ARCHIE – A WEE GHOST STORY – A Short Film by Scott Watson and Steven Patrick

Archie - A Wee Ghost Story (2012)
Directed by: Scott Watson, Steven Patrick
Written by: Steven Patrick
Starring: Dawn Robertso, Elizabeth Baillie, Paul Massie, Steven Patrick

ARCHIE – A WEE GHOST STORY
Directed by Scott Watson and Steven Patrick

Young couple Gillian (Elizabeth Baillie) and Tam (Paul Massie) awaken in the middle of the night due to noises in the house. After hearing doors slamming and footsteps, the couple decide to investigate. Downstairs they are surprised to find a gentleman named Archie (Steven Patrick) sitting in the living room who’s convinced that it’s his home and offers to make them a cup of tea. After walking into the kitchen, Archie disappears much to Gillian and Tam’s surprise. The next morning Gillian’s friend (played by Dawn Robertson) stops by the house but is concerned when neither Gillian or Tam answer the door. Letting herself in, she finds the couple dead in the bedroom. What has happened to the couple and who was the mysterious Archie?

ARCHIE – A WEE GHOST STORY is a 12 minute heart-warming ghostly tale by first-time filmmakers Scott Watson and Steven Patrick. Shot on location in Banknock, Falkirk in Scotland, the film explores issues concerning the deceased and the lack of awareness one may have of death. A definite comparison could be drawn between THE OTHERS and ARCHIE, with both sets of characters unaware of their death and stuck in limbo, as it were. My assumptions were that the couple died due to a gas leak and that Archie was a previous tenant of the house who was electricuted by his faulty toaster. Both spirits meet as they are about to discover their unfortunate fate.

The slow build up of ARCHIE is emphasised with some great angles shot by Scott Watson in what is his first attempt at film-making. The blue hue given to the opening scenes, for me, represented the fact that this couple had passed over into the next world, a colder, less vibrant world than the living one.

The performances given by all the cast in the movie are executed well and feel natural to watch. The couple bickering at the beginning is a nice touch to add layers to the personality and relationship between the two. Steven Patrick’s appearance as Archie brought even more emotion into the film, with his depiction of a gentle man who made the couple feel welcome in his home, despite it being their home too.

The haunting yet beautiful vocals towards the end compliment the film and the music used throughout provides a nice even texture to the proceedings, giving a fuller ‘ghostly’ experience.

ARCHIE may be a short tale but it’s a very solid start, especially for a zero budget film. The filmmakers clearly love to tell a story and this works to their advantage. I look forward to their future work.