Number 13 (TV 2006)

In order to authenticate some historical papers in a cathedral town, Oxbridge academic Anderson stays at a local hotel in room 12, initially disregarding the lack of a number 13 as ... See full summary »

Director:

Pier Wilkie

Writers:

Justin Hopper (adaptation), M.R. James (story)

Stars:

Greg Wise, Paul Freeman, David Burke

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Greg Wise	...	Professor Anderson
Paul Freeman	...	Mr. Harrington, Cathedral Archivist
David Burke	...	Gunton, Hotel Landlord
Tom Burke	...	Edward Jenkins
Charlotte Comer	...	Alice
Anton Saunders	...	Thomas

Storyline

In order to authenticate some historical papers in a cathedral town, Oxbridge academic Anderson stays at a local hotel in room 12, initially disregarding the lack of a number 13 as provincial superstition. During the night, noise conspires to keep him awake and the historian is astonished to come face to face with door number 13. Continuing his work, a history of a reformation era witchcraft scandal emerges. The nocturnal disturbances escalate, leading Anderson with no choice but to open the door to room number 13...

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Plot Keywords:

ghost story | ghost

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Genres:

Horror

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Details

Official Sites:

BBC 4 [uk]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 December 2006 (UK)

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

40 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

User Reviews

Holy ghost

M.R. James is considered the best ghost short-story teller of all so that all it takes to tell an effective tale is to follow the source and that's just what is done here. Period detail, interior sets, costumes and language are all intact here in this spooky teller of the mysterious room 13 in a small hotel the dark secret behind which flares up into life when an innocent ecclesiastical scholar comes across a secret note in his research. The other-worldly effects aren't overdone, with no great special effects employed to convey the other-worldly visitation, merely some shadow-play, lighting effects and off- camera sound effects, but this is in keeping with the general, unspectacular tenor of the piece, saving the viewer's imagination to do its own work, which is as it should be. My only carp with the story is that in the end-up three parties enter the foreboding Room 13 at once, when any horror scholar will tell you that this should be done by one party acting alone. All of the acting was solid and without histrionics and the neat twist at the end which explained the sudden disappearance of a previous scholar at the same hotel was a good finishing touch.