The Haunted Airman

Not great...
I'm sure that most of the renewed interest in this film is because it stars Robert Pattinson. If that's your motivation you won't be disappointed with his performance specifically. He was brooding, handsome, and believable in the title role.

That being said, this movie doesn't have a lot to offer otherwise. At the end of the movie I felt like I had missed something important. Maybe I'd have to read the book to fully understand what was going on, but this movie didn't give me a lot of incentive to want to do that either. Throughout the entire story it was hard to see the motivation behind the characters actions. I don't believe it was that the actors failed to effectively portray the story, I think that the script (or maybe the book itself?) was fundamentally flawed somehow. There just wasn't enough backstory to understand how the characters became the way they are emotionally. Additionally, the movie did a very poor job explaining how the characters' relationships with...

A descent into madness
A tour de force for Pattinson as he takes center-stage in a film that has him playing a very different role that he did in Twilight for sure. A seriously wounded airman, Jugg (Pattinson) is sent to recuperate at a secluded mansion and instead finds himself a victim... a victim of nightmares and visions. The complex conspiracy that comes to light is fueled by those around him, those he ought to trust.

Pattinson fans will thoroughly enjoy this film. Based on the novel 'The Haunting of Toby Jugg", the BBC production is well crafted and, like classic horror films, shows a slow descent into madness for the lead character. If you're a fan of Pattinson, this is a must see as he IS this film from start to finish!

Atmospheric and creepy adaptation of an occult classic
"The Haunted Airman" sees Twilight's Robert Pattinson flex his acting muscles in a demanding role. The story itself is based on "The Haunting of Toby Jugg" (1948) by Dennis Wheatley, an author famous for his thrillers and occult novels in the 50s and 60s (notably "The Devil Rides Out" which was also made into a movie by Hammer Studios). I read the original story and loved it, and that is why I picked it up (not because of RP's role in it though I must say I was impressed by his performance). By the way, this is a BBC production.

The story centers around Lt. Toby Jugg (Rob Pattinson) who is hurt in action during WW II and becomes confined in a wheelchair. He is taken by his aunt Julia (Rachael Stirling) to recuperate at the remote country clinic of Dr Hal Burns (Julian Sands who last impressed me in Boxing Helena). Soon enough, Toby realizes strange things are afoot as he begins to experience strange visions of spiders and other curious goings-on.

This plays out...

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