Nothing screams Halloween like Psychoville


As we reported to you last Halloween, since 2010, there were but two bits of small screen greatness that were considered ‘must see TV’ during Halloween. The Simpsons Halloween Special and the 2010 ‘newcomer’ on the block from the brilliant minds of Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton, the Psychoville Halloween Special. While the Simpsons continues to remain a staple of Halloween viewing for over 20 years, unfortunately, there is no joy in Psychoville as after only two short seasons, the series was cut down in its prime by the BBC and there will be no Halloween special again this year except in reruns.

As was the case in the two short-lived series, Mr Jelly is tormented by the success of his rival Mr Jolly, who, to add insult to injury, was the cause of Mr Jelly’s hook hand. Jelly survived the explosion at Ravenhill, Jolly did not, but even from the grave, Jolly has still got a few tricks up his sleeve. As you can see from the clip below, Mr Jelly is not a big fan of the All Hallows Eve tradition of trick or treat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOtXiMn7NC0

For the Halloween special, it’s a return to Ravenhill Psychiactric Hospital for Drew where he remembers his first encounter with Edwina Kenchington, Ravenhill’s Nurse Rachett, the true meaning of ‘consequences’ and four scary stories from the Ravenhill patient files. ‘Phil’, not his real name, is a television location manager for Dale Winton’s Overnight Ghost Hunt investigating the abandoned ruins of the hospital for a possible location shoot. Does the ghost of Edwina Kenchington still walk the empty corridors? What other horrors lie within the crumbling walls and will health and safety allow any filming there in the first place?

The Psychoville Halloween Special was a genius Blair Witch Project-type back story bridge between series 1 and series 2 bringing together a serial-killer obsessed man-child, his all-too caring mother, an embittered children’s entertainer with a hook for a hand, a blind recluse with an unusual collection of Beanie Baby-style soft toys, a charming dwarf who plays the part of Blusher in the panto and a deranged but caring midwife who teaches ante-natal classes at the local hospital. Dame Eileen Atkins is brilliant as the evil Nurse Kenchington from Ravenhill.

Hopefully, even in repeats, this will find it’s way to the small screen again this year as does Rocky Horror Picture Show, Psycho and Plan 9 from Outer Space. If not….enjoy.

Psychoville Halloween Special, part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYrIvstXXW0

Psychoville Halloween Special, part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZLDQ_yywN8&

Psychoville Halloween Special, part 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylyWUDguLHU&

Psychoville Halloween Special, part 4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8So5X8kw-_s&


In: Comedy