The Enfield Haunting (2015)

Too much of everything

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

I have seen this TV film quietly on my couch next to my wife, one of those Sunday afternoons without much to do and almost by chance, and I must say that I was very pleasantly surprised ... In fact, I truly believe that it is a small jewel and aspiring cult movie. The setting is surprisingly good, the script, based on a book by Guy Lyon Playfair (one of the Enfield investigators), is magnificent. It does not abuse of any special effects, and it does back to the typical horror- suspense movies of the 70's and 80's like "The Changeling" type. Now that all horror films are gore or a collection of special effects, that is thankful. In addition, the script is full of subtle comic moments, surreal even, perfectly matched with the suspense of the film, that far from falling into the "Scary Movie" manners, what it does is humanize the characters, make them closer to the viewer and endow them with a certain psychological depth; help to this the great performances (along with the great script), of practically all the actors and actresses of this, in my opinion, small great work of art. The girl who plays Janet (Eleanor Worthington Cox) and the actor who plays Grosse (Timothy Spall) are immeasurable, great. The background of the work transcends the simple entertainment cinema (which is, but with quality), and penetrates into areas such as the importance of attachment in relationships, love, youth and adolescence, the importance of family, etc ... Simply great, hopefully this type of cinema more personal (even if it is in the fantastic-terror terrain) popularizes and more works are done as well as this. It is not necessary to spend a million- euro in special effects in a movie so that it can turn out (this film is proof of it), in fact this film gains credibility by using the just and the just, sometimes very handmade. A film conceived for TV, very good and highly recommended!.

If you are familiar with the REAL account of the Enfield haunting, you would have heard stories of a divorce which tore a family apart, sending a mother and her two adolescent girls to a council flat in Enfield London. In 1977 Poltergeist activity began in the flat mostly in the Girl's bedroom, and in the walls. There were sounds of knocking, a scratching fireplace and objects levitating as well as the girls themselves being lifted out of bed by an unknown force. Morris Gross a paranormal investigator, decided to look into the case by paying them a visit. Janet, the young girl spoke in an old man's voice and Margaret, the older child explained the hauntings, and the youngest son had been thrown out of bed, a few times. HOWEVER-That is NOT what this Drama portrays. I wasn't even sure I was watching the same story. Everything was blown far out of proportion! The events in the first two episodes were accurate, such as Timothy Spall ( who is always gold for me) and the child actress playing Janet was brilliant but they did not match the truth. The third and fourth episodes were highly disappointing.For one, I don't remember a glowing ball of light follow Janet around burning her (the line "like Tinker Bell!" was just cringe-worthy.) -nor do I recall her as saying she saw visions of people in the bathroom mirror. In the real account, I don't remember reading about Janet's hospital visit where she tipped over her bed to try and escape the ball of light. I certainly don't remember the part of Janet's story where she is locked out of her house and then sees herself sitting with her sister and grandmother! Who the hell wrote that?! The ants were very stupid too, there were no violent attacks on the girls to the point where they had bruises. We don't even know if half of what they said happened was true. They have said things that seem to give away their positions of lies. In an interview one even tried to silence the other if she said anything about it being a hoax. The real Morris Grosse came out about this saying it was "Television Drama tripe." He said they were going to stick to the real story but they just butchered it. They tried to do what The Conjuring did, I felt like I was watching a sequel to that (ironically the upcoming sequel is all about the Enfield Haunting,) I love all these actors I really do, but their talent was wasted here. Love the Actors and Actresses-they did a terrific job. Just not a big fan of the overly dramatized accounts. This was very poor.

Firstly I would like to point out that even though in the 3 part mini series, as well as a lot of the case files and in Guy Lyons playfairs book they refer to it as the "Poltergeist" any one who knows anything about the paranormal or watches any of the numerous (some great, some good, some just bad and some awful)paranormal programs on TV, or the web.. that a Poltergeist is not an earth bound spirit but in fact manifested Psychic energy from a living person! So even though they refer to the disturbances in the house as a "Poltergeist" we all know it's more likely/accurately a Ghost/Demon (depending on your religious beliefs)That said I think that the series it's self is pretty good. I found the young girl playing 11 year old Janet to be both believable and funny at times, she seems to pull of the cheeky/inquisitiveness of an 11 year old kid from North/East London around the 70's.. and I have to say it's a refreshing change to hear a kid from London (especially a young girl) to be talking like a real Londoner, a true cockney! Rather than todays youth who all sound like Catherine Tates character "Lauren Alesha Masheka Tanesha Felicia Jane Cooper" from "The Catherine Tate Show" ""Init m8 na wat i meen like!"" OK I think over all they've done a great job placing the characters, especially Maurice Grosse played by Timothy Spall (another great British actor) he has the same simple uncomplicated look as Maurice Gross, anyone who's watched any of the real tapes recorded at the house between 77-79 will agree! I have to admit I'm having trouble warming up to Guy Playfair, played by Matthew Macfadyen but I think that has a lot more to do with the fact I can only see him in Ripper Street every time I look at him lately (another great TV series) and nothing to do with his acting ability!Any way I'm not going to go in to what the series actually entails or anything else about the production side because you can (and should) watch it your selves for that.. but all in all it's a good if not great factual/dramatised paranormal mini series based in our very own country, in our very own capital.. & with a great cast, some good scares and if you don't want to watch it for any of those reasons then anyone over 35 should get a huge kick out of all the memories that come flooding back from watching one of the most accurate representations of a poverty stricken family living in a council house in London or surrounding counties in 1970's England.. who wont remember the slugs, earwigs, and wood lice crawling along the skirting boards and in the bed at night!!?

The Enfield Haunting is a scary but interesting ghost story based on real events. I feel like the show has given me the belief in ghosts, the events happened in 1977 and I feel amazing after watching the first episode. Although it has cheesy scenes and parts where you feel like sleeping till death, you'll get intrigued after the first 5 minutes. Don't Worry. Unlike other movies/shows that contain ghosts this topped it all, The Conjuring is a sequel to The Enfield Haunting and The Conjuring can't even get to the wonderful standards of this show. The part where the girls notice that the poltergeist is in the room brings heart- pounding moments and moments were you eyes are glued for the entire episode.