A film rarely shown since its first airing almost 40 years ago is set to air on the BBC tonight. Threads, a post-apocalyptic Cold War drama led to many a sleepless night for Brits watching way back when. If you think you can handle it, it’s one not to miss.
The BBC drama Threads is set in a dystopian Sheffield and first aired on a Sunday evening back in 1984. Little did those families know when they sat down all cosy that they were about to experience the fright of their life. Written by the author of the iconic novel Kes, viewers would have been forgiven for having a different impression of what they were about to sit and watch.
It was also filmed on location in Sheffield, with many locals featuring as extras. From the schoolyard of Kes to a harrowing story of the unrelenting impact of a thermonuclear blast, Barry Hines’ BBC show shows in graphic detail the breakdown in society in the aftermath as a nuclear winter sets in.
Threads is set to air on BBC Four tonight at 10:20pm and is 112 minutes long – it’s nice to know the minutes, so you can countdown the time until it’s over. It’s got a 100% rating on Rotton Tomatoes and has only ever been aired three times, with tonight’s being the fourth time ever.
The film has been described as “a film which comes closest to representing the full horror of nuclear war and its aftermath, as well as the catastrophic impact that the event would have on human culture”. A number of warnings are attached to the film, including severe violence and gore, severe intense scenes, nudity, profanity and scenes of a frightening nature.
Traumatising viewers for years, Threads seems to have a lasting impact on those who have seen it. Ladbible reports that one fan on Reddit, having watched the film before, said: “Watched this about 15 years ago and have never been able to watch it again. That being said, everyone should watch it.”
Another agreed, writing: “Jesus, I’m going to need counselling. I saw this when I was a kid, I think I was 15, it had a limited run on cable after it aired in the UK.”
If you dare watch the post-apocalyptic film Threads, then it’ll air tonight on BBC Four at 10:20pm. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
Read more: Everything We Know About Channel 5’s ‘The Hardacres’ Starting Tonight
