Gothic (DVD)

An unusual film, well shot, well acted and well directed unafraid to shock. Not a child’s film because of general theme and content. I like this film because of the cast, because of the historical setting for the plot and it offers real back story to the life and death of the characters. It has been said that Byron was the first pop star celebrity Byrne lives up to the part being both affected, cruel, conceited and fey.
The strange antics of party seem mild these days compared to the modern excesses yet it is the atmosphere of the reading of the ghost stories that I like the most and do more for me than the later arrival of their own creation. Other gems are the Mary Shelley [Richardson] conversation with Dr P [Spall] at the banister and the bizarre game of chase. Shelley [Sands] has the required enthusiasm and the entire film is perfectly cast. You will love it or hate it