The Beast - Westcountry Tales

Scared the crap out of me when I was 11, living in the southwest at the time in the countryside...!

[@lepenotiere]

This was filmed on my farm when I was a kid!

[@honeysuckle4537]

Lovely place xx

[@johnstringer221]

Liar

[@honeysuckle4537]

@@johnstringer221 who's a liar

[@gothicwolffreak]

@@johnstringer221 How do you know ? Facts etc. Nasty, Bad thing calling people 'liars' unless you can PROVE it.

[@springsogourne]

Wow! So cool! Has the area changed much?

[@michelleelston4518]

Thank you so much, I haven’t seen this before, so thanks for your time and patience downloading this, just wonderful 😊

[@tryarunm]

An old friend owned a farm some distance from Madras, India. There were not beasts but spirits inhabiting that place, some several thousand acres of about a hundred farms. On certain nights they would spot a little ball of light moving over the fields and orchards from farm to farm. The dogs would go into frenzies of rage but stayed away from that light. The other animals too - chickens, goats, cattle - would become agitated. The belief that the locals held was that the dogs howled when they sensed or 'saw' a spirit, but when they went into barking paroxysms the spirit was evil.

[@vaseofflowers4619]

Interesting. Thanks for sharing. I believe animals are more attuned to that stuff.

[@tryarunm]

@@vaseofflowers4619 attuned. You are so right. I just wish I had never come across them at all. I am terrified to this day.

[@beebee8018]

It is that accusing word again she is ‘Hysterical’ and the man ignores what is going on Ugh! That aside; wish there were more plays like these but unfortunately don’t make them atmospheric like this anymore. Thank you for uploading.

[@RamblesBrambles]

Calm down love, different timez.

[@Rameman33]

Brilliant Ed.I remember Westcountry Tales from when I was a kid growing up in Cornwall in the 1970s.Looks like it was filmed in the Looe area.Thanks for uploading.

[@Thisiswhy1991]

You're welcome - took me an age to find! I grew up in Devon in the 70s.

[@bradleycrooks5991]

It was, up and down the Looe rivers and some in the back-garden of the Commonwood Manor (don't think its called that any more) although the house itself was on Dartmoor if I remember correctly.

[@dazauto1400]

West Country Tales came out in 1982!

[@LostwaveObsession]

Minimal synth heaven.

[@imliamroberts]

Lovely Looe valley!

[@Ghosts-of-York]

i love west country butter :)

[@paulcowell7588]

Dont remember watching these in the early 80s...will watch em now..I'd go back in a heartbeat.

[@GLK-London]

I think we all would Paul.

[@dtaylor939]

It was much better back then Paul women were women and men were men

[@theoriginalbluey]

Bring these shows back, new stories, but similar synth sounds please. Oh and thank you Ed for putting this here :)

[@sarahstrong7174]

Odd things happen in Devon & Cornwall. Still do now & I have seen things which simply have no explanation at all whatsoever. I would not wonder around outside on your own at night, even close to towns. Get yourself to your bed before midnight & doors & windows locked. You do not want to find yourself in the position I am in of having seen things that no one believes, but knowing what you definitely, clearly, saw.

[@PhilipAiello-s8i]

I've always dreamed of visiting the UK. Stories like this make me want it soo much more, perhaps one day. Thank you...from Long Island, NY.

[@pommygeezer9309]

You’d enjoy The UK.. but ‘stay off them Moors!’ 🐺

[@enriquesanchez2001]

ahahahah @@pommygeezer9309

[@Wulfyr]

I live in the Westcountry or which is composed of the old Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Wessex and the Celtic redoubt of Cornwall. It's picturesque here. Bronze Age barrows,stone circles ,Iron Age hillforts, Medieval castles, rolling fields and woodland. If you're looking for "Ye Olde England" this will be a region of interest. I hope you're able to visit sometime, hear the folklore and experience the atmosphere of the region.

[@jamiewulfyr4607]

Loved these as a kid.I live in the West Country so they freaked me right out as a nipper. I could imagine meeting something like this on a quiet country lane or in the woods. Top upload.

[@A-small-amount-of-peas]

I'm not sure how to fully explain it but for me when we entered the digital age of crystal clear sound and picture it became almost impossible to generate dread in a viewer. The things that truly terrify are things you think you saw or heard , not the thing you can see and hear clearly. Horror these days is jump scares and a genre very few talented directors want to take on and the genre suffers to this day where even low budget horror employs dodgy CGI Such a shame but I'm glad there are uploaders out there making sure that the more curious of the younger generation can still find gems like this if they care to look

[@digbycrankshaft7572]

The lack of a sound track helps to heighten the tension and ominous feeling I find.

[@gaminawulfsdottir3253]

This story made me want a crusty bun and an analog synthesizer.

[@gplunk]

To set the Moog; no less....

[@TomGraham-mk2wl]

@@gplunk That pun is more horrific than the beast in the woods.😲

[@gplunk]

Another 'off-key' comment....

[@enriquesanchez2001]

hahah @@gplunk

[@machristopheruy8684]

The Countryside, Wild, Raw, peaceful yet haunting!

[@shelleymcafee8197]

I imagine the that this must have felt like a spooky campfire-story, to the Kids who watched it! (But what a lovely spot to live! …I’ll buy it!) 😉😄 I loved playing/being Outdoors surrounded by Nature as a Kid (still do), but can clearly remember the feeling of terror that would sometimes rise-up when walking in a familiar place, and the birds would suddenly stop singing - or when, during a free-spirited nighttime game of ‘Sardines’ in the woods between Cousins, the familiar suddenly felt like dangerous-territory. …I can understand the fear of unknown-forces that has given-rise to Pagan beliefs. I still wonder if the feeling of being watched and hunted was always in My imagination, or wether I was in the presence of a Hunter. The last time I felt this way was as an Adult, having hiked-up a hillside overlooking Our camp during a trip to the Fairmont B.C. The slope was steep, just dry dirt and loose scree, so I was hot and winded then I reached the rocky outcropping that was My target. Sitting down upon the ledge, I looked-out over the valley - enjoying the cool breeze and the view of forested mountainsides, when suddenly I felt intensely afraid; I saw nothing nearby, but every cell of My body told Me that I’d become Prey. I couldn’t get out of there fast-enough, and slip-slides back down the hillside and into camp - laughing at myself, but still shaking from fear of whatever danger My senses told me that I’d ‘escaped’. The next-day We visited a nearby Nature-Centre, and learned that the hillside near Our camp was a long-time favourite of Cougars - raising cubs in dens there, and sunning themselves upon the slope’s rocky ledges. …I hadn’t seen Them, but They definitely saw Me!

[@oliviu-dorianconstantinesc288]

This works as an excellent radio piece.

[@jeremycocks3078]

This is awesome Ed Longridge as was hunting high & low on the internet for this episode a while back and now you've uploaded it! I was a fan of the series in the early 80's but in particular this episode, as i went to school with Keith Barron's son, Jamie Barron, who is the boy in this episode. Thanks!!

[@elsymatthew4653]

Wow! You are close to these!

[@Mike8981]

The age of these films now adds a dimension of interest in seeing the world as it was then!

[@vermilliongecko]

A lot of these places in the West Country really haven't changed much, apart from the cars!

[@ENIGMAXII2112]

Indeed very much so yes...

[@clintbaysinger857]

boring

[@originalkingalpha5116]

😂😂😂

[@danielsmith5023]

Good job mate 👍 Cheers from Australia kindest Regards Dan and Kerri 🤝

[@Bambisgf77]

I just found these little gems thanks to a suggestion in the comments on similar series, I like these much better! Thank you so much for posting!

[@tazmunster7646]

Now there is a beast of bodmin moor. That has been spotted in the Forest of Dean.

[@A-small-amount-of-peas]

A LOT of sightings of big cats living in the wild in the UK. Particularly the west country but even as far North as Scotland as well

[@Baskerville22]

Not much of a story

[@risin4949]

A wonderful tale.

[@eloisasmith1529]

does anybody remember an episode of a British anthology where a pretty girl has a strange hypnotic control over a heavy set less attractive girl. She can make her do degrading things. At one point she makes here believe a candle is food and she eats it. When the prettier girl dies the other starts to take on her the dead girls personality traits. The implication being that she's still controlling her. It took place in 1800's and was very low key horror.

[@TheZuckerhund]

That’s Agatha Christie - The Case of the Fourth Man and it’s on here 😎

[@BeeLZBeeb]

No but it sounds good, hope KZbin gives a notification if anyone knows. It doesn’t seem like it’s similar to the fourth man but I just glanced at the basic plot. Was it set on a train?

[@paulchristman2456]

Puts me in mind somewhat of "The Beast In the Cellar" (1970) starring Flora Robson. In fact, some scenes and camera shots are uncannily similar.

[@stephenholmes1036]

Ive seen two panthers dead shot on Bodmin in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Quickly and quietly buried

[@terrortorn]

Bill was confronting the Beast in his pyjamas and carrying a torch. No one of lifes seriously prepared individuals.

[@dtaylor939]

Beast in his pajamas lol

[@maryland9987]

I thoroughly enjoyed this show. Thank you.

[@EmlynBoyle]

I wish they could find the original negatives, and release them on dvd/blu-ray proper.

[@barryroach1980]

Look at that Cortina cousin Jenny was driving, what a classic nowadays!.....oh and the story was good as well ! ;-)

[@ajivins1]

Hillman Avenger.

[@mariapierce2707]

@@ajivins1 Thank you .I was wondering what kind it was.

[@ajivins1]

@@mariapierce2707 Can't be many around now!

[@neilsimpson6207]

Hillman Avenger

[@vermilliongecko]

A bit of folk horror!

[@mm42able]

Thaks for uploading! Great story

[@motelghost477]

0:03 That music intro sounds a lot like Sweet Child 'O Mine.

[@jeffersonparis7767]

Love it. It is almost like a Radio4 (BBC) play.

[@mistofoles]

@26:28 - "FFS ! Can I not even have a shit in peace ?? "

[@ancientruby7116]

You think this is frightening, I had a very true terrifying encounter in 1975 in Essex (SouthEast) & i still suffer PTSD from it. It was a Werewolf yet not anything like what they portray as a man changing into a beast.. what i saw had hind legs, a long snout with hands. No illusion either, It was pure flesh & blood too.

[@elsymatthew4653]

These things are true, though rare & remote! May be some demonic! And, people who have higher power can deal with them.

[@originalkingalpha5116]

Delete your comment and never speak of it again.

[@gerry5134]

Great stuff!! Thanks for finding that ...

[@thriddoctor]

I wrote to ITV South West to see if they still had the letter that this episode was supposedly based on was still on file but got no answer.

[@TimeTraken]

It was made by bbc south west

[@digbycrankshaft7572]

​@@TimeTrakenyes. Growing up in Jersey we used to get Spotlight South West news on BBC1and some of the programs as well.

[@AndrewLohmannKent]

All atmospher and little substance I did not bother to watch many of these as a boy.

[@digbycrankshaft7572]

Well you should have then you wouldn't make such a dumb comment 🤡

[@abraxasjinx5207]

You're a better person for it. You didn't miss anything.

[@laurallama73]

That kitty cat said, “Meow. How are you?” 😸

[@Gibbo1]

I noticed that too

[@zacetto]

The actor who played The Beast was also the Child of Vodyjanoi.

[@chuckbradley1]

Looks like I'll be going exploring.

[@mitchellgiffard1978]

Reminded me of tales from the unexpected series.

[@arthurfonzarelli9331]

Would anyone happen to know how many episodes of West Country Tales were made?

[@Thisiswhy1991]

There's a book I found with them all in it - not sure how many were televised.

[@lepenotiere]

6

[@angienorthey]

Saw this when it was first shown and it scared the shit out of me. As a London gal this made me frightened of the countryside, and I still don't venture outside the M25 if I can help it!

[@David-uf8ex]

Excellent narration . Back when people could string a correct sentence together without Americanisms

[@jamesbromfield9070]

Truly creepy

[@abraxasjinx5207]

Really?

[@abraxasjinx5207]

The narrator sounds about 50 years older than the character he's portraying.

[@jean6872]

*Perhaps the sound of escaping gas was a creature making flatus. This was my first thought and it is scary.*

[@trip83]

Loved this as a kid :-)

[@abraxasjinx5207]

And now?

[@trip83]

@@abraxasjinx5207 Love it even more.

[@RicciBilotta]

I just started watching. So far, looks good. A bit too much narrative

[@dannyhood4007]

I wonder if tales from dark side ripped from this

[@kimmaddison8686]

Id love to runaway here

[@spaghappy]

Odd

[@aaarrrggghhhh]

'Perhaps she was becoming erotic', did I hear that correctly?

[@sansserif8839]

No. Perhaps you heard what you wanted to hear. 🙂

[@ENIGMAXII2112]

That was a Lovley place.. Pity it was haunted..

[@abraxasjinx5207]

Wow, what a crappy episode. Did he sleep with his cousin? That's the only thing that's remotely interesting here.

[@carmaaa8508]

I enjoyed this episode, But if that was me, I'd have a variety of firearms and took that whatever it is out. !!!!!

[@lawrencebishton9071]

they seem to fine away with life

[@abraxasjinx5207]

Absherutry.

[@roseypuddin8805]

A corny Cornish film to put people off buying a second home in Cornwall. I don't really think that! But it was silly

[@lockandloadlikehell]

Your name is Puddin 'nuff said

[@10-4-goodbuddy]

Doesn’t matter how spooky the place was, the country side of London will always be absolutely “breathtaking”..... Good movie 🍿👍

[@caraticus12]

London?

[@ritahinder2535]

​@@caraticus12😂

[@softturd]

is he eating a raw potato?