Remember Me (2014) User Reviews (32)

Slow-Burning Yet Genuinely Creepy Ghost Story

[l_rawjalaurence · 7/10 · 25 December 2014]

One of the major qualities of a good ghost story lies in the ways directors manage to make the familiar seem unfamiliar. They draw viewers into the story and then deliberately frustrate their expectations, and hence encourage us to wonder about what will happen next.

This is certainly true of Ashley Pearce's production, which casts Michael Palin in the central role as pensioner Tom Parfitt. British television viewers are accustomed to seeing Palin as the genial host of a slew of travel programs; apart from his Monty Python involvement, his roles have been largely confined to comedies such as THE MISSIONARY (1982). In REMEMBER ME he has a very different role as someone dying to leave his house and move to a retirement home; but we are not exactly sure why, especially when he seems uncomfortable in his new surroundings of an antiseptic room with large windows. He strikes up a relationship with Hannah Ward (Jodie Comer), but we sense that there is more to Parfitt's character than meets the eye. He seems emotionally affected, but director Pearce refuses to provide the necessary clues to help us resolve our confusion. Suffice to say that the story revolves around the seaside resort of Scarborough, immortalized in the folk- song "Scarborough Fair."

Stylistically speaking, REMEMBER ME creates a mundane world of an (unspecified) city in the north of England, full of gray terraced houses, damp streets and drab colors. People go about their daily lives, with their ordinary hopes and dreams: Hannah's family hope that their daughter will find a more rewarding career than just being a care home assistant. The community is a multiracial one, trying their best to look after one another, yet ultimately perplexed as to the reasons for Parfitt's apparently eccentric behavior. Like the viewers, Roshana Salim (Mina Anwar) and her family regard him as an enigma.

The pacing of the three-part drama is kept deliberately slow, alternating memorable visual imagery (for example, water gushing down the stairs of Parfitt's home) with clever use of sonic leitmotifs (the repeated singing of "Scarborough Fair.") Viewers are not only introduced into an abnormal world, but they are kept guessing right until the final episode as to what the action "means." Like most ghost stories, the plot involves a close interaction between past and present; neither of them can be kept separate.

REMEMBER ME requires a certain degree of patience, but the resolution is definitely worth waiting for.

Why the BBC needs to do more ghost stories.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 22 August 2018]

The BBC has a great history when it comes to Ghost stories, we've famously had Ghost Story for Christmas, Dead of Night, and more recently Requiem, trouble is there just aren't enough of them.

Remember Me is a smashing three part series that's guaranteed to make you jump. I really like the story, it's clever and engaging, at times it does perhaps feel a little cobbled together, but it's chilling enough to keep you engaged.

The acting is fantastic, Michael Palin and Mark Addy are excellent, but it's the young Jodie Comer who impresses the most, she is brilliant throughout, the future she will have!

Without any doubt though, the best thing about this series has to be the visuals, it is one of the most beautifully visual pieces of television I can think of, the settings, the camera work, it's almost artistic, credit to the whole production team, it turns what could have been a fairly average mini series into something genuinely good. Must have done wonders for the Scarborough Tourist Board.

Slow to start, but intriguing with a few scares along the way.

8/10.

A good series for a cold and windy night

[Dr_Coulardeau · 8/10 · 27 September 2015]

A miniseries in three episodes. A strange story concerning an old man, a really old man who is probably one hundred and ten or fifteen years old. It is a thriller in a way, of some sort, but yet it is a lot more an exotic love affair turned sour.

An old man tries to escape his own house by bringing the social services into his business with a fake accident, so that he could escape the ghost that is living in the house with him, a possessive ghost in a way, in fact a ghost who wants to go away but cannot without him and apparently he does not want to liberate her because it means die for himself.

That ghost is jealous and to force him to do what he has to do to finish that job she will start hitting and hurting and killing all the people he may come close to in a way or another. And the exit door is nothing but a very old traditional song, slightly modified by the grandfather in law of his very evanescent wife. Guess what happened to her, right after their marriage?

The truth will come out and it will be clear that he is manipulated by the ghost, and that ghost is nowhere but in his head and it is enough for him to do what that ghost wants him to do. She is that powerful. At the same time he cannot be the killer all the time, and yet he has to be.

The police is of course impotent and helpless. A girl, in fact a young nurse, practically a rookie nurse will get involved and she is the one who will bring out the truth and the police officer, detective rather, will be the one who will witness the damage and certify the truth, and yet it will be kept silent and cool at the bottom of a cold case box.

What is good about this series is first of all the good actors, second the well cut mystery mixing some Indian folklore to plain superstition, and third the cool pace of a hectic fable that is supposed to suspend us and our disbelief over a slow fire burning our feet with fear. And they do burn with rage, our feet.

Entertaining and just a little bit stressful.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU

Creepy drama mystery that reminds me of MR James story

[paul-191-571886 · 21 December 2014]

It was great to see Michael Palin in the starring role of this mystery drama. It's quite creepy and scary. I think there's an MR James influence, as the imagery of the ghostly figure feels a bit like the ghostly entity in his 'Whistle And I'll Come to You' tale.

I don't want to spoil the story or go into detail, except to say it's an enjoyable watch and edge of seat viewing at times.

It's a little disappointing at the end I thought after a good start in the first and second parts, nevertheless, still worth watching if you enjoy creepy mystery stories that keep you guessing and wondering.

I particularly liked the realism of the drama, set in the north, and the interaction of the young girl and the elderly character played by Michael Palin.

a little spooky

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 30 July 2017]

Hannah Ward (Jodie Comer) works at a nursing home. She lives with her younger brother Sean and drunken mother Jan (Julia Sawalha). A social worker falls to her death along with the window and Hannah finds elderly patient Tom Parfitt (Michael Palin) cowering on the floor. He is sent away to a hospital and he leaves her his suitcase. Police detective Rob Fairholme (Mark Addy) investigates the likely accident unless the frail old man somehow pushed the dead lady. Hannah is disturbed by strange occurrences and tracks down Tom who has gone missing. She is confronted by a ghost from Tom's past.

This is a BBC TV production. It's three hour-long episodes. It's a slow moody ghost story. It has a nice moodiness. It's a little too slow. There's no need for its three hour length. A conventional hour and a half movie would work fine. It's a ghost story but it's neither scary nor tense. It's a little spooky but that's all. Certainly, I watched this for Palin. He has a minor haunted role. It's limited but it's still nice to see him anyways. A shorter theatrical movie with a better payoff would make this better. I can imagine a J-horror with more effective scares.

Different

[stephenwhitworth-26755 · 7/10 · 9 June 2020]

The photography creates the atmosphere setting for the story brilliantly. Great to see Sir Michael do a serious role which he does so well. Complimented by Jody Comer here in this TV programme in the early stages of her climb to fame.

Wonderfully atmospheric and enjoyable Victorian ghost story for the 21st Century

[Emberweave · 8/10 · 1 August 2017]

This is a thoroughly enjoyable and atmospheric ghost story with a very Victorian feel to it, yet it takes place in the here and now. Others have described the plot, so I'll skip that part and just say each episode was fun to watch. The creepy atmosphere is kept at a steady rhythm and one is kept guessing as to the reasons for what is going on. You have to pay attention the entire time, which is perhaps why some viewers found it tiring. Clues are given in visual images of photographs and other shots, so you can't watch this program with your head buried in your cell phone. It's a quiet piece and you have to pay attention and participate as a viewer. There are several familiar faces to PBS viewers (Mina Anwar, Mark Addy, Rebekah Staton, Julia Sawalha, as well as some character actors). Michael Palin is touching as the main character, who is still tied to his nanny from a century ago (what a beautiful woman, by the way) and conflicted about the relationship. The final episode is where the pace picks up and it really is suspenseful wondering what is the meaning of that version of "Scarborough Fair" as well as wondering just how the story will end. I'm taking two stars off for the very clumsily written chief of police, who seems to serve more as a "conflict device" than an actual character. Also, Mina Anwar's character is gone after episode two without any feeling of resolution with her, considering her strong presence in the first two episodes. That said, the program is beautifully shot, well-acted, and steadily paced. One feels that one is moving forward all the time, without knowing quite what will be waiting at the end of the journey. This was a very enjoyable story and well worth watching.

Another good British ghost story

[ebeckstr-1 · 7/10 · 9 January 2022]

Mysterious and well acted, this very good ITV miniseries sustains an intriguing, creepy atmosphere for its entire 3 hours. Without a trace of Python, Michael Palin's convincing dramatic acting abilities serve the protection well, as do those of Mark Addy and Josie Comer.

Some older ghost story productions out of Britain, even some from the 80s and 90s, have a difficult-to-overcome cheap look, but this one is suitably contemporary in style, use of color, and cinematography. The script has some inconsistencies or moments of incoherence, or so it seems to me; but nothing that sinks the production. Somewhat underrated, and very much recommended for fans of ghost story flicks.

Very touching mystery, not to be mistaken for a horror movie.

[mail-852-311544 · 9/10 · 21 August 2015]

I just finished watching REMEMBER ME, all three episodes in one go, and highly enjoyed it! It's a very unusual, slow, calm, touching story with some odd characteristics to it, which take some patience (especially if one might have expected some fast paced horror), but which adds to make this movie easy to remember. What I liked most about this series is that it takes usual clichés or techniques - and then turns them around. Like the way the movie is shot. It's all in quite dark, almost surreal colors, yet the story clearly takes place in our world, in everyday life. Then there are horror-ish elements in it - like Isha (the ghost) appearing, things moving and so forth - but no one runs around screaming or falling over fallen-down branches every second step. And honestly, the movie doesn't need that. It tells quite an unusual, emotional story in an unusual way. And for that it's highly recommendable! Plus: Palin makes a perfect strange old man - very well played, and very believable!

Good but Falls Apart Under Scrutiny

[AJ_Blanc · 6/10 · 11 March 2024]

I caught the first episode on TV a while back and finally tracked down what this show was called so I can watch the rest of it. This miniseries has a decent cast and downright great cinematography but the plot doesn't make much sense. The first episode has just enough suspense and intrigue to want more, however nothing happens in episode two, and the finale leaves more questions than answers. This review is filled with massive SPOILERS!

The show starts with Tom (Michael Palin of Monty Python fame) faking an injury so he can go into care. We soon find out though that he isn't traveling alone, despite having an empty suitcase. The social worker who brought him there dies in mysterious fashion, prompting a police investigation... I'll skip to the end and say Tom is haunted by his childhood nanny, Isha, who died in a boat during WWI on her way back to India. Here's where the questions begin:

There was a line of dialog claiming she said she would protect him 'for all time' or somesuch, but why did she kill his wife and the social worker? Although I'm pretty sure it was never stated, let's assume Isha was a jealous ghost; why then did she kill the care home worker (second death in the show)? Is she some Gurkha assassin disposing of witnesses? Why didn't she go after the resident who recognized Tom (Nancy I think her name was)? In the second episode, Tom says in one of Hannah's visions that Isha would never hurt a child, but in the end Isha tries to kill her 10 year-old brother, and Hannah as well. Why?

Which brings me to Tom. In the beginning it seems like he was trying to get away from Isha, but he could have at any time by singing the entirety of a made-up song! He claims to have 'been very careful' when concocting his escape plan to the care home, and he says she travels in things related to her, so why did he just not leave on his own and not involve anybody else? In the end Tom has to make a choice; save Hannah and her brother or free Isha's spirit. He's reluctant because she's been with him all his 110+ years of living... so why was he running from her in the first place? If Isha's wish all along was for him to join her in death why/how did she extend his life, and if it wasn't why did he die immediately after he sang the song?

It's unfortunate how a story can draw me in so well but have a completely nonsensical premise. On top of that, this didn't need to be three episodes long; two would've cut out the necessary fat. It's entirely possible I've missed important parts that would answer some of my questions, but not all of them. As another reviewer said, watch the first episode then make up an ending on your own, it'll probably be more interesting. Cheers.

Slow and not that scary

[lloyd150 · 2/10 · 7 December 2014]

Feeling disappointed with this British horror. It started slow and I was hopeful that the second part may pick up. However this was not the case and if anything it got slower with more questions than answers.

It did build up the atmosphere but did little or nothing with it. I felt the characters were not developed enough for me to care about them. The 'victims' were minor players in the first two episodes. Michael Palin is a good actor but he has little to work with. The other actors have even less to work with. The detective does not really do much until the final episode and by then I was past caring. He seemed incompetent and disinterested.

The ending was very poor and did not justify three hours of slow drama to get there.

Beautifully shot Alan Bennett play meets gentle, creeping horror

[dawsonb · 8/10 · 1 December 2014]

I decided to watch this upon viewing the C4 show 'Gogglebox' (a show about people watching telly in their own homes, for our international friends) and seeing the people at home moving forward in their seats, with their hands over their mouths, then jumping at certain parts. I thought it looked creepy and interesting.

Having watched it - it really is!

Firstly, it is beautifully shot. The landscape shots are truly atmospheric. And the score is tense and captivating.

Then there's the cast. The three main characters (the old man - Michael Palin, the young girl - Jodie Comer and the copper - Mark Addy) are all excellently played. I was especially impressed with Jodie Comer, who was also marvelous in My Mad, Fat Diary - I'm expecting great things from her in future!

And then there's the story, which is where I have a bit of trouble (and is the only reason I didn't rate it higher). I am intrigued by it - I can't work out how it's going to end yet. I do keep seeing bits that remind me of other work, though. I can see plot elements of The Ring (original Japanese version), Dark Water (original Japanese version), the Piano, Inception... I could go on. And I'm finding this somewhat distracting: "ooh, where have I seen that before..?"

It is good, though. I will certainly be watching the final hour with interest :-)

Some things are best left unseen

[delnegro-IMDb · 3/10 · 8 December 2014]

It's hard to understand how a series with a nearly perfect first episode can crumble into something that makes even the worst X-Files episodes seem clever and consistent by comparison.

The actors, director and cinematographer try their best, but there's just no way to overlook the plot holes, the illogical behaviour of the characters, the awkward dialogues, and the repetitive use of dramatic music and "spooky" effects to manipulate the audience into thinking the story has any substance.

Watch the first episode and make up your own ending; it will save you two hours of your life and a large dose of disappointment.

very creepy

[cielblue-427-986073 · 10/10 · 1 December 2014]

I am enjoying the TV series The first episode was really scary and the second developed the story I hope the last episode does not disappoint. Watch it on i player if you can- don't watch it alone!!!!

I loved the characters of Shirley and Tom and Hannah and Roshana you can imagine them as real people and are interested in what happens to them.

The photography is amazing and and essential to the overall creepiness. I will never look at the sea in Scarborough in the same way.

Well done to the casting crew Michael Palin is perfect and the actress who plays Hannah - Jodie Comer is an talented young lady.

Love it!

[rosenkranz_4 · 8/10 · 27 July 2017]

I love a good horror movie. One of my favorites being Ghost Story. And I love Hitchcock. This one reminds me of combination of the two. Hitchcock was good at making us the viewer use our imagination. This does that. Now I am not one who gets scared watching horror movies, but for some reason this one made me want to watch it in the morning rather than at night before bed. Yes, it's slow paced, but the suspense would not be there if it moved too fast. After all it's only 3 episodes. I do wish Palin would appear more. This was done in 2014, but for whatever reason PBS is just airing it.

Dire

[shedmcnee · 1/10 · 20 December 2014]

We watched the first episode and it was creepy and held a lot of potential... but then it failed dismally. Episode two was so boring that none of us wanted to see or cared about the third part. But when you've watched two you might as well see all of them. Big mistake. We ended up laughing at most of it. None of it made sense and most of the characters reactions were completely unrealistic. For instance the young boy was on a swing when suddenly it stopped mid air and he jumps off, turns around and sees the ghost sitting on it. Usual reaction would be to run off shrieking or 'look like you've just seen a ghost'. But no, he just walks off slowly to the others and doesn't even mention it. Who wrote this big pile of rubbish? The main young girl in it, the carer - can't remember her name and I can't even be bothered to look up her name, spends about 90% of the episodes crying. It's just so bad... don't bother watching it. There are so many good dramas out there and this doesn't rate amongst them!

Very good

[dotdixon · 8/10 · 4 October 2021]

Nice to see something with a different story & plot.

I really enjoyed it.

Like watching paint dry -- only you can't even see it

[jkivie · 2/10 · 17 July 2017]

I generally enjoy Michael Palin's work very much and looked forward to watching this series; but the first episode was so slow, so boring, so annoying, that I never bothered with the second and third installments. Adding to the general misery is the fact that at least three-fourths of the action (and I use the term loosely) takes place in the dark. The electricity doesn't work ... or the house is abandoned ... or it's just the middle of the night and no light source is available. Whatever, the ambiance is so relentlessly murky, it hardly seems worth the effort to try to figure out what's happening, if indeed anything is. Save your eyesight and your temper and skip this one.

Just fantastic

[debdshaw60 · 10/10 · 13 April 2020]

The first episode is so scary! The twists and turns throughout the episodes leave you hanging on the edge of your seat.

I just loved this series. Every actor was perfectly cast and their chemistry was terrific.

Definitely worth a watch!

Great movie

[pauchmoody-538-227773 · 10/10 · 8 April 2021]

This a wonderful movie I like British movies and mysteries drama in crime it is a good movie to watch and stuff and also I like it because it minds me of UK or my family is from and it is a great movie.

Well, there went several hours.

[holchie · 3/10 · 11 August 2017]

Loved the first episode and could hardly wait for the second. Waited for something to happen or be resolved in the second episode, but never happened. Hopeful for the third episode. Nope. It devolved into some kind of a teasing B-grade movie where you anticipate something is REALLY going to happen, and it never does. I was so tempted to fast-forward, and wished I would have when it ended. Basically, if you want to watch it, watch the first episode, skip the second, and fast-forward through the third to when there is about 10 minutes left.

A Bizarre Mix of Amazing and Terrible

[Chiffmonkey · 8/10 · 27 April 2016]

I've never been so annoyed by one single element of something completely and utterly letting down the rest as much as with Remember Me.

The setting is absorbing. The casting is spot-on. The script is natural yet interesting (except when the plot is involved). The cinematography is creepy and the sense of isolation is overpowering. The music is beautiful and haunting.

And yet the plot is dire drivel, that doesn't make much sense. Constantly people are being put in situations that simply shouldn't happen. The horror elements also simply aren't scary, they're laughably predictable. They should've stuck to creepy which they handled masterfully.

It's perhaps the best polished turd in existence.

Waste of Time When the Writer Can't Explain Her Own Story

[canterburybella-680 · 1/10 · 23 November 2022]

I'm an intelligent person, open minded, but this story, that was so very well acted, was so very badly written. It's like some of Arthur Conan Doyle's stories, where the writer goes to great length to confuse and complicate the story, and then can't find a way out, to explain how it all fits together.

That's the case with Remember Me.

So many unanswered questions: why did Tom's nanny hurt the social worker and residential care worker? They had nothing to do with him, nor were they a threat. Not explained, because it was plain fodder and filler with no resolution.

If this had been fleshed out, than I wouldn't feel so angry about wasting 3 hours of my time watching this abstract piece of pretentious tripe.

Also, was the lead character of Tom a ghost, was he 102 or 110 years old. If the nanny wanted to be with him, then be with him, no one was stopping her for the love of god!

There are so many well written stories and dramas, this is one to avoid. Such a shame, because the art direction, the filming locations and the acting were great. But couldn't save this nonsensical mess.

Unusual case of Stockholm syndrome?

[linda-frances · 10/10 · 5 May 2022]

Maybe not everybody's cup of tea, but I love a good yarn and this drama didn't disappoint. There's the actors to begin with, the lovely Michael Palin, great to see him in a straight role, a young Jodie Cromer and Mark Addy of GOT fame. Loved the dark northern atmospheric vibe and the scary soundtrack. The ghost was frightening at times and certainly made me want to sleep with the lights on. The story was a sad one of a man living for 110 years (at least) but being more or less held captive by a loving but possessive ghost, but the twist at the end is that he can't live without her either.

I enjoyed this drama and I think it's well worth a viewing.

Great Cast, Production Values and Scenery

[cgallo · 8/10 · 8 January 2024]

I felt compelled to watch to the very end and was willing to overlook some repetitive elements to get there. The leads presented well and Miss Comer was obviously destined for high(er) visibility as this one seems to have been left off of her resume.

In particular I enjoyed the visuals and sound design, which supported the story effectively. Agree with other reviewers who felt the plot did not deserve the run time, but it may have been required by BBC to fill a slot and could be edited into a single piece and shortened.

Second unit shots of the ocean were beautiful and looked great for a 10-year old show. No overuse of drone shots was a bonus :-)

Would love to read the play that this was adapted from.