The last in the series of BBC Ghost Stories For Christmas (8 adaptations shown every year from 1971 to 1978) Shown Christmas 1978. It is a very low key end to this series and not at all frightening in the traditional sense of the word, its more of haunting mood piece. This and the previous Stigma saw the productions place themselves in modern settings , far removed from the previous M R James and Dickens adaptations. The story concerns a health spa visited by Paul played by John Stride , strange incidents occur with members of staff whom Paul notices are all icy cold to the touch. The Brother and sister owners seem otherwordly , as do the residents, and they have a strange relationship with two vines. The owners take an unnatural interest in him and the story evades explanation for many of the minor occurrences. Much is left to the audience to make up their own minds. A strange story which needs repeated viewing to appreciate, but it has only been shown once and chances of repeats are fading with every passing year.
Review of The Ice House
