Thursday, March 19, 2015

The Quiet Ones (2014)

In 1974, Professor Coupland hires Brian to film the psychological research project he's working on.  The Professor and his two grad assistants are working with a teenager named Jane who believes she is being haunted by the spirit of a girl named Evie.  Jane was a foster child and it's not clear if her parents are alive. So Coupland doesn't have any nosy adults snooping around or anyone checking on Janes well being.

Coupland believes that Evie exists in Janes head.  He thinks that if  Jane projects this evil energy into a doll, they can free Jane from the belief that she is possessed by destroying the doll.  Coupland proves to not be that great a researcher since anything that happens to disprove his theory is ignored.

Jane is kept locked up in a room and music is constantly played to keep her awake or disorient her.  It's not explained why they have to keep playing it, but Coupland isn't the most ethical man, which is why his funding is pulled by the university and he is forced to take his experiment off campus, where he rents an isolated home.

Brian, who is supposed to procure film stock, be the cameraman, and keep his mouth shut, has a hard time doing this when he sees how Jane lives. Not only does he feel sorry for her, but he develops  feelings for her, which Coupland warns him is dangerous.

Brian is right to be concerned since Couplands methods include depriving Jane of sleep, food, and even burning her arm with a candle.  The longer the research goes on, the more strange things happen and it seems that Couplands theory is incorrect and there are actually paranormal things going on in the house.

This is a Hammer film, and as such it focuses on story rather than blood and gore.  As opposed to the majority of the low budget movies I've been watching, the acting was good.  The story wasn't all that original and wouldn't be something I'd watch again, but it was a decent effort and I liked that it was set in the 1970s.  Also the main song they play over and over is Slade song Cum on Feel the Noize, which is cool.

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