In this film, a nurse on her first day has to work the overnight shift in a hospital that to conserve power during a crisis, shuts the power off throughout the night. But of-course when the lights are out, things get more interesting. Atmosphere is key here and the film does an incredible job of establishing one that's dark and increasingly more eerie as the film progresses. Some scenes take full advantage of that dynamic to generate some really creepy moments. It's a slow burn that concludes with a satisfying ending that delivers a message. Also, not to be forgotten is the performance by Rose Victoria Williams , she's does a great job.
103 Reviews
atmospheric location
SnoopyStyle5 August 2021
It's 1974 London. Britain is facing union strife and power cuts. Val (Rose Williams) is a new nurse in a rundown hospital. Something scary is lurking in the blackout darkness.
I like the time and the setting. This is essentially a moody haunted house horror. Rose Williams is a perfectly fine pretty actress. It is a bit flat. The characters aren't much. There isn't much to this movie. It's fine as a B-horror.
I like the time and the setting. This is essentially a moody haunted house horror. Rose Williams is a perfectly fine pretty actress. It is a bit flat. The characters aren't much. There isn't much to this movie. It's fine as a B-horror.
A British Horror Pearl
portal179010 April 2021
Really wanted to like this but ended up hating it
mike_film099 April 2021
Yes, there are worse horror movies out there, but there are few where such a promising idea - the setting being the UK miners' strike of 1974, which plunged whole areas into darkness for lack of electricity - has been so wastefully ditched for a slack possession-style tale with little resonance.
There are good things: the main actress is accomplished, the photography classy. But there's little story to speak of, hence the need for the main character's part to 'self-generate' any drama there is.
One of the producers, Lizzie Francke, has a great track record especially for the UK (remember the transgressive Donkey Punch, which, um, punched well above its weight?). This film doesn't add to it.
I'm not even saying avoid the film. If you're a horror fan, you've seen it all done better. If you like Brit movies, maybe you might get something from it. But it definitely won't be what's promised by Shudder.
There are good things: the main actress is accomplished, the photography classy. But there's little story to speak of, hence the need for the main character's part to 'self-generate' any drama there is.
One of the producers, Lizzie Francke, has a great track record especially for the UK (remember the transgressive Donkey Punch, which, um, punched well above its weight?). This film doesn't add to it.
I'm not even saying avoid the film. If you're a horror fan, you've seen it all done better. If you like Brit movies, maybe you might get something from it. But it definitely won't be what's promised by Shudder.
Boils down to preference.
Mclovin29051410 April 2021
This is a slow burn, I really enjoyed the setting of the 70s, I have faint memories of hospitals being like this when I was young even though I was born in the nineties, I always found the corridors in hospitals to be eerily long, and you dont really find that anywhere else in the UK, the film is true to the time, miners strikes in the seventies if any of you remember them, the dark hallways and added supernatural scenes just add to the scare factor, I think if your older you will enjoy it as you will be able to relate and maybe remember some of these times, for the younger if your looking for quick jumps dont bother, also a decent ending to top it off, it's more a horror drama than full on horror, 6.5 out of 10 from me, reccomend.
A Nurse in a Dark Hospital
jfgibson7318 July 2021
I didn't find this movie very engaging or memorable. There were some things well done about it--it builds slowly and has lots of atmosphere--but overall, it's the ending that let me down. I wanted to appreciate the metaphor, but it was a bit heavy handed. And only a short while after watching, I have to strain to remember details. I don't really recommend this movie, even if you think you might appreciate the socio-political undertones.
Good film
demaym13 April 2021
The reviews here seem very odd and a couple look like they've been written by the same person, so I'll add some perspective.
Well acted by the lead - dark and suspenseful. I wouldn't even call this a 'slow burn' actually because all horror films need to set the scene initially and that's what this film did - the pace seemed usual.
By the halfway mark it had become quite creepy, with lots of jump scares and twisted events. The ending delivers too - it's quite clever and unexpected. On the whole, it was well written, well produced and looked great visually.
Ignore the negative reviews on here and make up your own mind - IMDB seems to be a dumping ground for negative review brigading these days and for small indpendent films like this, it can seriously skew the perspective. If you're looking for a good British horror, then it's worth a watch in my opinion.
Well acted by the lead - dark and suspenseful. I wouldn't even call this a 'slow burn' actually because all horror films need to set the scene initially and that's what this film did - the pace seemed usual.
By the halfway mark it had become quite creepy, with lots of jump scares and twisted events. The ending delivers too - it's quite clever and unexpected. On the whole, it was well written, well produced and looked great visually.
Ignore the negative reviews on here and make up your own mind - IMDB seems to be a dumping ground for negative review brigading these days and for small indpendent films like this, it can seriously skew the perspective. If you're looking for a good British horror, then it's worth a watch in my opinion.
High expectations, but avg results
Bone301115 April 2021
Light in the dark
kosmasp1 December 2021
There are quite a few missdirections in this movie. And I understand if you feel like the movie might have wasted your time on certain occassions. Having said that, it is a trip (no pun intended) and if you cut it somet slack, the movie has some interesting themes and ideas.
Not everything works out perfectly, but the intentions are clear. And the message of the movie is too. Not everything that we see, is what we think it is. Sometimes we need to shed some light on it (no pun intended I think) - especially if you find yourself in the dark (alright maybe some pun intended).
Well played and acted, this is a decent horror movie, with a solid story.
Not everything works out perfectly, but the intentions are clear. And the message of the movie is too. Not everything that we see, is what we think it is. Sometimes we need to shed some light on it (no pun intended I think) - especially if you find yourself in the dark (alright maybe some pun intended).
Well played and acted, this is a decent horror movie, with a solid story.
Childish essay on 'men bad'.
Victor_Fallon22 May 2021
On the plus side, Rose Williams is a welcome screen presence but this movie does nothing but shove her into boring situations and cram her mouth full of woeful, immature dialogue.
The music is... creative? I suppose? I mean, it's wonky and weird. It's not exactly Mica Levi, but at least it's trying to be different. The cinematography is occassionally competent too.
But the script... god have mercy. Apparently set in 1974 (though looks like a pre-war film for most of the runtime), Rose is working in a hospital during rolling power cuts and, during the night, very mild horror cliches are churned out in long, lazily edited sequences. All of the characters are just vessels for clunky lines delivered in a humourless monotone.
The ending is laugh-out-loud funny, but not worth the ticket price. As many others have said, it absolutely smacks you around the face with its political messaging, but I won't lose sleep over its rotten core of misandry. The 'message' here is so juvenile and cringeworthy that it holds no power. Ironically.
One star, for Rose.
The music is... creative? I suppose? I mean, it's wonky and weird. It's not exactly Mica Levi, but at least it's trying to be different. The cinematography is occassionally competent too.
But the script... god have mercy. Apparently set in 1974 (though looks like a pre-war film for most of the runtime), Rose is working in a hospital during rolling power cuts and, during the night, very mild horror cliches are churned out in long, lazily edited sequences. All of the characters are just vessels for clunky lines delivered in a humourless monotone.
The ending is laugh-out-loud funny, but not worth the ticket price. As many others have said, it absolutely smacks you around the face with its political messaging, but I won't lose sleep over its rotten core of misandry. The 'message' here is so juvenile and cringeworthy that it holds no power. Ironically.
One star, for Rose.
well , its nifty...
ops-525359 April 2021
Or ''nifs'' as i would say in norwegian, and a horror movie that hits the target of my occupation, as a medical nurse. Add to that that ive worked night shifts for 19 years ive had my turns and nerves tested through blackouts, not as a result of a stike, but due to bad weather. And that adds the sugar to the cake, when the cold comes creeping, and the squeking noises of beams bending in the loft construction, and the fluttering glow of my nightingale lamp( yes we had them back then) makes the shadows in the corners come alive, and my colleague scare the hecklers outta me every time she rounds a corner. The signal system at our care center usually switch of during outtages, but once it started by itself, ringing the number of an empty room, that had just been cleared of a diseased patient. I dont believe in the prescence of ghosts, but after that shift im always having my headlamp within reach everytime the weather goes cranky....and my thoughts of whether or not a ghost is haunting my workplace really withers form doupt.
Why do i tell you these small secrets of mine. Well its basicly the plot of the british feature film of the horror genre called ''the power''. Its a scary little flick about a young nurses first shift at a royal infirmary somewhere london. Its a small cast movie, almost surtainly made on an average balanced budget, but the acting are reapingly good and the darkfilming and soundwork are executed in a hangmans manor. The shooting locations and production design are riveting at least . Ill admit i had to shut my eyes inbetween and even look at my watch to evade the worst visual jumpscary moments so effectful british filmaking at last(ive been pretty critical lately on bfi products lately).
So if you need a kick start to your own fright of purgatorial wrath and to get a freepass to live through the sins of the past on your nightshift at your nursing station or care home during next blackout, do follow my recommendations. Have a look and learn ,says the grumpy old man.
Why do i tell you these small secrets of mine. Well its basicly the plot of the british feature film of the horror genre called ''the power''. Its a scary little flick about a young nurses first shift at a royal infirmary somewhere london. Its a small cast movie, almost surtainly made on an average balanced budget, but the acting are reapingly good and the darkfilming and soundwork are executed in a hangmans manor. The shooting locations and production design are riveting at least . Ill admit i had to shut my eyes inbetween and even look at my watch to evade the worst visual jumpscary moments so effectful british filmaking at last(ive been pretty critical lately on bfi products lately).
So if you need a kick start to your own fright of purgatorial wrath and to get a freepass to live through the sins of the past on your nightshift at your nursing station or care home during next blackout, do follow my recommendations. Have a look and learn ,says the grumpy old man.
Not bad!!!
craigdales9 April 2021
Frustrating!
Go_For_The_Jugular9 April 2021
I really wanted to like this movie, as it had 2 of my favourite female actors in it...but no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't get into it. I actually switched it off with about 35 minutes remaining.
It was just too slow and dull. I understand that it's based around power cuts, but when a film is so dark, for so long, it's hard to stay focused.
I can only describe it as long periods of absolutely NOTHING happening, followed by short periods of absolutely EVERYTHING happening...rinse and repeat!
I'm not saying it was a bad film, it just wasn't for me.
It was just too slow and dull. I understand that it's based around power cuts, but when a film is so dark, for so long, it's hard to stay focused.
I can only describe it as long periods of absolutely NOTHING happening, followed by short periods of absolutely EVERYTHING happening...rinse and repeat!
I'm not saying it was a bad film, it just wasn't for me.
Nice idea, but...
JTMokko11 June 2021
Very good premise, but sadly execution was lacking. Storyline in the middle was quite blurry. It was hard to take the story seriously or get in the world of characters.
There was a strong feel of misandry. All the male characters were evil and had their right punishment at the end - even thou it wasn't always clear what they did wrong.
I liked music which had a clear influences from the music of the Shining.
There was a strong feel of misandry. All the male characters were evil and had their right punishment at the end - even thou it wasn't always clear what they did wrong.
I liked music which had a clear influences from the music of the Shining.
Standard Horror With A Message
PointSea9 April 2021
The movie was a standard horror, well made, good acting, good sets and well filmed. Downside is there is a lot of dark scenes that are hard to make out the environment.
The plot is not just a murder spree by ghosts but given the social air in 2021 the plot is pretty guessable especially after seeing the cast and the social norms stated in the dialogue. I feel like it could have used a lighter hand in the message and been just as effective.
The plot is not just a murder spree by ghosts but given the social air in 2021 the plot is pretty guessable especially after seeing the cast and the social norms stated in the dialogue. I feel like it could have used a lighter hand in the message and been just as effective.
Misandrist garbage
radhrh12 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This could have been a decent movie but the constant clumsy misandry drags it down. Leaving the anti man narrative aside for a while the atmosphere created by the blacked out Victorian hospital is genuinely spooky it's just a shame this isn't put to better use. Instead the first 75 minutes of run time is almost a random set of events, confused without any exposition or narrative momentum. It's only the final 15 minutes where it makes any sense and even then it's just a continuation of the misandrist schtick. The title is quite clever, The Power is at once the electricity cut, the supernatural entity channeling through the young nurse and, wait for it...the power all men ( who are all evil) hold over women.
The Power is up again!
med-010819 April 2021
Pleasantly surprised with this one. The acting was good from everyone involved. It had some good jump scares but It could have had many more. It had so much potential that it didnt use which would have made it a lot more scary and tense. I mean its in the pitch black of an old hospital! The stairways the atmosphere etc you would think they would exploit this as much as possible but what they did was still good enough and a lot better than a lot of Hollywood blockbusters that got cinema releases. The tension build up was also good enough but again could have been so much better as the potential was there for it to be great. A decent horror film thats worth a watch.
Basic modern story about all men being evil
kuarinofu3 May 2021
The Power is a fine atmospheric film with a predictable story and an ending that is visible an hour before it.
It does the popular theme of all men being evil, but it is still better than other films of the like.
It has a nice atmosphere, the setting is cool, and it is mostly performed well.
Not a whole lot of things happen and it drags a little but is still watchable.
Unlike other films of the 'subgenre' like Amulet or Lucky, it actually feels like a classic ghost revenge story and has horror elements in it.
I understand why films like this one get made.
As a horror film, I'd say it's below average, as a film about a popular topic - the evil of man - around 50/50.
It does the popular theme of all men being evil, but it is still better than other films of the like.
It has a nice atmosphere, the setting is cool, and it is mostly performed well.
Not a whole lot of things happen and it drags a little but is still watchable.
Unlike other films of the 'subgenre' like Amulet or Lucky, it actually feels like a classic ghost revenge story and has horror elements in it.
I understand why films like this one get made.
As a horror film, I'd say it's below average, as a film about a popular topic - the evil of man - around 50/50.
Better than average.
KeriJoe8 April 2021
Firstly, Rose Williams is hot as hell, even if she is quite a bit of weirdo in her role. Secondly, you're gonna realize you have seen a thousand similar ghost story but this one belongs to the better ones, creepy enough and the screenplay is well crafted. The ending is just meh...but anyway, I had a great fun watching it. Recommended!
almost unwatchable
WankerReviews14 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
A woman is a new nurse at a hospital. She's picked on by her co workers and faces some sexual harassment on the first day of the job. Even ghosts mistreat her. It's done in a way where it seems like they're playing pranks on her, and it looks silly. The hospital staff talk a lot of crap about the patients. Makes me wonder why they chose that profession, it's not like it's easy to become a nurse/doctor. It reminded me of real life where a lot of terrible people tend to take jobs dealing with other people who are already in vulnerable situations, like social workers. They hate the very people they care for. This was the only interesting thing about the movie. This should have been a drama since it deals with a heavy subject about sexual abuse. Maybe it would have been taken more seriously, since anything ''scary'' about this is a waste of time. Only thing spooky was the score during the credits.
This was really good!
JaneBingley9 April 2021
Well, this was scary. Or skummelt as I would say in Norwegian 😁
Rose Williams does a splendid job, and so does everyone else, really. I like it when a horror movie does not insult my intelligence, and this one did not.
Working night shift in horror movies is a somewhat used and overused plot, but this time it works well. Hospitals are scary, as poor Rose will soon find out.
I wont spoil anything, just wanted to let you know that its a good movie. It would not have worked with a lesser actress, since some scenes are really demanding. But Rose is amazing.
Working night shift in horror movies is a somewhat used and overused plot, but this time it works well. Hospitals are scary, as poor Rose will soon find out.
I wont spoil anything, just wanted to let you know that its a good movie. It would not have worked with a lesser actress, since some scenes are really demanding. But Rose is amazing.
More promise than power!
briansandoval-4151119 April 2021
This movie has a brilliant concept and all the basic ingredients for a strong supernatural film. In the end, I think the good performances could only take the movie so far before the story strains credibility. I still enjoyed the 'Power' and found it to be for the most part, an interesting and well told chiller!
Well, its garbage...
david699510 April 2021
Or 'søppel' as I like to say in Norwegian. No, I'm not Norwegian, but seeing that there are at least two 'different' reviewers on her that began their review with this oddly-specific phrase, I thought it appropriate. This was literally one of those films that I struggled to get through (and almost didn't). There were just so many long and drawn-out periods where literally nothing happens (unless you count scurrying back and forth in darkened hallways as 'something happening). When something actually DOES occur, it's the usual trite and hackneyed drivel which any seasoned horror fan would roll their eyes at and YAWN. I really wanted to give this a chance, as I recently did a research paper on the miner's strike and the UK's 'Winter of Discontent', so I was so excited to see that this was used as a backdrop to this film...only to realise at the end that it was just an excuse to justify the fact that the production crew only had enough money to rent out a hospital that had been abandoned for 50 years, and could only afford to buy 3 lightbulbs. *sigh*
This movie oozes atmosphere.Its all about actress Rose Williams lovely and talented !
robfollower8 October 2022
Rose Williams is a welcome screen presence excellent in the role she's given. It's not the meatiest role but she gives it her everything and wins the audience over. She's a treat to watch as a budding young actress and I hope to see more of her in better parts in the future. I watched Rose in season 1&2 of PBS Masterpiece period costume piece Sanditon where she is the clear stand out.
This movie oozes atmosphere. The tension builds slowly and is more anxiety inducing than outright jump scares (but there are a handful of those). An atmospheric period horror movie with a bit more to say than you might expect and one that has something to say about real world horrors, too. . Its all about actress Rose Williams she is so lovely and talented and really fun to watch.
London, 1974. As Britain prepares for electrical blackouts to sweep across the country, trainee nurse Val (Rose Williams) arrives for her first day at the crumbling East London Royal Infirmary. With most of the patients and staff evacuated to another hospital, Val is forced to work the night shift, finding herself in a dark, near empty building. Within these walls lies a deadly secret, forcing Val to face both her own traumatic past and deepest fears in order to confront the malevolent force that's intent on destroying everything around her. And, lo! A horror movie situation is born. Like-able Rose Williams, is soon being tugged at, perved on, attacked as she rattles around the hospital from hell getting more and more scared. And scares come easily in a pitch-black abandoned hospital filled with creepy weirdos. And what follows is like Carry on Carrie , or maybe more Carry on Exorcist. Val becomes possessed by a demonic power. Or is she experiencing a psychotic episode? Either way, the bodies are piling up . 7/10.
This movie oozes atmosphere. The tension builds slowly and is more anxiety inducing than outright jump scares (but there are a handful of those). An atmospheric period horror movie with a bit more to say than you might expect and one that has something to say about real world horrors, too. . Its all about actress Rose Williams she is so lovely and talented and really fun to watch.
London, 1974. As Britain prepares for electrical blackouts to sweep across the country, trainee nurse Val (Rose Williams) arrives for her first day at the crumbling East London Royal Infirmary. With most of the patients and staff evacuated to another hospital, Val is forced to work the night shift, finding herself in a dark, near empty building. Within these walls lies a deadly secret, forcing Val to face both her own traumatic past and deepest fears in order to confront the malevolent force that's intent on destroying everything around her. And, lo! A horror movie situation is born. Like-able Rose Williams, is soon being tugged at, perved on, attacked as she rattles around the hospital from hell getting more and more scared. And scares come easily in a pitch-black abandoned hospital filled with creepy weirdos. And what follows is like Carry on Carrie , or maybe more Carry on Exorcist. Val becomes possessed by a demonic power. Or is she experiencing a psychotic episode? Either way, the bodies are piling up . 7/10.
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