Winchester (2018)

Things that go pop in the chest 

By: JWBM

It's 1906: Sarah Winchester has earned herself a reputation as not only the richest woman in the country, but as an eccentric person that might not be all there. She's inherited millions from the Winchester rifle company after her husband passed away some years back. She used said money to build herself a lavish mansion out west—which in real life today is something of a legendary tourist trap in San Jose, California. Dr. Eric Price—who is an unorthodox doctor of sorts and has a troubled history himself—is hired by the board of the rifle company to see if she is in fact fit to control half of the company. Price takes on the job and stays with the family in the mansion. He soon notices things might be off—not necessarily all concentrated to Mrs. Winchester—but also with the house and those that visit it.


The mansion is full of oddities that make little sense to practicality or logic: such as doors, cabinets, or staircases that lead to nowhere in particular to the naked eye or casual observer. The story attempts to piece together certain missing aspects about this real-life enigmatic woman and her extravagant home in a dark and mysterious way. At times, the movie feels more interesting than it does frightening. It's centered on being a drama that decided it needed some scares inserted at random points to add some thrills. It builds up to one big finale, but before that it's sprinkled with CGI centered pop-and-jump scares—not to mention let-me-be-curious-about-that-weird-noise kinda thrills—that feel a little cheap. It's like their way of saying, 'Hey we're still partly a horror movie and not just a loose, fantasy-like biopic.' It's not as genuinely spine-tingling as, say, "The Devil's Backbone," or even "The Others," where you were transported to the same room and felt the cold, responsive chills from those capable of crossing between planes of existence.

The acting is surprisingly well done for what the characters are given. Jason Clarke, who plays Dr. Price, delivers his lines naturally and has a wide range of emotions on his face and in his mannerisms. Price comes across as a sharp mind ready to figure out the situation. Though, he seems to do more snooping around than he does actually getting to know Mrs. Winchester's personality at first. It comes across as uncharacteristic of his role and more there to be used as a means for someone familiar in the cast to explore this sprawling labyrinth they're residing in. Then after, it's like he gets a reset and goes back to a more studious mode. Helen Mirren, who plays Mrs. Winchester, also gives this some feeling behind her lines. She transitions from the mysterious widower to a misunderstood person with a backbone of strength and willpower. Those around her respond with a sizable amount of respect instead of resentment towards a stereotypical rich boss with odd tastes and demands.

This purposely starts out light and flows with a natural progression to get to know the characters and surrounding situation of it all. It has its moments and is not going to be a yawning tale surrounding the Winchester estate. Though the tone and story is delivered in a noticeably slick and smooth way. Almost too much so. It's not completely tame, but it's missing the kind of coarse grain and splintered surface that will scrape or prick your finger if you get too close. With as many challenging themes the film presents—such as fear, death, loss, and medicine versus the supernatural—it doesn't always feel that challenging in that regard either due to time constraints to fully flesh them out, and then having to squeeze them in between other scenes. The juggling act of mixing genres and an array of themes didn't come together as seamlessly as intended. Though it's not say they didn't give it their best go, or that it didn't have its own memorable or standout moments.

What's disappointing to me is "Winchester" could have been more powerful of a film. It should have had the potential to be something to return to from time to time. Though it does so much leg work for you that your brain stops searching for different hidden avenues to explore, or even the implications of it all. Still recommend it for a go, but probably not a second.

Rating: 6.5/10

Director: Michael Spierig, Peter Spierig (Undead, Daybreakers, Predestination)
Actors: Jason Clarke, Helen Mirren, Sarah Snook
Info: IMDB link
Trailer: Youtube link