An apocalyptic animated film hailed as ‘bleak’ and ‘a masterpiece’ is coming to cinemas later this year to mark its 40th anniversary.
Despite each scene being beautifully hand-drawn and animated – Jimmy T Murakami’s When The Wind Blows is certainly not for kids.
Released in 1986 and based on the 1982 graphic novel by Raymond Briggs, the film follows elderly couple Hilda and Jim Bloggs (voiced by Jim Broadbent and Brenda Blethyn) living a quiet, simple life in the English countryside.
Their idyllic existence is turned upside down when they learn of an impending nuclear attack, leaving the couple underprepared and vulnerable to the radiation.
When The Wind Blows was widely praised at the time of its release, and still is to this day, being lauded as ‘one of the most powerful depictions of nuclear armageddon ever’ and ‘utterly devastating’
Many have been left ‘in tears’ by its haunting imagery, anti-war messaging, and the experiences of the beloved central characters, not to mention Roger Waters’ powerful score that adds another layer to When The Wind Blows’ devastation.
If you want to experience the bleak film on the big screen to celebrate four decades since its release, you can at this year’s Celluloid Screams horror film festival at Sheffield’s Picturehouse Cinema.
When The Wind Blows will screen on Sunday, October 25, with weekend and day tickets on sale now and individual film tickets going on sale at 12pm on Saturday, September 19.
The film holds an impressive 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with ioncinema.com calling it ‘a bleak, but lavishly animated marvel.’
Antagony and Ecstasy said: ‘Political documents from prior generations can’t help but lose their force, and yet this is just as powerful now as it ever could have been.’
LYTRules.com wrote: ‘The images from the movie are haunting, and have stuck with me the past few days, but I feel like maybe I’ve dragged them out of my subconscious, where they no longer belong.’
The Other Folk thought it was ‘extremely affecting and powerful’, while it was also described on Letterboxd as a ‘hopeless, painful and endlessly terrifying film.’
Celluloid Screams 2026 full programme
Thursday, October 22
- Opening Gala: Onslaught [UK Premiere]
- Habit
- Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant
Friday, October 23
- Depraved
- Blood and Guts [UK Premiere]
- The Restoration at Grayson Manor
- The Glorious Dead
- In The Mouth of Madness
Saturday, October 24
- Saturday Morning Cartoons and Cereal Party: Spooky Edition (Please note this requires a separate ticket)
- Blackout
- Lonanorama! The Short Films of Brian Lonano
- Crawlers
- Fifteen [UK Premiere]
- Celluloid Screams Secret Film 1
- Grindfest Presents: Mystery 35mm Grindhouse Feature (Please note this screening is exclusively for weekend and Saturday pass holders, first come first served).
Sunday, October 25
- When The Wind Blows [40th Anniversary]
- Never After Dark
- Celluloid Screams Secret Film 2
- Trauma Or, Monsters All [+ Guest Of Honour Larry Fessenden Q&A]
- Closing Gala: The Fox
- Celluloid Screams Closing Night Karaoke Party
In a retrospective interview in 2016, graphic novel creator Briggs told The Guardian why When The Wind Blows still feels so relevant.
‘Ah, because now that dread’s coming back,’ he began, referencing China and Taiwan, eastern Ukraine, and Russian warships in the English channel at the time.
‘And you think, my God, it could all be seen as utterly trivial – or it could be seen as something immensely serious. You just don’t know what’s going to happen, with a lunatic like Trump.
‘And when we left that Europe thing, that Brexit nonsense, I was just so horrified. Crazy. When Nato and the UN were created, we thought it meant there could never be another world war. Well, there bloody well could be. Terrifying, isn’t it? Can’t believe it.’
When The Wind Blows 40th anniversary screening will take place at Celluloid Screams 2026 at Showroom Cinema, Sheffield, on Sunday, October 25. Weekend and day passes are on sale now. Individual film tickets go on sale at 12pm on Saturday, September 19