It doesn't have a well known cast or a notable director or any of that, but the 1988 UK film, Paperhouse, is notable simply for being a fantastic fantasy thriller with an entirely original story and solid performances from everyone involved. I discovered it as a rental around 1990 and was instantly captivated by its mix of whimsy and its vague sort of horror film aesthetic. It's not in any way a gore fest or anything like that, but it does integrate some moodiness and scare tactics into its storytelling in a way that ratchets up the tension to make for a good bit of suspense and drama.
The film tells the tale of a lonely, socially isolated little girl who is haunted by a trouble relationship with her father and who finds solace and escape in her dream world. In real life, she is obsessed with drawing, in particular this idealized house which becomes the setting for her dream world. She discovers that whatever she adds to the drawing turns up in her dreams. After exploring the possibilities of inanimate objects and amusements, she determines she could do with a bit of company and draws in a little boy. It soon becomes apparent that he isn't merely a figment of her imagination, but is actually someone in the real world with whom she has forged a psychic connection in her dreams.
The film's conflicts and drama are driven by a narrative device which unfolds as the girl realizes that the flaws in her drawings can impact the dream world in some disturbing and occasionally horrifying ways. Most disturbing of all is the realization that this darkness can also manifest in the real world and threaten both the girl and the boy she has summoned into this situation.
While it leans into some thriller/horror tropes, it doesn't use them for cliched effect and, in the end, the story is a truly beautiful and inspiring tale of the struggle against loneliness, loss and coping with trauma. It's one of those movies that gets me choked up whenever I see it, though I haven't had the chance for a long time. I don't know where you might find it, but if you do ever come across it, spend a sitting on it. You won't be disappointed.
The film tells the tale of a lonely, socially isolated little girl who is haunted by a trouble relationship with her father and who finds solace and escape in her dream world. In real life, she is obsessed with drawing, in particular this idealized house which becomes the setting for her dream world. She discovers that whatever she adds to the drawing turns up in her dreams. After exploring the possibilities of inanimate objects and amusements, she determines she could do with a bit of company and draws in a little boy. It soon becomes apparent that he isn't merely a figment of her imagination, but is actually someone in the real world with whom she has forged a psychic connection in her dreams.
The film's conflicts and drama are driven by a narrative device which unfolds as the girl realizes that the flaws in her drawings can impact the dream world in some disturbing and occasionally horrifying ways. Most disturbing of all is the realization that this darkness can also manifest in the real world and threaten both the girl and the boy she has summoned into this situation.
While it leans into some thriller/horror tropes, it doesn't use them for cliched effect and, in the end, the story is a truly beautiful and inspiring tale of the struggle against loneliness, loss and coping with trauma. It's one of those movies that gets me choked up whenever I see it, though I haven't had the chance for a long time. I don't know where you might find it, but if you do ever come across it, spend a sitting on it. You won't be disappointed.
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