Horror in Doctor Who

I wouldn’t preach horror to others if I didn’t like it.

Some people might take offense to horror fiction. But there is something about it that grips the heart and squeezes the life out of you when you’re in fear. It’s a good feeling.

But you’ll find horror anywhere—even in a show like Doctor Who.

Every now and then we’ll get a nice surprise—and more. For today’s video releases, and a decent substitute for Doctor Who fans still waiting for the new specials to materialize, there are two very good stories stirring from the time-honored Tom Baker years which fuses with horror aspects.

Most people remember Tom Baker with his wide grin, sun of hair curls and a roving scarf that is longer than his own sanity. And it is this particular actor who first broke the international waves to become one of the most popular icons in the series.

And the story “Image of Fendahl” written by the wonderful Chris Boucher is no stranger to horror.

This moody piece begins with a straining fog under the derelict night skies which offers a corner of ghostly images. The long stretch of moors and the ill-fated hitch-hiker meeting his fate provides the series with some of the most memorable moments of horror.

The story surrounds a skull inadvertently discovered in portions of Kenya, coincidentally in the supposed cradle of humanity in the heart of Africa, and the found piece is far older than all of mankind. And it has alien properties that leaves several scientists scratching their heads over it.

The Doctor realizes that it has the power to awaken something called the Fendahl—a nightmare from the story books of his own race the Time-Lords and often clings to the corner of shadows. It is an unthinkable power from his own mythology that frightens the Doctor the most. And wonders if he will have enough strength to defeat it.

It is one of the few times you see the Doctor really afraid. It is genuine... like a child not wanting to remember a part of his childhood days.

This 12 million year old skull creates the predestined roles for many of the important characters such as Dr. Fendleman who lashes out with his realization, “Mankind is being used.” This suggest that the alien influences is able to divert the evolution of mankind while awakening at the very height of humanity.

Many of the story inspirations can be drawn back to the writing scribes of H.P. Lovecraft who created stories of greater beings who were higher authority over mankind and also the suggestion of collective alien consciousness is contributed to the great film “Quatermass and the Pit.”

This is a fine example of storytelling, a great piece of horror fiction. And often underestimated. It’s too bad. This isn’t regarded as one of the better stories by many. However, this story is one of the first Doctor Who I have seen and still sends chills down my spine. I love the atmosphere in this story. And the powerful grip of helplessness felt by many here comes across the small screen.

So go head and treat yourself to a horror story in the Doctor Who fashion. Don't forget the popcorn.

The other story coming around to the shelves on the very same day is the “Deadly Assassin.”

The only stand-alone story of Doctor Who that is without a companion. The Doctor receives a message of desperate need and must return to his home planet which is currently mired by politics and scandals within the ivory towers of knowledge. And the assassination of a president becomes a frame up for the Doctor who becomes a refugee.

This particular story is written by one of the finest authors of Doctor Who named Robert Holmes--giving an entire history and points of interest to the series. He portrays the Time-Lords, once powerful beings, into now squabbling and decaying society reduced to merely observant beings of history, never doing anything to divert it.

Interestingly, this is the first story where we learn the Time-Lords have thirteen lives.

With the assassin running loose in the very core of the Time Lord city, the Doctor must find a way to stop this madman from creating more havoc within the barriers of chaos.

And the Doctor finds out that the assassin, in turn, is one of his oldest and deadliest enemies.

It is a story not without its horror laden features thankfully whipped up by the collaborative effort of producer Phillip Hinchcliffe, writer Robert Holmes and Tom Baker. They like to swing towards the macabre for maximum effects. Most of the time it is a success. They create a sense of splendid horror.

However, it came too far this time around.

Mary Whitehouse was a constant campaigner for what she believed was right morals for television, being a Christian and all, and her outlandish comments created a controversy urrounding this story’s popularity. It was the scene where the villian is drowning the Doctor underwater and the scene freezes on this start image which probably sent many children in horror.

Maybe people are just too prissy.

The story become far more famous because of the controversy it caused. And the BBC was forced to apologized for transmitting the episode. However, in these days, the story can be seen as a clever take on politics and an interesting influence by the Manchurian Candidate which also offers an assassination plot. This is a sharp and fast paced story with many clever twists with an eye for horror.

And Tom Baker still reigns supreme as one of the finest actors to take the role ever when the stories take a turn for a taste of gothic horror. Bring on the screams. And the deaths. And the horror.

Doctor Who comes in all different forms in styles and the gothic horror is simply one of the phases Doctor Who has gone through at this time. And it certainly feels like the eye of the storm with such stories as “Imagine of Fendahl” and “The Deadly Assassin” find themselves in. And these stories are ready to take you along for a sure ride of great fantasy within crafty horror stories. Look for them at the nearest video store. They’re worth the time and effort.