Category Archives: Ghost story

2012, Acceptable for teenagers, Attempted Murder, Boarding school, British Drama, Bullying, Creepy, Ghost story, Kanopy streaming, Marital Infidelity, Murder, Occasionaly violent, Sex Scenes, Sexual Tension

The Awakening (2012)

From Kanopy:

This haunting thriller is set in 1921, in a post-war England where many of the bereaved seek solace in spiritualism. Haunted by the death of her fiancé, Florence Cathcart (Rebecca Hall) is committed to debunking supernatural claims. When she is asked to visit a boarding school in the countryside to investigate the alleged sightings of a ghostly young boy, she feels compelled to take the job.

She sets to work, laying traps and gathering scientific evidence. Gradually secrets begin to unravel and the mystery surrounding the ghost appears nothing more than a prank. As Florence is set to leave, however, she experiences a chilling encounter that defies all reason.

From Kanopy you can stream this 1 hour 47 minute English ghost story.

As opposed to many ghost films which are often somewhat clichéd, this film presents a serious drama full of well-known British actors some of whom were:

  • Rebecca Hall (Florence Cathcart) played Loretta in “Tales From the Loop”.
  • Dominic West (Robert Mallory) was chilling as Noah Solloway in “The Affair”.
  • Imelda Staunton (Maud Hill) was unforgettable as Nora in “Nora Drake”.
  • Shaun Dooley (Malcom McNair) was Ricky Gillespie in ”Broadchurch”.
  • Joseph Mawle (Edward Judd) was Benjen Stark in “Game of Thrones”.

Worthwhile as this year’s Halloween entertainment.

 

 

2020, Accidental Death, British, Brother-Sister relations, Complicated, Cooking, Creepy, Dark, Drama, Extramarital Affair, Flashbacks, Ghost story, Good Production Values, Horror, Lesbian Theme, Love Story, Mother-daughter relations, Netflix Streaming, Revenge, Strange Ending, Uncle-Nephew relations, Uncle-Niece relations, Unusual, Unusual ending

The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020)

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From Netflix:

A bright-eyed American au pair hopes to make a difference caring for two orphans in a grand English manor. Yet the feeling of dread is undeniable.

From Netflix you can stream 9 episodes of this one season “horror” story. Each episode lasts about 50 minutes.

Probably it is fair to call this series a “horror” story.  But there are no cheap theatrical tricks or ugly monsters.  Almost unfortunately the acting and production details are so good that I was willing to watch the complicated plot to the end.  Little by little the underlying premise and explanation for the strange events are revealed.   But this show is easily one of the strangest I have ever seen and is clearly not for everyone’s tastes.  By way of warning you to avoid spending time here, do NOT expect a happy ending.

If, however, you are determined to watch a well-done “ghost” story, then hopefully you will enjoy it.

2012, Abandoned child, Bloody scenes, British, Child abduction and murder, Child abuse, Complicated, Creepy, Emotional child abuse, Father-daughter relations, Father-son relations, Ghost story, Grim, Horror, Merely acceptable, Mother-daughter relations, Mother-son relations, Murder by poison, Netflix Streaming, Orphans in Foster Care, Physical child abuse, Psychic Phenomena, Psychopath, Romance, Sadism, Suspense, Unmarried mother, Violent

The Secret of Crickley Hall (2012)

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From IMDB:

A year after their son goes missing, a family moves to Crickley Hall. When supernatural events begin to take place, Eve feels the house is somehow connected to her lost son.

From Netflix you can stream this 1.5 hour complete film.

Horror films can sometimes be silly or exaggerated. At best there is always some “manifestation” that is a bit over the top. However, this particular horror film successfully glues the paranormal to the gradual uncovering of the abuses of a madman.

And guess who plays the madman! Immediately I recognized the face but it took a while to register that the sadist Augustus Cribben is played by no other than the actor that plays DI Jimmy Perez in “Shetland”, namely Douglas Henshall. Possibly I took so long to make the connection because the two characters are complete opposites.

Eve Cleigh, the mother, is played by Suranne Jones (detective Rachel Bailey of “Scott and Bailey”).  Gabe Caleigh, the father, is played by Tom Ellis (who unfortunately plays the devil in “Lucifer”).

Because the scenes constantly shift between present and past, you have to equate the young character with the older counterpart. Moreover there are many characters.  So pay close attention to the good guys and the bad guys.

Give this film a “merely acceptable.”