Director: Anthony M Winson
Writer: Anthony M Winson (Screenplay)
Starring: Kelly Goudie, Sarah Wynne Kordas, Lindsay Foster, Karen Henson, Kieron Brook, Penelope Butler
Plot: Patricia Woodhouse has been estranged from her sister for quite a few years due to a family feud. Suddenly she receives a letter detailing the sudden death of her sister Susanna Baylock, Patricia returns to pay her respect where she meets Annabel Blair (Susanna’s help). Annabel informs Patricia that she has now inherited the Baylock residence, but something isn’t right with this house it’s harbouring a very old secret, one which Patricia needs to learn before it’s too late.
Runtime: 1 Hour 30 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Verdict: Basic Thriller
Story: The Baylock Residence starts in England 1944, with the war still raging on, when Patricia Woodhouse (Goudie) gets a letter to return home after years away, her sister Susanna (Henson) has just passed away, with one the help Annabel (Kordas) filling in the news about property.
Spending time in the house, Patricia remembers the horrors which drove her away, even if she starts getting drawn back towards those horrific ways, can she stop the horrors before it is too late.
Thoughts on The Baylock Residence
Characters – Patricia Woodhouse left this house years ago, she is drawn back during the war after her sister’s death, she wants to start a new life here, because the war has taken nearly everything else from her, but the past she spent so long trying to forget has come back to haunt her, as she looks for the truth of her sister’s death. Annabel is the help around the house, she stays after Patricia requests for her to stay and help her with the transition, she does help fill in about the past, including what happened to Susanna. Susanna is the sister that has passed away, we are left to wonder what caused her death.
Performances – Kelly Goudie in the leading role isn’t the strongest leading lady, when it comes to the reaction or horror scenes, we don’t get anything bad, it’s the everyday moments which come off flatter than they should do. Sarah Wynne Kordas is the only other main cast member that does everything needed without getting the best scenes.
Story – The story here follows a woman that returns to her home after years away to deal with a family loss, only to learn that the house has a bigger secret that hasn’t been unlock just yet. This is story that plays into the idea that your past can hold answers no matter how hard you look to forget it, it does also play into the ideas that a family can have secrets which will only disturb. The pace of the story isn’t the most convincing, with large amounts of the film being stuff happening behind characters most notable Patricia, we also end up teasing an idea to what is happening, only it just gets forgotten which would have added extra dimension to an abuse victim. The war time theme doesn’t help because the same story could easily happen at any other era too.
Horror – The horror in this film comes from how Patricia is struggling with the visions that she is having, not being able to balance reality with supernatural.
Settings – The film is set within the one house, which doesn’t look time accurate from the outside, it does show how the family home can be reunited from tragedy.
Special Effects – The film does use effects sparely, when they are used they do add an element to horror in the film.
Scene of the Movie – The secret room.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – The non-horror moment conversations feel out of place.
Final Thoughts – This is a horror thriller that does have moments of strong tension, only it doesn’t keep this up for long enough to make us what to learn the truth.
Overall: Slow Burning Horror.
