WINCHESTER

Australia, 2018, 99 minutes, Colour.
Helen Mirren, Jason Clarke, Sarah Snook, Finn Scicluna- O' Prey, Tyler Coppin, Angus Sampson, Bruce Spence.
Directed by the Spierig Brothers.

The poster looks arresting. Helen Mirren in the centre, dressed in 19th-century black, lace and veil. Who is this mysterious woman?

In fact, she is based on actual character, Mrs Winchester, the wife of the inventor of armaments, especially the well-known Winchester rifle. This means that Helen Mirren has the opportunity to play the Grande Dame that she does so well.

The poster also highlights that this is a film by Michael and Peter Spierig, originally from Germany, settling in Australia, making a number of films especially the acclaimed vampire thriller, Daybreakers, and, one of the most intriguing Australian films, Predestination, about time, identity, gender identification. The most recent film was a continuation of the Saw series, Jigsaw. Expectations were high from horror fans. However, they seem to have been somewhat disappointed, expecting more blood and gore and fears and frights. After all, it is, in fact, a film about a haunted house and ghosts.

The interesting premise (and tourists can go to see the Winchester house in San Jose, California) is that Mrs Winchester was conscious of the number of people who had been killed by the armaments. Over the decades, she extended her house with ever-increasing rooms in memory of or, perhaps, locations for the spirits of those who had been killed.

Needless to say, the board of the Winchester Company, who were extending their franchises into skateboard-making, are concerned about her mental health and send a doctor, Jason Clarke, who has his own regrets about his dead wife, subsequent drinking, to assess Mrs Winchester. At the house, he encounters her niece, Sarah Snook (who was excellent in Predestination) and her son who is prone to have preternatural experiences.

The film actually looks very elegant, is set in 1906, is more of a period piece than a horror film. However, there are things that go creak and bump in the night in the house, a sense of the presence of spirits. This is particularly true of one of the servants (who can be seen only by the doctor) and who turns out to have a bizarre history, his brother killed in the Civil War by Winchester, the violent consequences for the servant going berserk, his reaching out to possess the boy, to confront Mrs Winchester.

Perhaps it could be better said that this is a film of atmosphere rather than horror action, though there are the confrontations with the ghost at the the end. For those who enjoy being immersed in a period with an eerie atmosphere, it is an interesting venture.

1. The title? The rifles? The company? Mrs Winchester?

2. The directors and their horror films, expectations? Helen Mirren and a strong cast?

3. The American setting, San Jose, San Francisco? 1906? Costumes and decor? The mansion, the aerial shots, the continued repetition, the interiors? The atmospheric score?

4. The supernatural? The haunted house? The ghosts? The reasons for their activities? The ghosts of the dead from Winchester rifles?

5. The introduction to Dr Price, in the den, the laudanum, the girl and the discussions, reality and illusion? Mind and body in control? His grief?

6. Arthur Gates, his position in the company, the visit to Dr Price, wanting an assessment on Mrs Winchester, wanting her removed from the Board? $600?

7. The doctor, his acceptance, travelling to San Jose, the carriage, approaching the house, its extent, the vistas of the house, overviews, views from the ground, the different rooms? The work at night?

8. His arrival, the encounter with Marion? With Henry? Asleep at night, Henry and his possession, his eyes, the bag over his head, his warnings? Marion and her concern? Ominous?

9. The doctor’s room, his place in the house, the various members of the staff, John and his supervision? Augustine, in attendance, taking guard outside his room? His encounters with Ben Block? As a servant? As a ghost?

10. The doctor’s story, Ruby, her mental condition, love for him, her death? His being shot, dead for three minutes, with a Winchester bullet, restoring the bullet? Her ghostly appearances? The confrontation, talking with her, the shots? Mrs Winchester later reassuring him?

11. Mrs Winchester, the initial impression? Dressed in black? Coming to the meal? The lady of the manor? Her direct approach, to be tested by Dr Price? The interviews, asking questions and the truth, his lying about his drugs and drinking? The background of the medium, the presence of the ghosts, her building the rooms?

12. The Winchester rifles, the products, the catalogue? Roller skates? Expansion of the firm? The sense of guilt? The dead from the weapons?

13. The interaction between Mrs Winchester and the doctor, the tensions? The interviews?

14. Block, servant, ghost, the significance of the flashbacks, the Civil War, the death of his brothers, his going berserk, with the rifle, the massacre, in the room, his being shot?

15. Henry, ordinary, yet his being possessed? Marion and her having to cope? Search for him?

16. The role of the servants, the collapse of the house, the effect on John? Augustine and his guard?

17. The nailing up of the rooms, 13 nails, the confrontation with the spirits?

18. Ben Block, the pursuit around the house, the doctor with the gun, the shot?

19. Peace, the house, the role of the ghosts? And the nail coming out of the wood at the end?

20. The reality of the house in San Jose, a tourist and visitor centre?