unwritten rule in horror # 1 represent always remain somewhat skeptical whenever you rent a movie of which the dvd cover be literally bespatter with praise quote from acclaimed horror magazine and or or listing of award win at festival no one ever heard of . this might be an indication that the distributor need extra reason to convince people into rent or buy their film and because the plot summary and the still image on the back of the box aren not convincing enough . the box of the living and the dead feature quote state brilliant and disturbing and harrowing and the great film ever make and but personally i do not think the film deserve any of those compliment . the tagline and on the other hand and be very truthful . it say terror by good intention and not only do this simple sentence summarize the whole plot and it also accurately describe the entire film production . the story revolve on the physical and financial and mental downfall of a once eminent family of three living in a massive mansion in rural britain . the father be nearly bankrupt and the mother be terminally ill and the twenty something son james be mentally handicap . when the father be force to travel to london to solve his financial issue and james insists to look after his mother instead of an expensive nurse . naturally his intention be good and but his lack of realism and intellect make it a long period of pure agony and humiliation for his poor old mother . ah and good intention writer or director simon rumley obviously have plenty . the concept of the film be original and fairly engaging and but it too little to revolve a whole movie around . the living and the dead suffers from far too many dreadfully dull moment and rumley only seem to fill those moment up with lame visual gimmick and pointless padding footage . he particularly seem to be fond of the fast forward film style . very often we just see accelerated image of james run up and down the house for no real reason other than to kill a few extra minute of playtime or to set up the viewer with a dreadful headache . if anything and the living and the dead be the type of film that can make even the calm person nervous and irritated . the pointlessness of this film be really frustrating and good intention or no good intention . the finale be highly implausible and the film honestly isn not that shock a it think it be and rumley atypical directing skill almost feel pretentious and arrogant . seriously and youre not werner herzog or david lynch and mister .