Customer Reviews

The Haunted Airman

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(19)
1 star:		(30)

 

 

I'm sure that most of the renewed interest in this film is because it stars Robert Pattinson. If that's your motivation you won't be disappointed with his performance specifically. He was brooding, handsome, and believable in the title role.

That being said, this movie doesn't have a lot to offer otherwise. At the end of the movie I felt like I had missed something important. Maybe I'd have to read the book to fully understand what was going on, but this movie didn't give me a lot of incentive to want to do that either. Throughout the entire story it was hard to see the motivation behind the characters actions. I don't believe it was that the actors failed to effectively portray the story, I think that the script (or maybe the book itself?) was fundamentally flawed somehow. There just wasn't enough backstory to understand how the characters became the way they are emotionally. Additionally, the movie did a very poor job explaining how the characters' relationships with each other came to be, instead expecting the audience to just accept those relationships as a given. Without the proper development between the characters, it was very hard to care about what happened to them.

The music was also terrible. It had that cheesy, old, horror movie vibe and didn't add to the movie overall.

A tour de force for Pattinson as he takes center-stage in a film that has him playing a very different role that he did in Twilight for sure. A seriously wounded airman, Jugg (Pattinson) is sent to recuperate at a secluded mansion and instead finds himself a victim... a victim of nightmares and visions. The complex conspiracy that comes to light is fueled by those around him, those he ought to trust.

Pattinson fans will thoroughly enjoy this film. Based on the novel 'The Haunting of Toby Jugg", the BBC production is well crafted and, like classic horror films, shows a slow descent into madness for the lead character. If you're a fan of Pattinson, this is a must see as he IS this film from start to finish!

"The Haunted Airman" sees Twilight's Robert Pattinson flex his acting muscles in a demanding role. The story itself is based on "The Haunting of Toby Jugg" (1948) by Dennis Wheatley, an author famous for his thrillers and occult novels in the 50s and 60s (notably "The Devil Rides Out" which was also made into a movie by Hammer Studios). I read the original story and loved it, and that is why I picked it up (not because of RP's role in it though I must say I was impressed by his performance). By the way, this is a BBC production.

The story centers around Lt. Toby Jugg (Rob Pattinson) who is hurt in action during WW II and becomes confined in a wheelchair. He is taken by his aunt Julia (Rachael Stirling) to recuperate at the remote country clinic of Dr Hal Burns (Julian Sands who last impressed me in Boxing Helena). Soon enough, Toby realizes strange things are afoot as he begins to experience strange visions of spiders and other curious goings-on.

This plays out more as a psychological suspense drama than a true horror story. Those who have read the original source material will find some elements missing such as the theme of Satanism which was prevalent in the written material. Rob Pattinson as well as the other main characters are credible in their respective roles, but Pattinson's role is a far cry from Edward in Twilight. In fact, I actually think he showcases his real acting talent here, but that's just my opinion. The running time, at about 70 mins, is quite short, and there are no extras on the DVD, just a trailer of the feature. The picture quality can be a bit grainy, which I assume is intentional,to add on to the atmosphere. The movie, though short, can be a bit plodding at times, but this is a movie that portrays the emotional and psychological troubles of a young man, so the slow-paced storyline is actually appropriate here. On the whole, I liked the movie as it's high on atmosphere and psychological suspense.

Dennis Wheatley's short horror story "The Haunting of Toby Jugg" was an eerie, short tour de force in horror literature that, while not matching up quite with the work of Lovecraft or James, still stands out today as a gem. A young Lieutenant in the RAF is crippled in the war and returns to a creepy looking mansion in Wales, which is either haunted or the subject of his psychological projections. Hammer studios, that great British film production company, produced a classic with a young Christopher Lee entitled "The Devil Rides Out" which gave the story superb treatment.

"The Haunted Airman", starring "teen heartthrob" Robert Pattinson, is a 70 minute exercise in pointless flashbacks, panasonic 1970's style war reminiscences, and absurd looking spiders crawling all over the pratically nude "star". In fact, there were so many shots of him in bathtubs (smoking cigarette after cigarette with a starry gaze) and sitting in his wheelchair that I wondered if the director had more of a prolonged "photo shoot" in mind; the movie will at least produce a lot of posters for 14 year old girls to fawn over. If his good looks are all Pattinson has going for him as an actor, I hope he finds the fountain of youth somewhere in Britain.

Julian Sands plays the villainous psychiatrist who seems to want to dominate Toby's life and mind. He steals his letters, behaves strangely, flirts with his aunt (who Toby is having an incestuous relationship with) and generally behaves like a big mindf**k with a huge nose. Sands is the best actor in this movie, recalling his unpleasant role in "Her Name is Carla". All the atmosphere that is built up, all the foreboding, all of this is is really a kind of meandering predicated upon the false notion that this will all lead to something. The ending is pitiable in it's predictability. Please, watch the Hammer film, or read the short story, and if you want to watch "Twilight", go do that instead.

this is probably rpattz's finest performance i've seen yet. he so emboded the character of toby jugg perfectly. i thought his acting was superb.
if you've never watched a pattinson movie and want to, start with this one. it is much better than twilight (though i do love twilight!) and will most likely be a good first taste of him. and his british accent is the bomb! my only issue is the rating. in my opinion it is a pg-13 rating and not R. i have seen worse movies with a lower rating than R. give this movie a chance! i loved it!

I won't lie, I ordered this video, because I love to look at Rob Pattinson. If you feel similarly, you won't be disappointed. He's beautiful, and you get to see lots of him. As you might be able to tell from the title "Haunted" - this story follows a sinister and spooky line which is really not bad....except it doesn't go anywhere. The story meanders along with the general stuff, sleepless nights, spiders, a sinister doctor, the guardian aunt (who is way too old for the Pattinson character), etc. If you're into those endings that let you come to your own conclusions about what they mean, then you may love it, cause that's exactly what it does. I'm sorry, I really didn't get it. However, as I said, if you want something to watch RPatz in...in period costume, looking great, using his normal accent, (sans Bella), then it's worth the time and money. I'll watch it on rainy afternoons just to swoon over Rob. I also decided the guy's not a bad actor either, he holds his own mighty well, in my opinion. I haven't read the story, so I don't know if this follows the original idea or not. Won't give away the ending, will let you form you own opinion. Robert Pattinson is one good looking guy and that made this DVD worth it for me.

This movie started off great. A former airman dealing with the horrors of war sent to a home for veterans by the only family he has his aunt. However this movie has a lot that is unexplained. I think what they were trying to do was leave you with the sense of; is it all real? or is he just plain crazy? but in the end it didnt work. plus there is an akward scene of the airman maybe raping his aunt(it could just be her being afriad that he may kill her and he lays on top of her)? your not quit sure what is going in this scene and most of the movie.For me i was left with ALOT of questions.

First, let me say that I had not seen Twilight when I originally rented this back in 2009 (sparkly vampires? No thank you). Instead, I got it out of Redbox and watched it with my brother for an annual movie night.

Second, I'm a huge movie watcher. There's rarely a movie I don't like because I can find something to like about it.

This is not one of those movies. In fact, can this even be considered a movie?? It's like someone in Britain said, "Hey, this guy is somewhat good looking so we need to make a movie with him in it that's loosely based on a great book. While we're at it, let's throw the scrabble letters against the wall every time we want some dialogue in it and that will be what the actors say. Everyone cool with that? Awesome. Let's get some ciggies and a wheelchair." If this was the case...mission accomplished.

I honestly can't even begin to describe how horrible this movie is. To name the bad things that 1) happened in the movie, 2) how the movie was made, and 3) what the movie is about would be a massive list that I neither have the time nor the patience to write. If you want to know what's the worst part about it - cast wise to the direction, editing, script, etc.- I would answer you, "All of it. Literally." I actually asked my brother if he would turn if off because not only was I bored to near sleep, but I was incredibly confused at the ending. I kept waiting for a real one to come up.

Whoever thought this movie was a great idea not only needs to be banned for life from everything media but needs to be told not to base a concept of a movie from his drug - induced, scrabble letter throwing haze.

I don't think Edward or...er, I mean Robert Pattinson is a good actor by any means. I think he is highly overrated because of his looks, which are mediocre at best IMO. His acting is as good as this movie.

The only reason why I gave this a one star is because I can't post this review without doing so.

The Haunted Airman is a phenominal horror and suspense piece which I watched several times and each time I come to a different conclusion as to its internal reality and the "truth" about what is really happening. The story unfolds from the point of view of a man who is haunted by his past. Toby, Robert Pattinson, recalls having dropped bombs over Germany to obliterate life and is haunted by the fact that at the time he felt nothing even at the moment when he was hit and believed that he faced death himself. Ultimately, Toby sees dead people and spiders and though he recalls moments of his highest accomplishment in life as a war hero is afraid of the dark. Toby's point of view is unreliable as he descends into madness and why wouldn't it be? We know not whether his psychiatrist can be trusted, or whether the relationship with his aunt is that of intimates. The film delves the depths of Toby's psyche where terror lurks. Finally, one is not sure whether the ultimate act of violence is real. Isn't that what horror suspense is? Horror/suspense is not a detective piece nor is it a search for the truth. If one wants that, try Agatha Christie, James Bond, or Law and Order. Incidentally, Twilight has no relevance here. I am surprised that previous reviews mentioned it. Pattinson is a truly gifted actor and can make one forget Edward Cullen. Edward and Toby are not acquainted. Pattinson's performance is brilliant.

I think Robert Pattinson acted well in this movie, but the plot and ending left something to be desired.