Day Of The Triffids.

darkdubh

Anyone remember this BBC sci-fi series from the 80's? Was originally shown circa 1980-81 though I saw it when RTE repeated it maybe about 86 or 87. Much better than the very poor recent adaptation. It obviously had a fairly low budget but it overcame this with a really creepy atmosphere, the triffids were't seen very often and it was usually their poisoned tentacles striking someone that you saw, plus when they were near this clicking noise was heard. I remember the main character using a shotgun at first to blast the triffids when he ran into them and later he used this kind of homemade crossbow that decapitated them with razor blades.

Kintarō Hattori

I do vaguely remember it and recall them being very threatening. They didn't move quickly but they were menacing.

I'll have to download it and watch it again as it's been about 30 years!

Arbie

I saw this as a child and asked for a triffid for my birthday. I got a venus fly trap and was delighted!

Jimbob1977

It was a remake of the 1950s film.

Earth was hit by a dazzling meteor storm and most of the world's population were blind (in the film).

The triffids were a plant mutation that hunted humans. The blind people were easy pickings.

They could be destroyed by salt water.

Can't remember if blindness afflicted people in the 1980s series

wally79

Watched it years ago and then bbc3 or 4 repeated it last year

Still ok but a bit cheesy now

wally79

Jimbob1977 wrote: »

It was a remake of the 1950s film.

Earth was hit by a dazzling meteor storm and most of the world's population were blind (in the film).

The triffids were a plant mutation that hunted humans. The blind people were easy pickings.

They could be destroyed by salt water.

Can't remember if blindness afflicted people in the 1980s series

Yes the blindness did affect them. one of the few things I remembered about it was a blind person eating washing powder by mistake

rubadub

Arbie wrote: »

I saw this as a child and asked for a triffid for my birthday. I got a venus fly trap and was delighted!

haha brilliant, I saw venus fly trap grow kits in poundshops, have not seen them since, wanted to get a few.

I remember the program

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnJkmGW8FYQ

Del.Monte

Another of my favourites and I liked the BBC series best. For those of you who haven't tried it I can recommend the sequel - book rather than movie - "The Night of the Triffids" by Simon Clark.

Aglomerado

darkdubh wrote: »

Anyone remember this BBC sci-fi series from the 80's? Was originally shown circa 1980-81 though I saw it when RTE repeated it maybe about 86 or 87. Much better than the very poor recent adaptation. It obviously had a fairly low budget but it overcame this with a really creepy atmosphere, the triffids were't seen very often and it was usually their poisoned tentacles striking someone that you saw, plus when they were near this clicking noise was heard. I remember the main character using a shotgun at first to blast the triffids when he ran into them and later he used this kind of homemade crossbow that decapitated them with razor blades.

I have it on DVD somewhere. Haven't watched it in ages but must do now that you've jogged my memory. John Duttine was the lead actor.

_Brian

darkdubh wrote: »

Anyone remember this BBC sci-fi series from the 80's? Was originally shown circa 1980-81 though I saw it when RTE repeated it maybe about 86 or 87. Much better than the very poor recent adaptation. It obviously had a fairly low budget but it overcame this with a really creepy atmosphere, the triffids were't seen very often and it was usually their poisoned tentacles striking someone that you saw, plus when they were near this clicking noise was heard. I remember the main character using a shotgun at first to blast the triffids when he ran into them and later he used this kind of homemade crossbow that decapitated them with razor blades.

Always loved this series when I was a kid, parents didn't want me to watch such rubbish but it was one of the programs that sparked a keen interest in sci fi that I still have.

darkdubh

Jimbob1977 wrote: »

It was a remake of the 1950s film.

Earth was hit by a dazzling meteor storm and most of the world's population were blind (in the film).

The triffids were a plant mutation that hunted humans. The blind people were easy pickings.

They could be destroyed by salt water.

Can't remember if blindness afflicted people in the 1980s series

It did, I remember a scene where a gang of punks with guns were picking off a group of helpless blind people for kicks.

darkdubh

The opening sequence was really creepy.

DoozerT6

Yes I remember this well - the triffids lumbered along like wobbly trees! It was quite scary at the time. The recent adaptation wasn't too bad, I guess if they're going to remake something they'll also have to modernise it to make it appeal to today's audience.