Paperhouse (film)

Paperhouse

Company type	Film
Industry	Motion picture
Founded	1988
Founder	Bernard Rose (director)
Products	Motion picture

Paperhouse is a 1988 British dark fantasy motion picture directed by Bernard Rose, adapted from the 1958 novel Marianne Dreams authored by Catherine Storr. Featuring performances by Ben Cross, Glenne Headly, and Gemma Jones, the story also served as inspiration for the British television series Escape Into Night.

Plot

During an illness caused by glandular fever, 11-year-old Anna Madden sketches a house that soon becomes the backdrop of her intense dreams. After drawing a face in one of the windows, she encounters Marc, a boy afflicted with muscular dystrophy who inhabits the house. Anna’s doctor confirms Marc’s existence, and through her dreams, she visits him, gradually expanding her drawing to include stairs, his bedroom, and a fruit tree.

Tensions with Anna’s alcoholic father intensify when she adds him to the sketch, unintentionally giving him an angry look. In her dream, he manifests as an enraged figure who attacks her. Marc intervenes by destroying this hostile representation. Upon waking in the hospital, Anna’s condition deteriorates; although the doctor suggests Marc is improving, Anna senses he is nearing death.

As she recuperates, Anna adds a new room to their shared dream world and gives Marc a pencil to contribute. In this dream sequence, Marc appears healed, and they share their first kiss before he enters a lighthouse to draw a helicopter alone—Anna awakens before learning what happens next.

After being discharged, Anna’s father announces a new job that will allow him to stay home; he also informs her that Marc has passed away, a fact Anna had already accepted. While on vacation with her family, Anna spots the lighthouse from her dreams and discovers a note from Marc promising to return if she waits. A helicopter arrives with a ladder; as Anna reaches out to it, her mother pulls her back from the cliff edge. The film concludes with Anna reconciled with her parents and coming to terms with Marc’s death.

Cast

• Charlotte Burke - Anna Madden
• Ben Cross - Father
• Glenne Headly - Kate Madden
• Elliott Spiers - Marc
• Gemma Jones - Dr. Sarah Nichols
• Jane Bertish - Miss Vanstone
• Samantha Cahill - Sharon
• Sarah Newbold - Karen

Production

Prompted by his ex-wife’s recommendation, director Bernard Rose explored the novel Marianne Dreams by Catherine Storr, captivated by its premise of a girl crafting a dream realm through drawing. He adapted the narrative by replacing the book’s abstract threat involving phallic stones with a man wielding a hammer to impart a more intense psychological effect suited for adult audiences. After encountering difficulties securing funding in the UK, Rose obtained financial support from Vestron Pictures, which stipulated that the film avoid an R-rating. The project was developed in collaboration with producer Tim Bevan at Working Title Films, who had previously worked with Rose on music video productions.

Reception

Renowned critic Roger Ebert awarded Paperhouse four stars out of four, commending its concentrated imagery and recommending viewers experience it rather than dissect it analytically. On Siskel & Ebert, Ebert gave it a "Thumbs Up," praising its believable dream sequences and compelling soundtrack while affirming Rose’s directorial prowess. Co-host Gene Siskel offered a tentative "Thumbs Down," acknowledging Rose’s skill and lauding the authentic depiction of childhood fears within the dream scenes but noting that the film lost some of its impact when it became more explicit toward its conclusion.

The film maintains a perfect 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, signaling widespread critical acclaim.

Home media

Following its theatrical release in the UK, Paperhouse was promptly made available on VHS. In the United States, Vestron Video handled the distribution of the film on both VHS and Laserdisc formats, presenting it in a 1.33:1 aspect ratio.

The DVD version was first issued on 24 September 2001 by Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment, maintaining the original widescreen presentation at 1.66:1. Subsequently, Lionsgate Home Entertainment re-released this DVD on 24 September 2007.

In France, a Special Edition Blu-ray was launched by Metropolitan on 2 May 2013. This edition included both the original English audio and a French dubbed track in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, along with optional French subtitles and a 1.78:1 aspect ratio; this particular release has since been discontinued. Germany received a limited "Collector's Edition" Blu-ray from Nameless Video on 8 November 2019, followed by a standard Blu-ray edition from Tiberius Films on 4 November 2022.

Tie-in book edition

The novel Marianne Dreams by Catherine Storr was issued in a hardcover film tie-in edition in 1989. This version featured a film still of Charlotte Burke and was branded with the Paperhouse title. Unlike typical children's tie-in publications, this release was produced as a hardcover by Lutterworth Press and is currently out of print.

External links

• Paperhouse at the TCM Movie Database