The Little Stranger

[SouthWestmom]

I haven't read the book so I suspect I'm missing loads of nuances.

Started very slow but was gripped by the end. Creepy.

Going to see it tomorrow. The book is the only one I've read of hers that I quite liked.

I read the book. I know I liked it but can't really remember what happened. I was thinking of going to see it.

It's one I had to get into. A third through I was thinking 'I'm going to leave, it's so slow' but it really works - a sort of slow realisation.

I'm going to read the book and see if I'm right.

Just seen it. Ruth Wilson was superb, all the cast were but she stood out. I read the book when it came out in paperback and really enjoyed it and found it quite creepy.

I can't find my copy but from what I remember it is a faithful adaptation.

The book is the only one I've read of hers that I quite liked

Same here.

Loved the book, very disappointed with the film. Too long a novel to compress into a movie, lost all the nuance. Also felt Domhnall Gleeson's performance was too toneless and obvious - will leave it there because** spoilers.

Was he the doctor? We found him a bit boring from the start.

Yes he's the doctor. Too obvious.

So, spoiler alert- was 'You!' the doctor? Don't get that! Was it his poltergeist or something?

Spoiler response...

Yes we were meant to think it was Susan but it was his emotions that caused a poltergeist who lived there. I think he was responsible for Susan's death too,

Thanks!

The book is an absolute joy, to the point I nearly didn't see the film because I didn't want to spoil it.

I did go. I would say the film was very minimal, and actually I'm not sure I'd have fully understood what was happening with Rod unless I'd read the book.

The book is so rich, they didn't need to strip it back as much as they did, they could have fitted more into the time.

I was on the web chat here, the screenwriter did a great job with Crimson Petal, but of course that was over a series.

I'm not saying the film is bad, I just wonder if it works without knowledge of the book.

I think it's one of the best film adaptations of a book I've seen. I thought it captured the tone of the book perfectly. It's not a ghost story, more a modern gothic. Ruth Wilson was perfect casting and the whole thing was exactly as I imagined it when I was reading

I haven't read the book, but very much enjoyed the film. Ordering the novel now!

I've seen the film but not read the book. It was certainly gripping and Ruth Wilson was brilliant.

But did they convey, and how, that the GP's poltergeist is 'you!'?

@Miljah

But does anyone know for sure who "you" is?

The book was brilliant!

So, spoiler alert- was 'You!' the doctor? Don't get that! Was it his poltergeist or something?

Yes.

Although I don't see how he could have caused Susan's death, she died from diphtheria when he was nowhere near the hall.

'You' is the doctor. That's why she recoiled and ran, because she had ordered him out of the house for good. And he never sees anything when he goes back to the hall after it's empty besides his own reflection. Caroline gives it away when she tells him about poltergeists and how their activity can occur when someone is very trouble or unhappy or wants something very badly, and the person in question may not even know he is doing it. She also points out, when he tells her it's Betty, that he appeared at about the same time she did.

Betty gives it away, too, when she says it was a 'spiteful ghost', who didn't want Caroline to leave but didn't want her to stay, either and wanted that house all to itself.

Re Susan we only saw the film and though it was a bit 🤔 that he entered the house and broke the acorn and then became obsessed on the same day she died - mum says she was totally fine and then died 'her last happy day' so maybe we connected dots that weren't in the book.

The book is from the doctor's point of view. But he's an unreliable narrator. So how do we know that what he's telling us is the truth or just what he wants us to know. They all think there's a ghost but we don't know for definite if there is or isn't. The book is ambiguous in several ways. Not seen the film yet though.

Oh we also decided that he might be acting without knowing so we think he killed the mother and locked the door but 'forgot' - likewise the writing of the 's' shapes.

He is an unreliable narrator but he also never experiences the ghost even years after Caroline dies because well, he is the ghost.

In the book Susan dies from diphtheria.

Caroline at first believes Roderick might be the poltergeist but then puts two and two together that it's the doctor. She confronts him in the final time pointing out, correctly, that he would never have been attracted to her had Hundreds not been her home.

He's a seriously devious character in the book but he's unaware of it.

This prompted me to google and this is an interesting read - contains spoilers but I always think we post on Films after we've seen it?

www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/the-little-stranger-movie-ending-explained

Interesting perspective on keeping Dom in such a restrained way throughout. I'd be interested to see what's been cut.

I hope everyone who gets the book enjoys it. I love it so much and there's been a few threads on here over the years. Many of the terrifying bits just aren't in the film. I've had a few people say it's one of very books that's made them feel more scared than a scary film.

The scariest bit of the film, for me, was the locked door moving while Mrs Ayres was stuck in the nursery.

The nursery scene was terrifying in the book!