Wraiths of Roanoke (2007) (TV)

User Rating:

4.2/10   

Director:

Matt Codd

Writer:

Rafael Jordan (writer)

Release Date:

13 October 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

They came from England to tame the New World, only to become the prey of an ancient evil.

Plot:

In the 1580's English colonists arrive in what was to become North Carolina and find supernatural terror.

Plot Keywords:

Native American | North Carolina | Haunted Forest | Water | Norse Mythology

Cast

Adrian Paul	...	Ananias Dare
Frida Show	...	Eleanor Dare (as Frida Farrell)
Rhett Giles	...	George Howe
Michael Teh	...	Manteo
Mari Mascaro	...	Elizabeth Viccars
Alex McArthur	...	John White
George Calil	...	Thomas Stevens
Doug Dearth	...	Gregory Hemphill
Atanas Srebrev	...	Samuel Fillion
Hristo Mitzkov	...	Ambrose Viccars
Velislav Pavlov	...	Gaius Callis
Rafael Jordan	...	Christopher Harvie
Jonas Talkington	...	William Stark
Suzette Kolaga	...	Emme Merrimoth
Terence H. Winkless	...	Father Jacob

Also Known As:

Lost Colony (USA) (working title)
Lost Colony: The Legend of Roanoke (International: English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violent content and frightening images.

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA | Bulgaria

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Bulgaria

Company:

American World Pictures (AWP)

Trivia:

During the scene where a British soldier is attacked by several natives, one of the natives' axes had a nail sticking out of it. The stuntman playing the soldier would have been seriously injured as he was hit repeatedly with the axe, but his chainmail armor actually protected him.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The colonists appear to be using flintlocks which would not be invented for another 30 years or so, first appearing in France in 1610. Matchlocks were the high-tech weapon of the 16th century.

Traditional low-quality expected from the Scifi channel

Scifi channel has a reputation for picking up awful B-listers to fill out its empty Saturday nights. Unfortunately, Wraiths of Roanoke is no exception. Within the first ten minutes, the acting will tip you off that this'll be an unimpressive title; indeed, the acting is very similar to such mid-budget series as Stargate SG1 and Painkiller Jane. Of course, the fault doesn't lie entirely with the actors, only so much can be done with the stale and entirely trite dialogue.

The story isn't much better. The basic outline involves British colonials, who intend to inhabit an island, finding their old garrison "abandoned" (read: dead). The Native Americans (Croats) give vague warnings about some mysterious danger, only clarifying things when the first people die. From then on, the settlers (who can't abandon the island for a few reasons, some of which are inconsequential given the threat) are forced to contend with evil spirits.

It's supposedly based on true events, which seems to be a big selling point. However, given the film, I can't imagine how many liberties were taken. I imagine the only truth involves the abandoned fort--which could've just been sacked or what have you. Wraiths happens to be one of those films where you can see budgetary constraints in everything and it suffers for it.