Doctor Faraday (Domhnall Gleeson) is called to Hundreds Hall House to tend to a maid who is unwell. When there it reminds him of the last time he was there as an 8 year old boy. His mother used to be a maid there and he was taken by the power of the vast estate and never forgot his visit. The Ayres family who live there now are a shadow of their former glory. Set post The Great War, man of the house Roderick (Will Poulter) is left scarred literally and metaphorically from his time in the RAF, his sister Caroline (Ruth Wilson) had to leave a promising career to tend to him and their mother (Charlotte Rampling) mourns the loss of her daughter. Faraday strikes up a relationship of sorts with Caroline and spends more time at the house which seems to have a power unseen to them.

Lenny Abrahamson’s follow up to his Oscar winning film Room is an adaptation of a novel by Sarah Waters that was short listed for the Man Booker prize. Whilst it appears to be a haunted house movie it’s far less interested in scaring you than presenting a character study of post war class struggles and repression in England.

The film features a handful of quietly impressive performances from the leads with Gleeson giving a superbly subtle portrayal of controlled repression and anger. The other dominating character on show is the house itself. It is vast, dilapidated and imposing. The score is sparing and the silences and emptiness of the rooms are a heavy presence. It’s also beautifully shot, the moments where Gleeson peers into mirrors in the home are wonderful.

The biggest drawback to the film is its pace though. As impressive as the performances and setting are it takes its time delivering its themes. When they do come together it’s satisfying, but you need to remove any expectation of being scared or thrilled as this is an exercise in intellectualism rather than horror.