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Director: Lenny Abrahamson
Writers: Lucinda Coxon (screenplay), Sarah Waters (novel)
Cast: Domhnall Gleeson, Will Poulter, Ruth Wilson
Genre: Drama Horror Mystery
The Little Stranger plays like Pride and Prejudice (2005) meets Winchester (2018)...only it's head and shoulders above Winchester. While Winchester was hyperbolic with demonic ghost and silly fright scenes...The Little Stranger is done up in proper British style which keeps everything reined in which then adds to the tension that grows under the seemingly benign surface.
Dr Faraday (Domhnall Gleeson) was a bit of a creepy ass...but that casting choice worked perfect for the movie as he created a brooding tension. Ruth Wilson who played Caroline Ayres is also odd and once again that helps the narrative as we're never sure what's going on in that creepy old mansion...and in that way the film reminded me of The Innocents.
I for one loved the drama that occurred as the good doctor courts the reclusive heiress...and the resulting human drama is where the themes of class elitism our examined. It's interesting that the Ayres family, who are heavily in debt and live in what once was a stately manor, now decaying old house, still act as blue nosed as ever, and no matter how educated and well mannered Dr Faraday is he can never make the grade, so will never truly belong at Hundreds Hall.
And that's where the story lies and not in the horror. I suspect those who like gore horror were disappointed that there weren't heads rolling and ice picks in the eyes...and so gave it a low IMDB rating. Which goes to show that the only real judge of a film's merit is one's self. I for one liked the more subtle approach that The Little Stranger offers.
+
The Little Stranger (2018)
Director: Lenny Abrahamson
Writers: Lucinda Coxon (screenplay), Sarah Waters (novel)
Cast: Domhnall Gleeson, Will Poulter, Ruth Wilson
Genre: Drama Horror Mystery
The Little Stranger plays like Pride and Prejudice (2005) meets Winchester (2018)...only it's head and shoulders above Winchester. While Winchester was hyperbolic with demonic ghost and silly fright scenes...The Little Stranger is done up in proper British style which keeps everything reined in which then adds to the tension that grows under the seemingly benign surface.
Dr Faraday (Domhnall Gleeson) was a bit of a creepy ass...but that casting choice worked perfect for the movie as he created a brooding tension. Ruth Wilson who played Caroline Ayres is also odd and once again that helps the narrative as we're never sure what's going on in that creepy old mansion...and in that way the film reminded me of The Innocents.
I for one loved the drama that occurred as the good doctor courts the reclusive heiress...and the resulting human drama is where the themes of class elitism our examined. It's interesting that the Ayres family, who are heavily in debt and live in what once was a stately manor, now decaying old house, still act as blue nosed as ever, and no matter how educated and well mannered Dr Faraday is he can never make the grade, so will never truly belong at Hundreds Hall.
And that's where the story lies and not in the horror. I suspect those who like gore horror were disappointed that there weren't heads rolling and ice picks in the eyes...and so gave it a low IMDB rating. Which goes to show that the only real judge of a film's merit is one's self. I for one liked the more subtle approach that The Little Stranger offers.
+