The Haunting of Barney Palmer
Seen it?1987 | 54 min | Family, Mystery, Fantasy
Monday Morning Maybeearly ratingWhy it’s a Monday Morning Maybe
With a box office flop and almost no lasting buzz, this one could be a tough watch. Keep your phone handy.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- A natural pick for fans of a good haunting and anyone who wants something that moves them. The scares come from the creaks and shadows as much as the jumps. Sits nicely alongside The Witches or Coraline. It's about loss, handled with care rather than melodrama.
- The mood
- Tense, feel-good.
- The pace
- Bright and bouncy, at 54 min. An easy one to fit in on a school night.
- What might put you off
- No age rating on record, so check it first for young kids.
- Skip it if you want something with an edge.
The Haunting of Barney Palmer is a fantasy film for children about a young boy who is haunted by his great uncle. Young Barney fears that he has inherited the Scholar family curse; a suite of 80s-era effects ramp up the supernatural suspense. The film was a co-production between PBS (United States) and Wellington's Gibson Group, which resulted in Ned Beatty (Deliverance, Network) being cast. It was written by Margaret Mahy, based on her Carnegie Award-winning novel The Haunting, and an early fruitful collaboration between her and director Yvonne Mackay.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsNot counted
Not enough reviews on record yet
- AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Reach & staying powerWeak
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
Not enough engagement data yet
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Yvonne Mackay
- Ned BeattyCole Scholar
- Alexis BanasBarney Palmer
- Eleanor GibsonTabitha Palmer
- Meredith BraunTroy Palmer
- Michelle LeuthartClaire Palmer
- Andy AndersonJohn Palmer
- Bernard KearnsBen Scholar
- Yvonne LawleyGreat Grandmother Scholar
- Patrick SmythAlberic Scholar
- Leon BanasYoung Cole