Moondial (1988)
A six part tv series for children about a young girl, Minty (Siri Neal) staying with her aunt after her mother is injured in a car crash. She spends her time wandering the grounds of a nearby mansion and is drawn towards a large statue and moondial which she soon learns enables her to travel back in time.
Wow! Just wow! Following a slow first couple of episodes this series really hits the 'Utterly brilliant' button. Full of fantastic dream like Gothic imagery - witness the masked kids carrying pumpkins...weird and extremely eerie - superb sinister music and big nods to the supernatural and witchcraft and even The Blood on Satan's Claw. Then The Reptile / Blakes-7's Jacquelin Pearce turns up as a ghost hunter in the present day and a witch in the past. Pearce isn't the best thing about this chilling drama though. Young actress Siri Neal in her first ever role is so compelling and has brilliant support from young Tony Sands as boy from the past, Tom.
Up there with Children of the Stones and The Box of Delights, i was completely engrossed in this twilight world of the ghostly Moondial.
The disc from Second Sight looks terrific and has an enjoyable interview with Neal who comes across as very approachable as well as a director interview and episode commentaries.
Highly recommended.
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