M.R. James's Casting the Runes DVD Review

A chilling tale of an innocent woman battling a satanic spell drawn from one of M.R. James’s most frightening tales, Casting the Runes makes its North American DVD debut from Acorn Media on July 17, 2012. Tense and atmospheric, this spooky story features outstanding performances and plenty of suspense from the father of the modern ghost story. Iain Cuthbertson (Gorillas in the Mist, Children of the Stones) is thoroughly chilling as Karswell, and Jan Francis (Just Good Friends, Under the Hammer) plays the increasingly desperate Dunning to the hilt in this tense and atmospheric British thriller. Commissioned for broadcast in 1979 as part of ITV Playhouse, the classic occult story remains popular in mainstream media, influencing such films as 1957’s Curse of the Demon to 2009’s Drag Me to Hell. The DVD single also includes the M.R. James adaptation Mr. Humphreys and His Inheritance (20 min.) and the documentary A Pleasant Terror: The Life & Ghosts of M.R. James (51 min.) ($29.99, www.AcornOnline.com).

“No, no, Miss Dunning. You’ll have to be more clever than that.” With these words, Julian Karswell dismisses Prudence Dunning’s attempts to undo his satanic spell—a curse that terrorized and ultimately killed a writer a decade earlier.

Casting the Runes pits an innocent television producer against a fiendish alchemist. While working on a piece exposing would-be mystics, Dunning brings unwanted attention to the reclusive occultist. In retaliation, he delivers a runic scroll that dooms her to a horrific fate, unless she can devise a way to turn the tables in her favor, at any price.

BONUS: The M.R. James adaptation Mr. Humphreys and His Inheritance (20 min.) and the documentary A Pleasant Terror: The Life & Ghosts of M.R. James (51 min.)

Street Date: July 17, 2012   

SRP: $29.99  

DVD Single - Approx. 47 min., plus bonus - British drama - SDH subtitles 

Our Thoughts

 If there is one thing I like better that a suspenseful mystery, its a mystery with elements of the supernatural. In M. James's Casting the Runes, you follow the adventures of an innocent television producer looking to undercover mystic phonies. The problem is, the deeper she goes, the more it seems that they might not be phony after all.  One fiendish alchemist puts a curse on her, and she must find a way to break it before its too late. I loved this story. It was exciting and suspenseful, and I found myself biting my nails more than once. Though do take into consideration that the occult elements are exaggerated and not very realistic. Its a wonderful story of terrifying fancy, but as someone who has studied rune casting, it wasn't at all what the real practice is about. That aside, I still feel the film is worth a watch if you are into the supernatural or if you just like a good old fashioned mystery.

 
If you want to get a copy of this exciting classic for yourself, you can find it online at Acorn Media  for only $29.99.


***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a sample of the product to try in order to write a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and were not influenced in any way. ***