Ed's Review Dot Com

Hammer Film Productions, Alliance Films, UK Film Council,

Daniel Radcliffe, Ciarán Hinds, Janet McTeer, Shaun Dooley, Roger Allam, Sophie Stuckey, Alisa Khazanova, Liz White, David Burke, Daniel Cerqueira

Young lawyer, Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe) is sent far to the north of England to check through the paperwork of a recently deceased widow. He has recently lost his wife, and is raising his young son. He has to leave his son behind and head out to the small town and investigate the house known as Eel Marsh Manor. But when he arrives in town, he’s not very welcomed. No one will speak to him, and everyone closes their doors and locks the children away when he passes. There is a lawer in town who is supposed to help him, but he too only wants him to leave. And when he arrives at the mansion, he discovers why, when he begins to hear things, and see a mysterious woman in black in the shadows, in this classic horrifying ghost story.

THIS IS A HAMMER FILM!!! In my childhood, I went stage where suddenly I came to realize that Hammer was the English studio that made horror films that could scare you half to death! From the 50’s through the 70’s Hammer produced the very best horror films. Then hard times hit, and horror films went from being really scary, to being all about gross out. Splattering guts, blood everywhere, and horrible graphic dismemberment took over. But this year we have the opportunity to go back in time and see a real horror film the way it used to be.

This film is horrific. There are a few loud jump out of your seat moments, but they fit in with the story, and really do help to keep you on edge through the entire story. A remake of a 1987 TV Movie, this film is really scary. The house is a main character in itself. The swamp is unbelievable. The tide comes in and the road is under water, cutting you off from any chance of escape, and you’re in this house with a horrible history. The character of Daily, played by Ciarán Hinds, is incredible too. This guy is awesome. He plays a resident of the town, along with his wife who seems to have lost her mind when their child died, are the only ones to befriend Arthur to help him through his mission. But he only has 3 days to unravel the mystery before it’s too late.

It certainly makes your skin crawl, and is a stunning classic horror movie set in the time period around the 1900’s and the scenery and sets are perfect. The suspense builds and builds, and there isn’t a moment to let you breathe. I highly recommend this film for anyone who likes classic horror. It’s a real winner. I loved this film!!

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog