Occasionally you have to approach the nearest location you rent movies from and take the plunge, picking out something you’ve never heard of but that might turn out interesting. You’ll never know what you’ll find. Well with the exception of anything new starring Bruce Willis. Sometimes they’ll be great and other times be terrible. But for the most part whatever you find will be at least entertaining. Such is the case with MISS WILLOUGHBY AND THE HAUNTED BOOKSHOP.
The film opens at a funeral in 1996 where young Elizabeth stands beside their graves as her new guardian Robert Thompson stands nearby. Born into wealth she lives in a secluded estate in England. Thompson has promised to raise the girl and does so by teaching her everything he can which includes martial arts, strategy, reading and more. The years pass and she grows into a striking young woman with a keen intellect.
Grown Elizabeth (Nathalie Cox) still resides on her family’s estate and Thompson (Kelsey Grammer) still helps her when he can while aiding in the management of the estate. She now teaches at a nearby college and has written several books. One day she receives a call from longtime friends Oliver (Steven Elder) and Helen Deakin (Louise Bangay), owners of a rare and collectible bookshop in town and they plan on meeting at her estate for tea the next day.
The four friends make small talk and catch up when Elizabeth notices a trembling in Helen’s hands. Thompson picks up on the hint and escorts Oliver out to visit the wine cellar. Helen then tells Elizabeth that one of two things is taking place. Either she is going mad or the bookshop is being haunted by her deceased father. Of course Elizabeth agrees to help her get to the bottom of what’s going on.
Elizabeth contacts a colleague at the university, Prof. Vernon Murray (Nicholas Jones), who teaches physics and who has a side interest in parapsychology. All of them gather in the bookshop, Murray with his EMF reader and equipment, and try to find the source of the so-called haunting. The end result is Helen seeing her late father once more while no one else does and passing out.
Digging deeper Elizabeth contacts two members of the book club that meets at the store to see what they’re aware of. First there is Sarah Clarkson (Caroline Quentin) who is a budding author herself and the town gossip. Her somewhat adversary is Diana Branson (Tara Fitzgerald) a snob if there ever was one and one to compete with her for town secrets. Between the two of them Elizabeth learns that the Deakins are having financial difficulties and a nefarious land developer has been after them to sell their estate.
All of this would lead you to believe that this is where the problem lies. But then one night Helen hears piano music coming from the music room and goes downstairs. She sees her father’s image sitting in his chair which then rises and approaches her. Oliver comes to comfort her but she runs away and the search is on not just for the supposed ghost but for Helen herself.
The mystery involved here is one you are most likely to
figure out long before the end of the film but that doesn’t take away some of
the pleasure in watching how the characters figure it all out. This film does
indeed play like a low end Miss Marple of Nancy Drew mystery but those were
always fun to watch and attempt to solve on your own. This movie does the same.
There may be tons of series like this on British television but there is a
charm to this one that I feel many missed. So many have written negatively
about the film rather than accept it for what it is.
The film is well made and the acting is better than your average cop show. Cox is delightful as Elizabeth showing a grace as she digs into the clues. Grammer is his usual best adding to the entire production and providing tremendous support in his role.
I doubt that this film will end up becoming a series of films but on its own it is an enjoyable movie to watch. A few topics might make it unsuitable for children but with some conversation on those topics they might be allowed to watch, in particular the older ones. If you’re willing to take a risk on an unknown movie you might want to try this one.
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