Haunted: The Ferryman

Sheridan Owen (Jeremy Brett) is an arrogant author of horror/suspense fiction who has had a big hit with his book 'The Ferryman'. When we first see him his character is very much established, flapping his wife away when he just wants to see an interview he's done for television.

Whether 'The Ferryman' is a work from fiction or from life, the story seems to prey on his mind. And when he and his wife (Natasha Parry) lose their way in a rainstorm and end up at a friendly inn with no other guests, the co-incidences start to mount up.

With support from a young Lesley Dunlop, 'Haunted - The Ferryman' delivers chills and thrills (and some smiles) during its short running time. Like Sheridan, we're bewildered about what's happening - and like him, we really don't understand what happens in the end. The ending is the biggest problem with this programme - it is muddled, and rushed. If an hour had been available for this adaptation, perhaps that could have been addressed.

Still, both Brett and Parry are very good and the situation in which they find themselves unfolds in - at first - a leisurely pace. Recommended for fans of things like Tales of the Unexpected and probably of Kingsley Amis fiction.

An author finds his spooky fiction comes true. Or is it the other way round?

Hmmm. Early on there's a line about how welcome literate horror is, but I disagree - plain horror is plenty fine, and this ain't it.

A turbulent couple find themselves isolated, yet fail to resolve their conflict even after a strange intervention. Doesn't really work as a story, and the horror climax is daft and feeble.

I was thinking Hotel California, Don't Look Now, The Comfort Of Strangers etc, but I'm not sure what they were getting at in the end, or even what their conflict was. There's a pregnancy theme, but it seems an unpleasant offshoot of male disgust and not worth thinking about.

Performances are good, direction and editing OK. The music is slumming it in this company.