A new film project titled In hell, which will tell an interesting story. It will tell the true story of the medium Helen Duncan, the last British citizen convicted and imprisoned for witchcraft.
The film is based on the book Hellish Nell: the last of the British witches written by Malcolm Gaskill and where the screenplay comes from Chris Basiler and will be directed by Aislinn Clarke (The Devil’s Door) for Studiocanal and The Picture Company.
The film follows Helen’s harrowing journey as her innate powers change her life and the lives of those closest to her. The book description reads:
The Witchcraft Act of 1735, which charged that the spirits of the dead had been resurrected by conjuration, was last used in Portsmouth in 1944. The accused was Helen Duncan, a plump Scotsman, convicted of fraud but believed by hundreds people in possession of power. speak to the dead. This is her extraordinary story of religion and superstition in Britain in the first half of the 20th century.
Helen Duncan was born in Callander in 1898 and developed mysterious powers during the First World War when she correctly predicted the appearance of the soldier she would marry. Having honed these powers she became increasingly celebrated following her near-death from pneumonia when she was informed of her calling by a shadowy white figure. She continued to produce spiritual forms from the ectoplasm which, she said, flowed through her. She was accompanied by a spirit guide named Albert and a young girl spirit named Peggy. Or was she? The psychic community was divided into two fiercely opposing camps: followers and skeptics.
The government of the day became involved (Churchill was said to be more than interested) when, during the Second World War, Helen appeared able to tell relatives of their loved ones’ deaths even before the official announcement was made. And so in 1944 she, absurdly, anachronistically, was accused of witchcraft, tried and imprisoned for the duration of the war. Her life is an extraordinary glimpse into the spiritual and psychological mood of the time, a story of flashes and absurdities, of credulity and cruelty and of England’s last witch.
It sounds like a crazy story!
Source: deadline
by Joey Paur
Source: Geek Tyrant
Lloyd Grunewald is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. He is a talented writer who focuses on bringing the latest entertainment-related news to his readers. With a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and a passion for writing, Lloyd delivers engaging articles that keep his readers informed and entertained.
