In the 50s, one of the most recognised British production companies, Hammer Films established a strong niche in Gothic horror. Showcased in bold, vibrant colour, characterised by gruesome stories, supernatural elements and deliciously dark settings. The beginning of two long running franchises - ‘Dracula’ and ‘Frankenstein’ overnight, made Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing into international stars.

Sci-fi B flicks ruled the genre and decade. Hollywood didn’t suffer for going low-budget but effortlessly fused originality and a corny kitsch that was wholly endearing. A lot of them were stinkers, dropping out of sight but to some diehard fans, never forgotten. There were others that stood the test of time.
I love ‘The Thing From Another World’ almost as much as Carpenter’s first part of his ‘Apocalypse’ trilogy. It spent more time fleshing out the characters and a wonderful dialogue even if it deviated from its novella source. Furthermore there was an interesting angle taken reflecting on the aftermath of Hiroshima and the burgeoning fears of an atomic age. Themes that ran many of these mutant creature features