‘WINCHESTER’: INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY ABOUT A HISTORICAL FIGURE
With unseen threats, Winchester is interesting, if not totally my cup of tea, period film.
Winchester (2018) Film Review
Despite his degree and professional career, Dr. Eric Price (Jason Clarke) numbs loss and pain with drugs and women. But his work and his personal past is enough to catch the attention of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Looking to be rid of the majority shareholder, which is the widow of the founder, the board hires Dr. Price to attend Mrs. Winchester at her home and assess her mental condition. This because the board believes she is incapable.
Building a house seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day is normal for Sarah Winchester (Helen Mirren). Invaded by the spirits of ghosts who make demands, Sarah builds every room they reveal to her. She believes that her home is occupied by every person who has died from someone wielding a Winchester. Dr. Price finds this highly unlikely but with demand for respect of her aunt by the woman running the house, Marion Marriott (Sarah Snook), he does become curious and suspicious of this household.
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‘WINCHESTER’: INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY ABOUT A HISTORICAL FIGURE #HELENMIRREN #MOVIES #GHOST #SPOOKYMOVIES #PERIODDRAMA Share on XThis is one titles that’s a great movie to watch this time of year. As someone who isn’t into horror, this one feels like a nice balance between that and an intense thriller. The film splits up, going through quieter periods, which tends to balance the scarier out. I like that there’s conversation scenes to help offset some of the “jumps” when a character has a frightening encounter. It’s an interesting balance and may be a challenge to accomplish but mostly, I think this one does.
Additionally, Helen Mirren is brilliant, like always, in the role. She and Clarke share some great screen time. Her presence in this role is, I am sure, what makes this most interesting. Especially given we wonder if all she says is happening is more unnecessary guilt than actuality. Really the whole cast is good. I like that there’s healing for one character if not anyone else. What does rub me the wrong way is the sense of continuance in the end. I “understand” why filmmakers write it this way given the film’s themes, but honestly, I just don’t care for it. I’d have liked peace for everyone.
Winchester won’t be for everyone. It has moments of fright, but it’s also a bit more intellectual than a straight horror film. Anyone who likes something like Stonehearst Asylum will probably enjoy this. There’s interesting historical narratives plus just the fact that this is a 1900s period drama means we see interesting historical settings and costumes, too. All in all, this is a fabulous film to watch for anyone wanting an atmospheric drama.
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Content: there are tense situations and villains threaten and terrify people. Some ghosts inhabit the living. There’s an intense climax section and rifles everywhere if that bothers you. We see at least two scenes of people dying after someone uses a rifle to accomplish this. Both scenarios are a kind of murder-suicide. A child tries to kill someone with a rifle. There is a scene with nude woman (partially) as they lounge around in open kimono type fashion. The film is PG-13.
Photos: CBS Films
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