And the Wall Came Tumbling Down
- Episode aired Jan 5, 1985
- 1h 11m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
134
YOUR RATING
Workmen digging in a building discover the remains of a 300-+year-old devil cult.Workmen digging in a building discover the remains of a 300-+year-old devil cult.Workmen digging in a building discover the remains of a 300-+year-old devil cult.
Patricia Hayes
- Granny Waters
- (as Pat Hayes)
Peter Macklin
- Military Policeman
- (as Peter Macklen)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Featured review
Another Brick in the Wall...
This is a good, solid episode of Hammer House of Mystery & Suspense which also brings in a flavor of the classic Hammer movies of old - what with the period setting (at the story's start) and the themes of a satanic cult and witchcraft - not to mention evil lurking behind a mysterious bricked-up alcove.
The episode concerns a 300 year-old curse - playing out in the present day at a deconsecrated church, which is due for demolition... standing starkly in the middle of a vast construction site near London's Tower Bridge. It seems that the church was used as a meeting place and desecrated by a small satanic group centuries earlier. Now, in the present day, the various members of the cult - which suddenly collapsed due betrayal among its number - are living on locally through their various descendants. They are now finally reunited for one final showdown - thanks to the evil once again being unleashed by a doomed workman working alone inside the church.
It's great to see former New Avengers actor Gareth Hunt as the gruff construction site manager, and American actress Barbie Benton is engaging as the persistent journalist who's dead keen to make a story about the diabolical deeds at the doomed church. The lovely Carol Royle is effective as the girlfriend of the young man (who's descended from the original cult member who betrayed the coven), and whose hysteria and fear are played out in a great performance by Brian Deacon. Look out for veteran Brit actors Peter Wyngarde and Pat Hayes in small roles - as well as Coronation Street's Peter Baldwin in a cameo (who will be very familiar to many British viewers) .
The story is atmospheric, memorable and intriguing, and the idea of some of the actors playing dual roles (of their old/new selves) works really well. It's good to see another 'supernatural' HH of M&S, alongside some of the more conventional mystery and murder episodes. The historic element is also a nice touch with a nod to the past - and which should definitely be appreciated by fans of Hammer.
The episode concerns a 300 year-old curse - playing out in the present day at a deconsecrated church, which is due for demolition... standing starkly in the middle of a vast construction site near London's Tower Bridge. It seems that the church was used as a meeting place and desecrated by a small satanic group centuries earlier. Now, in the present day, the various members of the cult - which suddenly collapsed due betrayal among its number - are living on locally through their various descendants. They are now finally reunited for one final showdown - thanks to the evil once again being unleashed by a doomed workman working alone inside the church.
It's great to see former New Avengers actor Gareth Hunt as the gruff construction site manager, and American actress Barbie Benton is engaging as the persistent journalist who's dead keen to make a story about the diabolical deeds at the doomed church. The lovely Carol Royle is effective as the girlfriend of the young man (who's descended from the original cult member who betrayed the coven), and whose hysteria and fear are played out in a great performance by Brian Deacon. Look out for veteran Brit actors Peter Wyngarde and Pat Hayes in small roles - as well as Coronation Street's Peter Baldwin in a cameo (who will be very familiar to many British viewers) .
The story is atmospheric, memorable and intriguing, and the idea of some of the actors playing dual roles (of their old/new selves) works really well. It's good to see another 'supernatural' HH of M&S, alongside some of the more conventional mystery and murder episodes. The historic element is also a nice touch with a nod to the past - and which should definitely be appreciated by fans of Hammer.
helpful•40
- canndyman
- Jun 28, 2020
Details
- Runtime1 hour 11 minutes
- Color
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![Brian Deacon and Carol Royle in Fox Mystery Theater (1984)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMzllNDM4NDYtYTE3MS00N2EwLWFkMTAtMTVhMmUyZWMwNjFhXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjc0ODQ0NzM@._V1_QL75_UY133_CR45,0,90,133_.jpg)