Rent Soulmate (2013)

Ghostly occurances with stunning scenery ... - Soulmate review by NP

The first thing that bites you about ‘Soulmate’ is the extraordinary scenery. Filmed in Wales, entirely on location I think, it looks breathtaking. Director Axelle Carolyn absolutely makes the most of it.

Audrey, played by the always wonderful Anna Walton, stays at a remote house in the middle of nowhere to piece together her broken spirit following the death of her husband and subsequent suicide attempt. Not only does the house appear to be frequented by a mysterious other, but she has to fend off sticky-beak neighbour Theresa (Tanya Myers) whilst confiding in her husband Dr Zellaby (Roger Corman’s former Frankenstein Monster Nick Brimble). This, alongside Douglas (Tom Wisdom) pretty much is the cast, all fine performers.

Cautiously for a work of horror fiction, the BBFC requested compulsory cuts to the pre-credits suicide sequence, as they felt that the risk of imitation was too high to be acceptable. Luckily they didn’t feel that anyone would copy the subsequent traumatic incidents involving Audrey, or we wouldn’t have this splendid film at all - but at least the public would have been spared any inclination to go out and haunt someone.

Ultimately, the story proves to be slight, and the ending might have been a little more conclusive. After investing in these characters for so long, it seems a shame most of their journeys were left so open-ended.

However, it is very difficult not to enjoy this richly layered, deeply atmospheric production. I wouldn’t suggest it is necessarily a ‘gentle’ horror, but it what it (deliberately) lacks in spectacle and gore, it makes up for in its immersive mood. My score is 7 out of 10.