Critical popcorn

Season 15 of Doctor Who marked a transitional year in Tom Baker‘s tenure as the indomitable Time Lord. With producer Philip Hinchcliffe having departed after The Talons of Weng-Chiang, new producer Graham Williams took over the series, gradually pushing it in a more comedic direction. The early serials of the fifteenth season still exhibit some of the traits of the previous era, partly thanks to the continued presence of script editor Robert Holmes. Horror of Fang Rock is very much in-keeping with the gothic approach of the previous regime, complete with its claustrophobic setting, moody atmosphere and emphasis on horror. Now beautifully restored and accompanied by a host of new extra features as part of BBC Studios’ upcoming Doctor Who: The Collection – Season 15 Blu-ray boxset, fans can enjoy this popular serial all over again or for the first time in stunning High-Definition, alongside updated effects and a surround sound mix.

Written by legendary Who scribe Terrance Dicks, Horror of Fang Rock has become a fan favourite in the years since its broadcast. The script is littered with memorable, distinctive characters, and keeps them confined in a lighthouse with a shape-shifting alien menace on the loose. It’s the kind of base-under-siege formula that Doctor Who is known for but for its period setting (in the early 20th century), and given the BBC’s aptitude for costume drama, the serial is one of the best-looking of its era from a costume and production design aspect. The ensemble cast are uniformly excellent, from Sean Caffrey as the immediately unlikeable Lord Palmerdale to Colin Douglas as the gruff ‘n’ tough Reuben, whose smile is either likely to lead to nervous laughter or a shiver down one’s spine. Taking the lead are Tom Baker and Louise Jameson, well into their stride as the Doctor and Leela, with Baker in particular leaning into a more sombre and distant performance, and Jameson injecting her companion role with an energy and determination which sparks off brilliantly with her Time Lord companion.

It all works brilliantly under the direction of Paddy Russell, with a slow-burn pace and a sense of creeping dread building over the four instalments like the thick mist enveloping the lighthouse on Fang Rock. Alas, Part Four stumbles at the last hurdle, with a slightly unconvincing monster reveal and a climax which relies on visual effects work that manages to simultaneously look cheap and not convey what’s going on clearly. For this new version on Blu-ray, VFX artist Chris Thompson has amended these faults, improving the overall look of the monster whilst retaining the original design as much as possible and giving the climactic moments some more polished visuals. Even the good effects (for the time) are improved upon or replaced, albeit with a clear sense of love for the story’s original aesthetic. Alongside this, Mark Ayres has prepared a new 5.1 surround sound mix which further adds to the ambience of Horror of Fang Rock. Dudley Simpson‘s score sounds more moody than ever and the fog horn reverberates around the speakers to create an immersive effect which draws you further into the serial. The original broadcast version is included on the Blu-ray as well, but this new edition is well worth checking out.

Fans in attendance at the BFI were also treated to a special preview of the boxset’s numerous new bonus features, including Inside the Lighthouse: Making Horror of Fang Rock, in which Toby Hadoke takes Louise Jameson to a real-life lighthouse to reminisce about the production of the classic story, as well as Darkness & Light: The Life of Graham Williams, a documentary focused on the producer of Season 15, and a snippet from the new season of Behind the Sofa, in which a host of Doctor Who stars react to Leela slapping Adelaide with a certain amount of enthusiasm. While none of us here would recommend trapping yourselves in a lighthouse to watch these extras, it does seem to be another cracking set from the team at BBC Studios.

The event was rounded off with some excellent Q&A sessions, including Chris Thompson showing off his Fang Rock monster puppet, Pete McTighe discussing the Leela vs the Time War trailer and Louise Jameson, John Abbott (Vince Hawkins) and Annette Woollett (Adelaide) in conversation. Even Frank Skinner appeared on stage to discuss the late, great Terrance Dicks – presumably having stepped off the Orient Express.

What more is there to say about Horror of Fang Rock? It’s been discussed amongst Doctor Who fans for decades, having gained a reputation as one of the programme’s greatest serials, and is a must-watch for new fans not familiar with the classic series. Sure, you could watch it on BBC iPlayer, but it won’t look or sound as good as it does on this upcoming Blu-ray release. The rest of Season 15 is filled with gems as well, with the introduction of K9, the eerie Fendahleen, and one the most iconic Doctor Who cliffhangers of all time (and space). Whether you’re continuing your collection or interested in delving head first into a land of dreams and fantasy, Doctor Who: The Collection – Season 15 is sure to be well worth picking up.

Pre-order Doctor Who: The Collection – Season 15 now on Amazon, HMV, Zavvi and Rarewaves in the UK