Following her work as author of a horror movie book and a brief stint acting in a handful of forgettable flicks including then husband Neil Marshall's disappointing Doomsday and Centurion, Axelle Carolyne made the move to writing and directing her own films. The Manor is a made-for-TV supernatural thriller that shows that Carolyne has considerable potential as a film-maker: the budget mightn't be huge, but this well-crafted mystery possesses a suitably creepy atmosphere and effective visuals that make for a solid little fright feature, while the strong central performance from Barbara Hershey helps to paper over any cracks in the script.
The intriguing set-up sees OAP Judith (Hershey) move into a nursing home (the Manor of the title) following a stroke. Soon after, she begins to witness strange events, including a scary shadowy figure in her room at night. The doctor informs her family that these strange occurrences are all in Judith's mind, the result of the onset of dementia, but Judith is resolute, insisting that she still has all of her faculties; with help from her grandson Josh (Nicholas Alexander), the old woman investigates and uncovers the secret of The Manor.
A traditional spooky horror, the film doesn't rely on fancy special effects or lashings of gore, instead using the gloomy locale and well-drawn characters to conjure up the chills. That said, there is one supernatural character in the film, brilliantly designed but sparingly used, that should keep special effects fans happy (and it doesn't rely on CGI, for a change!). After plenty of sleuthing and mild peril, the mystery is wrapped up with a neat twist and a clever denouement that ensures that Judith need not worry about losing her marbles in the future.
The intriguing set-up sees OAP Judith (Hershey) move into a nursing home (the Manor of the title) following a stroke. Soon after, she begins to witness strange events, including a scary shadowy figure in her room at night. The doctor informs her family that these strange occurrences are all in Judith's mind, the result of the onset of dementia, but Judith is resolute, insisting that she still has all of her faculties; with help from her grandson Josh (Nicholas Alexander), the old woman investigates and uncovers the secret of The Manor.
A traditional spooky horror, the film doesn't rely on fancy special effects or lashings of gore, instead using the gloomy locale and well-drawn characters to conjure up the chills. That said, there is one supernatural character in the film, brilliantly designed but sparingly used, that should keep special effects fans happy (and it doesn't rely on CGI, for a change!). After plenty of sleuthing and mild peril, the mystery is wrapped up with a neat twist and a clever denouement that ensures that Judith need not worry about losing her marbles in the future.