When the Lights Went Out (Pat Holden, 2012)

The market is packed with ghost movies (a lot thanks to the success of the Paranormal Activity franchise I guess?), but it's quite rare a good one shows up. Most of the time they end up like so silly, so stupid, it's hard to take them seriously - or so serious there's hardly any ghost stories left in them. When the Lights Went Out is a very nice addition to the genre, a movie that takes itself seriously but doesn't turn pretentious. I've heard the budget is fairly low compared to other UK movies, but it's not something you notice. It's an ambitious project - inspired by real events. 

When a family moves to a new house they soon starts to experience strange things. Lamps move, they can feel the touch of someone's hand against their shoulder, kitchen equipment turns off and on, doors slam in their faces. Sure, normal hauntings - you could live with that... at least until everything becomes even worse. The spirit - or what the hell it is - turns against their teenage daughter! But the mother in the family refuses to move.... and the poltergeist turns more and more violent! 

The story is inspired by real events that happen in the beginning of the 70's (but the movie is set in 1974) at the house belonging to the Pritchard family. According to them it was the Black Monk of Pontefract who haunted them. The director of this movie, Pat Holden, claims to be related with the family. The mom in the movie is his aunt and his mother experienced the ghost/poltergeist herself while visiting the house. So it's from a reliable source at least. Very fascinating stuff. But like always when these spectacular hauntings happens there's a teenager involved. I think someone just got a bit bored and wanted attention. But that's a completely different story. 

True or not, it still gives us a good story. The filmmakers have spent a lot time and money trying to make the time period be as realistic as possible. I have a friend who's family comes from Yorkshire, where the movie is set, and was raised there during the time, and he says it looks amazing. They really done some good job there. But the set design doesn't make a movie. Thankfully director Holden tells the story with a subtle style, very intimate and up close to the characters involved. This makes the scares even more successful because they break the silence, the rhythm, in a glorious way.  On the other side, when the director finally lets go and goes berserk at the end - throwing special effects and ghosts at us - it kinda feels more like a cheap Hollywood movie than anything else. I really don't mind it, but I can agree that it actually snaps you out of the atmosphere very fast. 

It doesn't bother me, but it could have been handled better. My favorite part of the movie is the presence of excellent character actor Gary Lewis, who plays the poor catholic priest who's literary forced (in an original way) to do an exorcism. Great actor and a nice streak of black comedy in the middle of it.

I watched the first half of When the Lights Went Out in the middle of the day, until it was time to do the laundry. Our laundry facility is deep down in the basment, with a long dark corridor right outside the door. First we have the laundry room and connected to that the drying room.

Let me tell you... I checked that other room ten times during doing the laundry. Why? Because I thought I heard something. Wasn't there a dark shape sneaking through the door?  What was that sound? My mind started to spin. I imagined a child sitting behind the machine, looking at me. I stopped turning my back to the door... Oh, how the mind fucks around with us humans!

That is, my friends, a certificate of a good movie. 

Comments

[Megatron]

"The market is packed with ghost movies (a lot thanks to the success of the Paranormal Activity franchise I guess?), but it's quite rare a good one shows up."

Probably, and the fact that the technology is so cheap, that practically anyone can do a horror/ghost story.

You keep productions costs low and you might have hit on your hands.

"So it's from a reliable source at least. Very fascinating stuff. But like always when these spectacular hauntings happens there's a teenager involved. I think someone just got a bit bored and wanted attention. But that's a completely different story."

I usually just assume it´s a marketing gimmick......to sell the movie.

But wether it´s based on reality or not....doesn´t matter....I´ll see it anyway.

"It doesn't bother me, but it could have been handled better."

I suppose the director wanted an spectacular ending......?

Sometimes it works, and sometimes not.

"My favorite part of the movie is the presence of excellent character actor Gary Lewis, who plays the poor catholic priest who's literary forced (in an original way) to do an exorcism. Great actor and a nice streak of black comedy in the middle of it."

Yeah, like I said before, very talented guy, I like him.

"Let me tell you... I checked that other room ten times during doing the laundry. Why? Because I thought I heard something. Wasn't there a dark shape sneaking through the door? What was that sound? My mind started to spin. I imagined a child sitting behind the machine, looking at me. I stopped turning my back to the door... Oh, how the mind fucks around with us humans!"

Yeah, don´t you just hate those moments....?

All of sudden the world around became a much creepier, darker place.......every shadow is hiding something....

"That is, my friends, a certificate of a good movie. "

Yeah, good review and thanks.

[Fred Anderson]

"I usually just assume it´s a marketing gimmick......to sell the movie."

Well, this is a famous case since long way back.

[Megatron]

Fred: Yeah.....I know.