England, 1921. The First World War has left countless victims who, together with the flu epidemic, have created the perfect climate for mediums and people who claim to talk to the other side. Florence (Rebecca Hall) is a famous investigator who, convinced that spirits don’t exist, devotes herself to exposing frauds with rational explanations. After one such case she is visited by Robert Mallory (Dominic West), who offers her a new one: at the school for orphaned boys where he teaches, a spirit has the pupils terrified. Determined to prove it’s a sham, Florence takes the case.
What have we got?
- A first-time director on the big screen, who also co-writes the script.
- Well-known actors: Rebecca Hall (Vicky, the brunette in Vicky Cristina Barcelona), Dominic West (the lead in the great The Wire and in 300) and Imelda Staunton (the dreadful teacher in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, even better in the recent Another Year).
- A classic ghost story that will feel like one you’ve seen before.
- A film advertised as horror and written as a mystery.
- A few jumps.
What haven’t we got?
- A great story, innovation, surprise.
- Terror.
- A consistent script.
How does it turn out?
A well-made film that is easily forgotten. The actors do a good job: Rebecca Hall is believable in a rather tangled, ever-changing role and carries the weight of the story. Dominic West is convincing, though at times he seems comic, leaving you wondering whether that’s intentional (his stammer is funny). Imelda Staunton is perhaps the most consistent performer. In fact her character keeps getting better, and she makes more of it on screen. Special mention to Isaac Hempstead Wright, the boy, a difficult part very well executed. The setting is impeccable, which helps the photography a great deal and gives the film a very pleasing look. The cinematography is simple and sure-footed, not at all risky or innovative. The trouble with the whole is that it isn’t consistent. More than an original story it feels like a blend of other films: close-ups with blurred backgrounds where apparitions appear, a tormented character who doesn’t understand reality, supporting actors who know more than they let on, ghost children… It’s like a film you’ve already seen but can’t quite remember. Then there are the twists, or attempts at twists: too many and forced. It’s easy to amuse yourself trying to guess ahead. In fact they weigh on the script and leave a few inconsistent holes. It seems the first-time director has built a film where the formula outweighs the content, while still showing aptitude in many areas. Even so, it’s watchable and pleasing to the eye, above all because of the impeccable setting.
A debut in which the director shows promise: a visually attractive film that leaves no lasting taste.
Watch it for a night of gentle horror with your other half, or if you don’t like horror films: there are no unpleasant images, quite the opposite. In the vein of The Orphanage, The Devil’s Backbone or Darkness. For more horror and less aesthetics, Insidious. Better still: The Others.
Passable and insipid.