“One of the most original requests for support
I have ever been approached for.”
Nicolas Roeg – Director, Don’t Look Now
“Keep it Grisly!”
Simon Pegg –Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Spaced
Between the mid 50s and the early 70s, Britain was the undisputed king of the Horror Film. Before American horror maestros like Wes Craven, Tobe Hooper and John Carpenter came along British horror films were painting the screen red with what affectionately became known as ‘Kensington Gore’. Off the back of these films actors such as Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee and Vincent Price became stars and household names… although not necessarily the kind you would invite in for a drop of red.
It was not always like this. Before seminal Hammer Horror film The Quatermass Xperiment (its title a play on the new, adults-only X certificate) was released in 1955, British horror films were the victim of a strange bit of legislation by the Board of Film Censorship, stating that nothing produced in the horror genre could be ‘too horrific’. The new certificate changed all this, ushering in two decades of classic films like The Beast Must Die, Peeping Tom and The Wicker Man which took the genre to new heights.
Then, just as quickly as the revolution took hold, the British Horror Film vanished…
Since then, there have been some great British horror films – just not nearly in the same numbers nor so recognisably British as they had been. Now, two British filmmakers – Luke Dormehl and Tom Atkinson – are helping to bring back British horror with an exciting and groundbreaking new project called The 10 Pound Horror Film. The idea behind the concept is simple: through contributions of £10 (far less than the cost of an average night out!), to take audiences on the journey of creating a 21st century British Horror film.
Initial interest in the production has been huge. The teaser trailer has had over 70,000 views on YouTube and in its first weeks online the website has already attracted thousands of hits from around the world. For more information on this project and how to get involved with the UK’s most exciting independent film production, visit
