Whistle and I'll Come to You (2010)

After placing his ailing wife Alice (Gemma Jones) in a care home, retired academic James Parkin (John Hurt) goes to stay at a wintry out-of-season hotel which they used to visit together. ... See full summary »

Director:

Andy De Emmony

Writers:

Neil Cross, M.R. James (short story)

Stars:

John Hurt, Gemma Jones, Lesley Sharp

Cast

Cast overview:
John Hurt	...	James Parkin
Gemma Jones	...	Alice Parkin
Lesley Sharp	...	Hetty
Sophie Thompson	...	Carol

Storyline

After placing his ailing wife Alice (Gemma Jones) in a care home, retired academic James Parkin (John Hurt) goes to stay at a wintry out-of-season hotel which they used to visit together. Walking on a deserted beach he finds a ring with a Latin inscription which translates as "Who Is This Who Is Coming". He takes the ring back to the hotel but at night he hears loud banging on his door, even though he is the sole guest, as well as seeing a white-clad apparition that follows him on the beach. He is seemingly the victim of supernatural revenge. But who is the avenger?

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Plot Keywords:

horror movie remake | remake | 

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Quotes

James Parkin: I wish you'd seen her when she was herself. I was a very lucky man. The only thing is, you do begin to think, with no children, that when you're gone, there's nothing left. A whole lifetime of loving someone just finished up. And forgotten. It all seems strangely wasteful to me. Inelegant. The universe is usually so parsimonious; conservation of energy and so on. But not when it comes to love. When it comes to love, the universe is oddly profligate.

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Connections

Version of Omnibus: Whistle and I'll Come to You (1968)

User Reviews

Don't listen to the naysayers

One of the best ghost stories ever put on film. People who are disparaging this version of the MR James story because it "is not a close enough adaptation" should A) come to a better understanding of the concept of adaptation, and B) judge the film on its own merits. For the sake of comparison, Blade Runner is an extraordinarily loose adaptation of the original novel, and yet both novel and film stand on their own merits as excellent works. The same holds true here.

The James story has been adapted again and again. What makes this version especially strong is its singular interpretation of the psychological dimensions present in the original story; a stunning emotional resonance pertaining to loss, grief, existential despair, and the externalization of these emotions in the form of a haunting, which is a prototypical Gothic convention - if you like the Kyoshi Kurosawa ghost films Retribution and Seance chances are you will like this film); as well as the creepy, and at moments, terrifying use of sound and camera work. All this, combined with John hurt's superb acting.

This is a great film. Those giving it low review is just don't get it.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 December 2010 (UK)

Also Known As:

Ты свистни - тебя не заставлю я ждать

Filming Locations:

Botany Bay, Thanet, Kent, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Drama Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1