Threads (1984)

[TheVanillaGorilla]

This film hits a bit too close to home, the fact something like this could happen and take away all we take for granted. It's disturbing bleak but most of all it feels real and that's what makes it so terrifying to watch. Being from the UK myself made the film even more real for me. The most morbid scene in the film is the image of the shell shocked mother holding her burnt baby as if it was still alive. The film also lingers on scenes that make you feel uncomfortable, having you feel trapped in the same situation as the characters. The only criticism I have of the film is the documentary style voice-over which I feel cuts the tension at times, simultaneously I'm grateful as it's quite educational and provides an insight of how things would go if this tragedy was to happen.

I'm glad I have seen this obscure gem of a movie. It will definitely haunt my dreams for a long time to come.

[SpelingError]

Not entirely sure whether this thread is about 1984 or Threads.

[TheVanillaGorilla]

Not entirely sure whether this thread is about 1984 or Threads.


It's about the film threads that was directed in 1984. It was made in the UK

[KeyserCorleone]

I read that the science behind the movie has been re-evaluated since then, and that the chances of that specific thing happening as it did is much lower, so there's a little solace in that. Having said that, this doesn't change the fact that there are very few films that are just as, as many reviews accurately put it, "harrowing," and I can't think of a single film more so. I watched this for the ballot, and I strongly urge others to do the same.

[TheVanillaGorilla]

1984
"Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right." -George Orwell, 1984

I've posted about 1984 a number of times:


I love that book 😄 I'm talking about the movie called Threads that was directed in 1984. I could see the confusion as that book has a scary concept like the movie I'm talking about. The movie Threads though Is about Russia dropping nukes on England and how society would deteriorate. Being English myself the movie definitely shook me up. I just noticed the words I used in my review of the film threads are words that I could literally be able to re use to review the book 1984 😄 I'm not that lazy though. But yeah both have scary concepts, both demonstrate a gritty possible reality and both show a possible future that we may find ourselves in.

[Citizen Rules]

I love that book 😄 I'm talking about the movie called Threads that was directed in 1984. I could see the confusion as that book has a scary concept like the movie I'm talking about. The movie Threads though Is about Russia dropping nukes on England and how society would deteriorate. Being English myself the movie definitely shook me up.Bummer I was all set to talk about the movie and book 1984. I haven't seen Threads, carry on.

[TheVanillaGorilla]

Bummer I was all set to talk about the movie and book 1984. I haven't seen Threads, carry on.


You could always write a thread of your thoughts on the book 1984. I would give my feedback. And as you're popular on here it will probably get a lot of attention. Just a thought 💭

[Sedai]

Title modified to alleviate some of the confusion. Carry on!

[Citizen Rules]

You could always write a thread of your thoughts on the book 1984. I would give my feedback. And as you're popular on here it will probably get a lot of attention. Just a thought 💭I've not read the book. I've seen both movie version the 1984 & 1956 versions.

[Captain Steel]

I saw Threads back in the 80's (I'm guessing it aired on PBS since I saw it on TV).
Far better & more realistic than most other nuclear war movies that came out since.
A truly disturbing film.

[honeykid]

I was 11 when this was on and everyone was talkiing about it the next day in the playground and, I assume, in most houses and workplaces too. I've not seen it since and, tbh, I have no real desire to. I have seen quite a few scenes since though and it still packs a punch.

[ScarletLion]

Great film. Absolutely terrifying. I'm not so sure it's that obscure though. Most people who like films in the UK will be aware of it.

[John Dumbear]

Orwell's "1984" spurred a trio of excellent nuclear films. My faves in order:

"Testament"
"Threads"
" The Day After"

[ScarletLion]

Orwell's "1984" spurred a trio of excellent nuclear films. My faves in order:

"Testament"
"Threads"
" The Day After"

I saw Testament recently and it shook me. Another very good film. I've not seen 'the day after' but it looks like a good film and steve guttenberg is in it!!

'Dead Man's Letters' is probably the best apocalyptic type film I've seen.

[Citizen Rules]

Orwell's "1984" spurred a trio of excellent nuclear films. My faves in order:

"Testament"
"Threads"
" The Day After"
I've not seen the others, yet...but I've seen The Day After and yeah that packed a punch, seemed pretty plausible to me.

[Citizen Rules]

This is my favorite nuclear attack movie:

Miracle Mile (1988) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097889/)

[SpelingError]

'Dead Man's Letters' is probably the best apocalyptic type film I've seen.

high fives

[AgrippinaX]

Orwell's "1984" spurred a trio of excellent nuclear films. My faves in order:

"Testament"
"Threads"
" The Day After"

Adore these relative unknowns.

This is my favorite nuclear attack movie:

Miracle Mile (1988) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097889/)

I concur.

[Corax]

The scariest films are those which are "based on a true story." It doesn't matter if is actually based on a true story. It only matters that the people watching the film believe that it's based on a true story.

The "science" fiction movie is more insidious than the "based on a true story" movie, because it is presented as a quasi-documentary--the true facts as revealed by the scientists! Ooga-booga! Audiences swallow this stuff hook, line, and sinker making these films the most effective of propaganda films.

HBO's Chernobyl (2019) is one of these films. It massively overrepresented (https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelshellenberger/2019/06/06/why-hbos-chernobyl-gets-nuclear-so-wrong/?sh=2d1756f5632f) the threats posed by the disaster and what actually happened. This series was "Birth of a Nation" for the anti-nuclear lobby. The only "truth" that most people know about Cherynobyl is what they saw in that mini-series.And what people "know" is informing our energy policy in a century in which it will be very important to find the best trade-offs to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels.

Hurrah! We're now all idiots because we "saw" what happened. Moving images are powerful lies--we see it happen--and so our monkey brains process this as "experience."

As for Threads, the truth is we don't really know what the result of a nuclear war would be. (https://www.nature.com/articles/475037b) We have enough information to know that we don't really want to find out, but we have no basis for assuming that the human race would go extinct or even get set back to the stone age.There have been more than 2,000 nuclear weapons detonated since 1945. The world still appears to be here.

The film is a fear-mongering Cassandra dressed up in the bland style of a BBC documentary, which is actually powerful stuff.

[crumbsroom]

The scariest films are those which are "based on a true story." It doesn't matter if is actually based on a true story. It only matters that the people watching the film believe that it's based on a true story.

The "science" fiction movie is more insidious than the "based on a true story" movie, because it is presented as a quasi-documentary--the true facts as revealed by the scientists! Ooga-booga! Audiences swallow this stuff hook, line, and sinker making these films the most effective of propaganda films.

HBO's Chernobyl (2019) is one of these films. It massively overrepresented (https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelshellenberger/2019/06/06/why-hbos-chernobyl-gets-nuclear-so-wrong/?sh=2d1756f5632f) the threats posed by the disaster and what actually happened. This series was "Birth of a Nation" for the anti-nuclear lobby. The only "truth" that most people know about Cherynobyl is what they saw in that mini-series.And what people "know" is informing our energy policy in a century in which it will be very important to find the best trade-offs to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels.

Hurrah! We're now all idiots because we "saw" what happened. Moving images are powerful lies--we see it happen--and so our monkey brains process this as "experience."

As for Threads, the truth is we don't really know what the result of a nuclear war would be. (https://www.nature.com/articles/475037b) We have enough information to know that we don't really want to find out, but we have no basis for assuming that the human race would go extinct or even get set back to the stone age.There have been more than 2,000 nuclear weapons detonated since 1945. The world still appears to be here.

The film is a fear-mongering Cassandra dressed up in the bland style of a BBC documentary, which is actually powerful stuff.


How many of those nuclear bombs were detonated in civilian populations?


And how are they doing? Would you like to move yourself to any of those wonderfully scenic locations? I hear the rent is crazy cheap.

[Wyldesyde19]

Hiroshima and Nagasaki showed the devastation that can occur from nuclear bombing.

[crumbsroom]

Hiroshima and Nagasaki showed the devastation that can occur from nuclear bombing.


What we are witnessing is the kind of contrarianism that could blot out a nuclear Apocalypse.

[Corax]

How many of those nuclear bombs were detonated in civilian populations?

Two. And the nation of Japan endures as do the cities which were bombed. In fact, they're doing fine.

The remaining detonations can be seen below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLCF7vPanrY

Wildlife is doing great around Cherynobl as it is a human exclusion zone.
And how are they doing? Would you like to move yourself to any of those wonderfully scenic locations? I hear the rent is crazy cheap.
Most U.S. tests were done in the South West. Plenty of people still live there. Rent is about the same there as anywhere else.


The prospect of nuclear war is horrifying, but Threads ain't a documentary or a view from a certain future.

[TheVanillaGorilla]

The scariest films are those which are "based on a true story." It doesn't matter if is actually based on a true story. It only matters that the people watching the film believe that it's based on a true story.

The "science" fiction movie is more insidious than the "based on a true story" movie, because it is presented as a quasi-documentary--the true facts as revealed by the scientists! Ooga-booga! Audiences swallow this stuff hook, line, and sinker making these films the most effective of propaganda films.

HBO's Chernobyl (2019) is one of these films. It massively overrepresented (https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelshellenberger/2019/06/06/why-hbos-chernobyl-gets-nuclear-so-wrong/?sh=2d1756f5632f) the threats posed by the disaster and what actually happened. This series was "Birth of a Nation" for the anti-nuclear lobby. The only "truth" that most people know about Cherynobyl is what they saw in that mini-series.And what people "know" is informing our energy policy in a century in which it will be very important to find the best trade-offs to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels.

Hurrah! We're now all idiots because we "saw" what happened. Moving images are powerful lies--we see it happen--and so our monkey brains process this as "experience."

As for Threads, the truth is we don't really know what the result of a nuclear war would be. (https://www.nature.com/articles/475037b) We have enough information to know that we don't really want to find out, but we have no basis for assuming that the human race would go extinct or even get set back to the stone age.There have been more than 2,000 nuclear weapons detonated since 1945. The world still appears to be here.

The film is a fear-mongering Cassandra dressed up in the bland style of a BBC documentary, which is actually powerful stuff.


It's important to remember that with better technology nuclear bombs will become more powerful. The world may be still turning but there's only so much that life on earth can endure.

[Captain Steel]

I've read that, based on where I live in NJ, my location is just far enough from New York City (the primary target of all nuclear-armed enemy nations) where we won't be incinerated immediately, but rather will suffer the burns, severe injuries, radiation poisoning & many of the other horrors depicted in Threads.

But maybe with the upgrades in technology (that TheVanillaGorilla mentioned) I'll get lucky and just have my brain fried before I even know what's happening! ;)

[Corax]

It's important to remember that with better technology nuclear bombs will become more powerful. The world may be still turning but there's only so much that life on earth can endure.The overall stockpile of nuclear weapons has been decreasing for decades. Also, the human race has stopped the pursuit of ever bigger bombs since the Tsar Bomba test.


The existential threat is not nukes per se, but our cleverness which far outstrips our wisdom. It's CO2, plastics, AI, persistent chemicals in the water cycle, things we cook in labs that escape, etc., etc.



To make rational decisions, however, or at least have informed consent as citizens of Earth, we need to have a clear-eyed understanding of what our various technologies do (or would do). Cherynobl and Threads are not films that enhance our rationality in this regard, but rather offer an exaggerated appeal to emotion (i.e., fear). The image as club.



Perhaps we're not rational creatures. Perhaps we need the club. Perhaps no matter how much we're informed of a clear and present danger we will shrug until it is too late. Perhaps we need to be scared into doing the "right thing" in light of what the technocrats know is "best." If so, however, we should stop using words like "democracy," and we'd better hope that the people who have appointed themselves to manage the human wildlife are benevolent.

[crumbsroom]

Two. And the nation of Japan endures as do the cities which were bombed. In fact, they're doing fine.

The remaining detonations can be seen below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLCF7vPanrY

Wildlife is doing great around Cherynobl as it is a human exclusion zone.

Most U.S. tests were done in the South West. Plenty of people still live there. Rent is about the same there as anywhere else.


The prospect of nuclear war is horrifying, but Threads ain't a documentary or a view from a certain future.


I knew Hiroshima and Nagasaki were still populated, but I thought I had heard somewhere that residents had been duped into believing it was safe to remain there and had been getting disproportionately ill there due to whatever fallout remained.


That may have been a documentary about those who never moved away to begin with and stayed there in the first years after the bombing.

[TheVanillaGorilla]

Hiroshima and Nagasaki showed the devastation that can occur from nuclear bombing.


Ohhh that damm well hurt 🤕 Well what's the trick then??

[Corax]

I knew Hiroshima and Nagasaki were still populated, but I thought I had heard somewhere that residents had been duped into believing it was safe to remain there and had been getting disproportionately ill there due to whatever fallout remained.

Radiation drops off exponentially. Even most fallout decreases in radiation very quickly.

Fallout comes in two varieties. The first is a small amount of carcinogenic material with a long half-life. The second, depending on the height of detonation, is a large quantity of radioactive dust and sand with a short half-life. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_fallout)

Nuclear testing has changed the planet such that we're all basically radioactive now. Some scientists have even called for making 1950 (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/nuclear-blasts-may-prove-best-marker-of-humanity-s-geologic-record-in-photos/) a new year zero on a calendar, because it marks a clear geological boundary between radioactive and non-radioactive. There is still radioactive crap in the air from those 2,000+ tests around the world.



There is no doubt that radiation results in all sorts of nasty results, including cancers that haunt people later in life. However, that would not be the end of human life as we know it. Later life cancers mean fewer people get to meet their grandparents. The world keeps on turning.



For all those above ground bomb tests (Heaven knows what the underground tests did to the ground water),suppose those bombs had been dropped in anger in some war. Would the planet know or care? The lingering background radiation would be the same. The United States nuked the American Southwest and Pacific Islands over 1,000 times!


In way, we're already living in the Fall Out video game.

[Citizen Rules]

I've read that, based on where I live in NJ, my location is just far enough from New York City (the primary target of all nuclear-armed enemy nations) where we won't be incinerated immediately, but rather will suffer the burns, severe injuries, radiation poisoning & many of the other horrors depicted in Threads.


I'm at ground zero in Western Washington State...we have the Trident Nuclear submarine base, a large air force base and a really large army base...Oh and Amazon and Starbucks too!

See those four overlapping yellow circles in Washington state? That's where I live:eek:
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fE9FJ96ny5A/T8zdtHCN-OI/AAAAAAAAAWI/tie340tgHO0/s1600/National+Radiation+Map.JPG

[PHOENIX74]

Threads is a great film, and whether or not what happened in that film would really happen - an all-out nuclear war would be the most terrible event in all recorded history, and the world would be forever altered. It would take many generations to get back to any semblance of normality. The recovery would be hard and slow.

[Corax]

After all these decades I wonder how many ICBMs would even launch. These sleeping dragons maintained by kids, sitting, rusting, gaskets aging, seals cracking, miles of dusty wiring.

[John Dumbear]

This is my favorite nuclear attack movie:

Miracle Mile (1988) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097889/)

Now this one, I never heard of.

[Citizen Rules]

Now this one, I never heard of.I think Miracle Mile would be right up your alley. It's a blast!