The Terrifying Discovery of a Lost 1968 Vampire Film
A projectionist in Dorset, England, stumbled upon a forgotten film can holding secrets from over half a century ago. This can contained the first episode of a series called “Late Night Horror,” previously thought to be lost forever due to its sensational reputation for being too terrifying. Ironically, its disappearance relates more to the standard practices of the BBC in the mid-20th century than to any sinister plot.
What They Found
On May 23, the film preservation organization Film is Fabulous! announced the find. Darren Payne, a projectionist and head of the 35mm film exhibition group ‘Dirt in the Gate Movies’, rescued a collection of reels slated for destruction. Among them was the impulsively labeled can marked “Late Night Horror.” Intrigued, Payne screened the film at home and was left astonished by what he discovered: the pilot episode lost for decades.
The Story Behind the Episode
The pilot, titled “No Such Thing as a Vampire,” was the inaugural episode of the six-part series broadcast by BBC2 in 1968. Notably, it marked BBC’s first color horror production, although the surviving print is in black and white—a secondary cut intended for international distribution. The episode is based on a story by acclaimed writer Richard Matheson, whose works laid foundations for modern horror and fantasy. The narrative revolves around a woman whose condition worsens daily, provoking fears of an actual vampire in her town, culminating in a classic Matheson twist that leaves viewers unsettled.
A Groundbreaking Female Director
The episode is particularly significant not just for its content but also for its pioneering director, Paddy Russell. Her leadership was groundbreaking at a time when the television industry was largely male-dominated. Russell was the BBC’s first female plant manager and one of its first female directors, navigating a male-centric environment with the nuance of a name that could easily be misinterpreted. She directed two episodes in total, including the newly recovered one.
The Myth of the “Terrifying” Episode
The tale of “the episode that was destroyed because it was too terrifying” has gained traction online, perhaps fueled by the eerily memorable credits of the series. However, the truth reveals a different narrative. The BBC, during the 1950s to mid-1970s, eradicated a staggering 60 to 70% of its programming due to policy decisions. The costly two-inch tape masters and restrictive union contracts contributed to the loss—no sinister forces at play.
Future Prospects for “Late Night Horror”
Currently, the BBC is assessing whether it can restore the original color of the episode through technical processes, as it was recorded in color but only a black-and-white version has survived. A grand screening is slated for September 20, 2026, at Grindfest, marking the first public viewing since 1969. This discovery could lead to the retrieval of other lost gems from forgotten archives, reminiscent of eerie horror flicks.
As we gear up for this historic revival, the blending of lost history with the thrills of horror reminds us of the tantalizing treasures still hidden in dusty corners of our past.