A late-stage Children's Film Foundation enterprise, with a couple of plucky kids aiding in a situation to retrieve some miners trapped below ground following a shaft collapse. Thankfully, they have a ghostly kid and old-time Hammer veteran Andrew Keir to help them! This one's quite a basic sort of production lacking the kind of lovable characters seen in the CFF heyday, and the Americans are a little annoying. But the gorgeous Cornish scenery goes a long way in making up for that.
9 Reviews
A childhood scare - glad to have finally tracked it down
rabbitmoon10 February 2009
Warning: Spoilers
So after years and years I finally track this film down! I was dying to see how it lived up to my memories. I distinctly remembered the shots of the ghost boy running down the mine, then waiting behind two planks of wood crossed in the mineshaft, just staring out with a pale white face. This single shot was probably the most chilling shot of my childhood, I remember chills running down my spine. Watching it now, its obviously nowhere near as scary, but quite subconsciously strange to see the same images again. If anyone wants a copy, private message me.
The story itself is fairly standard BCFF stuff. Its strange though that the message is pretty unclear this time around - there is no real moral as such (except that 'ghosts are here to help us?' or 'don't be prejudiced against ghosts!') There wasn't even a greed/capitalist angle in terms of wanting to profit from the mine. However, a massive act of irresponsibility from the captain, encouraging the two kids to actually follow the vague implications of a ghost not only into a mine, but into a new mine hole, which is totally dangerous. The captain then encourages the children to climb down a huge ladder, deep into the mines, simply because he thinks the ghost wants them too. Its also a bit odd that the ghost chooses the boy to help the trapped adults, and not just help the trapped adults direct. Oh well.
The story itself is fairly standard BCFF stuff. Its strange though that the message is pretty unclear this time around - there is no real moral as such (except that 'ghosts are here to help us?' or 'don't be prejudiced against ghosts!') There wasn't even a greed/capitalist angle in terms of wanting to profit from the mine. However, a massive act of irresponsibility from the captain, encouraging the two kids to actually follow the vague implications of a ghost not only into a mine, but into a new mine hole, which is totally dangerous. The captain then encourages the children to climb down a huge ladder, deep into the mines, simply because he thinks the ghost wants them too. Its also a bit odd that the ghost chooses the boy to help the trapped adults, and not just help the trapped adults direct. Oh well.
From A Few Fragments Of Memory
wilsonstuart-3234620 October 2019
From what little I remember this was a fairly atmospheric and unsettling little thriller set in an abandoned Cornish tin mine. A group of adults were trapped and were in (sometimes unwelcome) communication with a the spirit of a young collier who tried to help them.
I'd love to see it again after all these years (and the other titles).
I'd love to see it again after all these years (and the other titles).
Probably the only comment this movie will ever receive! - Spoilers
noledge9 July 2003
Being Cornish and brought up with the history of tin mining, this film is quite special to me. Filmed in and around various locations in Cornwall, it depicts the story of two your children who get trapped down a mine with a group of miners.
The 'Haunters' of the title refers to the 'Spriggins' - ghosts of child miners who reside in the mine and are said to bring evil to all that mine there. Events take place with an American wanting to invest in local tin mining, but when the young local kid Josh is plagued by sightings of the ghost of a young boy, he and his American 'girlfriend' set out to unravel the mystery behind his death, climaxing in the rescue of themselves and several miners from almost certain death when a new shaft is opened and the Spiggins save them.
Top film, albeit low budget and short, but worth a look if you're from Cornwall and/or into tin mining!
The 'Haunters' of the title refers to the 'Spriggins' - ghosts of child miners who reside in the mine and are said to bring evil to all that mine there. Events take place with an American wanting to invest in local tin mining, but when the young local kid Josh is plagued by sightings of the ghost of a young boy, he and his American 'girlfriend' set out to unravel the mystery behind his death, climaxing in the rescue of themselves and several miners from almost certain death when a new shaft is opened and the Spiggins save them.
Top film, albeit low budget and short, but worth a look if you're from Cornwall and/or into tin mining!
An atmospheric ghost tale for children and adults alike
lush846 September 2007
I remember watching this as a child as part of the Children;s Film Foundations Friday Film Specials on CBBC and have recently happened upon a copy.
In the twenty or so years since my last viewing this film has lost nothing.
It is an atmospheric tale which entices with Cornish folklore and adds elements of truly creepy imagery of the ghost of the young miner Billy.
Shot in the wonderfully scenic Port Loe area of Cornwall the film utilises the mixture of rugged coastline and abandoned tin mines to make the setting truly believable.
There is much packed into this CFF drama, something long since lost from Children's television today and well worth a look if you can track down a copy.
In the twenty or so years since my last viewing this film has lost nothing.
It is an atmospheric tale which entices with Cornish folklore and adds elements of truly creepy imagery of the ghost of the young miner Billy.
Shot in the wonderfully scenic Port Loe area of Cornwall the film utilises the mixture of rugged coastline and abandoned tin mines to make the setting truly believable.
There is much packed into this CFF drama, something long since lost from Children's television today and well worth a look if you can track down a copy.
One of the most chilling films I have seen!
kanethegoth22 April 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Good to see I'm not the only person who remembers this great film. I have very fond memories of this movie - seem to vaguely remember back to when I was about 8 and I'd watch the kids TV shows after school (Broom Cupboard anyone?). This was the first and last film to scare me - and the images of the boy surrounded by mist on a hill will stay with me forever! Like most films of this era, it has a happy ending - aimed at children, but with a definite ability to capture an adults attention. The lovely Cornish scenery really sets the film up to feel isolated - and the "ghostly" scenes are simple but very, very effective! I'd love to try and find this movie again - see if it still hits home!
Finally found the film I've been looking for
kat-wiggins1 August 2007
Warning: Spoilers
This film has "haunted" me since I saw it when I was about 8 years old. I didn't know what it was called so am so pleased to have tracked it down finally. I remember being quite scared, because I'd just been to a tin mine in Cornwall when I watched it, so could imagine it all. Fortunately I didn't see any ghosts of dead children there, but I found this film really quite disturbing and scary when I was much younger. I've certainly never forgotten it, even though I couldn't find it anywhere. I seem to remember The Children's Film Foundation films being generally good, but they don't show them at all any more. I also remember programmes like The Children Of Green Knowe in the same era on BBC - equally unsettling in its own way.
freaky
lostboy8716 April 2006
Warning: Spoilers
I saw this film early one morning in the early 90s when i was about 12.I have been trying to find what it was and finally today i did!I remember enjoying it and being a little bit freaked out at the ending when it showed the gravestone of the young boy and his ghostly face!Please could anybody let me no if i can get a copy of this as i would love to see it again.I remember the kid getting stuck down a cornish tin mine and then befriending a boy.cant remember that the kids were stuck there with miners but must have been.the boy helps them out of the mine and turns out to be the ghost of a boy who had died while working down there i think.
Scary for the kids - or if you're a kid at heart!
joepm282 November 2023
The British Film Institute (BFI) channel is where I found Haunters of the Deep. They seem to have a few of these children television shows from the 1970's and1980's. Haunters of the Deeps is low budget yet with a great ghost story that is enhanced by the Corwall setting. If you have young children (that is under 12) they might find it a very scary. Even as an adult, there is definitely a spooky factor.
Haunters of the Deep is set in Cornwall in a coastal town that was formerly a center of tin mining. Josh a young local boy, while on the coastal headlands, see an apparition of a young boy in the mist. He then is forced in to a play date with Becky, the daughter of a mining executive in town to see about re-opening the mine. I won't give much more away other than that the film bring a number of plot lines together full of folklore, adventure and a reasonably gripping suspenseful ending - all in only 50 minutes. A movie worth seeing, especially with the family.
Haunters of the Deep is set in Cornwall in a coastal town that was formerly a center of tin mining. Josh a young local boy, while on the coastal headlands, see an apparition of a young boy in the mist. He then is forced in to a play date with Becky, the daughter of a mining executive in town to see about re-opening the mine. I won't give much more away other than that the film bring a number of plot lines together full of folklore, adventure and a reasonably gripping suspenseful ending - all in only 50 minutes. A movie worth seeing, especially with the family.
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