Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3498 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-01-17
• Rating: Universal, suitable for all
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 94 minutes

Synopsis
It is the turn of the century, and the TARDIS materialises by a lighthouse on the desolate isle of Fang Rock. When the engineer dies in mysterious circumstances, the remaining crew blame the mythical Beast of Fang Rock - until the Doctor and Leela turn up...

When a small clippper runs aground on the crags of Fang Rock the lighthouse offers shelter to its desperate passengers. But the Doctor soon discovers clues that suggest that no one is safe on the tiny island. Whilst a private drama unfolds between the survivors of the wrecked clipper, another death occurs. The Doctor suspects a ruthless alien lurks in the thick unnatural fog around the island and secures the lighthouse. But has he really locked the horror out, or is it somewhere inside with them...?

Customer Reviews

ATMOSPHERIC, AND REMINISCENT OF THE HAMMER HORRORS!
One of my fav Tom Baker stories! It's early 20th century Lighthouse setting and gothic atmosphere juxtaposes well with the scifi elements.
A clear example of studio sets, and fog machines working REALLY well!
Eerily reminiscent of such movies as Tower Of Evil, Day Of The Triffids (lighthouse scenes), The Island Of Terror and even John Carpenter's The Fog AND The Thing!!
If you prefer the Earthbound stories (I do),then you will like this 1977 production.
If you've seen the recent Sontaran story, in the latest series, you will have heard mention of the Sontaran war with the Rutans - want to see a Rutan?? Then this is the place as the shapeshifting beastie picks off people one by one (in true Alien fashion!). An unusual design, when finally revealed - reminded me of the brain monsters from 1958's Fiend Without A Face.
Decent extras, and audio/visual quality.
Classic Baker; along with Planet Of Evil, Pyramids Of Mars and Genesis Of The Daleks.

THE DOCTOR AND LEELA ARE TRAPPED IN AN OLD SPOOKY LIGHTHOUSE .(Spoiler in this review)
The Fourth Doctor so well played by Tom Baker and sexy sidekick Leela played by Louise Jameson. Travel back to victorian times to Fang Rock which has a lighthouse built on it with a raged crew. This is a brilliant atmospheric story all the better with good solid performances. The set is also very good by the then lacklustere BBC norm of the era and set the story. When the Doctor arrives he is confronted by a terrified lighthouse crew who are vanishing one by one. Then mid way through the story a ship crashed into Fang Rock and the crew are rescued through the thick green fog to the lighthouse. More people die and the Doctor finally realises that the green light that was seen was in fact a crashed space ship. Suffice to say the monster finally emerges and tries to kill the rest of the crew. The green glowing blob of a monster is a Rutan which was shot out of space by a Sontaran ship during there war. The Doctor manages to stop it and leaves in the Tardis just in the nick of time. The special features are extensive and are well worth the purchase for this alone.

Calm before the storm
This is an absolute classic. Traditional DW format, a small group of people, isolated and under threat. But it's the mix of diverse characters and rich dialogue that really elevates this story to the top of the tree. Oddly enough, most of the people behind this story dislike it. I really don't understand this... notably Tom Baker has gone on record as disparaging the tale. (But then Tom seems to have a low opinion of any story that doesn't involve talking cabbages, sitting on his shoulder.)

I love the claustrophobic feel of the production from the fog on the rocks to the cramped quarters of the lighthouse. Yes, the Rutan looks a bit ropy but again the quality of the story far outweighs visual effects. This is Terrance Dicks at his best.

`Aye, though they hunted high and low
and hunted everywhere. Of the three mens' fate
they found no trace, of any kind in any place.
But a door ajar and an untouched meal and an
Over toppled chair.'

Marvelous!