Crooked House

Mark Gatiss has made an encyclopaedic study of the history of horror, then created many gems that only enhance the genre. This beauty is almost familiar to anyone who has read MR James (naturally, extensively) yet is still original, if somewhat easily guessed. That doesn't stop the 3 stories being delicious, especially the last. He takes the familiar structure and adds his delightfully dark imagination to offer new tales that are a delight to lovers of the best horror, which doesn't rely on gore, just a dark imagination. As he's a highly intelligent and hugely talented writer and actor I believe him to be a national treasure. He will always be the natural Mycroft to this Holmes devotee, and that is the highest praise I could offer. British film needs far more of his creativity.

CROOKED HOUSE is a fun ghost trilogy from writer/actor and horror aficionado Mark Gatiss and made as a modern BBC Ghost Story for Christmas. In actual fact, the inspiration is more clearly the genre of portmanteau horrors made by Amicus during the '60s and '70s of which TALES FROM THE CRYPT is a good example.

This three parter is based around a Tudor mansion with a haunted reputation, told by a museum curator in the present day played by Gatiss himself. While the cheapness of the TV production is sometimes apparent, Gatiss' love and respect for genre makes this an anthology impossible to dislike.

The first story is my favourite. Set in the 18th century, The Wainscoting is a traditional haunted house piece with clever details and a suitably frightening spirit manifestation. Philip Jackson gives an excellent performance as the gruff stock trader heading towards a cruel fate and the vibe I got from this was spot on. The second episode, Something Old, is less successful, it's a story of a family curse that features too little horror and too much exposition. The last story, which I think is just called The Knocker, is on firmer ground and delivers a mildly spooky modern-day haunting.

This is all topped off with a pleasing twist ending which will be familiar to those who have seen and enjoyed the likes of DR TERROR'S HOUSE OF HORRORS.

"Do you believe in ghosts?"

"No. But I'm afraid of them."

So starts a three part ghost story about the Tudor, Geap Manor and the hauntings there.

Part 1. The Wainscot. Joseph Bloxham is flush from the profits of a venture bubble that has left dozens of other investors in ruin. He buys Geap Manor and goes about installing improvements including some fine wainscoting in the drawing room. But there is something unquiet about the wood and at night he hears noises coming from behind the panels.

Part 2. Something Old. Geap House is the venue of a costume party of bright young things in 1927. The host announces his engagement to Ruth Sykes. Soon after Ruth sees visions of a veiled bride gliding among the guests.

Part 3. The Knocker. Geap House has been pulled down but its door knocker turns up in a historian's back garden. He fastens it to his own front door. Then at exactly 2:43 at night; someone or something knocks the door.

Overall I really enjoyed Crooked House, an excellent trio of proper old-fashioned ghost stories.

The Wainscot is the best ghost story and is worth a 9 on its own.

Something Old suffers from a lack of atmosphere, the house never feels threatening.

The door knocker from part three is a brilliant mechanism for a spooky tale and while still good; the latter half of the story does not match the introduction.

Crooked House was an enjoyable and engaging horror film with a great twist at the end that I didn't see coming. Not to give too much away, the film concerns a young man who is told a couple of stories about a house by a museum curator. To say much more would be to give too much away.

Watch it and pay close attention. This is a great movie for British horror film for horror film buffs.

Mark Gatiss has written us a beautifully scary ghost story. One you could easily envision the telling of round a campfire in the middle of a deep, dark wood. I love the way he ties the beginning, which starts in today's time, back through time, of 3 separate stories all revolving around a grotesque door knocker which binds them all together. Mark Gatiss with his wonderful narrative voice is the teller of the tale, to a young history teacher who has just purchased a home in which he finds the unusual aforementioned object in his garden. Thus begins his nightmare. A classic ghost story, not dependent on buckets of gore, endless foul language, or gratuitous sex scenes. Just a well written tale. I was enthralled from beginning to end. Kudos for a job very well done Mr. Gatiss!