{"id":52743,"date":"2020-10-30T10:27:43","date_gmt":"2020-10-30T17:27:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=52743"},"modified":"2021-01-21T22:40:52","modified_gmt":"2021-01-22T05:40:52","slug":"doomwatch-1972","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=52743","title":{"rendered":"Doomwatch (1972)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;This island has trouble enough of its own without you coming here and stirring up more!&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Poster-300x223.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"223\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-52744\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Poster-300x223.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Poster-1024x761.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Poster-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Poster-768x571.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Poster-363x270.png 363w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Poster.png 1457w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA scientist (Ian Bannen) with the British environmental watchdog group Doomwatch is concerned when he visits the island of Balfe and notices its residents acting both secretive and aggressive, with some appearing to suffer from <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Acromegaly\">acromegaly<\/a>. With the help of a local schoolteacher (Judy Geeson) and his colleagues  back in London (John Paul, Simon Oates, and Jean Trend), he investigates what might be happening to this tight-knit community &#8212; and why.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Amateur Sleuths<\/li>\n<li>George Sanders Films<\/li>\n<li>Science Fiction<\/li>\n<li>Scientists<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nThis follow-up to the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Doomwatch\">similarly titled BBC TV series (1970-1972)<\/a> is based on the intriguing premise of a (fictional) environmental protection agency discovering literally <em>horrific<\/em> after-effects of environmental catastrophes. Indeed, <em>Doomwatch<\/em> starts off very much like a horror film akin to <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=52668\"><em>The Wicker Man<\/em> (1973)<\/a>, as an &#8220;outsider&#8221; visits a cloistered island where the residents refuse to share exactly what&#8217;s going on in their community. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Island2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Island2-1024x538.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"336\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-65017\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Island2-1024x538.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Island2-300x158.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Island2-128x67.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Island2-768x404.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Island2-1536x808.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Island2-514x270.png 514w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Island2.png 1847w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>However, Bannen isn&#8217;t trapped on the island, and gets plenty of support from his colleagues back in London: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Bannen-Lab2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Bannen-Lab2-1024x557.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"348\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-65018\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Bannen-Lab2-1024x557.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Bannen-Lab2-300x163.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Bannen-Lab2-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Bannen-Lab2-768x418.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Bannen-Lab2-1536x836.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Bannen-Lab2-496x270.png 496w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Bannen-Lab2.png 1817w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8212; so the feeling of anxiety and claustrophobia dissipates, turning the story into more of a procedural mystery: what in the world is impacting these people to the extent that they&#8217;re experiencing fear of their own loved ones? I&#8217;m not a fan of Bannen&#8217;s performance (he comes across as brash and smirky), and Geeson&#8217;s role is underdeveloped (how did she end up at the island in the first place?). <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Geeson-Bannen.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Geeson-Bannen-1024x553.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"346\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-65016\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Geeson-Bannen-1024x553.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Geeson-Bannen-300x162.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Geeson-Bannen-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Geeson-Bannen-768x415.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Geeson-Bannen-1536x829.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Geeson-Bannen-500x270.png 500w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Geeson-Bannen.png 1817w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>However, the inherent tension in solving the mystery at least keeps one reasonably engaged throughout. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Note: <\/strong>George Sanders appears in a thankless supporting role, one of his last before dying at the age of 65. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Sanders.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Sanders-1024x544.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"340\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-65021\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Sanders-1024x544.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Sanders-300x159.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Sanders-128x68.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Sanders-768x408.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Sanders-1536x815.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Sanders-509x270.png 509w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Sanders.png 1829w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Atmospheric cinematography and sets<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Cinematography-1024x594.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"371\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-52745\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Cinematography-1024x594.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Cinematography-300x174.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Cinematography-128x74.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Cinematography-768x446.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Cinematography-1536x892.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Cinematography-465x270.png 465w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Cinematography.png 1721w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Cinematography-Sets.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Cinematography-Sets-1024x551.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"344\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-65019\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Cinematography-Sets-1024x551.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Cinematography-Sets-300x162.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Cinematography-Sets-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Cinematography-Sets-768x414.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Cinematography-Sets-1536x827.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Cinematography-Sets-501x270.png 501w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Cinematography-Sets.png 1833w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fine location shooting<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Tourist.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Tourist-1024x586.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"366\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-52747\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Tourist-1024x586.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Tourist-300x172.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Tourist-128x73.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Tourist-768x440.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Tourist-1536x880.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Tourist-471x270.png 471w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Tourist.png 1727w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Location2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Location2-1024x553.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"346\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-52746\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Location2-1024x553.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Location2-300x162.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Location2-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Location2-768x415.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Location2-1536x830.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Location2-500x270.png 500w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Doomwatch-Location2.png 1823w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, though it&#8217;s worth a one-time look if you&#8217;re curious. Listed as a Sleeper in the back of Peary&#8217;s book. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0068498\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.moriareviews.com\/sciencefiction\/doomwatch-film-1972.htm\">Moria Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thespinningimage.co.uk\/cultfilms\/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=2716&#038;aff=13\">Spinning Image Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;This island has trouble enough of its own without you coming here and stirring up more!&#8221; Synopsis: A scientist (Ian Bannen) with the British environmental watchdog group Doomwatch is concerned when he visits the island of Balfe and notices its residents acting both secretive and aggressive, with some appearing to suffer from acromegaly. With the help of a local schoolteacher (Judy Geeson) and his colleagues back in London (John Paul, Simon Oates, and Jean Trend), he investigates what might be&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=52743\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-52743","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52743","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=52743"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52743\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65022,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52743\/revisions\/65022"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=52743"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=52743"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=52743"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}