Professor David Ash exposes false spiritulists and mediums. He is invited to Edbrook to resolve the fears and torments within its secretive family. Soon after arriving Ash begins to doubt his own senses, and watching the strange behaviour of its residents does not make his task any easier. In time, he finds there's more to Edbrook than even he can debunk.
Cinematography
That foggy estate and the infamous nude swimming sequence.
Acting
Kate Beckinsale's debut proves she was always destined for better material.
Director
Lewis Gilbert
Aidan Quinn
Professor David Ash
Kate Beckinsale
Christina Mariell
Anthony Andrews
Robert Mariell
John Gielgud
Dr Henry Doyle
Anna Massey
Nanny Tess Webb
Alex Lowe
Simon Mariell
Geraldine Somerville
Kate
Victoria Shalet
Juliet Ash
Linda Bassett
Madame Brontski
Liz Smith
Old gypsy woman
Hilary Mason
Elderly lady
Emily Hamilton
Mary Ash
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was Kate Beckinsale's first major film role while she was still studying at Oxford. She reportedly took it because she wanted to work with John Gielgud.
Based on James Herbert's 1988 novel, the film significantly toned down the book's more explicit sexual horror elements—including an incestuous relationship between the siblings—to achieve its PG-13 rating.
US
GB
