I love doing research. Yes, I know I’m weird; most people seem to find it a chore, but I’m an addict for facts (or hate to be wrong/a nosy cow; you make the call). I always seek out as relevant and interesting info as possible about the person driving the movie, in this case Leigh Tarrant. Wow, what an impressive bio this man has.

Leaving theatre school, he became a successful full-time musician (performing, writing and recording), spent some time in advertising, and now runs his own production company (Skooch Media). He’s had a hand in just about all aspects of film production (most of his credits being for directing, producing and editing), and now lives in South-East England, the setting for A Curious Tale.

A couple of things interested me about this movie; it’s set and filmed along the coast of Sussex in England, UK (about 60 miles south of Essex, my home county), is a ghost story of note, and begins with a big dollop of fable.

Based on M.R. James’s 1925 original A Warning to the Curious, it’s been the subject of numerous adaptations, each crafted by the views and style of various directors over the years. That it’s repeatedly been sought out for this is a testament to the classic English ghost story; an ideal foundation on which to build any fine, creepy tale.

Middle-aged musician and amateur archaeologist Rattlebone (Pete Tindal), takes a break in the coastal village of Snowgood, where legend has it the last of three ancient crowns rumoured to protect Sussex from invasion has been buried for the past few centuries, guarded by the family Hagar (the last of whom died some years hence).

After some research, Rattlebone manages to locate and unearth the crown, but triumph gradually gives way to terror as he realises he’s being tailed by something not quite as pleasant as his discovery.

If you’re expecting Hollywood-style anything you won’t find it here; James’s early twenties style moved away from the Gothic horror of the time and into the contemporary zone, juxtaposing his typical elements of slow-burning dread and dawning realisation something terrifying approaches with a normal, everyday setting a far cry from those we’ve all come to expect from the spooky story.

The classic ghost story boxes are all ticked though. The enigmatic hotelier with his clipped, frightfully British accent hints rather ominously at previous treasure-seeking guests and innocently denies any knowledge of the Hagar family despite the centuries-old local legend. He’s definitely hiding something, folks! It seems to me his role as the first line of village-wide defence of the crown is clear. Played to stereotypical (intentionally, I’m convinced) perfection by Peter Richardson, he manages to be delightfully corny yet more than a little unsettling simultaneously.

The scenes featuring the female entity are outstanding, the cinematography perfectly, hauntingly (sorry) chilling, and the score (courtesy of Jeff Crampton) so amazing that I thought about finding out if I could get hold of the title music for keeps.

I’ll be honest, much of the acting made me grin at first, thinking I was being put on. I wonder now, given the humour that’s definitely design rather than accident, how much of that is on purpose, perhaps to define the contrasts which are presented.

Whilst A Curious Tale is definitely low budget and the acting often quite squirmy, it’s an interesting take on an enduring classic that’s filled with a few gems in it’s own right.

4.5 out of 10 Ancient Artifacts