The Spiral Staircase (2000 film)

Background

The Ethel Lina White novel Some Must Watch was first offered on film in 1946 as The Spiral Staircase. This same title was used for a 1962 television adaptation, 1975 British TV-movie remake, and the 2000 made-for-cable feature. The 2000 version updated the original story to re-set from the early 20th century to present day. Filmed on locations in Vancouver and Victoria, Canada, the 2000 version was made for Fox Family network (now ABC Family), as a remake of three previous films, still based on Ethel Lina White's novel, and using the same title as the previous films of 1946, 1962, and 1975.

Synopsis

The film centers around Helen Capel (Nicollette Sheridan), a pathologically mute woman who is being stalked by a vicious killer. Mute since the death of her parents when she was a child, Helen accepts a nursing position on a secluded island in the household of wealthy matriarch Emma Warren (Holland Taylor). Helen learns that a serial killer is picking off "imperfect" young girls around town, and she fears she is next. A terrible storm hits the island one night and the family and Helen are trapped inside... and they're not alone, the killer is with them in the shadows.

Cast

Release

The film debuted in April 2000 in the United States, followed by releases in the United Kingdom in May 2000, as Le secret du manoir in France in 2001, Czech Republic in 2003, as Stummer Schrei - Und keiner kann dir helfen in Germany in 2004, Hungary in 2005 and Sweden in 2007.

Reception

In noting that the original 1946 film was "a stellar thriller", Steven Linan of Los Angeles Times found the 2000 remake to be an "inferior remake".