The Forgotten

What an absolute corker of a British ghost story. It just goes to show that big budgets are not required when you have quality actors, a solid story, and a director who knows how to get the best out of the camera. No gore, no loud music, just a well-developed film, good dialogue, and a perfect run time.

I was held fully-engaged throughout. The director makes good use of jump-scare scenes. I think the style of this film reminds me of M R James stories.

I can't understand why this film doesn't rate higher. I was genuinely left disturbed when I went to bed - and that's what a good ghost story should do.

A decent ghost story in the tradition of MR James, the Ealing studios spooky portmanteau Dead Of Night, and the Woman In Black, set on an abandoned council estate scheduled for demolition where a father and son are forced to squat. The movies teenage protagonist is awoken each night by strange noises coming from the flat next door, and witnesses his fathers behaviour becoming ever more bizarre and disturbing. Befriended by a local girl, they start to explore the empty flat together and discover its dark history. This 2014 British horror film was the directorial debut of Oliver Frampton, and premiered at that years FrightFest in London. There are one or two hiccups along the way, and the loose ends are all tied up a little too neatly to bring about the finale, but it is genuinely affecting and chilling in parts, and is an impressive and mournful debut marking Frampton and writer James Hall as ones to watch.

Uneventful. 'The Forgotten' is a rather dull horror flick.

It builds a little bit of tension in parts, but ends up just sleepwalking to a crescendo which concludes before it even gets going; which leads to a somewhat abrupt finish. Elarica Gallacher and Clem Tibber do give solid enough performances, I will say that.

If you want a gory slasher then this isn't for you. If however, you like a traditional unsettling ghost story then this is for you. The acting is superb, each character draws you in to the plot. You actually give a damn about each and every person involved. There's no annoying, spoiled teenagers or jock type males, just ordinary folk. The pace is such that it builds suspense and tension. The use of music is subtle and unobtrusive. There's no annoying or overly dramatic screaming or shouting, over use of unnecessary violence or terribly executed gore. I genuinely can't think of another modern day story of phantasms told in such a perfect way. Had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end.

The slasher people won't like it, the jiggly bimbo people won't like it, but the psychological horror people will probably enjoy it.

It is a rather slow-moving film, not a lot of yacking, and you have to pay attention to impressions because they're doling out facts with an eye-dropper.

The protagonists, though, are sympathetic, and the acting is good, and there are some genuine chills along the way, especially toward the climax.

I admit, I'm still chewing on the ending to make sense of it, but still recommend.