Peril & Distress: And Soon the Darkness / Sudden Terror (4K UHD Review)

The British Isles have an extensive history of suspenseful storytelling dating back centuries. Whether it be in literature, with Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel Frankenstein and Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula, or in cinema, with the famed Hammer Film (popular during the ‘50s into the ’70s) and Clive Barker’s 1987 favorite Hellraiser, there are a lot of screams to be had. Deep in the DNA of this corner of the world, the Thriller genre is also another area the Britons have covered pretty well. 

Looking at this more closely, during the ‘70s, a bundle of edge-of-your-seat type Thriller emerged from the UK. You had the likes of 1973’s Wicker Man, 1971’s Fright, but others like 1973’s Don’t Look Now. Those are well-known titles internationally, but others might be more easily recognized within the British market, like a pair of 1970 films called And Soon the Darkness and Sudden Terror (aka Eyewitness). These two released theatrically within a few months of each other back in 1970 for UK audiences – And Soon the Darkness in July, Sudden Terror in September – each has its memorable qualities.

More than anything else, both suspense thrillers have tensions that build slowly over the runtime of And Soon the Darkness, while Sudden Terror is a bit more high-paced. Robert Fuest directed And Soon the Darkness, a little something for everyone, which acts as a precursor to his success with features such as 1971’s The Abominable Dr. Phibes and the sequel, 1972’s Dr. Phibes Rises Again. This is while the John Hough-directed Sudden Terror predated his well-known works, such as 1971’s vampire flick Twins of Evil, along with 1973’s The Legend of Hell House.

Two competent filmmakers, with And Soon the Darkness you are led down a doomed path of two young ladies Jane (Pamela Franklin: Necromancy 1972,  The Legend of Hell House 1973) and Cathy (Michele Dotrice: The Witches 1966, The Blood of Satan’s Claw 1970) bicycling along the countryside of France who end up in a situation that threatens both their lives. This is while in Sudden Terror, you watch with open eyes as a young boy named Ziggy (Mark Lester: Oliver! 1968, The Prince and the Pauper 1977) becomes a witness to a political assassination, which soon has him on the run. Both heart-pumping situations, as mentioned, the pace of the terror is different in each feature, giving you a different mood to dig into.

Both are worth checking out if you are into these types of films; each has seen a standalone North American DVD or Blu-ray released recently, but now you can own them as a combination 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray set called Peril & Distress. Released on August 20, 2024, through Kino Lorber, they come together in a 1-disc set with a standard 4K case and a lovely cardboard slipcover. These physical features aside, you also get a list of unique features such as audio commentaries and theatrical trailers. Supplemental content you can find on some prior standalone releases of each film, it still offers you an option to have both inside one neat package.

Leading us to the 4K transfer quality of both films, which can be described as good to exceptional in both features. If you are new to both films, it will be a tremendous first viewing experience, but if you have seen them before, it will be wonderful to see the imagery of each movie less washed out than some prior home media formats. Overall, Peril & Distress gives you two sides of the ‘70s terror genre coin right next to each other. That is why Cryptic Rock gives this Kino Lorber release 4 out of 5 stars. 

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