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The Secret shows that while school can be a fairly isolating place at the best of times – and we’ve all been there, some things just aren’t panning out the way an average school day should.
David (Steven Coward, right) arrives a bit late for school, just after the bus has drawn up and classes have begun, and as he takes his seat he’s ignored by his teacher, played by Nicola Haldane, when attempting to answer questions despite clearly wanting to impart the information. Other chilren sneer at him, while at the back, Rosie (Emily Batchford, below), asks the teacher to go easy on David because he doesn’t know yet… about the secret…, and adds with a chilling air, “but he will do soon.”
Little by little, the realisation kicks in and when you think you’ve sussed it out, it’s really not quite what you think. But what is it? Well, that would be telling :)
The Secret features excellent performances from the two leads, Steven (age 14), who took the lead role in Jon Rosling’s earlier feature, Waterfall, and Emily (age 11) who makes her debut in this film.
As well as the haunting soundtrack, which was atmospheric in all the right places, the camera angles also complemented the look of the film, including when David first walks up to the school with the camera low-down making the school looking even more daunting, and the overcast weather all fitted in together to echo that feeling of a school day when you’re not in the mood for one. There was also an element in there that reminded me of The Eye (the original, that is. I haven’t entertained the thought
of seeing the Hollywood remake).
I originally saw The Secret at the premiere on July 17th, 2008, and there was a fantastic atmosphere about the whole screening. I’ve known Jon for many years, ever since we were both at Keele University. I was so looking forward to this film and it didn’t disappoint at all.
This new version has been remastered, regraded and re-cut in a cinemascope-style 2.35:1 ratio, similar to Five Pillars, slightly cropping the top and bottom but given a more sinister appearance to all the goings-on as you try to figure it out. The remastering process also adds in an intentional hazy look around certain elements (but I won’t say what for here – it’s a secret!)
Also, I’ve used screengrabs from the same scenes as I did with the 2008 original, so you can compare how they look.
Check out the Official Website where you can buy the film, and also watch the trailer.
Detailed specs:
Cert: 
Running time: 10 minutes
Studio: Eye Films Ltd
Year: 2008
Format: 2.35:1
Released: 2015
Rating: 10/10
Director: Jon Rosling
Producer: Marianna Segenhout
Screenplay: Jon Rosling
Original Score: Heather Fenoughty
Cast:
David: Steven Coward
Rosie: Emily Batchford
The Teacher: Nicola Haldane
Bubble-gum girl: Abby Mills
Good-looking boy: Travis Brashaw
Angel of Death: Jordan Smith
Paul: Billy Metcalfe
Sally: Abigail Dunstan
School pupils: Jessa Chambers, Robert Parson, Sally Millington, Brooke Perry, Katie Boid, Lauren Harthill, Julia Kennedy, Katie Flute, Laura Clayton
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.