The Sick House (2007)

Director:

Curtis Radclyffe

Writers:

Curtis Radclyffe (story)
Romla Walker (writer)

Genre:

Horror

Plot:

Terror lurks in the old orphanage, beneath a disused London hospital - a Seventeeth Century malevolence, the Plague Doctor, has returned to complete his evil masterpiece...

Cast

Gina Philips	...	Anna
Alex Hassell	...	Nick
Kellie Shirley	...	Joolz
Andrew Knott	...	Steve
Jack Bailey	...	Clive
John Lebar	...	Plague Doctor
Romla Walker	...	Professor Joan Holland
Tom Wontner	...	Frank
Gregg Harris	...	Dave
Stuart Brennan	...	Classroom Student
Finlay Carr	...	Baby
Gillian MacGregor	...	Jo
Sam Burke	...	Ragged boy
Abe Buckoke	...	Ragged boy
Alfie Owen	...	Ragged boy

Also Known As:

The Host (UK) (working title)
The Prey (UK) (working title)
The Sickhouse (USA) (DVD title)

Runtime:

Germany:100 min (European Film Market)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Filming Locations:

Bridget Riley Studios, Dace Road, Bow, London, England, UK

Company:

Hopscotch Films

Trivia:

Cameo: [Charlotte Wontner]a police officer in the final wide-shot of the film.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Childs voiceover: In the blood, there is a sickness. There, might living creatures be seen. Visions of strange, monstrous and frightful shapes such as dragons, snakes, serpents and demons terrible to behold.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Mediocre at best

We hear about it far too much in the horror genre: a poorly made film with an interesting premise.

Had this shied away from the punk-teen angle (like that of Bava's 'Demons') and headed for straight horror (maybe on the level of 'El Orfanato'), it could've had the chance to be a rather good film. Instead, poor writing, bad direction, seemingly bored actors, and silly camera tricks in exchange for real scares, we're left with yet another forgettable haunted-house picture.

I'd say pass it up and wait for 'The Orphanage' on DVD. Or, if you can't wait, check out 'The Devil's Backbone.'

-AP3-