everything you have heard about this movie is true.

There is just so much movie here. For some it may be too much. But in the same secretly sarcastic way most telemarketers say the phrase, the title of this one is particularly apt.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

Midwinter of the Spirit is an unsettling supernatural thriller, reminiscent of the Exorcist films. This mini series is not as violent as the Exorcist franchise but it shares the same tense atmosphere inhabited by a creeping, scuttling, increasing intrusive, evil. An evil that leaves no place safe, not even the comfortably familiar haven, the family home.This is a a well scripted mini series, with a good solid foundation in terms of its story and a very believable cast of characters, who hand in, often frighteningly convincing performances. Topping this off is well developed narrative that slowly draws you into the story, lending added credibility to what is an otherworldly tale. In short Midwinter of the Spirit is a high caliber UK production that is a must watch. My advice, just don't watch it alone. Eight out of ten from me.

*****SPOILER FREE***** About time, these books have been around years and been waiting for TV to take them up. It raised an eyebrow when I heard ITV were making them, the nature of material I'd have thought would have meant only Channel Four would have had the b***s to make, but fair play.Three enjoyable episodes, well put together. Anna was good as Merrily, David Threlfall was worthy of more on screen time. One minor fault would be the lack of Gomer Parry, a key relationship in the books.Being ITV, it's no surprise that some of the more gruesome elements were omitted, they could have been darker, although I'm left feeling there's potential with this series. A Christmas transmission would have been good, MR James has left a gaping hole.Some of the books are darker then others, I'll wait with baited breath to see if Crown of Light is the next one they make.Apparitions sank a few years ago, similar material. I hope isn't the one and only outing for Merrily. Time will tell.>>>>>Watch it, and then read the book, not the other way around>>>>>

That is 3 hours of my life wasted. On paper it sounds good, but was all very predictable. The lead actress was awful, over-acting and hardly ever raising her voice above whispering mode. Special effects nowadays are so clever but have been done to death, in films and on TV. It is very hard now to cause shock through them. I found the ending rather confusing unless I missed something. Siobhan Finneran's character and the mysterious male who accompanied her, seemed to walk away from the final scene Scot free. Going back to the lead actress, Anna Maxwell Martin, I would state that my criticism of her performance is confined to this drama, as I have seen her in other things, during which I have enjoyed the portrayal of her character.

Good supernatural drama these days on TV is as rare as Hen's teeth, as the saying goes. Well done to ITV for presenting new and original drama such as this which the BBC has long given up doing. I didn't previously know about the novels upon which this series was based. In any event, there is a real hunger, I am sure, for non-formulaic supernatural/crime drama and I do hope to see another series.All the performances were top-notch and the production values were good. For those who have belief in these things, the fate of the world is not determined by sociological forces but by what perhaps the Middle Ages more clearly saw as the eternal struggle between Good and evil.