Lewis Gilbert's "Haunted" from 1995 is one of those films with a high-profile pedigree which would have guaranteed it a high-profile release. Seemingly. With a tony cast including Aidan Quinn, Kate Beckinsale, Anthony Andrews, Anna Massey, Linda Bassett, Liz Smith, Alex Lowe and the late John Gielgud in one of his last film roles and a ghost-story plotline, "Haunted" would have had some kind of visibility had a major studio handled it. While Francis Ford Coppola's American Zoetrope was involved in its production, the movie was released by October Films - or supposed to be. It played theatrically in England but went straight to video here.
Set in the English countryside of Edbrook in the early 1900s, "Haunted" casts Quinn as a professor of psychology and defiant skeptic who arrives from America to teach at the University of Camberley. An author of books debunking most psychic phenomena, Quinn is solicited by Massey who, as an elderly nanny, is convinced that she is seeing ghosts in the house where she raised Andrews, Lowe and Beckinsale, who becomes romantically involved with Quinn. Gilbert, who directed several Bond films as well as "Alfie," "The Adventurers" and Educating Rita," imbues "Haunted" with atmospheric touches that lend it both credibility and companionablity.
4 comments:
I never heard of this. Is this based on the novel "Haunted" by James Herbert? I remember reading that book years ago and finding it seriously scary. I never knew they made a movie of it. The plot does sound similar. This movie needs checking out.
Yes, Kevin, it is based on the James Herbert novel.
Hey, I've actually seen one of your Cinema Obscuras! I think that's a first. I'm almost embarrassed to add that I saw it years ago on Cinemax, given that cable channel's reputation for specializing in mild titillation. Nevertheless, I found it an enjoyable movie, one that would be right at home on a double bill with an old school Hollywood scary movie like "The Uninvited." In this movie, "Cold Comfort Farm," and "Shooting Fish," Beckinsale had a fetching charm that she's lost since her decision to make big budget flicks in Hollywood.
Great film by the way. It had all the flavor of a great realease. I just wish they'd have made a sequel since the ending has Kate walking after Adrian.
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