If this film had ever decided what it wanted to be, it might have got somewhere. Vampire tale, ghost story, mystery thriller, cult story? Who knows. I also found the acting and dialogue rather wooden and unconvincing at times, and character and relational development never really got anywhere, with the result that the whole was rather unconvincing. I would imagine that the only actor in it with any viable street cred, i.e. Neil Morrissey, will not see it as one of his finer forays into cinematic art. There are also far too many nods to other, more worthy offerings from, for example, Hammer Horror, but this film is just not in the same class. Also a rather slow burner, although both the action and the bloodletting did accelerate somewhat in the final quarter of an hour or so. All in all, I felt that this a rather amateurish production, although to be fair, it did just about hold my interest enough nfor me to watch it through to the end.

Young historian Isabelle is sent to an old manor house to investigate an ancient artefact. The family living in the house are friendly and nothing seems amiss. However, it is soon clear that a dark mystery hangs over the house and the artefact.

I set my expectations very low for this. It seemed like your average B-grade horror film, complete with no-name cast (Neil Morrissey is the exception).

However, it's isn't that bad. The plot is okay and writer-director Iain Ross-McNamee creates a decent amount of tension. Performances aren't bad and neither are the production values (though one or two special effects leave something to be desired).

A pleasant surprise.

Crucible Of the Vampire: An interesting Folk Horror film which has echoes of Witchfinder General, The Wicker Man and the Vampire Lovers. A young archaeologist, Isabelle (Katie Goldfinch) travels to a Gothic stately pile to examine half a cauldron which has been found during renovations. This may be the missing half of a Druidic cauldron which Isabelle's University holds. The family at the old house are rather creepy with the father apparently intent on selling the artifact. The dancing daughter has her sights set on Isabelle. There are flashbacks to the 17th Century when a Witchfinder and his soldiers hang a man they accuse of sorcery and cleave his cauldron in twain. The local woods are reputed to have been cursed by evil since ancient times. Some of the effects are a bit ropey but there are are effective dream and vision sequences. The mansion provides long corridors for chasing and the Vampires do have some bite. Not a classic but worth watching. Directed and Co-Written by Iain Ross-McNamee. I watched the Director's Cut on Flick Vault. 6/10.