No Blade of Grass – 1970 | 96 mins | Drama, Sci-Fi | Colour

Plot Synopsis

Based on a best-selling novel by John Christopher, this combination of horror movie and cautionary eco-tale warns against the dangers of pollution as crops lie withered and fields are littered with bodies of dead cattle. This potentially powerful apocalyptic vision is arguably more relevant now than it was back in 1970 and unfortunately is dealt with too melodramatically by Wilde.

Set in a futuristic Britain that has been decimated by the sudden onset of a terrible grass plague caused by environmental damage. One man, John Custance (Nigel Davenport), is persuaded by his brother David (Patrick Holt) to flee London with his family to the sanctuary of his brother’s farm. The Custance family join Pirrie (Anthony May) and his wife and make the treacherous journey to David’s well-stocked farm in the Lake District. The convoy encounter an orgy of rioting in the city and violence in the countryside as they must fight insane biker gangs and deal with their own internal wrangles, but eventually, they make it to the farm. Unfortunately, only some were especially invited, and John’s ruthless brother refuses to let them enter and so they decide to fight their way in.