PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Every single film in Welcome to the Blumhouse has been amazing and The Manor was hauntingly exceptional. The film was written and directed by Axelle Carolyn. It stars Barbara Hershey, Bruce Davison, Nicholas Alexander, Jill Larsen, Fran Bennett, and Katie Amanda Keane. It was also executive produced by Jason Blum, Jeremy Gold, Marci Wiseman, Lisa Bruce, Sandy King, and Richard J Bosner.
Synopsis for The Manor
A malevolent force preys upon the residents of a sleepy nursing home in The Manor, a gothic tale of terror with a modern twist. When a mild stroke diminishes her ability to care for herself, Judith Albright (Barbara Hershey) moves to Golden Sun Manor, an assisted living facility with a sterling reputation. But despite the best efforts of the staff, and a budding friendship with fellow senior Roland (Bruce Davidson), strange occurrences and nightmarish visions convince Judith that a sinister presence is haunting the massive estate. As residents begin to die mysteriously, Judith’s frantic warnings are dismissed as fantasy. Even her devoted grandson Josh (Nicholas Alexander) thinks her fears are the result of dementia, not demons. With no one willing to believe her, Judith must either escape the confines of the manor, or fall victim to the evil that dwells within it.
As I’ve mentioned previously in other Welcome to the Blumhouse films, this series did a fantastic job with diversity and representation. Hopefully, we continue to see more of this in films. In The Manor, the target demographic is the elderly and specifically those who are no longer able to take care of themselves. This story portrays how people treat others when they think they no longer have control of their minds and the consequences of those actions. I will mention as a trigger warning that this film heavily discusses dementia and this can be a hard subject for those who may have a loved one with it or lost someone who had it.
All of the performances are phenomenal but Barbara Hershey is a national treasure and delivers a superb and emotionally-driven performance as Judith, an elderly woman who despite the stroke still is young at heart but doesn’t want to be a burden to her family. Nicholas Alexander also delivers an exceptional performance as Judith’s grandson. Their relationship is unique and special and reminds me of the one I had with my grandma.
The Manor isn’t the bloody type but that doesn’t make it any less terrifying as the psychological and supernatural factors are – chills down your spine frightening – and really mess with your head. It also doesn’t stop it from delivering superb special effects and makeup. There are some awesome specific effects scenes towards the end that every horror fan will appreciate! The dark and gothic esthetic is visually stunning and really helps set the grim and uneasy tone and atmosphere for the film.
If you love a unique and dark story with phenomenal performances and twists and turns lurking around every corner, The Manor is for you. Be sure to check it out on Amazon Prime now!
