To find something lost is always exciting. And if you’re a fan of genre anthologies both big and small, the rediscovery of Late Night Horror should be thrilling. This BBC-aired series caused a stir back in the late sixties, when viewers complained about the show’s content. A cancellation was in store, but the even worse fate is Late Night Horror’s near extinction.
Like a lot of television from way back when, archival wasn’t exactly everyone’s priority. Certainly no one thought to preserve everything, in case it was needed for future use, such as making home media. With a heavy heart, though, I have to say I’m disappointed no one at the BBC Archives was extra precious with Late Night Horror, or somehow clairvoyant about society’s desire for media preservation. Nevertheless, at least some fragment of this anthology remains; the only surviving episode appears to be Paddy Russell’s “The Corpse Can’t Play“, and my god, if this story is any indication of what we lost, then I’m even more upset.
Anyone fortunate enough to see Late Night Horror as it aired was witness to the most twisted birthday party on TV. “The Corpse Can’t Play” even did the unthinkable at the time, and that was endangering children. Of course, we don’t know the kids here are necessarily in trouble when first meeting the birthday boy and his guests; there are also several adults at this seemingly ordinary gathering. Things only start to become ominous when an unexpected, and not very well-liked, classmate shows up. Oh, and did I forget to mention the garden tools that appear shortly after him? You think you know how this ends, but you really don’t.
The fun of “The Corpse Can’t Play” is its rather startling and gruesome conclusion, which I won’t spoil. After watching, you might feel inclined to say this is outdated and tame, but remember, this aired in 1968. Those viewer complaints that led to the show’s demise weren’t unfounded, based on this one episode. And if Late Night Horror was going to be cancelled, I’m glad it was because it was too scary. That’s the best instance of “mission accomplished” that I can think of.
Watch The Corpse Can’t Play on YouTube or buy it on DVD.
Short Cuts is a recurring series that spotlights unsung, overlooked and underrated horror. These mini-reviews single out the reasons why these titles might be worth your time.
Tales from the Paulside 
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