In the creepy drama The Death Watcher (part of the short run anthology series Shadows of Fear) university lecturer Emmy Erikson pays a visit to the home of Doctor Pickering, supposedly for a meeting about his investigations into paranormal activity, he tells her of his ongoing experiments into life after death and proving the existence of ghosts. Emmy, a confirmed sceptic, is not keen to take part in the experiment he has planned for her but Pickering, with the help of his aide de camp Dawson, locks her in a guest room. Unfortunately for Emmy his experiment involves being able to harness the spirit of someone who dies a violent death.
Scary and sometimes unsettling but highly watchable with a great central performance from John Neville. The plot line is the kind of thing that would crop up in an episode of Wire in the Blood or something these days. It takes the trappings of the other worldly and heads off into thriller territory with it.
production details
UK / ITV – Thames / 1×60 minute episode / Broadcast 26 January 1971
Writer: Jacques Gillies / Production Design: David Marshall / Producer: John Kershaw / Director: Peter Duguid
cast
JOHN NEVILLE as Pickering
JUDY PARFITT as Emmy Erikson
VICTOR MADDERN as Dawson
MICHAEL HAWKINS as Robert Erikson
GEORGE HAGAN as Police Inspector
DAPHNE OXENFORD as Mrs Tindall
ANN WAY as Miss Willis
