek help, believing they’re going to be murdered by the wicked Mr and Mrs Wickens. And Lucy and Jamie’s strange visitor seems to be the key to it all. With his help, they must travel back to 1821 to save Sara and Georgie and redeem their remorseful new friend – The Amazing Mr Blunden.

A detailed look at the history of horror anthology films.

Prisoners of Gravity was a Canadian public broadcasting television news magazine program that explored speculative fiction — science fiction, fantasy, horror, comic books — and its relation to various thematic and social issues. Produced by TVOntario, the show was the brainchild of former comic retail manager Mark Askwith and writer Daniel Richler, and was hosted by Rick Green. The series aired 139 episodes over 5 seasons from 1989 to 1994.

Space Cadets is a comedy panel game broadcast on Channel 4 in 1997. It was presented by "High Commander" Greg Proops with Bill Bailey and Craig Charles as the "Space Captains". It ran for just one series with 10 episodes. Like the BBC's Have I Got News for You, the contestants were celebrities and the show was played mainly for laughs. Bestselling author Terry Pratchett once appeared as a guest. When the contestants were asked who was Britain's most shoplifted author, Pratchett immediately answered "I am!" which was the correct answer.

Eurotika is a Channel 4 documentary film on European exploitation cinema. The documentary is similarly themed to Pete Tombs's book Immoral Tales: European Sex and Horror Movies 1956-1984. During the 1960s and 1970s, European low-budget films went kinky, emerging as a new type of cinema that blended eroticism, surrealism, horror, and over-the-top atmospherics.