Following the tragic death of his wife and child, composer John Russell (George C. Scott), moves cross-country where he rents a large, eerie mansion. It isn't long before a presence makes itself known in the house and John, at first thinking it may be connected top his own recent loss, sets about trying to solve the mystery of his new home's ghost.
On almost every technical level, the film is a runaway success; The set design is second to none, the score and soundtrack are near-perfect, and the acting is superb. Scott in particular as an anguished father, who becomes increasingly determined to solve the mystery of his new (un)live-in house guest (even after he realises it isn't his daughter) is utterly believable.
The ghost is revealed to be one of a young boy named Joseph, and his story is clever and intriguing, with a twist i really enjoyed.
From the smaller moments such as occasional bangs, to the movie's big set pieces (the séance springs to mind) almost every scene works to build the film's atmosphere, which for once manages to be creepy and haunting without relying on claustrophobia or oppression.
Why then, did the movie leave me unimpressed?
Frankly, while clever, I felt that the story was too thinly spread over the movie's 107 minute run-time. There's a good, possibly great, hour-long movie in here. While I'm all for a movie with a creepy atmosphere, it should enhance a movie, not be the movie, and I found my attention wondering.
It's a shame, as the ingredients are all there; but this movie, while more than competent, simply didn't do it for me.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Speak your mind: