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Original poster

I've just watched the film 'Threads' for the first time. If you haven't seen it already, don't watch it!

134 replies

worriedhidinginplainsight · 22/11/2024 19:39

I have been following some of the 'threads' on MN regarding people being scared of WW3/Nuclear war. Personally I don't worry about it. I have always been firmly in the camp of not worrying about something that I have zero control over. Also not worrying about something in the future, to the detriment of today. However, I noticed this particular film mentioned a few times during the discussions so today, out of curiosity, I decided to watch it.

What a mistake that was! It was a horrible terrifying watch. I would not recommend that anyone else watches it! Quell your curiosity.

It's just left me feeling really horrible and feeling like as humans we are all so vulnerable. I also felt very worried about my cat, if anything like that were to happen! Innocent animals would suffer so much because of very dangerous humans. If humans didn't exist, and the world was populated by only animals, it would be a much safer and peaceful place.

It did seem like a nuclear bomb would transport the survivors back to medieval times. In a way it has also made me feel that as humans we are pretty amazing, how we have built up and created our societies, technology, engineering. I feel really grateful for what we have.

But overall it was horrible and I wish that I never watched it.

This evening I have found myself on Amazon looking up gas masks, fireproof boxes and googling all about prepping!!

I need to forget about this film!!

OP posts:
Original poster
worriedhidinginplainsight · 22/11/2024 21:37

@MrsPeregrine you're right to decide not to watch it. Don't change your mind. Once it's seen, it can't be unseen.

OP posts:
Ketzele · 22/11/2024 21:39

I was a 60s baby and my mum was very pro-CND. She used to tell us we probably wouldn't survive to adulthood, and kept a drawer full of medicines to make a suicide soup when (not if!) the bomb dropped.

I remember Threads, and also reading The Road when I had a newborn. That upset me so much I couldn't finish it. Made me very glad to live in London, though; I'm one of those who would absolutely vote for an early exit!

FluffytheGoldfish · 22/11/2024 21:40

Scentedjasmin · 22/11/2024 21:29

Actually, I've just googled it. The program about rabies was actually called 'The Mad Death'. I could have only been 7 or 8 when i watched it. My Grandmother used to make me sit up and watch horror films with her too. Was this just the 80s for you, or were my parents particularly lax?

Is that the one where the opening music was All things bright and beautiful sang in a slow creepy child's voice? I have been trying to remember it for years, the show didn't bother me but that intro....

PrimitivePerson · 22/11/2024 21:40

MrsPeregrine · 22/11/2024 21:26

I won’t be watching it. I’m very worried about what is going on at the moment and trying to resist the temptation to look on the daily Mail website. I’m most worried for my children. I just want to grow old and live to see my children grow up and know they will be ok. But life seems to be getting more and more uncertain.

@MrsPeregrine Nuclear war didn't happen in the eighties, and it isn't going to happen now either, but if you're at all anxious about it, there are far better things you can do with your time than watch Threads. Sensible move.

feellikeanalien · 22/11/2024 21:43

I remember watching The War Game when I was at uni. It was banned and only shown in cinemas from 1985 despite having first been made in 1966. I think we had a showing at the uni cinema before its general release but I remember it really struck home as it was filmed in Kent where I was studying at the time.

Nana4 · 22/11/2024 21:45

My husband was in the army, we had been given instructions on what to do in the event of a nuclear attack long before the film came out.

gamerchick · 22/11/2024 21:48

They made the road into a film and it was brilliant I thought.

I don't get the shying away from these sorts of films. The news is more nerve wracking and people devour what shits going on in the world currently. Seeking it out. Makes no sense to me.

Scentedjasmin · 22/11/2024 21:50

Ah, The Mad Death! Yes, 1983, I would have only been 7! It was a 3 part tv series. The adverts alone are hideous!

I've just watched the film 'Threads' for the first time. If you haven't seen it already, don't watch it!
Scentedjasmin · 22/11/2024 21:51

FluffytheGoldfish · 22/11/2024 21:40

Is that the one where the opening music was All things bright and beautiful sang in a slow creepy child's voice? I have been trying to remember it for years, the show didn't bother me but that intro....

Show quote history

Oh god. I'm not sure, but not you have awoken another hideous memory. Yes, I do remember that song on tv.

Scentedjasmin · 22/11/2024 21:54

@FluffytheGoldfish

Yes, you were right!!

I've just watched the film 'Threads' for the first time. If you haven't seen it already, don't watch it!
Scentedjasmin · 22/11/2024 21:56

@FluffytheGoldfish

You'll finally be able to sleep now that the riddle is solved....

.... Or will you....

EveryOtherNameTaken · 22/11/2024 21:56

Think I watched it years ago. Am going to watch it again now.

Stopsnowing · 22/11/2024 21:59

Was terrified of nuclear war as a teenager. I even planned how I might be able to run home fast enough from school if the nuclear sirens went off.

yossell · 22/11/2024 22:00

It was terrifying - but we need to see it. Hollywood had given us a completely unrealistic view of war and apocalypse. We far too gung-ho now and not properly horrified by the horrors of war.

PrimitivePerson · 22/11/2024 22:02

yossell · 22/11/2024 22:00

It was terrifying - but we need to see it. Hollywood had given us a completely unrealistic view of war and apocalypse. We far too gung-ho now and not properly horrified by the horrors of war.

In all honesty, no-one needs to see it. If you're feeling scared about what's currently going on in the world, it's the absolute last thing you need to see.

Appalonia · 22/11/2024 22:04

I'm 59 and managed to miss this film the first time round. We grew up with the threat of nuclear war and it always terrified me. When I was 18, I'd just moved out of my family home and was renting with friends. One day in 1983/84 I was at home on my own, and was woken up at 6am by the sound of the air raid siren! It was terrifyingly and of course there was no internet then to find out what was happening and I was all on my own. Had no idea what to do, just felt frozen with fear. After a few minutes it stopped, but it really shook me up.

Found out, years later that it was a mistake, they regularly tested the air raid siren ( silently ), but someone had pressed the wrong button...!

TheDogsMother · 22/11/2024 22:07

Stopsnowing · 22/11/2024 21:59

Was terrified of nuclear war as a teenager. I even planned how I might be able to run home fast enough from school if the nuclear sirens went off.

Me too. I had a huge fear of nuclear war and remember reading When the wind blows by Raymond Briggs

Xtraincome · 22/11/2024 22:09

OK, you've convinced me all. Putting on Threads. Never seen it!

Watched When The Wind Blows and it's super bleak.

Fernticket · 22/11/2024 22:15

feellikeanalien · 22/11/2024 21:43

I remember watching The War Game when I was at uni. It was banned and only shown in cinemas from 1985 despite having first been made in 1966. I think we had a showing at the uni cinema before its general release but I remember it really struck home as it was filmed in Kent where I was studying at the time.

We were shown this in school back in 1978, just before we took our O levels. It scared seven shades out of me. There is no way I could watch threads. Another really scary breakdown of society film I saw was called No Blade of Grass.

ChishiyaBat · 22/11/2024 22:17

Scentedjasmin · 22/11/2024 21:29

Actually, I've just googled it. The program about rabies was actually called 'The Mad Death'. I could have only been 7 or 8 when i watched it. My Grandmother used to make me sit up and watch horror films with her too. Was this just the 80s for you, or were my parents particularly lax?

No it wasn't just you, we also watched horror films, got shown all of the gory information videos in school and threads, it was the noise in it that haunted me more than anything. I watched it with my other half recently and that noise still made me shiver.

WinterMorn · 22/11/2024 22:19

MrsPeregrine · 22/11/2024 21:26

I won’t be watching it. I’m very worried about what is going on at the moment and trying to resist the temptation to look on the daily Mail website. I’m most worried for my children. I just want to grow old and live to see my children grow up and know they will be ok. But life seems to be getting more and more uncertain.

But you have been given loads of examples of how ludicrous the Daily Mail is on the other threads you have commented on. You seem to have ignored all the sensible comments though!

Wahoobafoo · 22/11/2024 22:25

PrimitivePerson · 22/11/2024 21:36

@Wahoobafoo Apparently President Reagan watched it, and was extremely moved by it. He began to make much more serious disarmament efforts afterwards.

Wow, that’s amazing- how powerful good tv can be

CranfordScones · 22/11/2024 22:28

The impact at the time was so much greater. Threads was the 'reality' for anyone who lived through that era. Before streaming and watch-on-demand, everyone in the country (well about 7m people) saw it on the same Sunday evening. One of the most affecting and discussed tv progs ever, as I remember.

bananafishbones1 · 22/11/2024 22:30

Strange, husband put this on today. I wasn't really watching only occasionally to suggest turning it off. It was so bleak

Brefugee · 22/11/2024 22:30

have not RTFT. I was a teenager when it came out. And it was set in my hometown.

tbh Gen X grew up expecting to die in a nuclear war and not to see our 40th birthdays. So this all feels very familiar