URBAN GHOST STORY

Year: 1998
UK: Visual Entertainment / Ratpack Films
Cast: Jason Connery, Stephanie Buttle, Heather Ann Foster, James Cosmo, Elizabeth Berrington, Nicola Stapleton, Siri Neal, Andreas Wisniewski, Billy Boyd, Ashley Cameron, Andy McEwan, Linda McGuire, Catherine Neal, Simon Parr, Richard Syms, Nicolas Van Schlippe, Aaron White
Director: Genevieve Jolliffe
Country: UK
UK: 88 mins
UK Certificate: 15 contains strong language and moderate horror and drug references
UK Release Date: 13 July 2001


Synopsis

Based upon several documented poltergeist cases in the UK, AN URBAN GHOST STORY examines not only the obvious disruption a poltergeist infestation would cause, but also that of the often obsessed investigators, researchers and theologians. It is documented fact that poltergeist infestations are more likely to occur around an adolescent female who comes from a strenuous home and who has recently sustained a trauma of some kind. This has led many to the conclusion that poltergeist activity is driven by inner and frustrated emotions, such as, in our case, guilt...

After an ecstatsy induced car accident, 12 year old Lizzie lies dead on the roadside - slowly she is taken into the light - but is pulled back to earth when she is revived by the doctors. Lizzie feels sure that during the 184 seconds that she lay dead, something latched on to her and came back into her world. The nightmares and visions that follow only crystalise her belief that she should have died in the crash.

Then the disturbances start, at first merely tappings and bad smells - but soon the activity escalates. Lizzie seems to be the focus, but according to others, she's just playing games for attention. Only when Kate, her mother, is confronted with inexplicable events does she face the possibility that they may be the victims of a poltergeist infestation.

The family have no option but to ask for help, but everywhere Kate turns she is met with ridicule or a brick wall of civil servant red tape. Finally, Kate's only help is a newspaper journalist from the local press with his own hidden agenda - he brings in all manner of 'experts' - parapsychologists, spiritualists, Christians - all of whom offer their services whilst championing their own individual theories for the unexplained phenomena.

As the Fisher household is invaded by battling investigators, Lizzie continues to experience terrible nightmares, recurring apparitions of the crash and visions of a hell in which she is sure she is damned to spend eternity. Ultimately, Lizzie has to accept that she should have died in the crash, or face up to the demons of her past.