Bloody New Year
A 1987 British supernatural horror film set in a haunted hotel.
Bloody New Year (also known as Time Warp Terror and Horror Hotel) is a 1987 British supernatural horror film directed by Norman J. Warren. The film follows a group of teenagers who become trapped in a haunted hotel on a remote island, where they encounter supernatural phenomena linked to a time warp created by a 1959 plane crash. It was shot in Wales and features an electronic score by Nick Magnus, along with songs by the band Cry No More.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Norman J. Warren
- Producer
- Hayden Pearce
- Screenplay
- Frazer Pearce
- Starring
- Suzy Aitchison / Nikki Brooks / Colin Heywood / Mark Powley / Catherine Roman / Julian Ronnie
- Music
- Cry No More / Nick Magnus
- Cinematography
- John Shann
- Editing
- Carl Thomson
- Studio
- Lazer Entertainments Ltd / Cinema & Theatre Seating Ltd
- Distributor
- Target International (UK; Theatrical) / Braveworld (UK; Home Video) / Academy Entertainment (US) / Smart Egg Pictures (worldwide)
- Released
- 1987 · 4 · UK theatrical · 1987 · 9 · UK video · 1987 · 10 · 22 · US video
- Runtime
- 93 minutes
- Country
- United Kingdom
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Bloody New Year was produced on an estimated £60,000 budget and shot in four to five weeks beginning June 1986. Filming took place in and around Barry Island in South Wales, with Friars Point House serving as the Grand Island Hotel. The fairground scenes were filmed at Barry Island's funfair, and the ballroom scenes at The Paget Rooms theatre in Penarth. The opening credits play over black-and-white footage of a 1959 New Year's Eve party, with unpaid extras from a local rock 'n' roll preservation society.
Reader's Guide
The film was released theatrically in the United Kingdom in April 1987 and direct-to-video in the United States in October 1987 under the title Time Warp Terror. Critical response has been largely negative, with Variety calling it a 'negligible horror film rehashing the corniest format available' and Kim Newman describing it as a 'feeble dump-bin video quickie.' However, some later reviewers have noted its 'bonkers' plotting and 'genuinely odd and unsettling' blend of haunted house and zombie elements. AllMovie gives it one star out of five.
Did You Know?
- The film's premise was inspired by the real-life contamination of a Scottish island from a failed disease control experiment.
- A stunt scene where actor Mark Powley opens a cottage door to find himself dangling over a cliff was performed without safety equipment.
- The extracts from the film Fiend Without a Face were supplied free by its producer Richard Gordon, a friend of director Norman J. Warren.
- The violence in the climax was toned down to ensure the British Board of Film Classification awarded a 15 certificate instead of an 18.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who directed Bloody New Year?
Norman J. Warren directed this 1987 British supernatural horror picture, which was produced on an estimated £60,000 budget.
What is the plot of Bloody New Year?
A group of teenagers finds themselves locked inside a haunted hotel on a remote island, where they confront eerie supernatural events. The disturbances trace back to a time warp caused by a plane crash in 1959.
What are the alternate titles for Bloody New Year?
Depending on the market, the film also appeared under the names Time Warp Terror and Horror Hotel.
Where was Bloody New Year filmed?
Principal photography took place in Wales, lending the remote-island hotel setting a distinctly British coastal atmosphere.
Who did the music for Bloody New Year?
Electronic composer Nick Magnus provided the film's score, while the band Cry No More contributed songs to the soundtrack.
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