The Wyvern Mystery

Adapted from the book by Sheridan Le Fanu with Alice Fairfield (Naomi Watts) who as a young child saw her only parent who happens to be her dad die by an illness. And because she is only a child she is then taken in by a wealthy squire (Derek Jacobi) who is supposedly friends with her dad has taken her in as her daughter or has adopted her. It is only until she has grown older and has become affectionate with one the squire's sons is when more revelations come about, such as her dads actual relationship with the squire. She and her husband elope to become married to get away from the clutches of dad who intention was to seduce her once she becomes legal age. Goes on a run to get away from the dad only to be settled in another manor.

Intersting to say the least.

This is a movie that is a serious case for a rewrite. Too many plot points, yet jumping around too much made for a movie that just couldn't settle into its mood. Imagine taking the original Godfather novel and putting ALL of it into just one film. Part of what made the Godfather movies so enjoyable was the easy pace that allowed wonderful character development.

The Wyvern Mystery screenwriter couldn't decide between editing out choices and what to leave in, resulting in both too much detail and too many plot points occupying the time, leaving out real character development. At the same time, instead of wise choices for plot points, too few at critical times were left out, resulting in leaving out situational development. For example, at the beginning of the film, you see very young Alice Fairchild and then abruptly, you see the adult Alice. This left out not only her growth, but the growth in relationship between her and her guardian, the Squire. A richer establishment of their relationship would have added texture and resonance to what follows in the film. Yet, this relationship was almost totally missing other than the superficial aspects of it.

The cast performances are fine. The music and some of the shots are over the top, coming from a Masterpiece Theatre feeling to suddenly horror, Friday the 13th style. They might have worked if the film's tensions had been established better, but as over the top (for a BBC film, that is) as those terror sequences are here, they are unsupported by the writing.

Too bad. I really wanted to like this more. This leaves me wanting to read the book. Apparently, Charlotte Bronte, who penned Jane Eyre, was inspired by the author of the novel upon which this movie is based.

Although this films aspire to Gothic horror, the villains are quite human and operate with some quite human motives in The Wyvern Mystery. It's the tale of a young girl taken in by the local squire Derek Jacobi, treated well enough, but knowing she's not at the same level as his two blood kin sons Iain Glen and Jack Davenport.

As she grows up and turns into the beautiful Naomi Watts, she falls for Glen and they marry and arouse Jacobi's ire. In fact her father was Jacobi's enemy in life and his idea of revenge was to wed and bed her and not out of love. That his own son has upset his plans makes him turn on Glen as well.

Hell hath no fury like a squire scorned. They have to flee and after that tragedy follows them around. And it's not all of Jacobi's making.

This Victorian story first turned up on British TV and later in America on Public Television's Mystery. The performances are first rate and the outstanding one is Naomi Watts who grows in strength and character throughout an ordeal of a life.

She's young, she's blonde, she's beautiful, she's embroiled in the kind of eerieness only an English manor with a grim, tight-lipped housemistress and a deep, dark secret can muster. If you want romance, mystery, twisted plots and equally twisted people--not to mention one of the best reasons ever filmed for not placing one's bed against a wall--this will not disappoint. Grand performances all around; definitely not for the younger kiddies.