Introduction
The Manor is writer-director Axelle Carolyn’s second feature film (a follow-up to 2013’s Soulmate). It’s also the eighth and final installment in Amazon’s popular “Welcome to the Blumhouse” series for 2021. The film stars legendary Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actress Barbara Hershey. Hershey made her screen debut in 1968 co-starring in With Six You Get Eggroll. She’s still a force to be reckoned with at age 73.
Premise
In The Manor, Judith Albright (Barbara Hershey) is a former ballet dancer, who suffers a mild stroke at her 70th birthday party. She reluctantly moves into the Golden Sun Manor assisted living facility. She does this so as not to impose on her daughter (Katie Amanda Keane) and teenaged grandson (Nicholas Alexander). Judith quickly settles in with a group of fellow seniors, developing a budding friendship with Roland (Bruce Davidson).
It’s not before long that Judith starts to have strange visions and nightmares. She becomes convinced that something evil is haunting this gothic manor. As is standard in movies of this genre, her cell phone privileges are taken away. Also, her amped-up warnings of impending doom are dismissed by the facilities staff. Even her fellow seniors and beloved grandson think that Judith has gone a bit off the deep end.
Patients at the Golden Sun Manor rapidly and mysteriously start dying and going insane. Judith fears the worst, and that she may soon be next to perish. Meanwhile, the staff at the facility predictably tell her that she is suffering from dementia. With virtually no one willing to believe her, Judith realizes that she must escape the walls of the manor. This or be doomed to become its next victim.
The Cast
Hershey, being the veteran actor that she is, sells the material convincingly. The script she has to work with is heavy on exposition. However, her performance is solid and she basically carries this film on her experienced shoulders. Bruce Davison as Roland is again reunited with Hershey. The pair starred in Frank Perry’s classic 1969 coming-of-age film Last Summer. The back and forth flirting between the two show genuine chemistry.
Another standout performance in this somewhat underwhelming paint-by-the-numbers film is that of Nicholas Alexander. He portrays Josh, the grandson, and his character is legitimately fleshed out. The relationship he has with Judith feels genuine. It also helps that he acts and behaves much like a normal teenager would tend to behave.
All My Children alum Jill Larson portrays Trish, one of the regulars in Judith’s new clique at the manor. While she has little to work with here, she still turns in a solid performance. Stacey Travis (Phantasm II) gives her best Nurse Ratched impersonation, chewing up the dialogue. The cast is rounded out by Ciera Payton, portraying Liesel, one of the attendants, and the late Fran Bennett (8MM), portraying Ruth, another fellow inmate.
Analysis
Hershey and Davison are pros that turn in solid, convincing performances. However, the film depends too much on clunky exposition. This is a frequent flaw with many of the Blumhouse productions. Instead of being shown what is happening in The Manor, we are told what is happening. After an hour of this, it becomes tedious. The result of this is a lack of suspense. The jump scares are also telegraphed and predictable.
One thing that can be said about The Manor is it looks good. The lighting and production design are both solid. Also, the film at times has a legitimate gothic Dark Shadows type of feel to it. Tracy Dishman’s production design makes the film bearable. Still, the tension just isn’t there. Further, Carolyn’s screenplay isn’t fleshed out enough to develop believable characters that we actually care about.
Illusion Industries creates a scary-looking creature. This is very much in line with all the Blumhouse films. Creature creation has always been a strong suit of the Blumhouse team. Carolyn also is clearly paying homage to horror films of the 1970s, with numerous hat-tips throughout. Even the clothing worn are call-outs to the indie horror scene. What The Manor lacks in suspense and characterization, it makes up for in production design.
Conclusion
In The Manor, the ultimate payoff for what’s been going on isn’t that unexpected, and that’s fine. Just be prepared for a fairly lightweight payoff by the time the end credits roll. The film is a somewhat enjoyable piece of genre filmmaking, but it’s not much more than that. The veteran cast delivers the goods as best they can. However, at the end of the day, like so many other horror movies streaming right now, it is largely forgettable.
The Manor was released on October 8, 2021, via Amazon Prime Video.
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