Lost Hearts (film)

Lost Hearts is a 1973 British horror film directed by Alan Gibson. It is part of the Ghost Stories for Christmas anthology series broadcast by the BBC. The film is based on the short story of the same name by M.R. James.

The plot revolves around a young orphan boy, Stephen Elliot, who is sent to live with his reclusive and eccentric cousin, Mr. Abney, at Aswarby Hall. While there, Stephen is plagued by unsettling dreams and visions. He discovers that Abney is a scholar with a sinister interest in the occult, specifically in extracting vitality from young people to prolong his own life.

Stephen uncovers the truth about two other orphaned children who previously stayed at Aswarby Hall: an Italian girl and a Romani boy. He realizes they were victims of Abney's dark rituals, and their restless spirits now haunt the house, seeking revenge. The film culminates in a terrifying confrontation between Stephen and Abney, with the vengeful ghosts playing a crucial role in Abney's downfall.

Lost Hearts is noted for its atmosphere of creeping dread, its unsettling imagery, and its faithfulness to the tone and themes of M.R. James' original story. It is considered one of the most effective and chilling adaptations in the Ghost Stories for Christmas series and a classic of British television horror.