Director Brian Gilbert. Starring Christina Ricci, Ioan Gruffudd and Stephen Dillane. Thriller/Supernatural. UK. 92 mins.

Out to own on 28th March 2011.

A young couple at a music festival wander off and inadvertently discover a very old church in the village of Ashby Wake.

A young American girl, Cassie, is knocked down by a local woman, Marion, and is taken to hospital where the doctors are baffled by the lack of injuries sustained by Cassie. Marion’s husband, Professor Simon Kirkman, is investigating the age of the Church that was discovered by the festival goers. Marion takes Cassie home as she feels guilty about the accident and as Cassie has lost her short-term memory she is unsure of why she was in the village.

Cassie helps look after the couple’s children to thank them for their generosity but things start to become a little strange as she starts having visions and dreams involving Michael, one of the children.  As Cassie is trying to unlock the key to these premonitions she discovers that there are some unsavoury characters in the village, such as the mechanic Frederick Michael Argyle. As she begins investigating this strange man one of the locals called Dan helps her on her quest.

Professor Kirkman along with the help of the local parish priest begins to uncover the truth behind the church and why it has been buried for so long: the people in the church that arecarved into the walls are unusual and they are all staring at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.  The priest discovers that these people are depicted throughout history watching public executions. They are being punished for watching thecrucifixion by eternally being forced to watch people suffering. They are known as The Gathering and Cassie soon discovers how these creatures/ghosts/souls feel being stuck in limbo.

The story as a whole is very weak as it tries to touch on too many topics, religion, the supernatural, child abuse and murder to name a few.  The actors are not at their best either and the cheesy script makes it worse. However, the idea that people watch horrific events throughout history is creepy and eerie. There is never anything to scare the audience and though it does touch on the paranormal it never makes any sense. Religion features strongly in the film though I am not sure a general audience would appreciate the amount of detail that the filmgoes in to especially as the film is not based on any true events. This film would have been much better had it focused on the ‘ghost’ characters and perhaps followed a more sinister theme.

The film is basically disjointed and doesn’t flow well. It is a confusing and disappointing watch!

By Maria Phillips and Gareth Martin.

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