Winchester

In turn-of-the-century California, the heiress to the Winchester rifle fortune builds a giant mansion to trap spirits. Construction began on what would become the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California, in the late 1800s, when Sarah Winchester, heir to a gun-manufacturing fortune, reportedly decided to build a home for the ghosts of those killed by her family’s weapons. It’s a terrific back story — even if it’s hokum — to a terrifically creepy mansion. Its crazy-quilt design, with secret passageways and stairways to nowhere, have made it a popular tourist attraction since 1923, when it was opened to the public after Sarah’s death. For roughly 130 years, then, the house has been sitting there like an instant horror-movie kit — just add klieg lights — yet it’s only now making its big-screen debut in ‘Winchester’.

Directed by the Spierig Brothers, who co-wrote with Tom Vaughan, ‘Winchester’ features Jason Clarke as Dr Eric Price, a San Francisco therapist hired to judge the sanity of the mansion’s owner, played by Helen Mirren. These are two very fine actors: Mirren needs no introduction, of course, while Clarke has been a standout in 2013’s ‘The Great Gatsby’ and the adventure-drama ‘Everest’. The house, though, outshines them both.

Part real and part re-creation, the mansion steals just about every scene in ‘Winchester’. Its first great moment comes when Price arrives and finds himself in a room with a cabinet that clearly contains something alive. There’s a rational explanation, of course, but the good doctor never gets used to this disorienting house, nor do we. The Spierigs are at their best when exploring its wrong-shaped doorways and creepy corridors.

The characters aren’t quite as interesting. Clarke makes the doctor fairly compelling, shading in his stock outline — substance problem, demons of his own — with a skeptical intelligence and an air of Victorian composure. Sarah, on the other hand, is a one-note woman, a foreboding figure dressed always in mourning black. Mirren can only do so much with her.

The Winchester Mystery House deserves a little better than ‘Winchester’. Then again, the movie can only drive more visitors to the mansion itself in San Jose. Like they say, the house always wins.

Source: newsday.com

Winchester

In turn-of-the-century California, the heiress to the Winchester rifle fortune builds a giant mansion to trap spirits. Construction began on what would become the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California, in the late 1800s, when Sarah Winchester, heir to a gun-manufacturing fortune, reportedly decided to build a home for the ghosts of those killed by her familys weapons. Its a terrific back story even if its hokum to a terrifically creepy mansion. Its crazy-quilt design, with secret passageways and stairways to nowhere, have made it a popular tourist attraction since 1923, when it was opened to the public after Sarahs death. For roughly 130 years, then, the house has been sitting there like an instant horror-movie kit just add klieg lights yet its only now making its big-screen debut in Winchester. Directed by the Spierig Brothers, who co-wrote with Tom Vaughan, Winchester features Jason Clarke as Dr Eric Price, a San Francisco therapist hired to judge the sanity of the mansions owner, played by Helen Mirren. These are two very fine actors: Mirren needs no introduction, of course, while Clarke has been a standout in 2013s The Great Gatsby and the adventure-drama Everest. The house, though, outshines them both. Part real and part re-creation, the mansion steals just about every scene in Winchester. Its first great moment comes when Price arrives and finds himself in a room with a cabinet that clearly contains something alive. Theres a rational explanation, of course, but the good doctor never gets used to this disorienting house, nor do we. The Spierigs are at their best when exploring its wrong-shaped doorways and creepy corridors. The characters arent quite as interesting. Clarke makes the doctor fairly compelling, shading in his stock outline substance problem, demons of his own with a skeptical intelligence and an air of Victorian composure. Sarah, on the other hand, is a one-note woman, a foreboding figure dressed always in mourning black. Mirren can only do so much with her. The Winchester Mystery House deserves a little better than Winchester. Then again, the movie can only drive more visitors to the mansion itself in San Jose. Like they say, the house always wins. Source: newsday.com