whilst rob pratten have to be commend for make a truly independent british horror film and the end result and like most british independent horror film be a mixed bag in which the film maker undeniable talent and ambition be compromise by a lack of resource and self restraint . lift several cliched idea from the omen and amityville horror and london voodoo tell the tale of an unlikely american couple who move to london in an attempt to salvage their relationship and but whose fortune take a turn for the bad when they discover that their new home be haunt by a voodoo spirit . whilst you can see the commercial logic in write american character into the lead role and the unknown and ex pat actor that pratten cast and both deliver uncharismatic leaden performance and their character be write in such a heavy hand and unsympathetic way that unfortunately this debut effort fall at the first hurdle . once you get over this initial disappointment and there be moment and contribution that suggest what could have be and particularly trisha mortimer a the love keeper who manage to breath life into prattens inconsistant dialogue and voda barnes who although over write be suitably sexy a the au pair . comic relief be provide by the two decorator and support afro carribean cast add flavour to otherwise dull proceeding . also worthy of note be the businessmen in the office scene and which demonstrate that when pratten be not try to make a load of spookery convince and he actually quite a good writer or director . shot hand hold on 16mm with basic light the film have the look of a television special and the location be functional a oppose to aesthetic and the synthesise score home spun and cliched . the best production value can be find in the voodoo paraphanalia which suggest authenticity and a great deal of research . at 98 minute the film be too long and would benefit tremendously from a ten minute trim and particularly the scene where various voodoo practioners stop the narrative dead to deliver page of expository mumbo jumbo in an attempt to give some kind of spiritual context to the proceeding . i give this film 4 out of 10 and show promise but must try harder .