★ 6 / 10
This is actually rather better than I was
CinemaSerf
This is actually rather better than I was expecting - though by no means can it really be called good. Cliff Robertson is the avaricious "Ballard" whose wife…
This is actually rather better than I was expecting - though by no means can it really be called good. Cliff Robertson is the avaricious "Ballard" whose wife "Dominique" is the object of his rather terminal desires. After repeated attempts to do away with her, she finally saves him the trouble and does the job herself. Thing is, once she has reached the safety of the "other side" she determines that he is not about to enjoy her fortune, so she returns to haunt the living daylights out of him! We've a top drawer full of supporting operators - Dame Flora Robson, Judy Gleeson, Ron Moody and Jenny Agutter delivering well to keep up the mystique. It's probably all the more enjoyable because we must all be on the side of the avenging spectre, nobody could ever like "Ballard" and so a plentiful helping of just desserts seems eminently well deserved. Simmons isn't really challenged by either the part, or the script, nor does the overpowering score allow the acting to crystallise properly either but it is still a decent effort based on stories we have all seen before, and to see two Hollywood stars still holding their own as the technology-driven 1980s loom, is still worth watching.
★ 4 / 10
REALLY Slow, but not in a good way. Sadly, pretty much poor in every way...
lathe-of-heaven
Sorry to say, especially with the supposed talent in front of the camera, the movie was extremely slow, drawn out, and honestly a whole bunch of pretty much…
Sorry to say, especially with the supposed talent in front of the camera, the movie was extremely slow, drawn out, and honestly a whole bunch of pretty much nothing...I don't mind slow burn films at all, but like any good story, it really has to have a decent plot behind it and just as importantly if not more, a decent script and director. And, quite honestly this has none of that.I swear the director (along with all the supposed 'Performances') were totally sleep walking through this 'Story' Bland, absolutely NO atmosphere what so ever. And, when you are trying to create an effective Gothic Ghost/Haunting tale, strong atmosphere and mood are absolutely essential, and there truly ain't none of that here.I mean, literally in the first 30 full minutes almost nothing of any note happens other than the obvious plot point of what happens to the wife. Long, drawn out scenes where not only nothing happens, but they are so completely devoid of any mood or atmosphere, it's like the director had no idea at all what kind of movie he was making.Normally, I really love good, old fashioned Ghost Stories, especially the British kind even though they can be really low key at times. But, not to put too fine a point on it, this was is completely dead on arrival.Not recommended at all... I gave it a '4'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MY PARTICULAR WAY OF RATING:5 - Flawed, but with some entertainment value.6. A decently passable story maybe worth a watch.7. A solid film, well made, effective, and entertaining.And, obviously, you can probably figure out what above and below these would mean... : )
44%
AUDIENCE
5.5/10
1.4K
