Martyrs Lane

This is a film whose quality and attention to detail are such that it remains compelling viewing even after one is familiar with its central mystery, so it is likely to become a treasured part of many a DVD collection. Like most DVDs today, it includes a short Behind The Scenes documentary, which includes some brief detail about the shooting process but is mostly a succession of talking heads. This includes the young stars talking about how much they enjoyed the process, which is heartening to see given how miserable the filmmaking process often is for kids that age. it will fill you in on the casting process and the way the relationships in the film came to life.

Director Ruth Platt grew up in a rectory herself. Here and in the interview (which incorporates some of the same material), she discusses the autobiographical aspects of the film and her own dreams about getting too close to a girl who wasn't what she seemed - a little something extra for ghost story fans to wonder at.

The photo gallery is more interesting than most of its ilk, not just presenting a succession of pretty stills, which might easily find online, but instead revealing how shots were framed and what was going on just outside the frame during the action. The film was shot on location and Platt's determination to capture as much as possible in camera, rather than relying on effects work in post, means that there's a lot of clever work involved here, and these images will make you appreciate it more deeply. It also shows some tender moments between cast members and highlights the natural chemistry which shines through in the film.