Ghost Stories, 2017.
Directed by Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman.
Starring Andy Nyman, Martin Freeman, Alex Lawther and Paul Whitehouse.
SYNOPSIS:
Professor Philip Goodman, an investigator specialising in debunking fraudulent physics is tasked with solving three mysterious and seemingly supernatural events.
Among the horror genre, we have many different sub-genres lurking within it, and while found footage might be one of my least favourite, one of my favourites is the portmanteau or anthology approach. Portmanteau/anthology horror films were for a staple of British horror cinema for years, especially in the 1970s, thanks to the likes of Hammer Studios and their main rival Amicus Productions which used to churn these films out by the dozen, influencing a whole generation of British horror writers and film-makers.
One such pair of film-makers where former Derren Brown cohort Andy Nyman and The League of Gentlemen’s Jeremy Dyson who used their love of the portmanteau to create Ghost Stories, a chilling anthology/portmanteau that pays tribute to the films of the past while also setting a new high-standard for this notoriously tricky to master sub-genre.
Much like the original stage play on which this film was based on, Ghost Stories is a film that is best gone into knowing as absolutely little as possible, so, forgive me if this review appears overtly vague at times, however, this is very much intentional on my part as I really don’t wish to reveal too much. My reluctance to reveal too much is also why this review is so short compared to my other frankly self-indulgent reviews.
The film is split into three stories or “cases” with a wraparound narrative that follows protagonist Phillip Goodman as he investigates these supposed tales of the supernatural. The segments are flawlessly constructed, each possessing their own distinct character that allows the different stories to stand on their own, with each adopting their own creative approaches to their horror elements while examining shared themes that recur throughout the film.
The wrap-around story of Goodman investigating the three cases is expertly crafted in its own right, being presented in a fashion that works to serve the individuals cases but also stand as its own terrifying story as we gradually delve deeper into the professors own backstory. I wish I could say more, but I am tiptoeing so close to spoilers that it’s downright dangerous.
The performances are uniformly brilliant led by a standout turn from co-writer/director Andy Nyman as Professor Goodman a kind of Derren Brown/James Randi like debunker who believes that all supposedly supernatural events can be explained through evidence and reason. It’s a terrific and deeply layered performance that only gets better as Goodman dives deeper into the rabbit hole of his investigations, with his initially self-assured and somewhat arrogant certainty in his opinions giving way to self-doubt, guilt and eventually downright terror.
In the individual cases, we have fantastic work from Martin Freeman, Alex Lawther (and his remarkably expressive face) and the highly versatile comedy icon Paul Whitehouse in a rare dramatic performance. However, there is one actor, in particular, who deserves the highest of praise for their ability to deliver a sinister and captivating performance while somehow managing to hide in plain sight under layers of make-up and an unfamiliar voice. I wish I could tell you who, but that really would be spoiling things.
From a technical point of view, Ghost Stories acts as a love letter to the horror films of the past with it being littered with nice subtle nods to the likes of Evil Dead and Don’t Look Now among others, borrowing and remixing visual cues, camera tricks and recurring motifs that reveal the film-makers, much like myself, as horror fans of the nerdiest kind.
The main reason that Ghost Stories is so brilliant is simple; it’s genuinely frightening. Yet, this is not so much a case of scaring you with loud noises and crashing strings, but it’s more about a subtle quiet horror that slowly creeps up your spine until it’s got its claws around your throat. The scares are built up carefully with the settings of dark woods, empty hospitals and a sleek modern house being transformed into the perfect settings for some truly pant shitting moments of horror, with more than enough twists and turns to keep you guessing what’s coming next. I really wish I could say more but again I really don’t want to spoil any more than I have already.
Boasting terrific performances across the board, a fantastic trio of frightening stories and a chilling atmosphere that creeps its way right into your very soul, Ghost Stories is a terrifying ordeal that is easily one of the best films I’ve watched all month. So for god’s sake go and watch it now.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★/ Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Graeme Robertson
