A famed author and professor, Mary Florescu(Sophie Ward), of books dealing with paranormal matters discovers a house which might finally provide the proof needed to give those who consider her work mere fiction posing a possible fact asking for faith from readers of a mostly cynical generation. A room within the house could very well be a gateway for the dead wishing for their stories to be heard, and Mary might've found a "lightning rod" in a student of hers attending the local university, Simon McNeal(Jonas Armstrong), whose claims of clairvoyance might benefit her new book. Mary's photographic expert, Reg(Paul Blair)doesn't trust Simon, believing he could be a fake using tricks to gain notoriety and fame. The trio will be in for quite a surprise as the dead do in fact use Simon as a means of communication..through written word on his skin!
Director John Harrison(Tales from the Darkside:The Movie) applies a methodical, leisurely pace, allowing the story to gradually reveal what is obvious. Rather a mean-spirited, albeit cold-as-ice treatment of a story I felt was probably presented on page in a similar fashion. Heavy dependency on CGI throughout particularly regarding the ghosts of the movie who appear mostly towards the end. The grisly torn flesh of Simon is certain to cause weary viewers to cringe a bit. Harrison's film has a very sleek look and the camera work is first-rate, not to mention the setting in Scotland provides an interesting venue with a European cast giving understated performances which coincides with the rather lukewarm mood(..the film is shot desaturated further setting the somber tone).
The film is initially told by Simon in flashback to a "collector" who has kidnapped him, having latched him to a table, informing the young man that he plans to fillet him due to a customer's desire for his skin. The collector is a cold-blooded sort who seems to enjoy his heinous line of work. This sets up in our minds that all will not go well for poor Simon, and we can only watch as his relationship with Mary, sexual and otherwise, leads him down a path of destruction, while hers actually gives birth to enlightenment.
Director John Harrison(Tales from the Darkside:The Movie) applies a methodical, leisurely pace, allowing the story to gradually reveal what is obvious. Rather a mean-spirited, albeit cold-as-ice treatment of a story I felt was probably presented on page in a similar fashion. Heavy dependency on CGI throughout particularly regarding the ghosts of the movie who appear mostly towards the end. The grisly torn flesh of Simon is certain to cause weary viewers to cringe a bit. Harrison's film has a very sleek look and the camera work is first-rate, not to mention the setting in Scotland provides an interesting venue with a European cast giving understated performances which coincides with the rather lukewarm mood(..the film is shot desaturated further setting the somber tone).
The film is initially told by Simon in flashback to a "collector" who has kidnapped him, having latched him to a table, informing the young man that he plans to fillet him due to a customer's desire for his skin. The collector is a cold-blooded sort who seems to enjoy his heinous line of work. This sets up in our minds that all will not go well for poor Simon, and we can only watch as his relationship with Mary, sexual and otherwise, leads him down a path of destruction, while hers actually gives birth to enlightenment.