An academic collector of topographical items poo-poohs the recommendation for an old picture of a country house, until one of his fellow fellows points out some details he hadn't noticed ...
Lively adaptation of an M R James story, which gussies up the source material by tying the hero's fate into what would otherwise be merely a disturbing phenomenon. The new material is faithful to the existing elements, leading to a climax reminiscent of The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral - with a touch of the threshold-crossing of Sadako in The Ring.
The cinematography launches off at odd angles, the performances are full and lively, and the editing keeps up a good pace. Can't say I noticed the music, and the main location didn't fit the ideal of a donnish retreat. The writer also introduces a theme of breaking tradition, with the golf irons and talk of women academics - also, the "skip" in the original story was male - which doesn't quite tie in with the hero's fate.
As good as any of the previous adaptations of this author, whose moods and subtleties are difficult to capture on screen, and a bonus in the intelligent filling out of the story,
Lively adaptation of an M R James story, which gussies up the source material by tying the hero's fate into what would otherwise be merely a disturbing phenomenon. The new material is faithful to the existing elements, leading to a climax reminiscent of The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral - with a touch of the threshold-crossing of Sadako in The Ring.
The cinematography launches off at odd angles, the performances are full and lively, and the editing keeps up a good pace. Can't say I noticed the music, and the main location didn't fit the ideal of a donnish retreat. The writer also introduces a theme of breaking tradition, with the golf irons and talk of women academics - also, the "skip" in the original story was male - which doesn't quite tie in with the hero's fate.
As good as any of the previous adaptations of this author, whose moods and subtleties are difficult to capture on screen, and a bonus in the intelligent filling out of the story,