I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

The atmospheric work of Dutch portrait and genre painter Godfried Schalcken provided the inspiration for Sheridan Le Fanu's Gothic horror story "Strange Event in the Life of Schalken the Painter" written in 1839.I must say that I rather enjoyed Leslie Mehagey's "Schalcken the Painter" which is based on Le Fanu story.The film plays like a documentary and it carefully recreates the interiors made famous by the Dutch painters.The action is slow-moving,but "Schalcken the Painter" has plenty of Gothic atmosphere.There is also plenty of female nudity including nice full-frontal at the end.The climax is wonderfully evocative and eerie.If you like "The Woman in Black" or similar subtle British chillers you can't go wrong with "Schalcken the Painter".7 skulls out of 10.

Having read several 10 out of 10 reviews for this TV play, I have to say that the reviewers must be high on nostalgia. This play has not aged well. The print quality is terrible, the acting minimal, the atmosphere non-existent.It is overlong and tedious. It is actually quicker, and more gratifying, to read the short story upon which this play is based. Too much time is taken up with pointless long shots of irrelevant action - 4 minutes of close-up on a goldsmith testing the quality of coins AFTER the narrator has told us what he's doing - absolutely awful. 5 minutes of just watching a room full of students paint a still life, with no dialogue or music, and no narration? Just boring.The action really kicks in 10 minutes from the end, where we actually find out what's going on. Up to that point, we have almost an hour of virtually silent footage telling us the most simple story imaginable (art apprentice falls in love with master's daughter, but has no chance), coupled with a narrator reading out sections of the original text.If you're tempted to watch this wooden old effort - don't. Read the short story, and then go and seek out some of the BBC's MR James adaptations instead for some real chills and decent acting.

I saw it and taped it when it went out and have never forgotten it. Sadly that was on Betamax in a former life. I agree entirely with everyone's observations on the piece.And I have seen the original painting. Many years ago I was stood in the doorway of a huge room in an English stately home, listening to the information being given by the guide when I casually glanced to my left.This was a very warm summer's day but my blood froze. I was resting against a wall covered in paintings and there next to my left elbow was the very painting of the girl shielding the candle, with her ghastly suitor's face in the shadows...I can't remember which house it was though it might have been Woodstock near Oxford. But I will never forget that shock! The piece, from the Omnibus series, does still exist as a print so there is still hope...

In common with previous reviewers, I wish to add my plea to the BBC to re-show 'Schalken the Painter' on BBC4. It remains one of the Beeb's best productions. I would love to be able to purchase the video on DVD. The script followed closely J S LeFanu's frightening story. The lightning and camera-work were masterly, and direction tight. The video belonged to the BBC's 'Omnibus' series. Other productions from the series have been made available, so why not this? I have been waiting years to see the video show up of TV. I think it was repeated sometime in the early 1990s but I could be wrong. Surely it cannot have been lost (or worse, erased!). Hopefully not. Are you listening, BBC?