Great Film overall

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Despite the interesting set (England, 1974) and acceptable acting, When the Lights Went Out is a poor horror movie, mainly because of a presumably low budget and mediocre special effects. It creates enough empathy with the characters to make you feel sorry for what's happening to them (the girls in particular), it delivers a slight twist at the end and the story is interesting enough... but on the other side, the climax is just pitiful, the ghosts aren't scary and the mentioned twist is nothing but a way to keep the movie going for another 3 or 4 minutes. The movie generally fails its horror promise and leaves some questions unanswered (like... was there a more specific reason - other than the ghosts - why the girl wasn't allowed in her friend's house?). I have mixed feelings about this one, but can't give it a positive grade, 4 is as good as it gets.

A family moves into a new house only to discover that a spirit lives there and wants to hurt their daughter. Sally is the first to witness the entity behavior but her parents don't believe her not even when a friend of Jenny said that she seen someone in the house they don't believe until she takes part one day at the manifestation and begins to figure out that her daughter doesn't have visions. Now they must seek help from a priest in order to perform an exorcism on the house so they could make the spirit to leave from their residence.I think this is "The Amityville Horror" UK version but much more worst. There are many things wrong about this one. First when the family are convinced that the house is haunted they don't leave but more they look for fame in the newspaper and allow other to visit like there is something entertaining. Len spends his time drinking in the pub instead to take care of his family and doesn't bother to look for a solution about his problem instead Sally's teacher Mr. Price does that is his place. Len along with a friend assist at the exorcism along with the priest even though they don't have any experience. The movie tries to be a real story from the '70 but the missing facts and the uninspired actors makes this to be horrible and silly, so don't bother.

I was born and raised in the area the film is based upon. The Black Monk and this history of the house is well known to locals and a lot was left out of the film.I suppose one thing that comes across the wrong way is that when the proverbial hits the fan, us Northerners take on the laugh or cry mentality. Which comes across in the film, however, if you are not used to how we deal with utter turmoil (try to turn it into humour) then you might think that the event is made light of when indeed, it's a very horrible encounter at best.What the film show's you is only the tip of the iceberg, there was a lot more that wasn't captured.........

When the Lights Went Out is written and directed by Pat Holden. It stars Steven Waddington, Kate Ashfield, Natasha Connor, Craig Parkinson, Jo Hartley and Martin Compston. Film is based on alleged real life events that were recorded in Pontefract, England, in 1974. After the Pritchard family moved into their new house on the Chequerfield Estate, poltergeist activity reached such a level it has been called the most violent poltergeist haunting ever witnessed in Europe.Director Holden, who made the criminally under valued Awaydays, helms his picture with genuine love and thought for the topic. Being related to the Pritchard family he had wanted to make the film for some time, it's a noble effort even though it never achieves all that it can.There are two main problems that will ensure the film will stay rooted on the bottom shelves of DVD stockists and collectors. Problem one is that it is uncomfortable in mixing comedy with drama, something that practically kills a key scene in the last quarter. It's useful to understand that these Yorkshire folk are made of tough stuff, ready to offer a quip in the face of adversity, but it has to be pitched right and here it negates much of the pent-up terror.The other key issue is that it's so stunning in its period design (this really deserves the highest praise for the makers), anyone from the 1970s is guaranteed to be spending much of the film pointing out things and reminiscing. I know I was! Garish wallpaper designs, toys like Slinky and Buckaroo, rum and pep and Babycham in the smoky pubs, The Sweet singing Little Willy and a hairy Noel Edmonds on Top of the Pops, these are just some of the things to make film fans who were reared in the 70s smile during this particular horror film!As a tale it's creepy enough, the cold backdrop of a Yorkshire council estate suits the story no end, and in spite of a bad misstep when Holden uses CGI in the finale, the shocks and unease moments are nicely handled. While the human interest factor always remains high and there's a bit of thought within the writing to off set the normal question of "why don't they just move house?". It's also well performed by the cast, with youngster Connor really shining bright, and with Holden keeping things brisk the picture never gets bogged down with pointless scene fillers. Is it scary? Away from the flares, wallpaper and hair styles that is! Well no it isn't really, it's more an effective ghost yarn than anything else. So needless to say, the blood lust gore crowd or those expecting a battle between religion and demon, need not apply here. 6.5/10