In a setting as befits its title, The Hopewell Haunting opens with scenes of a big, empty house echoing with sounds of screaming and fighting.. but there’s not a soul to be seen; just dust, cobwebs, and bare, neglected rooms. The once beautiful rural mansion sits in a small town in America’s deep South, swallowed by brambles, awaiting occupation by young married couple Newt and Ollie Fryman (Timothy Morton, Audra Todd). Newly arrived and duly terrified, they’ve fled to the only refuge available to them, the church of Brother James (Ted Ferguson), whose reaction to their presence is anything but what you’d expect from a servant of God. An embittered, lonely soul, he has no time for the troubles of strangers.

We learn more about what lies beneath this after he reluctantly agrees to bless the house. Seeing nothing upon visiting doesn’t improve his mood, but wanting the couple off his case he nonetheless returns when problems persist. This time what happens leaves him shaken and unable to turn up to church for his congregation next day. Seeking answers, Judge Charles Pierce (Rich Williams) not only proceeds to roast him for his treatment of the Frymans, but reveals to them what’s behind his sullenness; 50 years of mourning for a lost love, to whom he wasn’t betrothed, but still carries a torch for regardless. Bowing to the pressure of the judge he respects, James makes a decision to go back to the house, this time until the job is done; but does something more unsettling than a ghost await him in the shadows?

This low-budget film is apparently based on a short of the same name. Whilst I haven’t seen the original, I can’t help feeling that that’s how it should’ve stayed, as there just isn’t quite enough material to fill it out for a feature length. It’s well-acted, and certainly doesn’t lack on the creep factor; it does a good job of building up the spooky atmosphere from the off. Some of the camerawork is rather peculiar, a fair bit of rapid zooming in and scene-switching doesn’t do it any favours, making it look a bit amateurish in places. However, the mansion and the goings-on within make for the perfect abandoned, haunted house scenario, and the characters are nicely filled out, with Newt’s gentle soul shining through in his conduct towards others in contrast to the snappy abruptness of the Preacher.

After much intense build-up, it’s easy to view The Hopewell Haunting entire as something of a non-event, and those expecting a typical ghostfest may feel let down. It’s best viewed as a metaphor for the emotional journey of an unhappy man who’s largely wasted his life, unable to let go of his past, his only comfort his position as Pastor, though he’s lost sight of his calling. When Judge Pierce points him sharply back in the right direction it’s a surprise, as Pierce’s is the sort of character who often shows up as the harsh and unforgiving type in films set in America’s historic South.

A thoughtful, rather than fearful watch; but well worth it if you don’t mind a slow burner.