“A good, solid ghost story with great performances”

Haunter is billed as Groundhog Day meets The Others, and that’s a pretty good summation. Lisa Johnson (Abigail Breslin) wakes up every day to the sound of her brother’s voice crackling through a walkie-talkie (better than Sonny and Cher, I suppose). You see, every day is the same because Lisa and her family are deceased. This is particularly frustrating for Lisa, who seems to be the only one that knows it. One day, something changes, and the family are visited by a mysterious man, played creepily enough by Stephen McHattie. Lisa is warned by The Pale Man and instructed to just endure each day without question. However, she’s a moody teenager and about as likely to follow orders as she is tidy her room. Haunter is a good, solid ghost story with great performances throughout. Perfect Sunday afternoon viewing for the majority of the family, with an unsettling score and good direction from Vincenzo Natali (Cube, Splice).

ADAM MILLARD

Second opinion

Really rather good – an atmospheric ghost story that felt like a modern-day version of the Sunday teatime BBC1 ‘grown up children’s drama’.

JOHN LLEWELLYN PROBERT

Director: Vincenzo Natali
Writers: Brian King, Matthew Brian King
Starring: Abigail Breslin, Stephen McHattie, David Hewlett
Certificate: 15
Running time: 97 minutes
FrightFest Screening: 23 August 2013