The Tractate Middoth is one of James's weaker stories and although I was looking forward to a recent adaptation of his work I was surprised that this was the story Gatiss chose.
Unfortunately, despite really wanting to like this, I found it absolutely dreadful. I really thought Gatiss would come up with something good but the whole thing reeked of a student production. The acting was horrid by everyone involved other than the lead and the way it was directed was very poor, significantly the end sequence with the ghost. The whole thing felt like a horrible cliché with no thought given to atmosphere or originality. The open-ending was just pure cheese.
I also really wish Gatiss hadn't shown us the face of the ghost as it was totally ineffectual.
I think if a 10 year old happened to watch this they might have found it enjoyable and grow up with vague fond memories of a ghostly short film at Christmas time (when it was screened) only to seek it out in adulthood and be eminently disappointed.
A good example of how James's work should be adapted is Whistle and I'll Come To You from 1968, which is a fabulous, atmospheric, well made short film. And of course there is the brilliant Night of the Demon (1957). The Tractate Middoth pales in comparison.
Unfortunately, despite really wanting to like this, I found it absolutely dreadful. I really thought Gatiss would come up with something good but the whole thing reeked of a student production. The acting was horrid by everyone involved other than the lead and the way it was directed was very poor, significantly the end sequence with the ghost. The whole thing felt like a horrible cliché with no thought given to atmosphere or originality. The open-ending was just pure cheese.
I also really wish Gatiss hadn't shown us the face of the ghost as it was totally ineffectual.
I think if a 10 year old happened to watch this they might have found it enjoyable and grow up with vague fond memories of a ghostly short film at Christmas time (when it was screened) only to seek it out in adulthood and be eminently disappointed.
A good example of how James's work should be adapted is Whistle and I'll Come To You from 1968, which is a fabulous, atmospheric, well made short film. And of course there is the brilliant Night of the Demon (1957). The Tractate Middoth pales in comparison.