Saturday, May 21, 2022
flickfeast
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Festivals
  • FrightFeast
  • Spotlight
  • Contribute
  • Submissions
    • Advertise on Flickfeast
    • Submit a Film
No Result
View All Result
flickfeast
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Festivals
  • FrightFeast
  • Spotlight
  • Contribute
  • Submissions
    • Advertise on Flickfeast
    • Submit a Film
No Result
View All Result
FLICKFEAST
No Result
View All Result
Home Reviews Film Review

EIFF 2016: The Canterville Ghost

Kevin Matthews by Kevin Matthews
June 24, 2016
in Film Review
EIFF 2016: The Canterville Ghost
14
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

AKA Le fantôme de Canterville

I first read The Canterville Ghost, by Oscar Wilde, when I was a very young boy. I must have been about eight or nine. I was probably only about twelve years old the last time I read it. It’s been far too long, but that hasn’t stopped me always noting it as a firm favourite. So I didn’t think twice when I saw that another filmed version of the tale was showing at EIFF2016.

You might also like

Benediction (2021) — Film Review

The Innocents (2021) – Film Review

Father Stu (2022) – Film Review

The gender of the ghost has been switched, as well as the backstory, and there’s an additional pinch of Cyrano de Bergerac in the mix, but this nails the mix of frights and fun that I recall experiencing when I first read the story. And the essence is the same, for most of the runtime, in that the ghost (here played by Audrey Fleurot) cannot scare the new tenants of her home, and even ends up having to avoid traps and avoid attacks from some decidedly unscared children (although she may do better in her efforts to change things by manipulating teenagers Virginia – played by Mathilde Daffe – and Erwan – played by Julien Frison).

Adapted into screenplay form, and directed, by Yann Samuell (who seems to be out to prove himself after apparently disappointing many viewers with The Great Ghost Recue), this is pretty much perfect family entertainment for those who allow their children to enjoy subtitled films. The characters are wonderful (including a mother who is very into her spirituality, a workaholic father, and the always-forgetting-that-he-was-beheaded manservant of the main character, Gwilherm, played by Michael Youn), the production design and special effects work perfectly in line with the story, without overshadowing it, and the humour and heart are nicely balanced throughout.

Daffe and Frison both do good work as the teenagers in the middle of a very strange situation, as do Michele Laroque and Lionnel Astier in the parental roles, but this film is about the ghosts, first and foremost. Whether he’s losing his head or going on about revolutionaries, Youn is always very funny and full of nervous energy. Fleurot though, as should be the case, commands your attention whenever she strides, floats or shrieks across the screen. Impressive when she’s trying her best to scare people, Fleurot is also just a delight as she gets to show her frustration, stubbornness, and a range of strange emotions that her character may have thought long behind her.

I can’t praise this highly enough, despite the fact that many will be ready to dismiss it as “just a kid’s film”. See it if you get the chance. If you end up hating it then I accept full responsibility . . . . . . . in a way that isn’t legally binding.

The Canterville Ghost is showing at 1335 on 24th June in Filmhouse 2, and at 1100 on 26th june in Cineworld.

WRITER/DIRECTOR: YANN SAMUELL, BASED ON THE SHORT STORY BY OSCAR WILDE
STARS: AUDREY FLEUROT, MATHILDE DAFFE, JULIEN FRISON, MICHAEL YOUN, MICHELE LAROQUE
RUNTIME: 92 MINS APPROX
COUNTRY: FRANCE

Film Rating: ★★★★½

Tags: audrey fleurotcomedyEIFFeiff 2016julien frisonmathilde daffemichael younmichele laroqueOscar WildesupernaturalThe Canterville Ghostyann samuel
Kevin Matthews

Kevin Matthews

Kevin Matthews lives in Edinburgh and has done for some time. He loves it there and he loves movies, especially horrors. No film is too awful to pass through his cinematic haze.

Related Posts

Benediction (2021)
Film Review

Benediction (2021) — Film Review

by Jasmine Valentine
May 19, 2022
The Innocents (2021) – Film Review
Film Review

The Innocents (2021) – Film Review

by William Stottor
May 17, 2022
Father Stu (2022) – Film Review
Film Review

Father Stu (2022) – Film Review

by Dallas King
May 12, 2022
Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)
Film Review

Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022) — Film Review

by Jasmine Valentine
May 11, 2022
The Takedown (2022) – Film Review
Film Review

The Takedown (2022) – Film Review

by Maxance Vincent
May 9, 2022

Recommended

Kick-Ass 2 (2013)

August 13, 2013

Roger Ebert (1942-2013)

April 6, 2013

Don't miss it

Benediction (2021)
Film Review

Benediction (2021) — Film Review

May 19, 2022
Top 100 Greatest Movies Films
Spotlight

100 Greatest Movies (and 50 Honorable Mentions)

May 20, 2022
The Innocents (2021) – Film Review
Film Review

The Innocents (2021) – Film Review

May 17, 2022
Father Stu (2022) – Film Review
Film Review

Father Stu (2022) – Film Review

May 12, 2022
Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)
Film Review

Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022) — Film Review

May 11, 2022
The Takedown (2022) – Film Review
Film Review

The Takedown (2022) – Film Review

May 9, 2022
flickfeast

Whetting your appetite for cinema with the best film reviews and features since 2009

© Copyright - flickfeast. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Festivals
  • FrightFeast
  • Spotlight
  • Contribute

© Copyright - flickfeast. All Rights Reserved.

Posting....