The Haunted Airman

The Haunted Airman is a psychological thriller film first aired on BBC Four on 31 October 2006. Adapted from Dennis Wheatley's 1948 novel The Haunting of Toby Jugg, it was directed by Chris Durlacher and starred Robert Pattinson in the title role, with Rachael Stirling and Julian Sands in supporting roles.[1]

The Haunted Airman
Film poster
Directed byChris Durlacher
Produced byChris Durlacher
Screenplay byChris Durlacher
Based onThe Haunting of Toby Jugg
by Dennis Wheatley
StarringRobert Pattinson
Rachael Stirling
Julian Sands
Music byDaniel Pemberton
CinematographyJeff Baynes
Edited byJake Martin
Production
company
Distributed byEntertainment One
BBC Four
Revolver Entertainment
Release date
  • 31 October 2006 (2006-10-31) (UK)
Running time
68 minutes
CountryUK
LanguageEnglish

Plot

During the Second World War, young pilot RAF Flight Lieutenant Toby Jugg (Robert Pattinson) suffers a serious spinal wound during a bombing raid on the city of Dresden.[Note 1] This injury consigns him to a wheelchair, facing a life as a paralyzed recluse. In the hope that he can recover, his aunt-in-law, Julia (Rachael Stirling), takes him to Llancebach, a remote military hospital in Wales run by Dr. Hal Burns (Julian Sands), known for his unorthodox treatment methods.

Toby's stay as a convalescent, surrounded by shell-shocked military veterans, leads him to new terrors, especially after other patients suddenly die. Dr. Burns implores him to confront his demons, but during the night, Toby starts suffering from horrific nightmares, reliving the terrible carnage he had created. Reoccurring hallucinations and visions begin to cloud his mind. His only outlet is his cigarettes and the doting attention of Sister Sally Grant (Melissa Lloyd), a nursing sister.

Julia, with whom Toby was having an affair, seems to be the only person he trusts. When an intern at the nursing home goes to the nearby town, he brings a letter from Julia to Toby, who now knows that Dr. Burns is hiding his correspondence with his aunt. At his request, Julia moves into the hospital in order to treat her ward, but Dr. Burns begins an intemperate affair with her.

One night, the doctor gives a drugged Toby a razor and tells him "to do the right thing". When he rejects any further help from Dr. Burns, Toby subsequently begins to suffer from psychological disorders. Doubting everyone and everything, Toby conjures up a sinister plot involving Julia and Dr. Burns, but in his madness, kills the one person who loves him.

Cast
  • Robert Pattinson as Toby Jugg
  • Rachael Stirling as Julia Jugg
  • Julian Sands as Dr. Hal Burns
  • Scott Handy as Squadron Leader Peter Enfield
  • Melissa Lloyd as Sister Sally Grant
  • Daniel Ainsleigh as Pilot Officer
  • Peggy Popovic as Little Girl
  • Robert Whitelock as Commando

Soundtrack
The Haunted Airman : Soundtrack
Soundtrack album by
Daniel Pemberton
Released9 November 2009 (U.S.)
RecordedVarious times
Genresoundtrack
Length25:48
Label1812 Recordings
ProducerDaniel Pemberton

The soundtrack was composed by Daniel Pemberton. It was released by 1812 Recordings on 9 November 2009.[2][3][4]

Soundtracks listing
No.TitleMusicLength
1."The Haunted Airman (Theme)"Daniel Pemberton1:36
2."Arrival of Toby Jugg"Daniel Pemberton0:38
3."Something Is Happening"Daniel Pemberton1:47
4."Massage"Daniel Pemberton0:41
5."Letter Reading"Daniel Pemberton1:34
6."Bathtime"Daniel Pemberton2:09
7."Hidden Love"Daniel Pemberton0:45
8."Workout"Daniel Pemberton1:28
9."Loss of Control"Daniel Pemberton2:14
10."Spiders"Daniel Pemberton3:35
11."Toby and Julia Drink"Daniel Pemberton1:32
12."Hal With Razor"Daniel Pemberton1:46
13."Love and Sex"Daniel Pemberton1:03
14."Final Confrontation"Daniel Pemberton3:08
15."The Haunted Airman (Ending)"Daniel Pemberton1:47
Total length:25:48

Production

"The Haunting of Toby Jugg" by the late prolific author Dennis Wheatley was loosely adapted for the screen.[5] The elements of horror and the supernatural that where most evident in the gripping novel were diluted in favour of a screenplay that focused more on the psychological thriller aspects.[6]

Reception

The Haunted Airman received negative reviews from critics. David Nusair's review for reelfilm identified the inadequacy of the plot: "... The end result is a hopelessly uninvolving piece of work that is unlikely to appeal to even the most ardent Pattinson fan, with the short running time unable to disguise the aggressively underdeveloped nature of its pointless premise."[7] Reviewer Tom Elce simply called the film "heavy-handed" "... mediocrity".[8]

Other critical reviews found that the lead character had some redeeming qualities. Film critic Staci Layne noted: "Pattinson is fine. He does what he always does: Broods. He also smokes a lot of cigarettes while brooding."[9] In a more positive review,The Stage praised the production, considering it a "very disturbing, beautifully made and satisfyingly chilling ghost story"... and praised Pattinson by saying that "... (he) played the airman of the title with a perfect combination of youthful terror and world weary cynicism."[10]

Home media

The Haunted Airman in DVD format was released by Revolver Entertainment on 6 April 2009.[11] On 13 October 2009, Entertainment One released the DVD in Canada and the United States.[12]

References

Notes
  1. Jugg is a decorated (DFC) pilot in the famed Dambusters squadron and is known as the "bomber baron" in newspaper accounts.

Citations
  1. "Programme: 'The Haunted Airman'." BBC. Retrieved: 18 November 2015.
  2. "Soundtrack: 'The Haunted Airman (Soundtrack)-Daniel Pemberton." apple.com. Retrieved: 5 March 2014.
  3. "Soundtrack: 'The Haunted Airman' (Starring Robert Pattinson, Julian Sands and Rachael Stirling)." amoeba.com. Retrieved: 5 March 2014.
  4. "1812 Recordings (1812/006)." soundtrackcollector.com. Retrieved: 18 November 2015.
  5. Baker 2010. p. 39.
  6. Whiteley, Aliya. "Hammer, Dennis Wheatley, and the Devil’s luck: 'The Haunted Airman'." denofgeek.com, 3 September 2013. Retrieved: 18 November 2015.
  7. Nusair. David. "Review: 'The Haunted Airman'."reelfilm, 4 February 2010. Retrieved: 18 November 2015.
  8. Elce, Tom. 'Under Review: ‘The Haunted Airman’." itsjustmovies.com, 2009. Retrieved: 18 November 2015.
  9. Layne, Staci."DVD Review: 'The Haunted Airman'." horror.com, 23 November 2009. Retrieved: 18 November 2015.
  10. "TV review: 'The Haunted Airman'." thestage. Retrieved: 5 March 2014.
  11. "DVD: 'The Haunted Airman'." Archived 5 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine revolvergroup.com. Retrieved; 18 November 2015.
  12. "DVD Talk: 'The Haunted Airman' (2006)." amazon.com. Retrieved: 18 November 2015.

Bibliography
  • Baker, Phil. The Devil is a Gentleman: The Life and Times of Dennis Wheatley. London: Dedalus Limited, 2010. ISBN 978-1-9035-1775-8.
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