Paperhouse (1988)
Directed by Bernard Rose
Based the novel Marianne Dreams by Catherine Storr
Starring:
Charlotte Burke
Glenne Headly
Elliott Spiers
Ben Cross
Running time: 92 minutes
Plot Summary: (via IMDB)
Anna is becoming lost in the loneliness of her own world when she discovers she can visit another, a house she has drawn herself and occupied by a young disabled boy. But as she discovers more of the links between her fantasy world and the mundane present, she is drawn only deeper into a dream turning into a nightmare.
My Opinion:
Well, what a strange little movie this was! I’m not quite sure what to think of it. If I’d have seen this as a 12 or 13-year-old, I think I’d have loved it. It’s very much the weird sort of dark fantasy/slightly scary kind of thing I always loved (my favorite TV show from a very young age was The Twilight Zone). Too bad I missed out on this one, probably because it’s an obscure British film. I caught this on the Horror Channel a few months ago and it’s a shame that the quality was sooo AWFUL. Just like when I watched the movie Popcorn, it was harder to fully enjoy because of that. I thought the story was great, though. Like all the other movies I’ve reviewed this week, this was based on a novel (Marianne Dreams by Catherine Storr). I know nothing about it but imagine it’s a good read and, again, am sure I’d have loved it as a pre-teen. I bet the few now-grown-up kids who saw this in 1988 would be like “Oh, wow – I remember that movie!”. There are certainly some scenes that would stay with you if you’d seen it at a young age and a couple that were kind of “borderline” on the horror and violence so I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone younger than 12 or 13. When looking this up, I saw that it’s from the same director (Bernard Rose) who later went on to make Candyman. A lot of reviews compare this movie to Peter Jackson’s Heavenly Creatures, which is kind of a fair comparison although Paperhouse is certainly less horrific. It’s just a bit “eerie” and slightly unsettling. It also reminded me in a small way of things like Labyrinth and Mirrormask, two other movies that involve young teens living in their own fantasy worlds.
In Paperhouse, an 11-year-old girl is home recovering from an illness when she draws a house which she soon starts visiting in her dreams. She finds she can add to this world by drawing more of the picture but things soon turn sinister in her dream world. I was a little confused by the sudden turn of events having to do her father and am not sure what the meaning of that was meant to be. I enjoyed it because I like to see films that are a bit “different” but it’s not one I put much thought into afterwards. The movie doesn’t go out if its way to explain things and I suppose you could interpret her dream world in different ways. I’m curious about the book now and if it goes into more detail or if, like the movie, it’s up to you to decide what it all means. It’s certainly not a film for everyone and it’s hard to know if I’d recommend it to anyone. Hmm. Oh! I know who might like it! Laura – I think you’d be interested in checking this one out. π
Summary:
An odd film that, I think, is aimed at a pre to mid-teen audience. I really liked the central story of a young girl living in an eerie fantasy world that she’s created in her drawings and the relationship she forms with the boy she meets in this world. Everything is dark and grey and dreary and I’m not entirely sure if that’s down to the horrible quality of the version I saw or if it’s just because, well, it’s set in England (Ha! No, I’m actually not joking – you wouldn’t believe how sunless & dreary it is here). It helps sets the tone & mood of the film, though, and makes it feel like more of a “horror” film than it actually is. I’m really not sure how to rate this one… In some ways, I found it great and very refreshing as it’s so unusual and I love to get a break from your typical mainstream types of movies sometimes. However, I don’t know if it’s exactly a “good” film. It feels very low budget & 80’s (not negative things in my book) and… I don’t know! Seriously – I have no clue what to rate this one. Brian is going to yell at me for my confusing ratings again if he reads this. I actually had this movie on my to-watch list for YEARS after reading about it a very very long time ago and liking the sound of it. I’m very glad I managed to finally see it & it’s one that will stay with me as the story and visuals were so unique. It may not be the best film I’ve seen this year but it’s one of the most memorable. I appreciate its creativity.
My Rating: 6.5/10
By the way – Thanks to everyone for all your wonderful comments on my blog this week! I don’t get much time to reply to anyone during the week – I’ll catch up with you all this weekend! π
not quite sure if this is for me π
Nice review!
Thanks! π It’s a weird one but I did like the story. You’ll probably be the only one to comment on this – I think it’s pretty obscure. π
thats the way I am π
You’re a bit “different”.
: )
I know you are, but what am I??? I think this post will win the “least comments ever” prize… π
LOL
I feel like I’m talking to myself like a crazy person here these days. Which is normal for me…. π
Comments are down on my site too these days…
Oh good – we’re both unloved! I feel better now. I think… Lol π
No one loves Most Unclean!
I shower every day!
It was talking about It.
: )
looks really creepy. That pic of the house frightens me for some reason!
It IS kind of creepy. Very strange movie… You’re one of the ones I was hoping would have actually seen this movie! Hey… Mike! I’ve missed you. π You should go look at my post the day before this one – I had a pervy picture in it so both Brian & Seth stopped by. They have some sort of radar, I think… π
Will do! Those guys are total creeps!
Nice review, lady! Sounds interesting! Oh and don’t worry about Brian. He yells at all of us. π
Hehe. I told him he’s like Statler and Waldorf. π And this WAS an interesting one. Weird! But interesting. This is the type of obscure stuff I actually prefer to review but then never get any comments on these. lol π
Right? It’s like you think the cool, obscure stuff is going to be a hit, but then the weirdest, most random posts will end up taking off instead…There is no formula. Lol.
Concept is intriguing enough to me! Nice one Mutey π
Tom! Hi!! Thank you!!! I wouldn’t normally say this but they could perhaps do a good remake of this one. It IS a good concept. π Hey! Totally not trying to whore my blog but I’m reviewing another weird obscure one tomorrow. I love a bit of weirdness. π
This looks weird! Another one to torture Eric with, but I think the Paul Williams movie will have to go first, then this one, and then the Fault in Our Stars. That’s it he would be ruined for life.
Lol! My goal in life is to ruin him. Bwahaha. π Definitely Phantom of the Paradise & The Fault In Our Stars but, hmm… I think we can think of a better third one with which to torture him. Maybe a Studio Ghibli film… π
There you go a lineup like that and he might just go crazy!
Lol. I don’t think it would be a long journey… π
I’ve never heard of this one but it sounds like I would have liked it when I was 12 or 13 as well.
Yes! I think you would have liked this one. I think we liked the same sort of things when we were younger. π Hard to say what you’d make of it now, though…
Never seen this, but it seems strange enough in the correct way for me to actually try look into it something. Intriguing, looks like. Seems that it hasn’t held up particularly well though. Hmmmm, will see some day.
It’s certainly very dated. I’d be kind of interested in reading the book. Maybe it would be worth reading the book instead! The story is good enough – it’s probably held up better than the movie. π
The book usually is the better pick π
I’m going to be different to everyone else in the comments as I have actually seen this, probably when I was about 12 or 13! It was on the TV, and I had a 14″ black and white TV in my bedroom, so it would be interesting to watch it in colour. I do seem to have it on DVD but I don’t remember ever buying it. It just appeared in my collection… I made Michael watch it, and he thought it was a great idea and would make a great book, but that it needed work. He said that it would be a great remake.
Wow! I finally found someone who saw this at a young age. π Yeah, I thought the story was really good. I’m kind of curious about the book now. You should check this one out in color! π
Nice review π
This film still really freaks me out to be honest, I find it SO creepy! I like weird, nightmarish stuff, always have.
I can definitely see the Heavenly Creatures comparison but that movie is more put together and kind of more horrid.
Thanks, Emma! We totally like the same stuff – this is exactly the type of stuff I Ioved watching as a kid. I loved being creeped out, I think. Lol. I can’t remember if I mentioned it in the review but the actor who played the boy had a very tragic life & died at the age of 20 or so I think. I believe the girl wasn’t in anything else… Strange. Funny that this movie doesn’t seem very well known at all.
We are the best!!!! It is really fun discussing stuff with you π
I’ll look up those two kids who were in the film, sounds interesting. I can lose hours sometimes just going from IMDB to Wiki to youtube etc etc and finding out stuff, I find it interesting too!
I don’t even know why or how I watched Paperhouse but like you I loved being creeped out as a kid!! (still do now!) I have it on DVD and someone was round mine once and mentioned it in surprise so I don’t think many people have seen it!!
It’s one of the films I really remember scaring me as a child. Paperhouse, Friday the 13th, The Entity, IT and Village of the Damned remake. Ruined my childhood basically! AHHHHHHHHH!
Ha! That’s funny. What actually ruined me were a couple episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents! I was obsessed with that & The Twilight Zone. There was one with a creepy doll… It’s freaking me out just thinking about it now! Lol