Urban Ghost Story
| Urban Ghost Story | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Geneviève Jolliffe |
| Written by | Geneviève Jolliffe, Chris Jones |
| Produced by | Chris Jones, Jagjit Singh Banwait, David Hardwick, Ian Hierons |
| Starring | Jason Connery, Stephanie Buttle, Heather Ann Foster, Nicola Stapleton |
| Cinematography | Jon Walker |
| Edited by | Eddie Hamilton |
| Music by | Rupert Gregson-Williams |
Production company | Living Spirit Pictures |
Release date | 1998 |
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Urban Ghost Story is a 1998 British horror film set in a high-rise housing estate in Glasgow. It is directed by Geneviève Jolliffe, written by Geneviève Jolliffe and Chris Jones, and stars Jason Connery, Stephanie Buttle, and Heather Ann Foster.[1]
Plot
The plot follows 12-year-old Lizzie (Heather Ann Foster) who, after being involved in a road traffic accident and suffering a near-death experience, feels that she is haunted by a malicious spirit that she brought back with her from the afterlife. Although surrounded by people who disbelieve her claims, Lizzie and her mother eventually encounters a journalist who, although initially skeptical, comes to eventually believe the claims and with the assistance of a university parapsychologist the family start to confront with the events.
Cast
- Jason Connery ... John Fox
- Stephanie Buttle ... Kate Fisher
- Heather Ann Foster ... Lizzie Fisher
- Nicola Stapleton ... Kerrie
- James Cosmo ... Minister
- Elizabeth Berrington ... Mrs. Ash
- Siri Neal ... Social Worker (as Siri O'Neal)
- Andreas Wisniewski ... Quinn
- Billy Boyd ... Loan Shark
- Kenneth Bryans ... Mr. Ash
- Carolyn Bonnyman ... Mrs. Miller
- Alan Owen ... Alex Fisher
- Stephen MacDonald ... Coroner
- Julie Austin ... Teacher
- Nicola Greene ... WPC Tomkins
Production
Following production of their previous film, White Angel (1994 film), Geneviève Jolliffe and Chris Jones researched Poltergeist activity including the Enfield Poltergeist occurrences.[2] Filming took place at Ealing Studios with location shots done in Glasgow.[3]
Reception
The film was nominated for two British Independent Film Awards. It won two Fantafestival awards, for Best Actress and Best Film. Total Film magazine described the film as "Poltergeist, Ken Loach-style".[4] Michael Thomson stated that "the director relies on too much editing within scenes, so the film often moves too quickly from one face to another instead of moving fluently with unbroken shots. In this way we are unhooked from a film which should really have grabbed and gripped."[5]
References
- ^ "Internet Movie Database". imdb.com. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
- ^ "Living Spirit Pictures, Paranormal Research Notes". livingspiritgroup.com. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
- ^ "Mark Emery, Britmovie.co.uk". Britmovie.co.uk. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
- ^ "Total Film Urban Ghost Story Review". Total Film magazine. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
- ^ "Urban Ghost Story Review". BBC.com. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
