Doomwatch is a 1972 sci-fi thriller film directed by Peter Sasdy. The story revolves around the fictional government agency called Doomwatch, which investigates ecological and environmental issues that pose a threat to the public. The agency is headed by Dr. Del Shaw (Ian Bannen), an environmental scientist who is passionate about protecting the natural world from human abuse.
The movie begins with a mysterious illness affecting a group of fishermen who have been fishing in the waters around an isolated island off the coast of England. Doomwatch is called in to investigate and they soon discover that the waters have become contaminated by toxic chemicals dumped by a nearby factory.
As they delve deeper into the investigation, the Doomwatch team uncovers a sinister plot by the factory owners to cover up the contamination, and they find evidence of grotesque mutations among the island's inhabitants who have been consuming fish caught from the contaminated waters.
The film explores themes of corporate greed and the dangers of unchecked industrialization, as well as highlighting the importance of environmental conservation. With its eerie atmosphere and tense storyline, Doomwatch is a classic example of 1970s British sci-fi cinema.
The film was based on the British television series of the same name, which ran from 1970 to 1972. The series was created by Kit Pedler and Gerry Davis, who also co-created the iconic sci-fi series Doctor Who. Doomwatch was known for its thought-provoking storylines and its use of cutting-edge science to explore contemporary environmental and social issues.