The Enfield Haunting is a British mini-series, which aired on the Sky Living channel. The series was directed by Kristoffer Nyholm, who is best known for directing the Danish version of The Killing. The show is based on Guy Lyon Playfair’s book, This House is Haunted, which focuses on the true events surrounding around The Enfield Poltergeist. There is no denying that the show delivers an All-Star British cast, with Timothy Spall leading the way, as Maurice Grosse.
Anyone, who is a fan of British television, will instantly recognize several of the other cast members, including Matthew Macfadyen, who plays Guy Lyon Playfair. Juliet Stevenson plays Maurice’s wife, Betty Grosse. Of course, Eleanor Worthington Cox’s performance, as the poltergeist’s favorite victim, Janet Hodgson, is vital to the success of the show. Eleanor does not disappoint, as her acting remains top-notch along with the rest of the cast.
When you begin watching the show’s opening credits, your brain will familiarize the sequences to those of American Horror Story, but the two couldn’t be more different. The Enfield Haunting doesn’t ever attempt to overdramatize the story. Joshua St Johnston should be credited for taking the best aspects of Guy Lyon Playfair’s book and turning them into a heartfelt story, with a tinge of the supernatural.
Instead of taking an overzealous and silly take on the events regarding the Enfield Poltergeist, The Enfield Haunting offers a realistic view and doesn’t attempt to sway the viewer in one way or another. The show actually offers a more personal look at the controversial haunting and all of those, who were involved. In the end, the viewer is left to form their own opinion on the haunting, but the majority will find sympathy and compassion for the leading characters.
At the end of the day, The Enfield Haunting is a story of many tragedies interlaced into one. Was the house truly haunting? Who knows? The answer truly doesn’t matter. The show proceeds in a manner that scares, thrills and reflects on human relationships and overcoming loss. For that, the show is tremendous, unique and maintains an enormous heart. If you’re looking for the cheap thrills from something like American Horror Story, you won’t find them here. Instead, The Enfield Haunting is something much more unique and special. The show deserves a 9 out of 10.
Jay Skelton is a fan of all television shows and movies. He tries his best to keep up with the latest foreign television shows and movies. Jay loves skinny dipping in the dark too.
