The Peter Cushing Doctor Who Collection: "Total Extermination" [Severin Films]

Although I’ve been a Peter Cushing fan since I first saw him in Hammer Films’ The Evil of Frankenstein at age seven, it wasn’t until I was 17 that I bought my first Peter Cushing film on VHS—and that film was Dalek Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. I remembered watching both of Cushing’s Dr. Who films, which I videotaped off late-night television (I miss those days!), and while I enjoyed both, the second film was more action-packed, which is why I made my decision. Being a big Peter Cushing and Doctor Who fan, I watched the film numerous times, and I was very glad to see Severin Films releasing both of Cushing's Dr. Who films in a box set appropriately titled "Total Extermination.” This marks the first time U.S. buyers can get these films in 4K UHD (or Blu-ray for a cheaper price), and the films can also be purchased individually.

Dr. Who and the Daleks, based on the popular children's BBC science fiction series, was produced by Amicus Productions (although they had to secure funding from AARU Productions, which received the sole credit as a result). The actor playing Dr. Who on television was William Hartnell, but it was decided that the film needed a more recognizable star—producers Milton Subotsky and Max Rosenberg chose Peter Cushing, a major star for Hammer Films who had previously starred in the Amicus film Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors (1964). There were clear differences in both the character and portrayal of the time-traveling alien from the TV show to the big screen. Originally, Dr. Who was conceived as a renegade alien traveling through time, fighting evil across the universe. Hartnell played the Doctor as a grumpy but brilliant character who was unafraid of the unknown. For the film adaptation, however, Dr. Who was changed to an eccentric inventor on Earth, with Cushing portraying him as a quirky but kindhearted man. Unfortunately, this change in the character’s origin led to Cushing’s version of Doctor Who not being considered part of the series’ official canon.

The film was heavily influenced by the swinging sixties, with lava lamps and psychedelic sets creating an "alien" world. Like the television series, the movie also targeted children, featuring young Roberta Tovey as Susan, an inquisitive and lively girl. The comic relief was provided by Roy Castle, whose character Ian often trips in slapstick humor. For the villains, the choice was straightforward: the Daleks, a race of evil cyborg aliens housed inside moving shells armed to the teeth, and resembling salt and pepper shakers. The Daleks first appeared in the second Doctor Who serial in 1963, quickly became the arch-nemeses of the Time Lord, and gained immense popularity, leading to what became known as Dalekmania. The Daleks’ shout of “Exterminate!” became an iconic catchphrase in Doctor Who history, and it inspired the name of Severin’s new Blu-ray set for the two films. Dr. Who and the Daleks was successful enough to spawn a sequel, Daleks’ Invasion Earth 2150 A.D., which took the battle between them and Dr. Who from the planet Skaro to future Earth.

Daleks’ Invasion Earth 2150 AD improves on the original film, partly due to a bigger budget (getting to see the Dalek ship is pretty cool!). Roberta Tovey returns as Doctor Who’s granddaughter. But Jennie Linden, who played the Doctor’s daughter in the first film, is replaced by Jill Curzon, who plays his niece, Louisa. Roy Castle, as the boyfriend of the Doctor’s daughter, is also out; he is replaced by Bernard Cribbins as a police officer (definitely an upgrade). This sequel has a notably different tone from the first, with war-torn London under Dalek control, where they are creating Robo-humans from the general population, which definitely raises the stakes for Doctor Who trying to save the day.

Severin Films did an excellent job releasing this set, which is a must-have for Peter Cushing and Doctor Who fans. The 4K restoration from the original negatives looks fantastic—the colors are vibrant, and the clarity is sharp. The two-disc set features the Doctor Who films inside a slipcase adorned with artwork from the original Spanish poster. Dr. Who and the Daleks uses the Thorn EMI VHS artwork, while Daleks’ Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. features Italian poster art, creating a diverse, multicultural collection. Buyers can choose between the 4K UHD or Blu-ray version. Additionally, the number of extras and featurettes is incredibly impressive. Both versions include the following extras:

DISC ONE: DR. WHO AND THE DALEKS

· Audio Commentary with Stephen Jones, Kim Newman, and Barry Forshaw

· Audio Commentary with Jennie Linden and Roberta Tovey, Moderated by Jonathan Sothcott

· Audio Commentary with Kim Newman, Robert Shearman, and Mark Gatiss

· 1992 Audio Interview with Gordon Flemyng by Tony Earnshaw

· Subotsky and the Daleks: Part One (HD—10:13)

· Kara and the Daleks (HD—15:26)

· Dalekmania (Upscaled SD—59:57)

· Interview with Gareth Owen (HD— 8:00)

· The Dalek Legacy: Destination Skaro (HD— 16:24)

· UK Trailer (HD—3:14)

· Still Gallery (HD, 17 in all—1:25)

DISC TWO: DALEKS’ INVASION EARTH 2150 A.D.

· Audio Commentary with Barry Forshaw, Stephen Jones, and Kim Newman

· Audio Commentary featuring Kim Newman, Robert Shearman, and Mark Gatiss

· Daleks’ Invasion BBC: 1963 to 1969 A.D. (HD—35:28)

· Subotsky and the Daleks: Part Two (HD—8:19)

· Interview with Actor Bernard Cribbins (HD—4:12)

· Interview with Gareth Owen (HD—4:18)

· The Dalek Legacy: Invasion Earth (HD— 15:44)

· Restoring Dr. Who in 4K (HD—10:54)

· Trailer (HD—2:43)

· Still Gallery (HD, 17 in all—1:28)

By Christopher Gullo, 2025

PETER CUSHING AS DOCTOR WHO

DOCTOR WHO REACTS TO IMPENDING DANGER WHILE EXAMINING A DALEK.