Crooked House

Mark Gatiss has written us a beautifully scary ghost story. One you could easily envision the telling of round a campfire in the middle of a deep, dark wood. I love the way he ties the beginning, which starts in today's time, back through time, of 3 separate stories all revolving around a grotesque door knocker which binds them all together. Mark Gatiss with his wonderful narrative voice is the teller of the tale, to a young history teacher who has just purchased a home in which he finds the unusual aforementioned object in his garden. Thus begins his nightmare. A classic ghost story, not dependent on buckets of gore, endless foul language, or gratuitous sex scenes. Just a well written tale. I was enthralled from beginning to end. Kudos for a job very well done Mr. Gatiss!

Greetings, salutations, and welcome to my considerations and recommendation of Crooked House.

Story: 1.50/2 - Direction and Pace: 2.75/4 - Performances: 1.50/2 - Enjoyment: 1.50/2

TOTAL: 7.25/10

The Crooked House started life as a mini-series but is currently airing on Prime as a decent anthology ghost story movie. I, like Mark Gatiss, love a good horror story. And since he both writes and stars in the tales of terror, I had no doubts that I was in for a treat. And I was.

The three stories are all tied to one house and its troubled past. We pick up the story after a Mr Bloxham purchases it, and even at that period, the house had dark tales spoken about it. Loud banging and scratching in the walls plague Bloxham, along with visions of rot seeping into his newly renovated home. Next, we come to the lovers, who, at a costume party, announce their engagement and upcoming nuptials. However, one spirit in the house who would see them dead rather than wed - The Woman In White. The last tale is the one that started the whole storytelling: At the start of the movie, a man has picked up an old and strange-looking door knocker. He takes it to a local museum, hoping to find some history behind it. The Curator relates the stories to him, but maybe the story hasn't ended: Maybe it's continuing still because the knocker comes from the haunted house, and Ben, its new owner, is having some strange experiences indeed.

Because Mark Gatiss writes all three stories and they're filmed by the same director, Damon Thomas, the film possesses a strong continuity. Gatiss is excellent at creating robust and credible characters and situations. And Thomas was a perfect choice as he utilises lighting and natural shadows to grow the eerie atmosphere. I would never have thought that a corner in an old room would be so creepy, but Thomas makes it happen - he's that good. And luckily for the viewers, the cast is as skilled in their roles, adding depth and character to their portrayals.

The Crooked House was a highly enjoyable anthology of ghost stories, though the door-knocker tale sometimes gets a tad confusing. I would happily recommend the picture for viewing. There are few people tackling ghosts at the moment; it's still zombies of one kind or another. So, if you'd like a breath of fresh air in your horror viewing, give The Crooked House a try.

Check out my Absolute Horror lists to see where I ranked the movie.

Take Care, Stay Well, And Merry Christmas.

Mark Gatiss has made an encyclopaedic study of the history of horror, then created many gems that only enhance the genre. This beauty is almost familiar to anyone who has read MR James (naturally, extensively) yet is still original, if somewhat easily guessed. That doesn't stop the 3 stories being delicious, especially the last. He takes the familiar structure and adds his delightfully dark imagination to offer new tales that are a delight to lovers of the best horror, which doesn't rely on gore, just a dark imagination. As he's a highly intelligent and hugely talented writer and actor I believe him to be a national treasure. He will always be the natural Mycroft to this Holmes devotee, and that is the highest praise I could offer. British film needs far more of his creativity.

This is a very good ghost story. If you're looking for gore, you're in the wrong place. I enjoyed it very much. A newer film is out with this title, but this one is from 2008.

Not a horror story, not much blood and guts at all but a well told ghost story. Slightly strange ending but very easy to watch and with a few twists anlong the way.