Haunted (1995)
Professor and skeptic Aiden Quinn is asked to stay at an old house by house keeper Anna Massey who is sure the place is haunted. Once there he meets the house's occupants, three siblings, and events begin to take a turn for the slightly strange.
Based on a novel by the great James Herbert, Haunted is a terrific ghostly Gothic thriller. Former Bond and Educating Rita director Lewis Gilbert keeps things ticking over steadily adding welcome characterization whilst keeping the viewer just on the right side of uneasy. The three siblings played by Alex Lowe, Kate Beckinsale and Anthony Andrews are all a little too familiar with each other, especially Beckinsale and Andrews whose relationship is all rather incestuous despite Beckinsale seemingly falling for Quinn as well.
As with the best haunted chillers, the scares are subtle, a creaking door here, footsteps on the steps there, and all the better for it.
Fans of ghostly old dark house films should really enjoy this, as should Beckinsale's army of followers. Just remember...James Herbert came well before The Others (2001).
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