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The Manor centres around Judith (Barbara Hershey), a former ballet dancer, then teacher, but as she reaches 70, time catches up with us all and following a stroke and receiving treatment for Parkinson’s disease, she moves into this titular care home.
But things aren’t all sunshine and rainbows, especially as she first enters, and they take her mobile phone away as that’s their policy, so what are you meant to do in there with an active mind? I’d hate that. That said, when Facebook went offline on Monday evening, it was a welcome break.
Given where she is, there are random residents screaming in the middle of the night, and Judith shares a room with a woman who’s not at all well. In the UK, residents wouldn’t share rooms. Is this something that happens in the US? If not, I guess it’s just a plot device.
Before long, she sees weird things that go bump in the night, some of which starts giving me the hee-bee-gee-bees! Plus, the other residents seem agitated to see her on her arrival, and there’s a glowing tree on the grounds! And since she also witnesses her late husband, George, at one point, is it all in her head or actually happening? And don’t forget a few freaky things happening in the middle of the night, with jump scares that are actually quite engaging.
So, as she uncovers information about the place, is it the truth, or her mind playing tricks on her? Of course, my money was on her being spot-on from the start, since that’s how you assume these sorts of films always work out.
The Manor has a bit of a daft story to it, but Ms Hershey is superb in this. It’s silly but entertaining, and does make you wonder what would happen if I did lose my marbles. I plan to live as long as Captain Tom, anyway. Just hope I can make it to 100 in relatively good health.
Thanks to our friends at Amazon Prime Video for the screener prior to release.
The Manor is on Amazon Prime Video from Friday October 8th. but the film isn’t yet available to pre-order on Blu-ray or DVD.
Detailed specs:
Cert: 
Running time: 82 minutes
Release date: October 8th 2021
Studio: Amazon Prime Video
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Rating: 6/10
Director: Axelle Carolyn
Screenplay: Axelle Carolyn
Music: Christopher Drake
Cast:
Judith: Barbara Hershey
Roland: Bruce Davison
Josh: Nicholas Alexander
Trish: Jill Larson
Ruth: Fran Bennett
Barbara: Katie Amanda Keane
Liesel: Ciera Payton
Annette: Nancy Linehan Charles
Elizabeth: Shelley Robertson
Ms. Benson: Stacey Travis
Gary: Devin Kawaoka
Imogen: Cissy Wellman
George: Robert Rusler
Dr. Geoghegan: Andrew Tinpo Lee
Young Judith: Jessica Lee Keller
Young Trish: Belle Adams
Young Ruth: Jaquita Ta’le
Judith Older Ballet Dancer: Michele Hart
Minion: Mark Steger
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.