HAUNTED

UK, 2000 1995, 108 minutes, Colour.
Aidan Quinn, Kate Beckinsale, Anthony Andrews, John Gielgud, Anna Massey, Alex Lowe, Liz Smith, Linda Bassett.
Directed by Lewis Gilbert

Haunted is an entertaining ghost story, initially set in 1905 in Sussex, the focus on a little boy and his twin sister and her accidental drowning. The action then moves to 1928 in a university city, the little boy, David, with a background in the United States, is now a lecturer in paranormal activity. He has written a book exposing fake mediums and is very sceptical about the possibility of any paranormal activity, especially ghosts.

He accepts an invitation to go to a country mansion and finds a sister, Christina (Kate Beckinsale) and two brothers, Robert (Anthony Andrews) and Simon (Alex Lowe). A nanny is experiencing the ghosts of her former employers (Anna Massey). Initially sceptical, David finds a number of strange disturbances, including visions of his drowned sister, and decides to say stay to investigate the case. The local Doctor (John Gielgud) also intervenes in the case.

The solution anticipates the twist of The Sixth Sense as well as of The Others. This gives the conclusion an eerie aspect than might have been expected.

The film was directed by Lewis Gilbert, veteran of many British films of the 1950s, war films like Carve Her Name with Pride. In the 1960s, he moved to bigger budget films like HMS Defiant and also directed, in the 1960s, the James Bond film, You Only Live Twice, and in the 70s The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker. This was his second last film.

1. The popularity of ghost stories? The paranormal? 1920s settings? The perspective of the 1990s?

2. Sussex, 1905, idyllic, the house, the river? The 1920s, the University, Edbrook, the railway station, the countryside, the house, the elegant interiors, the
lake? The musical score?

3. David, as a boy, his twin sister, the throwing stones, his retaliation, her falling into the lake, her drowning? The effect on him? On the family? Responsibility?

4. David, the American background, his academic status, his lectures, his publication on the paranormal, the response of the students, his secretary busy answering letters? Going to the seance, the performance of the medium, the ghosts, the communications, the exposure and disillusionment?

5. His decision to visit Edbrook, sceptical, the request by the nanny, her experience of ghosts? Interviewing her, her strange behaviour? meeting Christina, Robert and Simon? The happy brothers and sister?

6. Christina, at the station, with the car, her driving? The portraits of her on the walls, the tour of the house, the lavish and elegant settings? Christina and communication, romantic attitudes, her posing for her brother? Going to the outing, her return, at the Gazebo, the story of her mother’s death, nanny’s beliefs? The celebration of nanny’s birthday and their fooling around? Robert and his control, her obeying him?

7. Robert, older, controlling, the painter, attitude towards David, wanting him to go?

8. Simon, his jokey attitudes?

9. David and his experiences, the noises in the night, the locked door, the disturbances, seeing his sister, with Christina at the Gazebo? His being pushed into the lake, Christina rescuing him? Robert’s hostility, planning to go, the experiences and his staying? Seeing Nanny and her paroxysms, controlled, her death? The missing newspaper item, ringing his secretary, the news about the deaths and the fire?

10. The role of the doctor, his knowledge of the family, his treatment of Nanny? His advice to David?

11. The truth, the ghosts, the fire, the mother, the three talking as ghosts?

12. His sister, communing with her, offering the choice, persuading him against the ghosts, his choice of Christina, destructive choice?

13. The farewell, Christina watching, the touch of malevolence?

14. The visit of the old crone telling fortunes? The encounter with the palm-reader?

15. His changed attitudes?

16. The plausibility of this kind of story?