What is it about England that makes it perfect for ghost stories? Is it a rainy and dreary season? The decor-village period has something to do with it, I’m sure. From Sherlock Holmes mysteries to “The Woman in Black” and “Alia” seems to be stopping Merry Ole in England. the public eye as one of the most wanted countries in the world. BBC Films continues to feed this perception with the terrifyingly beautiful “Arousal”.
England in 1921 is suffering from the aftermath of World War 1. Many people look to spirituality for comfort. contacting the dead and the absent through various hidden ways. Hoax exposer Florence Cathcart travels the country debunking hoaxes who use séances and elaborate tricks to lure innocent people seeking answers from their immediate lives. An unsuspecting woman is hired to investigate the apparitions of a ghostly boy in a boarding village in secret. After several attempts to pin ghosts on destructive students, Cathcart struggles to convince himself that the supernatural events he is experiencing are not real.
It’s clear that director/co-writer Nick Murphy had more in mind when making “Arousal” than what initially showed on screen. He says in the extra notes that the film spies England’s reaction to the First World War and uses that as the basis for the events and actions of the characters. Florence Cathcart lost faith in God or the afterlife because her husband was killed in the war. Almost everyone in the film was somehow affected by the war either directly or indirectly.
Murphy used the time period to his advantage and effectively created a disturbing and gripping story. It has some great twists and a wonderful setting in the peaceful gray halls of the abandoned boarding house. I just don’t expect the same kinds of jump-scares we get in Hollywood horror stories. “Excitement” is sophisticated and offers a few at a time.
Every actor in “Awakened” delivers a consistent performance. Imelda Staunton plays a legendary role in the protective and timid house named Matilda Hill. Rebecca Hall fully embraces her infidelity as a character and turns through a vast range of emotions with the ease of Florence Cathcart.
The DVD version of “Excitement” has deleted scenes with introductions by Director/Co-writer Nick Murphy. There is also a 25-minute feature entitled “Time for Ghosts” that explores the setting and impact of historical events in the movie< /a>. The history of spiritualism also took place in England.
Watching “The Awakening” is as entertaining an experience as you can get watching a gothic tale. Everything you want in a classic fairy tale is present – a large dark house, suspicious characters and the presence of ghosts. It offers many deeper reflections on life than what we get from modern American horror films.
“Arousal” is now available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital Download.
For more articles by Eric Shirey, e:
Blu-ray Review: “Mimesis: Night of the Living Dead”
DVD Review: “Cherry Tree Lane
Blu-ray Review: “Paranormal Activity 4: Unrated Edition”
