Paperhouse

Paperhouse is a unique film which captures the imagination of an eleven year old girl through her continuing nightmares. Throughout the movie, the scenes are carefully thought out and the production of the 'dream house' is of superb quality. The lifeless pencil drawings of Anna's are sprung into life with an obvious amount of realism.

The horror within the film can be established during the scenes in which Anna and her father meet. The darkness of the sky during the nightmare as well as the music, come together to create a chilling atmosphere. This film should be watched.

I would not call paperhouse a horror film but more like a PSYCHOLOGICAL FANTASY. This film is about a young schoolgirl who is drawing pictures of a house with a boy in it and she having dreams that are becoming real this is a really good PSYCHOLOGICAL film and somehow this film reminds of The Ring 2002 i mean the feeling to it has anyone notice it?? The acting was ok but not great had a good cast and thought the dad in the drawing was good and spooky abit. I am giving this film 9/10

Paperhouse presents an intensely entertaining fantasy/horror story of a young school girl ,Ana, enduring an illness, and experiencing a compelling fantasy that occurs when she is in the throes of the fevers brought on by her malady. She draws a house on paper, inhabited by a boy, who is also ill, and events occur in her febrile dreams which she tries to control with subsequent drawings. We get a rich and detailed insight into the girl's character as she tries to cope with two worlds in which she has serious problems to resolve. I really enjoyed Paperhouse from start to finish.

The film moves quickly and maintains an intense sense of adventure, and even some level of horror, that erupts every time Ana lapses into her dreams. I would say that the only real flaw in it is that the director seemed not to know just how to end it all. I would have preferred a tighter resolution. Still Paperhouse is well worthwhile.

The little actress who starred, did an excellent job. I understand this was her only film; one of those ironies of filmdom that is difficult to understand. She was really good. I wish this film would be released on DVD in the USA. I managed to tape it from cable but I would love to have it on DVD. I recommend that you watch Paperhouse if you see it playing.

Anna (Charlotte Burke), who is just on the verge of puberty, begins to have strange dreams which start affecting her in real life--especially involving a boy named Mark (Elliott Spiers) who she meets in her dreams.

Very unusual fantasy with some truly terrifying moments. Despite the fact that this is about a teenage girl and has a PG-13 rating, this is NOT for children. Also, if you hate fantasies stay far away. But if you're game for something different this fits the bill.

Well directed by Bernard Rose with a just beautiful music score and a few nice, scary jolts. The only thing that prevents this from being a really great movie is Burke--she's not a very good actress (it's no surprise that this has been her only film) and it hurts the movie. However, everybody else is just great.

Spiers is very good as Mark; Glenne Headley (faking a British accent very well) is also very good as Anna's mother and Ben Cross is both frightening and sympathetic as Anna's father.

A sleeper hit when released in 1988, it's since faded away. That's too bad--it's really very good.

I watched this when i was about 11 and i've always remembered "the house" and wanted to see it again. Found it the other day (i'm now 21) and just watched it and I have to say the house and the dream world is just as amazing and atmospheric as i remember but the film all round wasn't too good.

The acting is absolutely awful, glenne headly should be ashamed. But the idea is so good and yet SO wasted!

The blind dad in the dreamworld wasn't scary enough as he was too slow moving, though i loved the bit where it first shows you his silhouette at the top of the hill! very scary.

Overall the film starts with SO SO much promise but ends up fizzling away and by the end you can't help but get agitated at how much you'll want to go back to 1988 and take over the directing (and writing) job and complete this film how it should have been (with good ideas!!).

I'll give it a 7 simply for the dreamworld as i'll never forget it. Even though nothing much happens, right from the first time she enters it, you feel a sense of unease.