Published via Ecency

(source: tmdb.org)

One of the most important choices parents can make are those of proper babysitters. Lack of care in these matters can result in alleged incident in 1980s Italy that served as inspiration for Superstition, 2001 British film directed by Kenneth Hope. The protagonist is Julie McCullough (played by Sienna Guillory), 19-year old British woman who came to Italy to work as au pair in home of Alessandro Censi (played by Derek de Lint) and his wife Mirella (played by Alice Krige). After house fire that claimed the life of couple’s young son Julie is accused of arson and some of the local public even mention possibility of witchcraft. Case is brought to trial and Julie is prosecuted by Isabella Flores (played by Frances Barber) and defended by Antonio Gabrieli (played by Mark Strong). During the proceedings there are suggestions that Julie, who was involved in similar incident in her past, might have pyrokinetic abilities or even possessed by some supernatural force.

Made with relative small budget, Superstition features rather impressive cast. Former model Sienna Guillory, who was on the way on acting stardom, plays one of the most demanding roles in her career by that time. Her efforts are predictably overshadowed by veterans like Mark Strong, Frances Barber and Charlotte Rampling who plays psychiatrist nun, a role that inadvertently gives this film exploitation look. While photographed well by Stephen Smith, Superstition suffers because of poor script. It is advertised as some sort of supernatural horror, but for the most of time it looks more like generic psychological drama, with scenes of hallucinations and dreams making it into rather unpleasant and disturbing experience. Plot twist near the end puts Superstition firmly into horror territory, but that ending is going to disappoint many viewers. Kenneth Hope, whose career was almost exclusively in realms of television commercials, failed to make another live action feature film and all those who endure Superstition won’t be too surprised when they learn it.

RATING: 3/10 (+)