Another disappointing M. R. James Christmas ghost story adaptation from Mark Gatiss, who is by now chalking up more misses than hits. This one's an adaptation of a rarer story, which is commendable in itself, but it completely misses the mark and turns half an hour into a very dull experience indeed. It's cheap-looking throughout, with producers simply raiding the BBC costume department and filming in a couple of rooms in a stately mansion, and the chills are diluted in favour of absolutely endless exposition. Yes, it's a boring talkathon with one good scare in a flashback and absolutely nothing else going on. There's no atmosphere or suspense, the actors are crying out for direction, and I wish Gatiss would call it a day now.
Review of Count Magnus
