IMDb > Paperhouse (1988)
Paperhouse
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Paperhouse (1988) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
6.8/10   1,701 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 2% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Catherine Storr (novel)
Matthew Jacobs (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for Paperhouse on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
17 February 1989 (USA) more
Tagline:
A drawing that became a dream. A dream that became reality. more
Plot:
Anna is becoming lost in the loneliness of her own world when she discovers she can visit another, a... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
3 wins & 1 nomination more
User Comments:
Fantastic more (45 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
Charlotte Burke ... Anna Madden
Jane Bertish ... Miss Vanstone
Samantha Cahill ... Sharon

Glenne Headly ... Kate Madden
Sarah Newbold ... Karen (Anna's school friend)
Gary Bleasdale ... Policeman
Elliott Spiers ... Marc
Gemma Jones ... Dr. Sarah Nicols
Steven O'Donnell ... Dustman

Ben Cross ... Dad Madden
Karen Gledhill ... Nurse
Barbara Keogh ... Hotel receptionist
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Additional Details

Runtime:
92 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Despite playing the lead character in this film, Charlotte Burke never appeared in any film ever again. more
Goofs:
Boom mic visible: When Anna is lying in bed, the boom mic visible in top center of screen. more
Quotes:
Dad Madden: Anna... you're going to be all right. Just stay where you are. Daddy's here. more
Movie Connections:

FAQ

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25 out of 29 people found the following comment useful.
Fantastic, 12 November 2003
Author: (jasonayoub73@hotmail.com) from Toronto

I was absolutely stunned while watching this fantasy/horror film. The original plot has Anna (an eleven year old girl with glandular fever) sketching the crude drawing of a house during the opening scene. As her fever worsens, she repetedly dreams of the same house on an open field. In her dreams, the house is brilliantly lit up and really looks like a child's drawing, which I found a rather frightening image. Anna dreams of adventures in the house with a boy named Marc, and these adventures turn more sinister as her illness becomes more serious. There seems to be a link between her illness and the evil she must face in the house, but like many things in the movie, this is only hinted at.

In many ways I found this movie better than the book, Marianne Dreams by Catherine Storr. Although the book does contain some subtle horror, it is basically for children. However, the movie offers some real scares as well as an underlying atmosphere of suppressed horror. There is something unnerving in the scenes when Anna is exploring the empty house that is difficult to put your finger on.

Perhaps the reason this amazing film wasn't a huge commercial success was because it's difficult to determine it's intended audience. While the character of Anna might appeal to pre-teens, some scenes (in particular the one when the father tries to break into the house with a hammer) are far to intense for young children. Most adults may be put off by the plot, but if they're at all interested in child or dream psycology, or just want to see something different, I'd throughly reccomend it.

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Message Boards

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Where can I find this movie? showstopper714
cited in another review jasonay
The dad shes_dead
Marc? River1990
Earlier 'Paperhouse' TV adaptation out on DVD! rp-j
Appropriate for kids? jasonay
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