The Unseen

Writer/director Gary Sinyor spent over a decade developing this unsettling thriller, which overcomes the odd plot blip to provide some poignant insights into the psychological consequences of grief. With successful careers, a lovely home and a happy child, Will and Gemma Shields (Richard Flood, Jasmine Hyde) seem to have it all. But, following a tragic accident, they begin to drift apart as he keeps hearing voices and she starts to experience bouts of temporary blindness that prove increasingly dangerous. Befriended by a stranger (Simon Cotton), Gemma accepts his invitation to stay in the guesthouse he is renovating in the Lake District. But the getaway exacerbates the couple's problems and few will fail to spot where the problem lies. However, Sinyor builds the suspense deftly and makes disconcerting use of Luke Palmer's point-of-view camerawork and Tom Jenkins's creepy sound mix, while Hyde (in a role inherited from Lena Headey) makes a particularly good impression.