There is something rather eerie about lost media, isn’t there? Perhaps it’s because it taps into the fear of the unknown — or the thought of vanishing without a trace or explanation, like so many of the wold’s unsolved mysteries. The notion that a project countless people worked on fading into obscurity also reminds us that time is fragile and our collective history could one day be erased — a terrifying thought in and of itself. Furthermore, lost media is hidden, which lends to it an air of the forbidden, as if the material must be kept away from public view.
This brings us to the Late Night Horror, a short-lived anthology series produced by the BBC that aired in 1968. If you choose to believe pop culture folklore, the British broadcaster erased the show from history after viewers called in to complain about its disturbing content. In reality, though, Late Night Horror simply fell victim to the unsophisticated archiving practices of its era — much like the many missing episodes of Doctor Who.
Still, Late Night Horror being mostly erased from history has instilled upon it an almost-mythic reputation — not to mention the forbidden allure we associate with lost media. However, one episode still survives, and it is easy enough to find should you seek it out — but is it as controversial as its reputation would have us believe? Let’s find out as we revisit Late Night Horror‘s “The Corpse Can’t Play.”
Late Night Horror’s Remaining Episode Is a Twisted Cautionary Tale
Late Night Horror was a groundbreaking series — and not only because it was among the first BBC small-screen productions to be shot in colour. The anthology’s producers enlisted the trailblazing Paddy Russell and Naomi Capon, two of British television’s earliest female working directors, to helm some episodes — which led to more exciting opportunities for both women. Russell became the first woman to direct episodes of Doctor Who, and Capon gave us the multi-award-winning The Six Wives of Henry XIII.
Russell also holds the distinction of directing Late Night Horror’s only surviving episode. Based on a story by the prolific horror and sci-fi writer Richard Matheson, “The Corpse Can’t Play” centres on one of humanity’s most nightmare-inducing horrors: annoying children. Young Simon (Michael Newport) is ostracised by the insufferable Ronnie (Frank Barry) and his equally annoying friends, causing tensions to escalate when Simon shows up to their party uninvited.
“The Corpse Can’t Play” creates tension from the seemingly innocent antics of childhood party games — and the unsettling tension of kids taunting each other about their dead parents. However, the festivities take a sinister turn when Ronnie invents a new game called “Murder,” not realising that one of the guests is prepared to take the premise quite literally. This all leads to a shocking — and bloody — climax that will make most parents want to teach their children about the benefits of treating others with compassion and respect.
When the episode first aired, BBC viewers witnessed “The Corpse Can’t Play” and its grisly events unfold in vivid colour. However, it is also available to view in black-and-white, which is probably the version you will find if you got searching online. “The Corpse Can’t Play” is well worth seeking out, in colour or not, if only to view it as a cult curiousity. That said, fans of classic British horror will undoubtedly fall for its gruesome charms.