Scott LeBrun The year after the U.S.A. aired 'The Day After', England followed suit with this BBC movie that details the chilling after-effects of a nuclear strike.America and Russia get locked into an escalating battle that ends with a series of nuclear attacks, and the working-class English city of Sheffield is one of those burgs that are victimized. The story is personalized by focusing on a young couple, Jimmy (Reece Dinsdale) and Ruth (Karen Meagher), who are expecting a child and decide to get married. But they are never able to realize their plans."Sobering" doesn't begin to describe 'Threads'. It's one of the most gut-punching, honest, believable, and gloomy tales to touch upon the subject of living in a post-holocaust world. In the hands of writer Barry Hines and producer / director Mick Jackson (who went on to make Hollywood movies such as "Volcano" and "The Bodyguard"), there is no room for melodrama here. Everything is played in a strict matter-of-fact fashion. And the devastation that we witness here makes for an interesting sort of entertainment. One doesn't really "enjoy" it, but it's as fascinating as it is bleak. Part of the impact comes from a documentary-style approach, with a narrator (Paul Vaughan) who is heard on a fairly regular basis. We see many victims struggling mightily to survive, and doing whatever they have to do. We are also shown the efforts of emergency personnel to deal with this untenable situation, and given all pertinent scientific facts (giving 'Threads' a bit of an edge over 'The Day After').Ruth remains a focal point as we are taken on this sombre journey. The movie is also a real triumph in production design, atmosphere, and gritty cinematography. It doesn't go overboard in covering actors in grotesque makeup in order to make its point; here, a little goes a long, long way.'Threads' is the kind of experience that doesn't leave one unaffected.10 out of 10.

Russ Smith I don't think there is much I can add to the excellent reviews posted about Threads through the years.I had never seen it before, I seem to be one of the few 80's Kids not forced to watch this at school and I'm quite glad of that!It is truly terrifying and harrowing as everyone has said. I am tempted to get my 18 and 14 year old sons to watch it to make it absolutely clear with stark clarity what Nuclear War means for the planet. They might think it looks dated if they did watch it but I believe this drama is a timeless classic.Not sure I can watch Threads again but it's not something I will forget in a hurry and it made me realise how damn lucky I am to live in a relatively stable country in this fragile world.

thejcowboy22 This movie hits you from all sides visually and fervidly. Yet dated in 1984 before the fall of the Berlin Wall and 9-11 the reality of the 11th hour couldn't be more accurate. Parallel events leading up to that day of nuclear annihilation. In this made for television BBC production, we focus on the industrial gray town of Sheffield, England. The plot centers around the local stage, two families, the Kemp's and the Beckett's. Also the world stage with the United States and Soviet Russia in an attempt to capture the Iranian oil fields as the grand prize. As the days draw nearer to the Apocalypse as the Writer Barry Hines has each date typed before a new scene we see world events and tensions grow as War is eminent.As for the local side Jimmy Kemp (Reece Dinsdale) and his pregnant girl friend (Ruth Beckett (Karen Meagher)are planning to get married as Ruth watches Royal air-force jets fly by. Mundane problems of daily life fill the local scene but as the days progress you see anti- war rallies in the streets as other world events like a US Naval ship are destroyed as the domino effect leading to a complete nuclear confrontation. Local authorities are talking about evacuating people and shelters for the masses but it's all talk as Judgement Day grows near. The aftermath hits you so hard. The visual and the hopelessness of dark days filled with smoke and destruction and how are characters react to their new ungodly surroundings. I've watched my share of Nuclear war films and documentaries throughout my many years and this docudrama comes as close to reality as it gets. The reality is get together and make a plan to save the huge populations in an event of terror. The real answer is, there is no plan in an event and we, the lucky ones who survive the fallout will end up like savages fighting for scrapes of food and water using simple gardening tools hoping that something will grow for the next harvest. Powerful television from England and as real as reality can get and the accuracy although certain events have passed the probability for World War is upon us closer than we ever imagined. I give this one seven nuclear war heads.

andrewjeff Everybody needs to see this once in their lives (politicians especially).It demonstrates vividly, brutally, and with no punches pulled- that no one gains from nuclear war, and that the consequences are devastating for decades, if not centuries afterwards. It is also the first film ever, I believe, to show the impact of a "nuclear winter".The film is very unlike the American offering of the time (The Day After), as it adopts a semi-documentary approach, which gives it realism and authenticity.I was genuinely unnerved by this film, and I am sure it played its part in stalling nuclear proliferation internationally. Nobody could watch this and seriously wish to continue thinking that there is anything to be gained by a nuclear strike.Brilliant. 10/10 in every department. The use of "neo-real" casting (i.e. unknown actors) made this all the more chilling.