Greetings AtoZers, regular readers and anyone who happens to surf by and welcome to day 3 of the AtoZChallenge. We have made it to the lovely letter C and today I have two gentleman ghosts for you. Both are of ageing years and a bit grumpy, but only one of them is homicidal.
Hugh Crain (The Haunting [1999])
Hugh Crain, master of Hill House and all round nasty fellow.
In the film Dr Marrow has organised what he has told the participants is a sleep study, however, it is actually a psychological study into shared fear. What Marrow doesn't know is he has just brought the granddaughter of Hugh Crain, Eleanor, into an actually haunted house.
As Eleanor finds out her grandfather killed children from his mills, forcing them to remain with him as ghosts in an eternal family, Crain starts to terrorise the members of the study. He wants to kill them and claim Eleanor for his own, his acts of violence starting with a simple cut, right up the a terrible beheading.
Self-centred and insane, Crain is a dangerous ghost.
Sir Simon de Canterville (The Canterville Ghost)
Sir Simon is cursed to remain in his cell behind the secret door in the library by day and walk abroad in Canterville Hall at night. Never to rest or sleep. His only companion is Gabriel, his raven.
Given the circumstances he can be forgiven for being a bit crochety.
He tries to drive out the new American family, staying in the hall. Only, Ginny, the daughter actually tries to come to know him.
Cursed by the family of his wife, whom he hounded to death in his jealousy, Sir Simon's only hope is for Ginny to plead for his soul before the Angel of Death, so he may finally sleep next to his beloved in the dark earth.
Would you be brave enough to help the children's' ghosts imprisoned by Hugh Crain or to help end Sir Simon's curse?
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I am sharing blogging duties with my sister, Sophie, on two other blogs for the AtoZ as well :And Sophie also has her own blog in the AtoZ too:
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Other People's Blogs
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I think I'd stay away from the homicidal one out of fear of ending up a ghost!
ReplyDelete~Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, Indie Author
I think that might be my reaction as well - not very brave, but probably more likely. :)
DeleteHugh Crain sounds like a downright monster! I bet that's a good film. I'll have to check if Netflix has it...
ReplyDeleteI don't think I'd want to get to know any ghosts, even if they were good ones...
Michele at Angels Bark
I enjoy The Haunting - some people think it's cheesy, but I loved it in the cinema and bought a copy as soon as it came out on DVD :)
DeleteI would hope I was brave enough to try to rescue the children; just not sure if I could actually try to! I do not like Hugh Crain!
ReplyDeletebetty
Me too, me too ... it's the whole not being able to run away that gets me - characters in horror films always do a lot of running.
DeleteTwo very intersting, though very different ghosts.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen The Canterville Ghost, but I did see The Haunting a loooong time ago. I didn't remember the ghost.
@JazzFeathers
The Old Shelter - Jazz Age Jazz
The Canterville Ghost is one I like to catch if it happens to be on TV :). The Haunting is one of those movies that sticks with me - I really enjoyed it.
DeleteNeat characters choices today.
ReplyDeleteGhost sharing... wonderful. They can be wonderful even in the after life, sometimes they try scraping letters into you forehead... sorry too early for gruesome?
ReplyDeleteWelcome in the letter "C"... thank you!
Jeremy [Retro]
AtoZ Challenge Co-Host [2016]
Stop over and find a free "SIX STRINGS: BLOGGING AtoZ CHALLENGE" Here: http://www.jmhdigital.com/
HOLLYWOOD NUTS!
You know you want to know if me or Hollywood... is Nuts?
You've been watching too much of the Frighteners :)
DeleteGhosts! Wonderful!
ReplyDelete@CazsBooks
http://cazgreenham.blogspot.com
#a-z
Thank you :) It's been a lot of fun digging them up.
DeleteHonestly? You want me to keep it real with you? No, I wouldn't be brave enough. I know that's not a "politically correct" answer, but it's the truth.
ReplyDeletePiper Presley
C is for Coming in Hot: A Squad of Sexy Firefighter Romances Multi-Author Boxed Set
I always wonder if under the same pressures as the people in the movies if that would change things. Adrenaline can be a wonderful motivator I understand :)
DeleteI hope I'd be brave enough. I saw the a more recent version of the movie The Haunting and it was so-so.
ReplyDeleteAS I mention above, I think the situations could affect the outcome too - relationships and adrenalin can change a lot about how someone will behave. Wow - that came out much more serious than I intended :)
DeleteI never realised the Canterville Ghost was by Oscar Wilde when I saw the film. But I'm up for lifting a curse or two if I thought it was a worthy cause :)
ReplyDeleteFran
@FranClarkAuthor
Writing Women’s Fiction
I didn't either until I went looking on Wikipedia :) I learned all sorts of things when researching my posts.
DeleteThe Canterville ghost is one of my favorite stories. There was a peculiar animated version that I adored when I was a kid. :)
ReplyDeleteThe Immarcescible Word
Frox'n'Fox
I have not seen the animated version - I first discovered it late, with the Patrick Stewart version. The film has its cheesy moment, but I love it.
DeleteSo, The Haunting is a revision of the Jackson novel The Haunting of Hill House? Sounds a bit bloody.
ReplyDeleteI'd forgotten The Canterville Ghost had been made into a movie. Oscar Wilde's novelette is gently satirical of both the British upper class and American pragmatism. For instance, the American dad commands the ghost "in accordance with Californian etiquette, to hold up his hands!” As a native Californian, I have to love that line. (I actually included this novelette in my review book.) So I'm wondering: Did the movie makers include Wilde's satire in the movie version?
@deb_atwood from
Pen In Her Hand
It's actually not too bloody, just a bit nasty. Like someone loses a head, but there's not a lot of gore. They have the whole culture shock thing going on in TCG, but the version I watch is set in modern times, so they've taken liberties :)
DeleteI would be selfish enough to try. Selfish? If I didn't try, I would be haunted all my days and sleepless nights by thinking of those I left who needed my help. :-)
ReplyDeleteBraver than me :)
DeleteErm... I guess I skip helping any of them and have a look at your sister's blog instead ;-)
ReplyDeleteClaudia (www.claowuepotpourri.wordpress.com)
LOL - wise choice ;)
DeleteGreat theme! I'll need to check out The Canterville Ghost. It sounds very familiar to me, so I wonder if I've seen it before.
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting my blog!
It's one of those films that pops up when you least expect it, so probably :)
DeleteGreat theme! I'll need to check out The Canterville Ghost. It sounds very familiar to me, so I wonder if I've seen it before.
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting my blog!
I saw Hill House when I was a teenager and I still think it's one of the scariest movies I've ever seen. Hands down.
ReplyDeleteI good scary movie is a thing to cherish :)
DeleteI'd like to think I'm brave enough, but I guess one never knows until they're in a particular situation.
ReplyDeleteWhenever I have encountered something paranormal, I haven't been brave at all.
Me either :) Of course I've never met anything paranormal that was threatening me or mine either ...
DeleteCrain is so horrible and I've never had much sympathy for Sir Simon though I would help him just to get him out of the house.
ReplyDeleteSusan Says
I think hundreds of years is enough punishment for anyone, so I think Sir Simon deserved the help. He also repented all that time.
DeleteI never thought the Haunting was all that scary. I'd certainly have no trouble taking down a ghost. What's he going to do? Hover at me threateningly?
ReplyDeleteWell in this case he'd use bits of the house to try and kill you - so, he's a little more dangerous than your average spook ;)
DeleteThe Haunting! Oh gosh, I saw that in the theatre! Loved it, but forgot about it until just now.
ReplyDeleteI saw it in the cinema too - have loved it ever since :)
DeleteTwo movies I've somehow missed! Thanks for highlighting them here.
ReplyDeleteI love this theme!
@SorchiaDuBois from
Sorchia’s Universe
Glad to be of assistance :) I love enticing others to the things I enjoy :D
DeleteThe Canterville Ghost! I haven't thought about that in ages. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDelete@mirymom1 from
Balancing Act
You're welcome :D It's one of those feel good movies.
DeleteI haven't seen "The Haunting". Sure sounds bone-chilling, with such an evil ghost. Although familiar with Oscar Wilde's story, I didn't see the movie and will look for it online. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. As I understand it, with The Haunting, you either get into it and find is spooky and tense, or you don't and you laugh at it :)
Deletei loved that version of the canterville ghost. i thought patrick stewart was amazing. i love the story in general. my other favorite is the one that starred charles laughton in it.
ReplyDeleteI've only ever seen the PS one, I didn't realise it was actually based on anything until I went looking. :)
DeleteThe Haunting is a guilty pleasure movie of mine. I haven't seen it in years, though. I hope you're not referring to that piano wire scene as the simple cut?! lolol
ReplyDeleteI've never read or seen Sir Simon de Canterville, but I love Sir PatStew, so I probably should.
Well it was much more simple than the whole head coming off part :)
DeleteTCG is a really good movie. Its one of those feel good films.