L'estate stregata

While "Gothic" (Ken Russell's surprisingly good psychotic drug trip fantasy) has attracted more of a following, this film simply took a different route to chronicle the intensely powerful relationships that existed among this group of artists and writers.

Phillip Anglim's performance dominates every other. He grips the part of Byron with an iron hand and draws the viewer into this story. While, Alice Kreige and Eric Stolz also offer good performances they sometimes become lost in Anglim's. Alex Winter's and Laura Dern's sometimes seem to disappear into the scenery.

While this film is not exactly a masterpiece, it is worthy of more attention than it has had. It makes the lives of these people more accessible than "Gothic" did. It breathes life into people that Americans tend to view simply as moth eaten old poets with scandalous and mythical reputations who's work they are forced to read in school.

In this glorious telling of a weekend shared among literary greats. Mary and Percy Shelly,Lord Byron and others created a entrancing group. Showing their quests for sexual enlightenment. Personal freedoms from political to moral. Liberal drug use for both stimulations and as addiction. Their creative views of life and writing. Describing without boring the viewer how each writer seeks to find their muse. Along with the distractions and affections each share. With breathtaking scenery that does not detract but very much enhances the story. Well created characters from grim to loving then angry to peaceful. With some of the most lovely and scene enhancing costuming to be had.

I have no idea what the other reviewer is talking about- this was a wonderful movie, and created a sense of the era that feels like time travel. The characters are truly young, Mary is a strong match for Byron, Claire is juvenile and a tad annoying, Polidori is a convincing beaten-down sycophant... all are beautiful, curious, and decadent... not the frightening wrecks they are in Gothic.

Gothic works as an independent piece of shock film, and I loved it for different reasons, but this works like a Merchant and Ivory film, and was from my readings the best capture of what the summer must have felt like. Romantic, yes, but completely rekindles my interest in the lives of Shelley and Byron every time I think about the film. One of my all-time favorites.

I have heard for year about HAUNTED SUMMER because of the title, because my dad is a huge fan of Lord Byron's poems and in his 20s even looked a bit like Byron and also because I am familiar with the subject. Last March I finally saw it and it excedded my expectations just a bit.

In 1816 Lord Byron, Percy Shelley (Eric Stoltz) and Mary Shelley get together In Geneva for some philosophical discussions but the situation soon deteriorates and they end up doing mind games, drugs and o****s. They devise a contest to write the best horror story for killing the dullness of summer, and then one of the best horror novels of all time will be written... Mary Shelley's FRANKENSTEIN.

The costumes and settings were good and it was nice seeing an historical movie so accurate costume-wise. Despite Philip Anglim never became an household name after this he played Byron nicely (same for Stoltz as Percy Shelley), and in some moments there was an incredibly magical atmosphere thanks to the mystical music (especially in the sexy scene at halfway).

Not to be missed especially for experts about these authors, and overall, a somewhat unique movie.

I first saw this on TV in the early 90's and was obsessed with finding it so I could tape it. I dwelled on it and searched and finally found it at a library and had a friend copy it. It was beautifully filmed and captivated me completely. I have watched it many times, each time was better than previously. I'm a 68 year old senior and am "haunted" by it. I only wonder how much, if any, truth is in it. I give it 10 out of 10; it was so mesmerizing.