This film is part of Free
Apaches
One of the most disturbing public safety films depicts six children being picked off one-by-one by deadly farming machinery.
Overview
One of the most famous and disturbing films from the Central Office of Information, Apaches warns of the perils of playing on farmyards as it follows six children and their deadly games.
Three years before directing The Long Good Friday, John Mackenzie memorably integrates B-movie vernacular into this public safety film, riffing on the iconography of Westerns as the kids play cowboys ‘n’ Indians, and almost utilising a ‘slasher’ film format in the sequential presentation of their tragic deaths. The chilling way in which the Apaches die in-turn, yet curiously continue their adventures to their grim conclusion, may lack realism but adds to the film’s dream-like atmosphere. Despite only being broadcast in ITV franchises that covered rural areas, the film had a lasting effect on the psyche of the nation’s youth and broke all booking records at the time for a COI film. This government film is a public record, preserved and presented by the BFI National Archive on behalf of The National Archives, home to more than 1,000 years of British history.
Related
Christmas 1964 and 1965 Christmas 1964 and 1965
Home movie 1964 8 mins Silent Location: Sale
Christmas with a budgie and a Dalek keeps three generations of the family happy.
Elland Road Football Control Elland Road Football Control
Non-Fiction 1976 23 mins Silent Location: Leeds
Back to the bad old days of skinners, as worn by these Man. United troublemakers, being escorted by police dogs along that perilous walk from Elland Road to Leeds railway station.
The Pioneers of Nudism The Pioneers of Nudism
Amateur film 1938 27 mins Silent Location: Bricket Wood
If you go down to the woods today, you're sure of a big surprise...
Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 73 mins
Daniel Day-Lewis, the ultimate actor’s actor discusses his career in conversation with Mark Kermode.
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.
Edgar Wright on The Running Man Edgar Wright on The Running Man
Inside Film 2025 28 mins
The director talks to Mark Kermode about putting Stephen King's dystopian life-or-death gameshow thriller through its paces.
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.
Edgar Wright on The Running Man Edgar Wright on The Running Man
Inside Film 2025 28 mins
The director talks to Mark Kermode about putting Stephen King's dystopian life-or-death gameshow thriller through its paces.
Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 69 mins
Richard Linklater discusses his remarkable and wide-ranging body of work, including Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague.
Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 73 mins
Daniel Day-Lewis, the ultimate actor’s actor discusses his career in conversation with Mark Kermode.