70's British Horror Shorts - A Ghost Story for Christmas Part Two

THE ASH TREE
(1975)
Dir - Lawrence Gordon Clark
Overall: GOOD

The final M.R. James adaptation done for the A Ghost for Christmas strand was The Ash Tree, yet another included in his 1904 collection Ghost Stories of Antiquary.  It is identically stylized just as the other Lawrence Gordon Clark directed installments were, playing out over virtually no dramatic music whatsoever and slowly becoming more and more otherworldly-centered as it goes on.  The then shortest in the run at only thirty-two minutes, it is one of the few that could benefit from a perhaps tighter screenplay.  Irish playwright David Rudkin's work is certainly decent enough, but it still feeling as if some core information is missing.  The main difference with The Ash Tree comparatively though is not only some brief nudity, but most certainly the finale which is shocking in the best of ways, going for a less subtle, more visually gruesome route than would be expected.  Then as a plus, Ramona II/Miss-Briefly-Tom-Baker Lalla Ward shows up as well.

THE SIGNALMAN
(1976)
Dir - Lawrence Gordon Clark
Overall: GREAT

The first A Ghost Story for Christmas segment to not be based off of an M.R. James work but instead one by Charles Dickens was The Signalman and it is possibly the most thoroughly well-done entry in a ceaseless slew of them.  Essentially using a two person cast, (Denholm Elliott and Bernard Lloyd), Lawrence Gordon Clark once again directs with a calm control, letting each of their exchanges play out deliberately and just as gradually upping the ghostly occurrences until they become appropriately bone-chilling.  The strengths that Clark routinely displays helming such entries in the Ghost Story series cannot be under appreciated as the mood is always impeccably maintained.  Whether working within a thirty-odd minute or near hour format, no moments are either wasted or rushed.  Dickens' story here is particularly strong as it uses respectable if standard motifs of specters behaving in a foreboding nature, (the man did write A Christmas Carol after all).  Done so stylistically well as it is here, few can argue that this is as exceptional of a supernatural horror work that can possibly be done.

STIGMA
(1977)
Dir - Lawrence Gordon Clark
Overall: GOOD

For whatever reason, the BBC decided to change up the formula to their successful A Ghost Story for Christmas strand with the penultimate installment, Stigma.  This was the first one not to be based off of an older literary work as it is instead an original screenplay by Clive Exton.  It is also the first to be explicitly set in modern day and the last that Lawrence Gordon Clark would direct.  While the eerie tone is as in check as ever, (likely due to Clark still being on board, who always handled the material in a deliberate, composed manner), the story is even more ambiguous than usual.  The supernatural forces at play are unquestionable yes, but they all remain off-camera and one could even argue that there are no ghosts at all present for this go-round.  Not that any of this particularly matters at the end of the day as quality is quality and Stigma still delivers as a slow, unearthly horror short, just in a different manner than what was seen before in the series.

THE ICE HOUSE
(1978)
Dir - Derek Lister
Overall: GOOD

Closing out the annual, A Ghost Story for Christmas anthology series was The Ice House, the first to be directed by someone other than Lawrence Gordon Clark, Derek Lister stepping in instead.  Similar to Stigma from the previous year, Ice House is set in modern day and resembles an old fashion ghost story even less than its predecessor.  This one in fact has no ghostly apparitions at all, yet it is still just as puzzlingly spooky and full of curious supernatural occurrences all the same.  It bares more in common with Invasion of the Body Snatchers or even the Batman the Animated Series episode "Eternal Youth" which is a good thing as it certainly warrants plenty of chills, literally in this particular case.  Some may find it too at odds with the previous installments or even too unresolved.  Though Lister does an adequate job, the flow is noticeably less creeping as well.  It is the only such entry that feels a tad rushed, be it only in a minor way.  The Ice House is a minute quality drop if anything and if not the strongest way to close out the strand, it is still a rewarding and challenging one.