The Haunting of Julia (1977) – Richard Loncraine.

'You're not safe, nice Mrs. Lofting!'

Following the devastating sudden death of her 8yr old daughter, Julia's (Mia Farrow) attempts to restart her life in a new abode are thwarted by the manifestation of a malign ghostly presence. This immersive, tender, beautifully photographed supernatural chiller benefits greatly from the achingly delicate, uniquely expressive performance of Mia Farrow. Her maternal grief quite palpable, even if it is occasionally swamped by Colin Town's strident score! What I find most compelling about Loncraine's deeply melancholic piece is that it plays as a wholly interior work about the psychological discords borne of intense grief, and as a sinisterly simmering, increasingly unsettling suburban spook show.

The Haunting of Julia's strong delineation of characters proves effective, Keir Dullea is perfect as the pinstriped, scheming, cold-hearted husband, and who better to play Julia's supportive, charmingly pragmatic friend than dreamily dark-eyed lovely Tom Conti? Produced in the 70s, arguably cinema's most fertile epoch, this captivatingly 'classic' mode of gradually unfurling spectral mystery remains utterly timeless, bolstered with many fine performances, Julia now sits quite loftily amongst the macabre pantheon of truly great goose-bumpers!