Mini Movie Review - Winchester

 

It was a name that drew me in on this one – Helen Mirren. I absolutely LOVE Helen Mirren. And let’s be honest, the entire concept of the Winchester House also brings out one’s curiosity.

Critics aside, this movie was a fun watch. It just over an hour and a half, so it’s a quick watch. A nice movie snack if you will. And its fun to watch Helen Mirren play what you think is a crazy old rich lady, who maybe isn’t so crazy.

I love how they utilized the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, which was devastating to the city. That was one of the few historically accurate bits of the movie. And there a very few. There were only 8 rooms when the home was purchased. And Sarah did set about adding to the property over time, but the construction wasn’t constant like the movie claims. Also, she did have controlling interest in the Winchester Company. She did lose both her husband and daughter prior to buying Llanada Estate (her name for the home), but it didn’t happen in the same year. And I think that’s about it for the historical accuracy. Oh, and the Union Army did use a little over 1600 Winchester rifles in the Civil War.

SarahWinchester was apparently not a superstitious person. She did not hold regular seances, if she held any at all. Nor, as far as we know, was she ever evaluated for her mental fitness. Many of the bits in the story about Sarah and her spirit house where inventions AFTER her death.

John Brown leased the house in the early 1920s and opened it as an attraction in 1923, six months after her death, and the rumors started. They’ve only increased over time as the house has become a bigger attraction. It’s good business to bill it as the Most Haunted House in America, regardless of the truth.

(Hey, I live in Athens County, Ohio, said to be one of the most haunted areas in America. And I hate to tell you, but nearly every one of those stories that make the rounds in TV specials this time of year are true. But that’s a blog post and a rant for another time.)

So, what’s the takeaway from the movie? Honestly, I really enjoyed it. It was a little predictable in a few places, but it was still a fun way to pass the time. And it even had me on the edge of my seat a few times. So, if you like haunted house stories and incredible ghost tales, check it out.

When it comes to gaming, this is another lesson in limiting the space your characters can explore. In this case, it’s a rambling maze of a house. And by the end of the movie, the characters are literally trapped in the house until a resolution is reached. It’s a great way to force them to act. Do the same at your table and sit back to enjoy the results. It works great in a horror setting but can also be used for any mystery or puzzle.  

That’s it for this one. I’m only about 8 movies behind still, but we’ll get there. You can check out my full calendar of selections in this post. And if you’d like to see what Pun’s themes for each day were – which I don’t always follow – you can find them on his blog, Halls of the Nephilim.