The Coverup (2008)
>>: B
The Stone Tape (1972)
Combining aspects of science and superstition was a frequent & fantastic theme in Nigel 'Quatermass' Kneale's works and followed by that, his 1972 BBC Telefilm
The Stone Tape concerns a team of scientists who move into their new research facility, a renovated Victorian mansion that has a reputation for being haunted. Especially, one particular big empty room that they wanted to make their computer room turned out spooky! Investigating & sensing something wrong in the place; they gradually learn that the haunting is a recording of a past event stored by the stone in that room. Believing that this may be the key to the development of a new recording medium, they throw all their expertise and high-tech equipment into learning how the stone tape preserves its recording. However, their investigations serve only to unleash a darker, more malevolent force.
Directed by Peter Sasdy (
Taste the Blood of Dracula & Hands of the Ripper) with a good cast of actors, this is somewhat a thinking person's horror film, very low on body count with zero gore and not so much concentrated on jump scares but still effectively delivers an intelligent ghost story. Even, since its broadcast on BBC Two as a Christmas ghost story in 1972, the hypothesis of residual haunting - that ghosts are recordings of past events made by the natural environment - has come to be known as the "Stone Tape Theory" by para psychological researchers (Info source:
Wikipedia).
But sadly, this critically acclaimed & so much significant gem of magnificent 70s Horror somehow didn't get much attention from the genre fans. Most probably for its plot structure & unavailability of DVDs, I guess.
Like a M.R. James story, this fascinating tale of supernatural strangely grows spookier minute by minute, particularly when it comes close to its chilling final revelations.
>>: A-
The Task (2011)
>>: C