Ghost Stories review: Beautifully crafted, but predictable and not particularly scary

It is beautifully crafted and clearly heartfelt but unlikely to give anyone sleepless nights.

Professor Goodman (Andy Nyman) is a confirmed sceptic who has spent his career debunking tales of the supernatural.

Then a colleague informs him that he has become a believer and sends Goodman to investigate three incidents that prove his point.

That’s the cue for supposedly spine-tingling, blood-curdling stories from nightwatchman Tony (Paul Whitehouse), traumatised youngster Simon (Alex Lawther) and smarmy banker Mike (Martin Freeman). 

Ghost Stories piles on the atmosphere as things go bump in the night, demons crawl out of pitch-black woods and inanimate objects take on a life of their own.

The use of gloomy shadows and unnerving sound is effective and the excellent cast invest the film with steely-eyed conviction.

The ending ties everything neatly together but it is anti-climactic, predictable and not particularly scary.