There were only three TV shows that scared me as a kid, Assignment 4 of Sapphire & Steel (the photograph one), the shadow sitting in the armchair in the opening titles of Armchair Thriller and, when I was thirteen and off school ill, watching the Dramarama episode, 'The Exorcism of Amy', which freaked my fever riddled brain right out.
The story is partly narrated by Elizabeth (Annabelle Lanyon) an only child whose family gives a home to a troubled young girl named Amy (Lucy Benjamin - Eastenders' 'Lisa Fowler') who brings with her, Amelia (also played by Benjamin), her malevolent imaginary friend who has spoiled all her previous homes.
Made for the 'Spooky' series that preceded ITV's long running 'Dramarama' series, written by Paula Milne ('Gemini Factor') it hasn't aged as well as some of the things we feature here but choosing to film it in a translucent, minimalist, dreamscape complete with a nightmarish fancy dress party was a bold choice, and with strong central performances from the two girls, and a shattering sting in the tail it was certainly fun to revisit and a reminder of just how much film-makers of the time loved to terrify their young viewers.
The two shots featuring both Amy and Amelia are done so well, so convincingly. I wonder how they pulled some of them off
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