Fragile

2005 "A ghost story."
6| 1h41m| PG-13| en| More Info
Released: 14 October 2005 Released
Producted By: Castelao Productions
Country: United Kingdom
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Synopsis

Haunted by memories of a patient's death, a nurse takes a job at an antiquated hospital for children. Soon she learns that the kids fear a ghost that prowls the floors and will not allow anyone to leave. Amy tries to protect them and convince the other staffers of the evil that lurks there.

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Reviews

Hellen I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much
Pacionsbo Absolutely Fantastic
AshUnow This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.
Brendon Jones It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.
aesgaard41 If there's one thing I really believe in, it's that all actors should have at least one or two horror movies in their resume. I loved Nicole Kidman in "The Others," and Christina Ricci in "Cursed," so when I heard Calista Flockhart had starred in a haunted house movie called "Fragile," I had to get this movie. She plays an American nurse studying in London who is called down to help close Mercy Falls Hospital on the Isle of Wight and move the young patients to a new hospital. Her character is played with a back story we never really learn anything about, but then we really don't need to learn anything because once the movie starts moving forward, it runs forward so efficiently that it never once bogs down with exposition. The hospital Calista arrives at is old, outdated and falling apart, much like most stereotypical haunted sites, but she soon learns she is replacing a nurse who was scared so badly that she quit. In the children's ward, she meets a distant young girl named Maggie (Yasmin Murphy) who gradually fills her in on the strange stories of the hospital. Actor Richard Roxburgh goes against playing a psychotic character for once, portraying the night physician, Dr. Richard Carey, one of the hospital staff members sympathetic to the plight of the kids, and slowly delving into the location's past for the identity of the spirit. The kids are terrified by a presence they call Charlotte who is breaking their bones at night to keep them from leaving and is getting more dangerous as things keep progressing. Director Jaume Balaguero does an excellent job setting up the atmosphere and scares slowly at first and building up to a pitch where Calista's character goes from suspicious to curious and gradually terrified as she realizes the children are in danger, rescuing Maggie from the top floor as the hospital seems to crumble around them. It's everything a good haunted house movie should be; thick with atmosphere and light on the special effects with the highlights on the character performances rather than on the ghosts. Unfortunately, there is nothing here to appeal to the gore hounds that prefer blood and violence. "Fragile" is an intense intellectual ghost story with atmosphere, a strong cast and a top-notch plot that moves along briskly, and that is actually the best thing about it.
Scott LeBrun Amy (Calista Flockhart) is the new nurse at an old children's hospital that's scheduled to be closed down. Making friends with Maggie (Yasmin Murphy), she realizes that there's some sort of evil presence in the place, one which Maggie and others refer to as "Charlotte". Amy, who has a trauma in her past, becomes determined that this time she is not going to let her young charges down.Interestingly enough, co-writer / director Jaume Balaguero ("Rec") never elaborates on the baggage that our heroine brings to the situation. But Flockhart, in a role far removed from Ally McBeal, does a very creditable job in this very serious role. You do sympathize with her and root for her. The rest of the cast is equally strong: Richard Roxburgh as kindly doctor Robert, Elena Anaya as nurse Helen, Colin McFarlane as the helpful Roy, talented child actress Murphy, and Gemma Jones as Mrs. Folder.What's going to appeal to some horror fans is the fact that Balaguero goes for a traditional approach: building suspense, caring about characters, and creating a genuinely ominous atmosphere. He doesn't go the route of indulging in gratuitous gore. He also crafts an intriguing mystery that plays out in an entertaining way. Importantly, it's a mystery where the audience learns things along with the characters and isn't two steps ahead of them the entire time.He also refrains from showing very much of the evil spirit until near the end, and when this happens, the look of the thing is pretty cool.Overall, this is an emotionally involving tale worth seeking out.Eight out of 10.
MovieSonic I hovered between 6 and 7 because it is good but not much better than average. As IMDb doesn't allow 6.5, I have given it a 7.I watched this because I was a huge fan of Ally McBeal and wanted to see what Calista Flockhart was up to otherwise I would normally give films like this a miss.As with most films, my level of enjoyment often depends on my mood and my expectations. I wasn't expecting much of this film and was fairly bored. So I finally got around to watching it and was entertained throughout. It was very much a "standard" horror film, not much effort put into the background story of the "horror" aspect (sorry for being vague, I don't want to give anything away!) but the story moves at a good pace and the acting is good and...it's just good.Nothing special but good. It's hard to explain why one film in a genre is better than another e.g. why did I care about these characters but not about any in another horror film? Probably because I like at least three of the actors in this film; that always helps! But it was more than that. The film never seemed low budget (until a couple of so-so special effects towards the end), there was an overall 'professional' feel to the film and it was obvious that a lot of effort had been put into it.Once the horror finally kicks in to full gear, it is genuinely scary and it's rare that I get an adrenaline shock (even if it was just for a second). Without wanting to explain what exactly was scary, the "thing that was scary" was genuinely done well and I was impressed.The only real critique (other than the standard couple of clichéd script moments) was...well...not sure why no-one has mentioned it but...something really inappropriate happened at the end that literally left my jaw on the floor. It could have been more "innocent-slash-tasteful" but I can't believe I have to say that about this particular scene because I don't think it even made sense nor should have been filmed(!). I think it should have been the man.That's all I'll say and anyone who hasn't seen it will understand what I mean when it happens.Anyway, good film but standard stuff and that's after watching with no expectations and wanting to pass the time.6.5/10
Woodyanders Troubled American nurse Amy (a fine, credible, and affecting performance by Calista Flockhart) gets a job working the night shift at the crumbling Mercy Falls Children's Hospital in Britain. The place is being closed down. Amy discovers that there's a dangerous and possessive spirit known as Charlotte the mechanical girl (a genuinely creepy portrayal by Karmeta Cervera) on a disused floor who refuses to let the child patients leave the hospital. Director Jaume Balaguero, who also co-wrote the thoughtful script with Jordi Galceran, relates the compelling story at a deliberate pace, does an expert job of creating and sustaining an eerie and unsettling atmosphere of pure dread and unease, makes wisely judicious use of both excessive graphic gore and flashy special effects, and pulls out all the harrowing stops for the thrilling climax. Moreover, Balaguero brings a classy and subtle sensibility and sensitivity to the material that kicks the overall quality of the movie up a few extra notches. The excellent acting from the tip-top cast rates as another substantial asset: Flockhart brings a touching and appealing vulnerability to her sympathetic character, with sterling support from Richard Roxburgh as the skeptical Dr. Robert Marcus, Elena Anaya as stern nurse Helen Perez, Gemma Jones as hard-nosed head administrator Mrs. Folder, Colin McFarlane as amiable handyman Roy, and, most impressive of all, the adorable Yasmin Murphy as frightened and precocious little girl Maggie. Xavi Gimenez's shadowy cinematography gives the picture an appropriately gloomy look. Roque Banos' shivery score does the elegantly uncanny trick. A real sleeper.