Vast Departure from the Book, But Still Good

Rating: 7/10 (17 July 2016)

This passed a very cold, wet winter's afternoon. I read the book that this film is based on many, many years ago and it scared the bejesus out of me. Susan Hill is an exceptional writer and imho movies are the better for having a decent author/writer behind them. So, what a shame that they took the very heart out of this terrifying tale in order, I can only assume, to pander to a modern trigger- warning-requiring audience. The end of the book is the best part, the most terrifying denouement of the tale: just when you think it's all over, it most definitely isn't. That's entirely lost in the movie as we're left with a bit of a daft, feel-good banality. But that aside, this is a very well done film. The settings are amazing. There are jump-scares enough even for hardened movie veterans. In fact, I think this film (like the book) works very well on the subconscious level of fear, because when you think back about the movie there's actually very little scary in it. It's mostly in the imagination. So, well worth a look. Gorgeous English landscape and interiors and a somewhat decent attempt to do the book justice. Pity about the ending, but a lot of people might enjoy it better than the haunting, depressing, genuinely frightening ending of the book.