Have cared of his ill wife Alice for some time, James Parkin places his her in a care home. He sets off to one of their romantic haunts for a visit, and finds a ring on the beach, taking it with him, he is soon haunted by a malign force.
It's fair to say that Neil Cross heavily rewrote the story, to the point where chunks of it are virtually new, but he's a good writer, having penned Luther, and two episodes of Doctor Who (one awesome, the other best forgotten.)
I've come to enjoy this over the years, when it first went out I didn't really care for it, however I've grown to enjoy the atmosphere, Parkin's torment and the superb acting.
Pacing I'd say is moderate, it's slow to start, but builds as it develops. I'm not going to say it's up there with the classics, The Ash Tree and Signalman etc, but it's still very watchable, and quite unsettling.
John Hurt can do no wrong in my eyes, and he delivers a terrific performance here, very well supported by Gemma Jones, Sophie Thompson and Lesley Sharp.
7/10.
