Rent When the Lights Went Out (2012)

A period haunting! - When the Lights Went Out review by NP

This is an enjoyable haunted house story set in 1974 Yorkshire. It doesn’t take long after a new family move into the house, before creepy things start to happen. Focussing mainly on the daughter Sally (Tasha Connor), we’re spared arduous scenes of parents failing to believe her stories of ghostly reflections and misbehaving electrical items, because the poltergeist activity soon becomes widespread.

Based on a true story, the star of this show is its attention to period detail. While some long shots might reveal anachronistic satellite dishes occasionally, everything else is spot on. For those of who vaguely remember the 1970s, this provides a genuine nostalgic twinge every so often.

I liked all the characters, especially the juveniles, who are tricky to get right. A special mention for salty Father Clifton (Bernie Lewis).

Swinging light shades can be far more frightening than a wealth of CGI, as the finale proves. Low-key these frights may be, but they were enough to get under my skin a few times. My score is 8 out of 10.

When the Lights Went Out (2012) - When the Lights Went Out review by CP Customer

If you are looking for big budget special effects then this is not for you. This film has good acting by all the lead actresses and actors along with a decent script based on true events which the film maker has managed to re-enact in a thought provoking manner which isn't over the top yet still keeps the viewer interested until the end. For anyone born pre-70s, the costume and sets used will definitely bring back memories and if you are looking for something that hasn't been Americanized and is true to Britain - give this one 83 minutes of your time at least once.

Brilliant Low-Budget 1970s-set Poltergeist Britflick - the Best Horror Film I have Watched for Ages! - When the Lights Went Out review by PV

I LOVED this film - it is watchable, effective, scary - with some real jumps - and is pretty spot-on re the 1970s decor and issues. Nice to see a film set 'oop north' in Sheffield (South Yorkshire) area too, from the accents. The era is shown accurately - women in scarves, the freedom kids had back then, the hard-drinking council house working class men (in work, back then, in industry), coal man delivering etc. ALL spot on and rarely seen.

My only criticism is there is not a SUBTITLES option and I was not so sure about some school scenes - I think girls in 1974 had to do domestic science and boys did metalwork/woodwork. Most people had black and white TVs then too so that is as spot on as the hideous orange and brown patterned wallpaper.

Anyway, I LOVED this. Skillful use of pace and imagery suggests a horrific presence which is always way more effective than endless CGI (ask Spielberg whose Jurassic Park did the same, with dinosaurs on screen for only 6 minutes or so - the rest is suggestion). So the noises, the chil, the swinging lampshades all work so well. And the exorcism scenes are not so silly, nor is the historical bit, because it does not go on TOO long - this is a quick, snappy film, and keeps the interest from the beginning till the end. This is WAY better than all the state-funded drivel paid for by the BFI, Lottery, BBC - all pc box-ticking and so slow and boring. This is not slow or boring - it is GREAT!

A perfect little British horror film which needs to be seen by more people. Original, in its setting, though of course ALL exorcism films will be compared to The Exorcist. BUT I preferred this film to that. Poltergeist is another reference.

4.5 stars rounded up.