Monday 24 March 2014

26: Haunted (2.14)

1979; 48 minutes
Director of Photography John McPherson 
Written by Karen Harris/Jill Sherman; Produced by James G Hirsch
Directed by John McPherson

David takes a temporary job as a helping hand for a woman who is moving out of the city back to her old family home, a place where her twin sister accidentally drowned years before.  The estate agent along with her cousin seem eager for Renee not to stay in the place, instead encouraging her to sell it for her own wellbeing.  Then there are odd occurrences and sightings of a little girl on the premises...

Taking more of a mystery approach, the episode borders (as suggested by the title) on haunted house horror movie territory, as David stays a few days/nights to help Renee out.  He's immediately suspicious of the two other characters who pop up every now and again, particularly the cousin who seems to have a habit of appearing behind doorways, etc.  Matters are not helped by Renee's increasingly fragile nature.

I did sit there thinking, I've seen this kind of scenario quite a few times going back to forties cinema, but I was a little surprised by how the story takes its turn, as it's not quite as predictable as first thought.  Unfortunately Hulk's participation in this episode is reduced to contrivance.  Of note is that this episode is directed by series regular cinematographer John McPherson. 

Number of Fists: ***

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