Afraid of the Dark 1991 R, 91 min. Genre: Drama / Thriller
Director: Mark Peploe Cast: James Fox, Fanny Ardant, Paul McGann, Clare Holman, Robert Stephens, Susan Wooldridge, David Thewlis, Ben Keyworth, Catriona MacColl, Hilary Mason, Sheila Burrell, Frances Cuka
His mother, Miriam (Fanny Ardant), is blind, and 11-year-old Lucas' (Ben Keyworth) eyesight is deteriorating to the point where he faces eye surgery. In the meantime, he wanders around the neighborhood, believes that someone is committing brutal assaults on blind people, and begins his own investigation. Is Lucas living in the real world, or is it his imagination?
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Cold Comfort Farm 1995 PG, 105 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: John Schlesinger Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Eileen Atkins, Sheila Burrell, Stephen Fry, Freddie Jones, Ian McKellen, Joanna Lumley, Rufus Sewell, Miriam Margolyes, Ivan Kaye
This is a good film based on Stella Gibbons' 1932 novel about a society girl, Flora Poste (Kate Beckinsale), who is orphaned at age 19. Unprepared for work, Stella contacts distant relatives, and her cousin, Judith Starkadder (Eileen Atkins), invites her to join her family on their run-down farm. Stella takes up the offer and proceeds to transform those living on the farm as well as the farm itself.
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The Desperados 1969 N/R, 90 min. Genre: Western
Director: Henry Levin Cast: Vince Edwards, Jack Palance, George Maharis, Neville Brand, Sylvia Syms, Christian Roberts, Kate O'Mara, Patrick Holt, Christopher Malcolm, Sheila Burrell
In the years following the Civil War, deserters turn to lives of violence as they go on a rampage of death and destruction.
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Paranoiac 1963 N/R, 80 min. Genre: Thriller
Director: Freddie Francis Cast: Janette Scott, Oliver Reed, Liliane Brousse, Sheila Burrell, Maurice Denham, Alexander Davion, John Bonney, John Stuart, Harold Lang, Arnold Diamond, Colin Tapley, Sydney Bromley
Eleanor Ashby (Janette Scott) thinks she has seen her long-dead brother, Tony (Alexander Davion), and believes she is going mad. When it appears that Tony has returned, his wealthy, but dysfunctional family–including brother Simon (Oliver Reed)–have major problems dealing with it and suspect foul play. Jealousy ensues as family members try to figure out what is really happening.
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The Woodlanders 1997 PG, 96 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Phil Agland Cast: Emily Woof, Rufus Sewell, Cal Macaninch, Tony Haygarth, Jodhi May, Polly Walker, Walter Sparrow, Sheila Burrell, Amanda Ryan
Based on Thomas Hardy's novel, this story is set during the late 19th century in a rural area of England where Grace (Emily Woof) has returned from finishing school and opts to ensure her lot in life by marrying Dr. FitzPiers (Cal Macaninch). But the marriage is a mistake, and Grace realizes that her true love is the woodman Giles (Rufus Sewell) who, although not wealthy, had been her childhood sweetheart.
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| 1. Afraid of the Dark (1991)
2. Cold Comfort Farm (1995)
3. The Desperados (1969)
4. Paranoiac (1963)
5. The Woodlanders (1997)
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