In 1948 England, Dr Faraday (Gleeson) is nervous about treating a patient at Hundreds Hall, where his mother worked before he was born. Now in decline, this is the home of the Ayres family: the capable young Caroline (Wilson), her war-injured brother Roderick (Poulter) and their mother (Rampling). Faraday's patient is young maid Betty (Hill), who is terrified of the house itself. And as Faraday returns to treat Roderick and attempt to woo Caroline, he begins to understand what she meant. The ghost of Caroline and Roderick's long-dead sister seems to be a dark menace.

Oddly, this ghost story overwhelms the film's more intriguing themes about English post-war society, including the class system, the position of women and the ripples of history, both personally and for a nation. These are clearly the central things running through Coxon's script, and Abrahamson's direction tries to keep them focal as well. But the steadily growing mystery demands attention, and the filmmakers refuse to give into it, which often makes it often feel like the movie has ground to a halt.

Gleeson is superb at getting to the core of the character, although Faraday's pinched repression keeps him from being very sympathetic. And the same is true of Wilson's compelling but stubborn Caroline and Poulter's sullen and somewhat manic Roderick. Indeed, each character is self-destructive, so their unhappiness is more due to their decisions than anything that might be lurking in the attic. In smaller roles, Rampling and Hill are also effective at depicting conflicted feelings.

More adventurous audiences will enjoy the way Abrahamson and Coxon have adapted Sarah Waters' novel into a textured and unusual film, one that is far more sophisticated than it looks. But this slow-burn approach sacrifices entertainment value, leaving viewers outside looking in rather than experiencing these things firsthand. It also tantalises us with the imagery and ideas of a haunted house movie without ever providing a payoff. The ambiguity is clever and very nicely played, but some emotional catharsis at least would have made the movie linger.

themes, violence

16.Jul.18