Directed by:
Donato RotunnoScreenplay:
Peter WaddingtonCinematography:
Jean-François HensgensCast:
Leelee Sobieski, Tara Fitzgerald, Chris Bearne, Patrick Dechesne, Gintare Parulyte, Sascha LeyPlots(1)
Anna Veigh, (Leelee Sobieski) a recently qualified art therapist and teacher is finding work a tougher psychological challenge that she had anticipated. The offer of a new position minding two young orphans while their wealthy uncle is away on business seems to be a perfect escape.
Her new workplace is Bly House, a remote country estate with beautiful grounds and a small resident staff. Miles and Flora, the children, seem sweet and charming. Anna thinks that she has really "landed on her feet" after the rigors of her previous job. However, Anna's perfect world quickly begins to fade as she makes disturbing discoveries. Miles, the boy, has been expelled from his school, for a sin so dreadful the headmaster refrains from discussing. Anna then learns that her predecessor in the job died in suspicious circumstances. To add to her unease, Anna begins to catch glimpses of unknown sinister figures lurking on the grounds, however everyone denies their existence. Anna soon learns that the unknown figures are those of two ex-employees of the house.
The only problem is that both employees are dead. Anna senses that the ghostly manifestations possess evil intentions. Not only is the psychological welfare of the children in deep jeopardy, but their lives and souls are also at risk. Anna is forced to confront dark secrets buried deep in her own psyche as she fights to cleanse the children's souls of darkness, with terrifying consequences for all concerned.
(official distributor synopsis)
Reviews (2)
This is a film thematically similar to Kubrick's The Shining, which focuses on mapping the dark places of the human psyche and the disintegration of one unfortunate person in a remote location within a small community. There are moments of decent atmosphere and overall acceptable performances, and especially in the first half, the director succeeds in creating shots with camera and music that evoke an atmosphere of alienation, confinement, and coldness. In the second half, where he also uses montage-like editing, it's not that great, the screenplay could have been a bit more sophisticated, and it is not even close to The Shining. However, it does deserve three stars. Overall impression: 55%.
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A pretty decent horror, but in my opinion, it ultimately tries to confuse the viewer's mind so much that it doesn't end up delivering something that truly dazzles. I'm more of a plot-oriented person, which I felt was somewhat lacking in this film. It's like I was deprived of something, which is a feeling that can easily arise with the finale for anyone.
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