Possible "Sweeney Todd" DVD Featurette Revealed

The makers of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street have asked two Welsh professors, Professors Richard Hand and Mike Wilson, from the University of Glamorgan, to give their thoughts on the role and significance of horror. They were interviewed for a documentary on horror theater, which is said to be one of the many extras on the Sweeney Todd DVD, which will be released later this year. The two academics discussed horror and why we are so compelled to watch it.

The two professors were offered the job after publishing their new book, London’s Grand Guignol and the Theatre of Horror.

“Horror is escapism, as shocking as it can be. The horror industry has never gone away,” he said. “People want the adrenaline rush of the roller coaster ride. People do know it’s not real.

“Horror movies are adult fairy tales and they have very close links to comedy. I’ve been half-way through a film like Evil Dead 2 and suddenly realised it isn’t horror at all, it’s comedy.’’

Prof. Wilson said, “It is fantastic to be involved with such a high-profile film and to be included on a DVD which will be viewed by people around the world.

“We have been researching horror theatre for about 10 years now and this is an exciting opportunity for our research to reach a wider public audience.”

On which regions and versions of the upcoming DVD of the horror-musical this featurette is supposed to appear is yet to be known.