THE HAUNTING OF BRYAN BECKET / THE SKEPTIC

US, 2009, 89 minutes, Colour.
Tim Daly, Tom Arnold, Zoe Saldana, Edward Herrmann, Andrea Roth, Robert Prosky, Bruce Altman.
Directed by Tennyson Bardwell.

The Haunting of Bryan Beckett is a ghost story – but not a shocker. It is more of a psychological drama, indicated by the original name of the film, The Skeptic.

The film opens with the discovery of a body in an old mansion. Tim Daly portrays a very rationalist lawyer who is the nephew of the murdered woman and who thinks he will inherit the house. He goes to the house accompanied by his law partner, Tom Arnold. However, the property is being left to a psychological laboratory, presided over by Bruce Altman. Zoe Saldana portrays a psychic who collaborates with the work.

In the meantime, Bryan Beckett is wanting to have time away from his wife and his son whom he loves. He consults the head of the laboratory, expressing scepticism but gradually being drawn into possibilities of some kind of ESP, at least. He also consults the priest friend of the family, played by Robert Prosky, as well as his doctor, played by Edward Herrmann.

What emerges is the suppression of unpleasant memories, which are being stirred by his presence in the house and some seemingly strange haunting experiences. In discussions with the priest and the doctor, as well as with help from the psychic, it emerges that his mother was cruel woman, physically abusing her son – and that he was responsible, at the age of five, for putting toys at the top of the stairs, causing her to fall down and be killed.

For those interested in psychic experiences as well as psychological dramas, especially about abuse and memories, the film is quite well made. It is not exactly a horror film.

1. The impact of the film? Expectations from the titles? Haunting? Ghosts? The possibility of ghosts, hauntings, ESP? Projections from the psyche?

2. The American setting, ordinary homes, law practices, the church? The contrast with the house, the interiors? The eerier aspects of the house? The scientific and psychological laboratory? The musical score?

3. The introduction, the discovery of the body, the situation with the house? Bryan and his expectations? Discussions with his wife, his animosity towards his aunt? Discovering the truth about the will, Doctor Koven and the laboratory? His moving out, separation from his wife, farewell to his son?

4. The discussions with the priest, his aunt’s funeral? The priest and his sympathy, memories of the past, trying to explain situations to Bryan? Bryan and his return visits to the priest? His discussions with his doctor, about his own case, his memories? The final meeting with the doctor, the revelation of the truth about his mother?

5. Cassie, her role as a psychic? In the laboratory? Coming to the house, her sense of the presence of evil? Discussions with Bryan, staying? Her contribution to his understanding?

6. The revelation about his mother? The gradual reassertion of memories? His suppression of them? His mother’s cruelty, locking him in the cupboards, punishment for untidiness with the red sock? Not going to the picnic? The other situations? His gradually remembering them? The doctor and his suggestions about the toy, the top of the stairs, his mother’s fall and her death?

7. The psychological effect on Bryan? The cumulative effect – and his own falling down the stairs? The work of his mother, vengeful? Would he survive?