When the Lights Went Out

"Very Good"

When the Lights Went Out Review


Based on an outrageous true story, this is essentially Britain's own Amityville Horror, as a family haplessly moves into a house occupied by a noisy, terrifying ghost. The filmmakers create a strong freak-out atmosphere, jolting us out of our seats several times along the way, but some plot points ring false and some scenes feel a bit silly.

It's 1974 when Jenny and Len (Ashfield and Waddington) move into a new home.

They're delighted with the increase in space and the lovely Yorkshire setting, but their 17-year-old daughter Sally (Connor) is annoyed that her life has been disrupted. And the rolling blackouts don't help either, especially since the darkness seems to reveal something malevolent lurking in the shadows.

Meanwhile, Sally befriends both a lonely neighbour (Clifford) and the spirit of a young girl who's trying to get them to leave. Which of course causes her teacher (Compston) to worry about her home life. And as things get worse, Jenny and Len turn to a ghostbuster (Pitts) and a local priest (Lewis) for help.

The complexity of the story adds to the realism, as does the inventive photography and editing, which cleverly combines the brown 1970s hues with creepy lights and shadows. Most of the story is told from Sally's perspective, and Connor infuses the film with a potent teen sulk. Her mood swings and unrealistic expectations contrast nicely with the supernatural eeriness.

Cleverly, writer-director Holden reveals the ghostly goings on through insinuation, using tiny glimpses and almost imperceptible noises to let us know that something's not quite right.

The problem is that a movie can't stay in this mode. It has to crank up the terror, and as the ghostly infestation becomes more visual, it becomes less scary. Loud noises, corny visual effects, grisly flashbacks and demonic smoke all begin to feel rather ridiculous, leaving us time to think about the plot's clunkier elements (such as the oddly sudden way the priest is coerced into performing an illicit exorcism). But despite some unintended laughs, there are several genuinely unnerving scenes in this film. And the cast is excellent at making sure we sometimes feel as scared as their characters.

Rich Cline



When the Lights Went Out

Facts and Figures

Run time: 86 mins

In Theaters: Friday 14th September 2012

Distributed by: Revolver Entertainment

Production compaines: Kintop Pictures

Reviews

Contactmusic.com: 3.5 / 5

Rotten Tomatoes: 22%
Fresh: 2 Rotten: 7

IMDB: 5.3 / 10

Cast & Crew

Director: Pat Holden

Producer: Bil Bungay,

Starring: as Jenny, as Jeanette, as Mr. Price, as Len, Craig Parkinson as Brian, Tasha Connor as Sally, as Father Clifton, Peter Egan as Peter, as Rita, Tony Pitts as Hilary Barnes

Also starring:

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