Sci-Fi Classic Review: THE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS (1981)

[@robertthomson1587]

I remember well watching the 1981 TV adaptation on the ABC as a teenager when it aired in Australia. It was very faithful to the novel and incredibly unsettling.

[@Sol-Cutta]

Id been planning on making rhis since youtube began...i even have had a channel a year and still not done it...apart from zombie fare this was one of my fave tv shows in 80s...this tripods, threads and hitchhikers. Then ....28 days which is day of triffids with infected instead of plants. 😮 Brilliant.

[@HeathcliffBlair]

Thanks. Yes, good adaptation sandwiched thematically and in time between Survivors (1975) and Threads (1984). The BBC were uncommonly good at this sort of socio/ecological thriller fiction. Their amazing Edge of Darkness (1985) serial also belongs in this bracket. Cheers!

[@zamiadams4343]

Thanks so much for these recommendations! I watched "Threads" again last night and it still terrified me as much as when I seen it as a kid in '84. Going to check out the other two. I love the look and feel of these early 80's BBC productions.

[@somthingbrutal]

Edge of Darkness arguably one of the the best things the BBC ever made

[@danielhubbard9927]

Yep that was cool to

[@madmonkee6757]

OMG! YES! When I saw 28 Days Later, I said "This is just The Day of the Triffids rehashed."

[@paulstan9828]

That was interesting I didn’t know the background for the Day of the Triffids. That was a fun movie I’ll have to watch it again haven’t seen in years.

[@alangarde2928]

I was about 9 when this came out and this was my first experience of John Wyndham's stories. It absolutely terrified me, especially the soundscape which was unsettling. That clacking gave me nightmares. I've seen every version and the 81 TV show is the only one that comes close to the despair and horror of both the Triffids and how people react to this disaster. It's so well made.

[@deviantmonkey1]

I've thought about seeing this for several years. I love the book, and Maloney was one of the better directors for old Who, so I have faith in him as a producer. Will track down a copy when I can. Cheers for the review!

[@Amethyst_Friend]

You really nailed what is so good about the novel and this adaptation- the moral dilemmas it tackles.

[@TheAngryAstronaut]

God, I loved this when I first saw it as a teenager. It scared the hell out of me. Not the Triffids...the fragility of our civilization. Chilling.

[@madmonkee6757]

I loved the 1962 version, but then I read the novel and was SHOCKED by how good (and how different) it was.

[@1888swordsman]

I loved this as a kid in Australia. As soon as it was on dvd I bought it. Still watch it over and over. Also my favorite book

[@madmonkee6757]

I didn't even know that there was a 1981 Day of the Triffids.

[@jennym007]

4:25 I loved "To Serve Them All My Days"! I used to watch with my dearly missed mother...good times. ❤❤🌹

[@mirata9]

Aside from all the things you mentioned, I loved the sense of loneliness. Bill is surrounded by the living, but you can’t help but feel like he is all alone - metaphorically and first and soon literally

[@bunnery2326]

Having read all JW books, the fragility of human life and how easily something we created could backfire badly is a central theme. Adding in the human factor of survival, greed, love and sacrifice to just list a few areas. I was very young when exposed to the Midwich cuckoos book at school and was hooked. I watched avidly when this was on tv and loved every minute. Thank you for the addition of background information, so interesting.

[@zaphod5660]

i remeber seeing this when i was about 7 or 8 i loved every minute of it. still holds up as far as dystopian shows go plus music scary.

[@NathanTarantlawriter]

Plants are very underutilized in horror. I'm trying to change that! Let's have more plant monsters! Triffids are a good place to begin.

[@nathanwhite3953]

Watched this in high school while reading the book. Year 8 in Australia. Lates 80s. We didn’t take it seriously cos we were clueless young kids. As an adult it takes on a very different meaning. I can see the allegorical critique of colonialism and sci fi themes of ignorance and arrogance leading to our demise. It is brilliant story. Did not realise we were co-producers through the ABC and the director was an Aussie. Great video.

[@mackjay1777]

Excellent presentation. I've read the novel a couple of times, and I agree that the 1981 series does it justice and is quite good. I still like some things about the 1962 film. As for the 2009 version, it left me cold but I'm planning to give it another look

[@NoMarketMedia]

Did Randle hear "Any Trekkie worth their salt"? He'll go one further nerdom and remind everyone that William Morgan Sheppard also played the "holographic" professor in SeaQuest, and did a fine job of it as well! Great review as always. Never even heard of this book and the subsequent films!

[@TheUnapologeticGeek]

Any Trekkie worth their salt will know that the phrase “worth their salt” is clearly a reference to the classic TOS episode “The Man Trap.”

[@pitmatix1457]

A known face to Babylon 5 fans too. He played the Soul Hunter in the episode of the same name and later played Warleader G'Sten (G'Kar's uncle).

[@wingitprod]

Utopia/Dystopia: seems one is never without the other. I've only been aware of the 62 version. Good history about Trofim Lysenko. He's a perfect catalyst for SciFi.

[@NZBigfoot]

Saw the 81 version as a kid, way to young to understand the underpinnings (although i did understand them a little), but those triffids scared the hell out of me especially the flash back part where he gets gobbed in the face by one as a kid... still feel uneasy about lilies and other trumpet shaped flowers even now days lol.

[@matsnilson7727]

Watched the 1981 series when it aired here in Sweden back in the early eighties. I was around ten at the time so I definitely didn't pick up on any of the deeper messages, but I remember thinking it was quite strange and creepy, and I'm pretty sure I was a little bit scared of meeting one of those things on my way home from school 😅 I did watch it again on dvd some 15 years ago but today I can hardly remember a thing, apart from a few snippets I still remember from the 80's viewing. I should probably watch it again. I think BBC also produced the OTHER series that scared me quite a bit around the same time - The Mad Death. Rabies infected pets foaming at the mouth. I remember that one being really dark and chilling. Thinking about it today can still make me feel a bit uneasy.

[@robertrootes]

Great job. I think you nailed it. This movie needs another go.

[@cartridgechokers]

Every once in a while I come back to this mini series. It's great. I remember when the 2009 adaptation came out...and it was embarrassingly bad.

[@Wybowazza]

The 2009 version is an affront to mankind.

[@THEOUTCASTSCREATIVE]

This was a big show when it came out in the UK, everyone was talking about at school afterwards

[@rsacchi100]

I only saw the '62 movie. The '81 mini-series seems fascinating. One wonders with the differences you pointed out if they aren't a product of the times. In the '62 movie good guys tried to help and the main protagonist tended to make the right decisions.

[@Enevan1968]

I thought to myself 'This has all the esthetics of '70s Dr Who' and wham... @3:40 it all becomes clear!

[@Keefymonoped]

Loved this adaptation, the Howard Keel led film was a classic for sure and equally enjoyable to me with a pre Dr Who Carole Anne Ford appearance in it too. I wasn't so enamoured by the later 2009 television version though. Good review TAG. 🙂🙂

[@paulashe61]

Wyndham was walking down a country lane watching the bramble suckers blowing over the hedges. And thought what if?

[@virgilwilliams2378]

I saw the 81 version back in 1986. And it was because i grounded for a month. But it was worth it. Cause that night i end up being a fan of Blake 7, and Dr. Who. Which i watched also.

[@tommydarbe1524]

I saw the first one. It was before I read the book. It was enjoyable with its own charm.

[@gstgst6334]

Saw this on tv as a 13yr old in early '80's NZ. Pure nightmare fuel but got me reading all Wyndhams other books.

[@dyejohn1905]

I have all three film/television adaptions and the BBC radio play.

[@CaminoAir]

As per the Unapologetic Geek's comments, is your copy of the Howard Keel film in acceptably good condition in terms of the print?

[@seedhillbruisermusic7939]

when I was young I used to fancy John Duttine so much!

[@thrashpondopons2776]

This may be your best work yet! You could not be more correct with your parallels with Well's Post Colonial Themes! And the Connection with Zombie Literature is almost worth it's own project! Would you ever consider hosting a Live Chat? Many of the points you mention in your posts I feel would work well in a forum! One last point I feel compelled to leave you with is that Brian W. Aldiss referenced this work when he coined the term 'Cozy Catastrophe'! (As he felt the conditions the survivors found themselves in were not brutal enough!)

[@TheUnapologeticGeek]

I do plan on doing a live chat one of these days. I think I might have even made it a Patreon goal back in the beginning. Maybe early next year. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@darrensmith6999]

Ps, Just bought the Blu Ray version of this wow amazed at the restoration. Worth a look (:

[@cwdkidman2266]

Do you do straight horror. Thinking of curse of the demon and the Val Lewton psych-horror movies he produced.

[@TheUnapologeticGeek]

I haven’t yet, but be sure to check back in October! 😜

[@travelphotos7662]

I haven't seen any visual version of 'The Day of the Triffids'. I first read the book as one of my assigned school readings in grade 7 or 8. I never read it again but many MANY years later heard the BBC's audiobook read by Roger May (17x30 minute episodes and first aired on BBC7 in 2004). This created my own visual interpretation of the story (which I have read several times since and find it a real horror story). I don't think I'll be able to watch any visual version because I now have my own imagery of the story (a similar thing happened when I heard the BBC's adaption of 'The Lord of the Rings' - I can't watch the movies or listen to its music). So, seeing Bill, Josella and Cocker in this review - they didn't match my visuals. I have seen Maurice Colbourne in Doctor Who (playing Lytton - and I thought he was great) and in the occasional episode of Howard's Way. I do think his a good actor but from what I've seen of him, I don't think he suits the Cocker role. But, that's what happens when you create imagery to suit the audio. Roger May was able to create a separate voice for each character that allowed me to believe it was a radio play rather than a reading.

[@kylecurry577]

British sci-fi horror in all its splendor. Not a bad cult movie. Never saw the BBC TV remake, however the premise is interesting.

[@morgangallowglass8668]

Great movie and AMAZING series! As always, a brilliant vid!

[@davidbarry9690]

I have seen all versions and they are all good, spooky and atmospheric

[@PungiFungi]

I read the novel for class and it always struck me that the threat of the triffids was almost an afterthought. It appears all of humanity would be screwed over with mass blindness regardless of the presence of the triffids, as other predatory animals we already have can easily take advantage.

[@darrensmith6999]

Nice on as always (: Seen the 1962 movie many times on tv now DVD but like you i can not find a decent clear version any were this movie is in serious need of restoration. I can remember the 1981 tv Show from being a kid and the 2009 version i also have on DVD and enjoy very much, though not having read the novel i can not say how faithful it is to the book. If you like post apocalyptic 1970s BBC TV series i can thouroly recommend "The Survivors" if you have not already come across it. There was a re make in the early 2000s but not a patch on the 1970s version strongly recommend it to you.

[@celtspeaksgoth7251]

John Duttine was a wise choice. His role in the TV series The Mallen Streak and as a determined terrorist in the film Who Dares Wins showed him wrestling with his dark side. For sure our twee 'morals' go out the window when TSHTF. For British post apocalypse also check out the BBC 1970s series Survivors and its inspiration, the 1970 film No Blade OF Grass. Or our Covid experience where in Britain the medics and nurses ran for the hills. Here in Wales we get it, in contrast self-entitled London is deluded

[@choncoocho1392]

Shown this video, by a good friend. Can't wait to check it out.

[@mUbase]

I remember when this was on the BBC in 1982 or 3. I was about 8. It was brilliant. :)

[@mUbase]

oh yeah, it absolutely terrified me as well!! Brilliant review and history as usual. :)

[@JAFludd]

Speaking of things by John Wyndham, you should do The Village of the Damned. (The original one starring George Sanders.)

[@TheUnapologeticGeek]

Thanks for the suggestion! I'll put it on my list.

[@coxmosia1]

TCM owns a decent copy of the original movie. Also, if you have cable you can get it on demand.

[@IowerthLord]

I wish the BBC would have stuck to filming it on film instead of the annoying back and forth with video then film, then back to video again. It's historical fact that shoulder rig video cameras existed during the era this was made, the BBC was just too lazy to make one change that would have improved an otherwise decent production.

[@doug2424]

I missed the cable version thanks

[@redcardinalist]

A lot better than the remake (although that will probably surprise no one...)

[@VoiceOfThe]

Judging by the date I will have been 7 when I watched this. It scared me sh*tless I remember!

[@dvdvnr]

Thanks for this review. The 2009 version is an insult to John Wyndham's memory and is best avoided. As I read the novel years before I saw the 1962 film, I was less than impressed by that version as well. So, yes, the 1981 series, is definitely the best though still not as good as the movie that plays in my mind when I read the novel, which I have now done more than a dozen times as it's my favourite book of all time.

[@K1lostream]

My parents, responsible as they were, didn't let me watch this but I still remember being left with a babysitter one time who watched it with me in the room, and it scared the absolute crap out of me - funny seeing how shit the effects and things look now whilst simultaneously being taken back to how terrified I remember feeling at the time!

[@TheUnapologeticGeek]

I feel that way about a lot of things from when I was a kid!

[@tootsbrown650]

The best version! Just watched the 2007 series and it was pretty weak. The book is a classic, Wyndham is so underrated such a great writer.

[@chuckpoore]

I read the book years ago, and I've only seen the 1962 film, also many years ago. But I do agree that this book probably inspired a lot of tropes that appeared in many other books and movies over the years. I'm thinking of The Stand, A Quiet Place, Birdbox, as well as the zombie movies you made reference to. However, the most eerie thing, that I haven't thought about until this video (since I haven't thought about this book in years), is how prescient this book concept really is. Your commentary seemed to allude to it, but you skirted it a little, maybe to avoid the YT censors. But here we have a biological entity, created by a foreign adversary, unleashed onto the world, that changes our entire social and economic structure practically overnight...leading to a two-tiered citizenship regime based on who has a particular thing, and who doesn't (in the book and films, sight). Add to this a little Orwellian "Ministry of Truth" censorship and suppression of certain kinds of information by the Powers that Be, and our current real world is an odd mash up of Day of the Triffids and 1984. Sometimes old classic Sci Fi can miss predictions badly (where are the flying cars? Why don't we have moon bases since 2001?, etc). But sometimes, at least in concept if not details, SciFi can be eerily prescient.

[@CaminoAir]

There appears to be a fair amount of misunderstanding of 'Orwellian'. '1984' is about the manipulation of language, the denial of collective memory and an authoritarianism that instructs you to ignore the evidence of your eyes and ears and other senses to believe The Party's formal declarations. 'Orwellian' in the accurate sense would (in our times) refer to 'altnerative facts' and 'editorialising' instead of reporting news. The word is being mis-used to describe attempts to prevent miss-information and ideology purporting to be objectivity.

[@TheUnapologeticGeek]

"Your commentary seemed to allude to it, but you skirted it a little, maybe to avoid the YT censors. But here we have a biological entity, created by a foreign adversary, unleashed onto the world, that changes our entire social and economic structure practically overnight..." My first draft of the script did talk at length about this, but I decided it would be better to not touch that particular nerve. When it comes to this channel, I try to be relatively neutral about current events and politics (my Soylent Green video notwithstanding), and I don't think I could talk about any of that without pissing off a good number of people. So... I left it alone. And of course, the notorious YT censorship of anything related to the pandemic weighed on my mind as well.

[@chuckpoore]

@@TheUnapologeticGeek My comment was not meant as a criticism, just an observation. I totally do not blame you. I know that on this platform there are even certain words you cannot say. I guess, for me, it's enough to know that I wasn't wrong in interpreting your allusion. You saw it too.

[@TheUnapologeticGeek]

@Chuck Poore I'm just glad someone caught it. 😁

[@chuckpoore]

@@CaminoAir I know that, I've read the book. And that's exactly what I see all the time in news media, and from certain government officials who say things that are flatly untrue (and even contradict information coming from their own government agencies), but they are more interested in pushing a political or societal outcome than with actual truth, or with the personal decisions and liberties of individual citizens. You used the term "miss-information" to describe what I assume you consider something that it would be correct to suppress. However, that word is itself being misused by the media and the government to describe any narrative that contradicts the "official" position of the elite class.

[@ConThatUltraMadokaFan]

I loved the 1962 version but I will say objectively the 1981 miniseries is the best one.

[@gmanley1]

I wish they would have restored the 1962 adaptation of The Day of the Triffids.

[@TheUnapologeticGeek]

It’s downright criminal that they haven’t done it yet.

[@nigelobrien71]

Loved this one.

[@danielhubbard9927]

Iv seen them all I love this salt of stuff like "nightmare man" that was a cool 4 part or was it 2 I'll chek me DVD lolz

[@MatthewMFoster]

I'm guessing this might be a location thing -- that this is considered a cult classic in Britain. On this side of the pond I'd say the '62 film is a cult classic, but not the TV series. And not just because I think it was weak, but because I never hear it talked about. It doesn't pop up in conversation anywhere, even SF conventions. If the word "triffid" is spoken, it is related to the '62 film. It's odd to me that the '81 series got any traction anywhere, but I suppose location gives it some charm that doesn't translate to other places.

[@moritzstrohriegel8724]

gr eat video, have you ever und considered making a video about the abyss?

[@TheUnapologeticGeek]

It’s on my list!

[@moritzstrohriegel8724]

thank you..

[@VFXforfilm]

Where can one watch this? I can’t find it anywhere???

[@TheUnapologeticGeek]

You can get it on DVD in a few places. I found it at a used DVD store, but I’m pretty sure Amazon has it.

[@VFXforfilm]

@@TheUnapologeticGeek Yeah I've been on the hunt. I see REGION 2 and 4 (non U.S) for sale as DVD, but who owns a DVD player these day. Amazon used to have it but not anymore (Amazon Prime). I just read the original book. I so want to see this. Great review by the way. Wish someone would post it somewhere online. Too great of a series to drop.

[@stevezpj]

As a kid, I thought the 1962 version was the best. When I matured, I realised just how little I'd understood of the 1981 TV version, which is far superior. The triffids aren't anywhere near as prominent as the name of the programme makes you think and many of the characters don't even seem to give them a single thought. The pure dread that is present through the entire series is mainly from humans.

[@tomsenior7405]

The 1962 film was great fun when we were children. Knowing now, how the Book is much better, I find the movie to be some kind of cruel joke. I never saw the 1981 version. I prefer to settle-down with the book and a large Whisky.

[@IngieKerr]

This series, if you pardon the parlance, scared the tits off me as an 11 year old. It was, to me then, like some story from Doctor Who if Doctor Who had never bothered to turn up to save anyone. Which is existential dread for a child of the 80s of that age and TV culture :) This fear was mitigated when they ended on the Isle of Wight, since I was thankfully further remote on the Isle of Man, so I felt safer not only from triffids, but also I was safer from Thatcher* * note, this Thatcher reference is said as an 80s British Islander alternative left wing comedy throwback joke, and not intended to incite political discourse. Though, additionally, it _was_ true :D

[@karlmeyer9473]

I love the thought of triffids eating YANKEES. Munch!!!!

[@raythackston1960]

This movie has been redone many times. 2009 was a really good one too.

[@cwdkidman2266]

Great!

[@thornbird6768]

I liked this movie 👍🏻

[@andresamplonius315]

The novel says not one word about Lysenko, the Triffids were presented by a botanist

[@coyoteboy5601]

I was womdering about that, too. I'm an hour from finishing the audiobook and thought maybe i had dozed off for a bit.

[@nicholasjanke3476]

The Triffid effects look a bit silly unfortunately.

[@Ravedaze.]

There was a program or film where the aliens were jelly like and killed their prey by taking all their calcium, I can’t remember the name but I remember it being aired, if anyone know should be much appreciated

[@Ravedaze.]

Update, found it called ‘island of terror 1966’😊

[@TheUnapologeticGeek]

I'll have to look into that. Sounds fun!

[@Ravedaze.]

@@TheUnapologeticGeek yeh just watched it on yt, loads of ads tho but great film

[@Dinvadbhatmarathi98]

Hi did this have a scene were a man is sucked into a sofa in a room

[@cwdkidman2266]

Great

[@nasilelelisselo2348]

The Walking Day and See before it was cool.

[@char1737]

And I really got hot When I saw Janette Scott Fight a Triffid that spits poison and kills

[@berserkasaurusrex4233]

Ah yeah, saw this version ages ago. Danny Boyle stole the plot for '28 Days Later' from this miniseries.

[@nicholasjanke3476]

Day Of The Triffids is rather similair to the other British apocalyptic sci fi No Blade Of Grass.

[@larrydavis3645]

This is a remake of the original. I did not like this version.

[@jimisi7424]

The 2009 version is pretty poor . The eddie isard character is very silly

[@Amethyst_Friend]

'Quash', not 'squash'.

[@NZBigfoot]

eh its basically the same meaning in such contexts.

[@JP1234815]

Put me off rhubarb for a long time!!

[@CaminoAir]

LOL :)

[@TheUnapologeticGeek]

😂🤣

[@wingitprod]

😂

[@shadi.y]

I look for old series name huge plant it has eye killing people 😢

[@adaddinsane]

The 2009 series was pretty awful and very far from the original material. The 1981 series is definitely the best.

[@nicholasjanke3476]

The book and tv show were excellent! The movie was awful.

[@andrewcarpenter687]

Venom, Invasion of the Body Snacthers, this movie, maybe it will be a species already here, waiting, biding their time like joe biden to take over...

[@pamelagibson5283]

Politics here, really?