Doos open 7.30pm, starts 8pm. A fun and informative performance – lecture with Bob Fischer and Stephen Brotherstone. When it comes to vintage creepiness, “Folk Horror” has become a thrilling genre in its own right. From terrifying films like The Wicker Man and Witchfinder General to the weird folklore of The Owl Service and even the gentle thrills of Worzel Gummidge, the popular culture of the late 20th century is riddled with dark magic and eerie stone circles. And, indeed, a feeling that something ancient and distinctly unpleasant lies just beneath the soil. Since 2017, Stephen Brotherstone has been expertly chronicling the terrifying popular culture of the 1970s and ‘80s as co-writer of the acclaimed Scarred For Life books. Fortean Times columnist Bob Fischer, meanwhile, is the creator of The Haunted Generation, a multi-media exploration of the weirder side of the 1970s childhood. In this fun but informative show, Stephen and Bob will be unearthing the twisted, buried artefacts of Folk Horror. Penda’s Fen, Robin Redbreast and the BBC’s classic Ghost Stories For Christmas are all in their sights, together with more recent additions like Midsommer and Enys Men. And, of course, the recently-unearthed “lost” Folk Horror classic, Sex Witches of the Fens. Afterwards there'll be a Q&A, so feel free to chip in with your own thoughts on the genre. And, indeed, to let us know if you’re concerned about the strange whistle you’ve just uncovered on the beach… REVIEWS FOR THE SCARRED FOR LIFE BOOKS: “A charming look back at a time when pop culture was used to scare the living daylights out of every child and adult across the land” – Louder Than War “It might just stop the nightmares” – We Are Cult “Such an engaging and fascinating read” – Horrified Magazine “Their enthusiastic expertise for the subject is enlightening and infectious” – Fortean Times https://bsky.app/profile/scarredforlife.bsky.social https://x.com/Scarred For Life2 https://www.facebook.com/scarredforlifebook  https://www.instagram.com/scarredforlifebook/

Venue: Colchester Arts Centre, Church Street, Colchester, Essex CO1 1NF.

Event type: TALK.

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