Haunting in Cawdor, A

Stars: Shelby Young, Cary Elwes, Michael Welch, Phil Black, Alexandria Deberry

Director: Phil Wurtzel

Quite a nifty little horror film completely ruined by a dreadful ending, in which nothing is resolved, no questions are answered and we are left up in the air. Can a ghost commit murder? It seems unlikely, in which case it seems that the identity of the culprit is never revealed.

Young stars as Vivian, one of 10 young parolees sent for rehabilitation and a lot of hard work at a remote theatre (if it's 20 miles from anywhere, from where does the clientele come?). The owner (Elwes), a long-faded Broadway light, is staging a production of Macbeth, for which Vivian's audition wins her the lead.

But she also comes into possession of a videotape which seems to indicate that a previous possessor of the role was killed by a mysterious hooded figure.

Her mood is lightened by the on-off appearance of the owner's son Roddy (Welch), whom she seems to know. But how much of this is in Vivian's own tormented imagination - in the past she appears to have killed someone - we'll never know.

Situations are set up here and there, but rarely followed through and basically not enough happens. But it is spooky and has one outstandingly jumpy moment. Leading lady's good, too - but oh! that ending.

David Quinlan

USA 2015. UK Distributor: Miracle Communications. Colour (unspecified).
100 minutes. Not widescreen. UK certificate: 15.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 0, Violence/Horror 2, Drugs 0, Swearing 2.

Review date: 04 Oct 2015