Anoraks Assemble

The Stone Tape is a 1972 British horror drama, written by Nigel Kneale and directed by Peter Sasdy. It was first broadcast on U.K. TV on Christmas Day of that year.

A team of researchers for an electronics company move into an old Victorian mansion. Amongst the team is Jill, a sensitive computer programmer, and Peter, the arrogant team leader with whom Jill is having a relationship.

In one particular room, where the builders refused to work, Jill begins to have visions of a frightened young woman falling to her death. She and a reluctant Peter begin investigating and discover that a maid died there in 1890.

Peter thinks Jill’s “vision” of the woman’s death was somehow recorded and preserved in the stone – the so-called ‘stone tape theory’. He sees this as potentially a new recording medium to be exploited, but his actions send the fragile Jill to the edge of madness.

And beyond.

I have said before that I think Nigel Kneale is an absolute genius, and The Stone Tape is one of my all-time favourites.

It has a very nice, suitably creepy atmosphere, with an interesting mix of modern technology set against old-fashioned beliefs. The clever story is augmented well by a haunting and minimalist electronic score, which adds to the sense of things being just slightly “off”.

The acting is good, especially Jane Asher as the fragile Jill. Michael Bryant is very shouty as Peter – perhaps too much – but I think it does help emphasise how utterly obnoxious he is. The supporting cast is good, with standout turns from Iain Cuthbertson and Michael Bates.

There are a couple of cringy moments, with some casual racism now and then, and Peter’s treatment of Jill is toe-curlingly sexist.

Overall though, this really is a superior 90 minute drama, and one of the greatest dramas ever to appear on the BBC.