After having been told about this movie I watched;
The Stone Tape (1972).
Written by Nigel Kneale, the creator of Professor Quartermass, and directed by Peter Sasdy who also directed one of my favorite Hammer Horror movies, Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970), The Stone Tape is a British made for TV horror movie.
A research team in the field of electronic recordings moves into a renovated old mansion in order to really be able to concentrate and come up with the next great recording medium before the Japanese eat the entire market. The team's computer programmer, Jill Greeley (Jane Asher) encounters a ghost in a stone chamber and very soon almost all others in the team also witness the apparition. The team lead Peter Brock (Michael Bryant) realize that the ghost might actually be a recording of events past rather than an undead creature and the team gets very excited. But, since this is a horror movie, things inevitably go wrong, very wrong.
The Stone Tape is a typical old school British science fiction / horror product. It is well made, the actors are excellent, and the story is good. The effects are sadly a bit underwhelming, either due to financial reasons or time constraints. But for what it is, I have no real complaints.
The story is the main selling point. Like with his other creation, Quartermass, Kneale does good work blending science and supernatural. Unfortunately, they don't have time to really get to grips with the concept, and the movie feels pretty rushed. All the relevant parts of the story are told, nothing is left hanging, but the plot has room for so much more. This is one of those cases where a well produced mini-series would be perfect. The idea that ghosts and maybe other things can be recorded and played back by something in the environment is tantalizing, but we don't really get much here. It is incredibly refreshing that we don't waste half the movie with no one believing the initial witness with accusations and counter accusations flying back and forth. The Stone Tape does feel rushed but that also means that it doesn't waste time.
If I have to nitpick something, there is a subplot, if you can even call it that, with another team lead who researches futuristic washing machines. He wants to also move his team into the mansion, something Brock is vehemently against. This “subplot” really adds nothing to the movie, but it also doesn't take anything away. Also, The Stone Tape isn't really all that scary for a horror movie. It has good atmosphere, yes, but it is really tame for a horror movie.
Fun fact. The Stone Tape made a big impression on John Carpenter who used it as inspiration for his Prince of Darkness (1987). Kneale wasn't impressed by this homage and wrote in The Observer; “For the record I have had nothing to do with the film and I have not seen it. It sounds pretty bad. With an homage like this, one might say, who needs insults?” Chill, Kneale. A bit harsh there, don't you think?
So, do I recommend The Stone Tape? Yes, I think so. It could be a good intro for someone who wants to get into horror but isn't ready for anything too heavy. Beyond that, it is a slick little production with a fascinating story that does deserve more, but is also good for what it is.
That's that and all that. Join me again next time, and until then, have a great and safe week!
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