Haunted (1995)

After watching an entry or two from the Pure Terror Collection, I decided to check-out a ghost story to close the evening. My selection was Haunted from 1995.

Plot/ Professor David Ash is invited to Edbrook to calm the fears of the elderly nanny of the Mariell family. Nanny Tess is seeing things, and Ash's book debunking such phenomenon makes him a good choice to set her mind at ease and convince her she is just tired and stressed. But soon after arriving David too begins to doubt his senses and watching the odd behavior of the three grown Mariell children doesn't make his task any easier. In fact, he begins to think Nanny Tess isn't really just tired and stressed out after all.

This is an excellent ghost story, one that is done in a manner that makes it both interesting and atmospheric. The settings really work, and the visual and bright styles offset the mysterious storyline. The characterization and acting are solid, as the cast does a great job throughout. What effects exist are done very well and fit perfectly within the film. However, the flick is not perfect as it seemed to question itself on the direction it wanted to go in, was it a romance or straight ghost story? But, even that is easily overlooked. In the end, this is a great example of how ghost stories can be accomplished without all of the flair of special effects or handheld camera’s. Check this one out.