Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Cast: Russell Tovey, Bertie Carvel, Amrita Acharia, Nina Toussaint-White, Paul Bazley, Ewan Bailey, Colin Blyth, Tim Plester, Fluer Keith, Amanda Root, Chirague Amarchande, Simone Ashley.
There has always got to be a way to redefine the classic ghost story, it can’t all be bumps in the night, the unexplained sound that catches the ears, nor can it settle on finding the way to redeem a soul that has suffered torment and looking for vengeance; it must continue to evolve, to seek new ways of telling a story that is older than Shakespeare’s Hamlet, that has captivated cinema and television audiences and, aural story tellers, book readers, alike for what may seem an eternity
Deep down we all probably believe in some sort of afterlife, whether it is through the pull of religion, of thanking the memory of a loved one on the anniversary of their death, or in the spirit world, the restless dead who don’t understand why they can still see this world, who can find a way to interact with the world but not be part of it, we surely must concede that the energy of the dead is something we wish we could understand more.
Whether we believe or not, there is no doubting that a good ghost story will reach into the mind in a way that other tales cannot hope to reach and when a good one, when an exceptional tale comes along, it can blow the cobwebs off you and give you insight into the power of the hidden world, both the setting, and that of the writer unveiling their thoughts.
The Sister is a tale of the dead, the ones still living with guilt, the use of the mystical belief in trying to physically create such a force, and the restless, the silent observers who watch our every move and judge without us ever knowing. A tale that is paced well, has Russell Tovey in exceptional form in a leading role, gives the superb Bertie Carvel and Nina Toussaint-White a meaty character in which to really delve beneath the psyche of, and yet unfortunately somehow manages to veer slightly off track at the end and give an ending to which, whilst perhaps not unexpected, seemed to be less than what the story deserved.
The interaction between Bertie Carvel and Russell Tovey especially was one of high drama, one that highlighted the fear of meeting someone who knows your darkest secret once more, and who you have kept away from, hoping, praying they never turn up at your door and threaten to expose you to the elements, to remove the protective sheet you have placed around you to ward off other humans from getting too close.
The Sister is a decent psychological thriller, a ghost story that has enough about it to be different, one perhaps that might leave some feeling short changed about the reveal, but one that does keep you engrossed for the vast majority of the four-part series. Spirited and adventurous, proof that you can’t keep a good ghost story down.
Ian D. Hall