Y'wouldn't imagine a sheet ghost to be terrifying. But this story makes it perfectly unsettling. A barely-human shape of SOMETHING there, and you can't deny it. It has a shape, and it's there. And it's come for you.
love how Miller directed this short film, very atmospheric and creepy. He also directed BBCs Alice in Wonderland right before he did this movie. His take on that story was incredibly unique and worth a watch too
I always found the spookiest line, was Professor Parkin's translation of the Latin on the whistle, "my Latin is a little rusty, but it seems to say, "who is this that is coming"". A spooky foreshadow of what's to come. Below there, below.
Something about watching Parkin staring at the ghost in horror and sucking his thumb like a frightened child made me feel so sorry for him for some reason. Yeah, he was a stuffy professor and a stubborn old goat, but it's clear that seeing his worst nightmare coming to life and turning it upside down broke him hard.
I remember showing a segment of this to my niece, the scene with the floating cloth (it might have been another movie scene, but I'm not sure) and my Mom said it gave her nightmares. It is amazingly effective just using some torn-up cloth and moving it like a puppet combining it with sound effects, nothing more else is used and it works. Moreover, that scene just pointed out where something might be in the distance. I never thought of it, it maybe something intentional or just a spot on the beach, but now it begs the question if something is out there.
@@Tyson2394 I think I did, and if I recall it might have said that Hollywood might try to take notice of this because it was cheap and effective. Also said that about the scene from Woman in Black.
'' There's more in Heaven and Earth than your Philosophy.'' One of the great dialogue of the film is when he's having breakfast and the colonel asks him does he believe in ghosts. The professor who's obviously an arrogant intellectual goes on to rationalize the question as explaining that to believe in something in secular terms like Australia, he has to use rational deductive and inductive terms regarding Australia, like for instance Captain Cook and Kangaroos; in addition to describing being hurt in a train crash and death. I also love the way he wolfs down his food and finally says '; delicious breakfast.'' The beach scenes are also classic.
I saw this for the first time when I was in my early 60's...and I still get the creeps thinking about it! It is amazing that something so simply made could be THAT effective. I sincerely have no desire to see it again, thank you.
I saw this decades ago when I was a teen and it made such a huge impression on me that I've never forgot it. The sound design alone is immaculate! Some of Millers best work imo and the least said about the modern version the better. lol
Agreed. In a "Warning to the curious" l got scared mindless when l heard that cough in the room, the same cough that the ghost had in the beginning of the film. Especially when the train conductor twice thought he saw the ghost board the train.
@@UnleashTheGhouls yes Sir! 👍🏻 Another great title? “Something Wicked this way comes”… I’m really enjoying your “Nightmare Fuel” series. Glad I found your series.
This nightmare story so impressed itself upon my mind that i have been writing ghost stories now for many years. For me a short ghost story is the ultimate challenge.
One of the creepiest images in horror to me is a figure in the distance, standing stock still. Occasionally sitting in a corner facing a wall, but most of the time posed far away, watching. Even if it brings to mind that Spongebob quote, "he's standing there... menacingly!" it's still terribly eerie to me.
Seen both versions and I vastly prefer the original. I don't like how they added a subplot about the main character's wife being in a care home. It made it feel entirely different. It ended up coming off as a commentary on mental illness or dementia and the decline of life in the final years. The original story, as depicted in the original, conveys a much different idea. You don't have to improve on something that has been widely accepted as near perfect. That's not to say John Hurt wasn't magnificent in the remake, because he's magnificent in everything he ever did. But the story being added to unnecessarily is what makes the remake less than the original version, in my opinion. Although the creep factor is definitely high in the remake, I'll give it that. There's lots of tension where you're expecting a jump scare that never comes when you think it will. Or very little being seen but what is seen is enough to creep you the fuck out. Lol Both versions are worth a watch but I prefer the original.
There is something beyond disturbing about an evil spirit that requires an object to occupy in order to posess a physical body and a very horrible face. Add to that its blind and has to sense its human quarry to find it, such that it needs to sense movement or touch or noise and ineffectualy casts here and there randomly before learning an approximate direction to head for....and the result is a truly terrifying apparition that will haunt you your whole lifetime. It has mine.
Ah yes. Find a weird object at a grave stone covered in mud, sand and dog piss. Summon a spirit. Because when I’m out walking I love putting random objects I find out and about in my mouth. He’s lucky all he summoned was a ghost and not a disease.
Modern viewers might laugh with scorn at the 'ghostly figure' FX on the beach as being too fake. But i'd suggest, if you saw the exact thing on a beach, in winter, whilst alone, you'd actually shit yourself😄
That was the remake I believe. It’s not terrible but pales in comparison to the original. However, Mark’s more recent ghost story efforts have been excellent!
No, I don't agree - this is not a good adaption at all. To begin with, the protagonist was much younger in the short story, and also his personality was not described like this (grumpy old man). I wonder if there IS a really good movie adoption, though? I don't not think so.
In the dark, alone, while thinking, this film is utter nightmare fuel. - and the older I get, like 'Time' by Pink Floyd, the meaning changes and evolves. Sweet dreams.
Try it, its on UA-cam for free and not long, 40minutes. Its a surprising thing, experience it and see everything feels very natural but off right up until *it* appears. And the cinematography is extraordinary for the 60s, would even be impressive now the editing is spot on
Perhaps you lack the imagination, to consider a lonely beach, a sinking sun, and the grey creeping fear of the shadows. “Like one, that on a lonesome road Doth walk in fear and dread, And having once turned round walks on, And turns no more his head; Because he knows, a frightful fiend Doth close behind him tread.”
Crap. Man, your made up voice is rather groggy and wavering. A sign of Dysphonia? . Anyway, the protagonist in this film is not as good a performer as you stated to be. And not a chameleon of an artist to portray and connect with the audience. An actor should be vulnerable, open and willing to be passionate and dedicated to his work. Amen.
Join our top secret upcoming project...
ua-cam.com/channels/HrajuBG_V1mzJWv38lnoEA.html
Y'wouldn't imagine a sheet ghost to be terrifying. But this story makes it perfectly unsettling.
A barely-human shape of SOMETHING there, and you can't deny it. It has a shape, and it's there.
And it's come for you.
love how Miller directed this short film, very atmospheric and creepy. He also directed BBCs Alice in Wonderland right before he did this movie. His take on that story was incredibly unique and worth a watch too
I always found the spookiest line, was Professor Parkin's translation of the Latin on the whistle, "my Latin is a little rusty, but it seems to say, "who is this that is coming"". A spooky foreshadow of what's to come.
Below there, below.
This story ruined me when I was a kid. Yes, my mother used to read M.R James to me before bed lmao
She WHAT?! Such a lovely thought hahaha
Something about watching Parkin staring at the ghost in horror and sucking his thumb like a frightened child made me feel so sorry for him for some reason. Yeah, he was a stuffy professor and a stubborn old goat, but it's clear that seeing his worst nightmare coming to life and turning it upside down broke him hard.
I remember showing a segment of this to my niece, the scene with the floating cloth (it might have been another movie scene, but I'm not sure) and my Mom said it gave her nightmares. It is amazingly effective just using some torn-up cloth and moving it like a puppet combining it with sound effects, nothing more else is used and it works. Moreover, that scene just pointed out where something might be in the distance. I never thought of it, it maybe something intentional or just a spot on the beach, but now it begs the question if something is out there.
That’s crazy, I looked up the scene on UA-cam and you left a similar comment about this roughly 7 years ago. I had to double check it was you
@@Tyson2394 I think I did, and if I recall it might have said that Hollywood might try to take notice of this because it was cheap and effective. Also said that about the scene from Woman in Black.
'' There's more in Heaven and Earth than your Philosophy.'' One of the great dialogue of the film is when he's having breakfast and the colonel asks him does he believe in ghosts. The professor who's obviously an arrogant intellectual goes on to rationalize the question as explaining that to believe in something in secular terms like Australia, he has to use rational deductive and inductive terms regarding Australia, like for instance Captain Cook and Kangaroos; in addition to describing being hurt in a train crash and death. I also love the way he wolfs down his food and finally says '; delicious breakfast.'' The beach scenes are also classic.
A masterpiece!! Love M R James stories! Thanks for the vid
The title itself is scary
Filmed in Waxham on the Norfolk coast. That is the North Sea...
I saw this for the first time when I was in my early 60's...and I still get the creeps thinking about it! It is amazing that something so simply made could be THAT effective.
I sincerely have no desire to see it again, thank you.
I saw this decades ago when I was a teen and it made such a huge impression on me that I've never forgot it. The sound design alone is immaculate! Some of Millers best work imo and the least said about the modern version the better. lol
The pianist (2002) is NIGHTMARE FUEL please
An absolute classic, only beaten by A Warning To The Curious in my opinion!
NO DIGGIN’ ERE!!!
@@inisipisTV What do you mean no digging here? I have permission, _from the landlord!_
Agreed. In a "Warning to the curious" l got scared mindless when l heard that cough in the room, the same cough that the ghost had in the beginning of the film. Especially when the train conductor twice thought he saw the ghost board the train.
How did I not know this existed, B&W photography always adds a great atmosphere! Christmas Eve viewing!
Hope you had a great Christmas Dave!
For some reason I like the title the best…It sparks the viewers curiously before even watching the first frame.
SUCH a great title!
@@UnleashTheGhouls yes Sir! 👍🏻 Another great title? “Something Wicked this way comes”… I’m really enjoying your “Nightmare Fuel” series. Glad I found your series.
'A Warning to the Curious' is another. - 'Martin's Close' as well.
This nightmare story so impressed itself upon my mind that i have been writing ghost stories now for many years. For me a short ghost story is the ultimate challenge.
This and a warning to the curious are absolutely brilliant....
I hope to one day get to Warning to the Curious!
The Haunted doll house is also a great frightening read.
One of the creepiest images in horror to me is a figure in the distance, standing stock still. Occasionally sitting in a corner facing a wall, but most of the time posed far away, watching. Even if it brings to mind that Spongebob quote, "he's standing there... menacingly!" it's still terribly eerie to me.
Seen both versions and I vastly prefer the original. I don't like how they added a subplot about the main character's wife being in a care home. It made it feel entirely different. It ended up coming off as a commentary on mental illness or dementia and the decline of life in the final years. The original story, as depicted in the original, conveys a much different idea. You don't have to improve on something that has been widely accepted as near perfect. That's not to say John Hurt wasn't magnificent in the remake, because he's magnificent in everything he ever did. But the story being added to unnecessarily is what makes the remake less than the original version, in my opinion. Although the creep factor is definitely high in the remake, I'll give it that. There's lots of tension where you're expecting a jump scare that never comes when you think it will. Or very little being seen but what is seen is enough to creep you the fuck out. Lol Both versions are worth a watch but I prefer the original.
Yes I also prefer the original! There's so much more atmosphere - Connor
I love a Ghost Story for Christmas. Watch it every year. Scariest one Id ever seen in Martin's Close.
BBC’s series was perfect. Hordern, however, beats everything. And who doesn’t appreciate his reading James” stories...
Maybe that mysterious shape is the shape from Halloween franchise before it went into Michael Myers lol
There is something beyond disturbing about an evil spirit that requires an object to occupy in order to posess a physical body and a very horrible face. Add to that its blind and has to sense its human quarry to find it, such that it needs to sense movement or touch or noise and ineffectualy casts here and there randomly before learning an approximate direction to head for....and the result is a truly terrifying apparition that will haunt you your whole lifetime. It has mine.
It is brilliant.
Ah yes. Find a weird object at a grave stone covered in mud, sand and dog piss. Summon a spirit.
Because when I’m out walking I love putting random objects I find out and about in my mouth.
He’s lucky all he summoned was a ghost and not a disease.
Nicely summarized!
Another spooky fact: Everyone involved in this production is now deceased 👻
Brilliant stuff
It certainly is Matt!
I wondered a while back if Clive Barker's Confessions of a Pornographer's Shroud was inspired by the human shaped cloth from this episode.
Is there an episode of nightmare fuel on the Cathy from two doors down?
Modern viewers might laugh with scorn at the 'ghostly figure' FX on the beach as being too fake. But i'd suggest, if you saw the exact thing on a beach, in winter, whilst alone, you'd actually shit yourself😄
I can’t whistle so I’m safe
My phone dropped on my face and chipped my tooth 10 years ago that’s the only way I can whistle
They did it in the last few years right? Mark Gattiss wrote it
Ghost stories that is
That was the remake I believe. It’s not terrible but pales in comparison to the original.
However, Mark’s more recent ghost story efforts have been excellent!
No, I don't agree - this is not a good adaption at all. To begin with, the protagonist was much younger in the short story, and also his personality was not described like this (grumpy old man). I wonder if there IS a really good movie adoption, though? I don't not think so.
Ugh... Clearly not nightmare fuel
In the dark, alone, while thinking, this film is utter nightmare fuel. - and the older I get, like 'Time' by Pink Floyd, the meaning changes and evolves. Sweet dreams.
Get high on something & watch it alone at 3am.
Try it, its on UA-cam for free and not long, 40minutes. Its a surprising thing, experience it and see everything feels very natural but off right up until *it* appears.
And the cinematography is extraordinary for the 60s, would even be impressive now the editing is spot on
Perhaps you lack the imagination, to consider a lonely beach, a sinking sun, and the grey creeping fear of the shadows.
“Like one, that on a lonesome road
Doth walk in fear and dread,
And having once turned round walks on,
And turns no more his head;
Because he knows, a frightful fiend
Doth close behind him tread.”
Crap. Man, your made up voice is rather groggy and wavering. A sign of Dysphonia? . Anyway, the protagonist in this film is not as good a performer as you stated to be. And not a chameleon of an artist to portray and connect with the audience. An actor should be vulnerable, open and willing to be passionate and dedicated to his work. Amen.