The House in the Woods

Off-beat, little-known suspense-mystery yarn about a couple, played by British screen veterans Gough and Roc, who go to the boonies to rent a furnished house for solitude and privacy. The landlord is an artist, and he is very strange. Ronald Howard(the son of Leslie Howard) plays the artist who has a mystery hidden through a veil of lies. This is one of those little gems that just amazes you when you see it and think that you never heard of it before. It is not a big budget affair at all, but the acting is top-notch and the script keeps you going till the very end. You know that there is something wrong with Howard from the very start...just not what it is for sure. The direction is tight and keen, working the most out of everything. The haunting mood of the film is greatly added by the melancholic score of "Fantasy of a Lost Love" being repeatedly played over and over again. Gough gives a surprisingly restrained performance, showing he can act with subtlety when needed(although he can be great fun when he hams it up too). Howard is good at his role, and I distinctively disliked his character from the beginning. An appropriate response for a well-played role. Roc is lovely and adequate in her role as well. A nice little surprise film. It's like finding a gold ring in a Cracker Jack box!