Three students , Sylvia , Helga and Tim are invited to the mansion of eminent academic Professor Marcus Carnaby to help him with his studies . Staying the night Tim has to be taken to hospital , then the next night Helga disappears leading to Sylvia to fear for her life
If there's a problem with this story it's that it deserves the full Gothic horror treatment of thunderstorm and lightening with torrential rain lashing the outside walls of Prof Carnaby's mansion during a power cut .There's not a lot wrong with the story though you'll have to suspend disbelief slightly as the three students meet for the first time on the train . Hmmm let me see now these three students who have never met before just get on the same carriage on the same time . A bit contrived to say the least but all screen writing gurus agree that you're allowed one massive coincidence in your screenplay and the earlier it happens the more you're able to get away with it . You'll also be able to quickly work out the identity of the character constantly referred to before he appears on screen but apart from that the story is suitably macabre and very enjoyable even if the ending is a bit OTT
The casting is absolutely perfect . Patrick Magee plays the mad obsessed scientist with chilling restraint . Comedian Max Wall is cast against type and gives a very good straight performance but the outstanding performance is by Don Henderson as Boz the sinister butler who would have an unknown jobbing actor back when this was broadcast by gives a physically imposing performance and the cast manage to bring out the best in the script which as I said would have worked much better if it was a filmed production complete with all the horror conventions and clichés . Try and think of the climax of 28 DAYS LATER at the army base and the story is deserving of this kinetic style rather than the static one we get here .Whatever the flaws this is one of the best of the THRILLER stories
If there's a problem with this story it's that it deserves the full Gothic horror treatment of thunderstorm and lightening with torrential rain lashing the outside walls of Prof Carnaby's mansion during a power cut .There's not a lot wrong with the story though you'll have to suspend disbelief slightly as the three students meet for the first time on the train . Hmmm let me see now these three students who have never met before just get on the same carriage on the same time . A bit contrived to say the least but all screen writing gurus agree that you're allowed one massive coincidence in your screenplay and the earlier it happens the more you're able to get away with it . You'll also be able to quickly work out the identity of the character constantly referred to before he appears on screen but apart from that the story is suitably macabre and very enjoyable even if the ending is a bit OTT
The casting is absolutely perfect . Patrick Magee plays the mad obsessed scientist with chilling restraint . Comedian Max Wall is cast against type and gives a very good straight performance but the outstanding performance is by Don Henderson as Boz the sinister butler who would have an unknown jobbing actor back when this was broadcast by gives a physically imposing performance and the cast manage to bring out the best in the script which as I said would have worked much better if it was a filmed production complete with all the horror conventions and clichés . Try and think of the climax of 28 DAYS LATER at the army base and the story is deserving of this kinetic style rather than the static one we get here .Whatever the flaws this is one of the best of the THRILLER stories