Helpful Score: 2
I've had this older hardcopy edition of The Uninvited for several years. I remember finding it at a used bookstore in Maryland and bought it solely because I remembered enjoying the 1944 movie version starring Ray Milland and Gail Russell.
I really didn't remember too much about the movie...I probably last saw it over 20 years ago...but reading the book did bring back some of its plot and details. The story is about a brother and sister, Roderick and Pamela, who happen upon an old house in the cliffs of Devon, England sometime before WWII (the novel was first published in 1942). The house is called Cliff End and it has been unoccupied for several years. After meeting with the owner, an old curmudgeon, they are able to buy the house at a cheap price, but the owner did warn them of some disturbances there. The granddaughter of the owner, Stella, has some unappealing ties to the house. Her mother died there when she was only three and she may have been murdered. There are stories surrounding the house of Stella's father and his mistress from Spain, named Carmel, along with his wife, Mary. Well it turns out that the house is haunted by the spirits of both Mary and Carmel but what really happened to them when Stella was young and why are they haunting the house?
This was basically a good old-fashioned ghost story complete with seances using a glass and cards for divination (a precursor to the Ouija Board?), possible possession and exorcism, and an evil ghost that causes cold when it is present. Overall, I enjoyed this for what it is even though the writing was definitely dated. I now need to seek out and rewatch the movie version to see how they compare.
I really didn't remember too much about the movie...I probably last saw it over 20 years ago...but reading the book did bring back some of its plot and details. The story is about a brother and sister, Roderick and Pamela, who happen upon an old house in the cliffs of Devon, England sometime before WWII (the novel was first published in 1942). The house is called Cliff End and it has been unoccupied for several years. After meeting with the owner, an old curmudgeon, they are able to buy the house at a cheap price, but the owner did warn them of some disturbances there. The granddaughter of the owner, Stella, has some unappealing ties to the house. Her mother died there when she was only three and she may have been murdered. There are stories surrounding the house of Stella's father and his mistress from Spain, named Carmel, along with his wife, Mary. Well it turns out that the house is haunted by the spirits of both Mary and Carmel but what really happened to them when Stella was young and why are they haunting the house?
This was basically a good old-fashioned ghost story complete with seances using a glass and cards for divination (a precursor to the Ouija Board?), possible possession and exorcism, and an evil ghost that causes cold when it is present. Overall, I enjoyed this for what it is even though the writing was definitely dated. I now need to seek out and rewatch the movie version to see how they compare.
Helpful Score: 1
A fantastically effective ghost story, as well as a neat little British mystery. Macardle writes very fluidly and fleshes out all he characters. Although the book has more detail and subplots than the wonderful movie starring Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey, you will enjoy reading if you have seen the film since Milland and Hussey (and the other actors) were so well cast.
I have read lots of ghost stories, but this one always remains on the top of the list, even ahead of The Haunting of Hill House, The Woman in Black, Hell House, and (barely) The Elementals. Hard to find a copy sometimes, but well worth the trouble.
I have read lots of ghost stories, but this one always remains on the top of the list, even ahead of The Haunting of Hill House, The Woman in Black, Hell House, and (barely) The Elementals. Hard to find a copy sometimes, but well worth the trouble.
If you've seen the movie and know the plot twist, you'll still enjoy the book. Some interesting sub-plots were dropped from the screenplay and they add to the supernatural atmosphere of the story. Picturing Ray Milland as Roderick, Ruth Hussey as Pamela and Gail Russell as Stella as you read helps, since the three actors were perfectly cast.
The story follows a brother and sister who buy an old seaside house in England and begin to investigate the spooky occurences they experience. They delve into the history of the house and its past inhabitants as the haunting becomes more intense, figuring that by discovering the reason behind it, they can lay the spirit to rest. The story unfolds as both a neat little English mystery as well as a chilling ghost story.
The story follows a brother and sister who buy an old seaside house in England and begin to investigate the spooky occurences they experience. They delve into the history of the house and its past inhabitants as the haunting becomes more intense, figuring that by discovering the reason behind it, they can lay the spirit to rest. The story unfolds as both a neat little English mystery as well as a chilling ghost story.
