The Secret of Crickley Hall - TV review

A sudden, sharp shock when you're least expecting it is one of the stock approaches to making an audience jump – it's like someone leaping out from behind a hedge and shrieking at you when you're minding your own business on the way to the shops.

There's another one that involves using a string section playing at a very high pitch.

It helps to builds up tension . . . And makes you alert . . .

Because you know something's . . .

About to . . .

Go . . .

BOO!

See, did it again. Honestly, you're far too easy to catch out, you really are.

Actually, speaking of string sections, the players from the BBC orchestra are probably retiring to the Bahamas judging by the amount of work they got out of episode one of Crickley Hall.

They seemed to be playing furiously in the background of every scene.

Still, it worked, and while I wasn't exactly terrified, it definitely made me jump.

And that's no bad thing. I like being scared – I had to give up watching The Amityville Horror one night because something with red eyes – The Beast, Satan, some demon from Hell's fetid depths – was staring through the window.

In the film. Not in real life. Blimey, do you think I'd still be here if it had happened in real life?

No, I'm sure there's nothing outside my house as I'm typing this.

Near the Witching Hour.

On a cold winter's night.

Alone.

No, I can't feel any eyes staring through the curtains and – actually, do you think I can stay at yours tonight?)

Anyway, Back to Crickley Hall, the Beeb's charming tale of missing children, dead children, child abuse and child beatings told in both wartime and the modern day.

The wartime scenes show Crickley Hall as an orphanage run by the thoroughly creepy Augustus Cribben and his sister. It's a loveless place where children are bullied, starved and left to shiver. There's even a deep pit in the basement. God alone knows what's down there.

And then there's the modern story of Gabe and Eve Caleigh, who have moved in to Crickley after the disappearance of their five-year-old son, Cameron.

Eve and Cameron shared some sort of psychic link, and since moving in, almost a year after he vanished, she can hear him again.

Although he's alone.

And in the dark.

With the other children.

And they're all dead . . .

And Eve and the couple's youngest daughter can see them, too.

While Augustus is appearing in the dreams of their other child and . . .

BOO! (Sorry. Couldn't resist.)

Yes, this was well worth missing Homeland for. And I felt in very safe hands when David Warner turned up.

About 40 years ago he starred with dear old Peter Cushing in From Beyond the Grave, one of those horror films that weaved together three or four short stories and, despite having a budget of roughly five shillings, managed to be genuinely creepy by relying on tension and atmosphere.

They don't make them like that anymore – nowadays blood and guts and special effects have replaced chills. Well, I say they don't make them like that anymore, but Crickley Hall appears to be a very welcome throwback, and I'll look forward to seeing how it develops.

Now, where's my crucifix? I've got to go upstairs, and I swear I just heard a noise on the landing . . .

Andrew Owen