Most people are usually sceptical of British films, thinking them cheaply made with bad acting. While Hammer-produced Wake Wood is not the greatest piece de resistance, it certainly has an original concept and great performances.

Set in Wake Wood - a village in rural Ireland - the story follows a married couple (Aidan Gillen & Eva Birthistle), who move to the eerie town in a bid to recover from the brutal death of their young daughter. The grieving parents discover a Wake Wood ritual in which they can bring back the dead - but only for three days. After bringing their daughter back to life and defying the rules, it’s not long before evil rears its ugly head.

The film gets off to a promising start, with a bundle of suspense and shock keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. Wake Wood should also be praised for sticking to the typical Hammer characteristics: an unrealistic storyline, strange countryside behaviour and a nauseating amount of blood and gore. Gillen and Birthistle portray their desperation convincingly and are probably the only things keeping this movie watchable.

This is because once the ridiculous ritual is performed and the daughter is brought back to life, the story becomes slightly confusing and very dull. As the end nears, there are many plot holes that are left unexplained and the last segment appears to be rushed and beyond ridiculous.

Wake Wood has a lot of potential and is admittedly slightly creepy but unfortunately falls flat half-way through, leaving a lasting sour taste. It’s best to say that the poster is scarier than the film itself.