Voice from the Stone is a supernatural psychological thriller film directed by Eric Dennis Howell and starring Emilia Clarke and Marton Csokas, based on the novel of the same name by Silvio Raffo. It received a limited release in theaters on April 28, 2017.
The film takes place in 1950s Tuscany, Italy. Clarke plays Verena, a young nurse who makes it a point to not become emotionally involved or attached to the children she is hired to help take care of as she always ends up leaving them. A young heir, Jakob, refuses to speak after the death of his mother from an unspecified illness. Jakob spends nearly every night with his ear against the wall in his room, believing that he can hear the voice of his mother. Verena, while staying with the family, is determined to make Jakob speak again, and to help him and his father, Klaus (Csokas), move on after the death of his wife. However, it seems that the mysterious aura of the castle is beginning to take a hold of Verena and influence her mind the longer she stays there...
This work contains the following examples:
- Bilingual Dialogue: English and Italian.
- Body Snatcher: It's implied that Malvina takes over Verena's body in the end.
- Creepy Child: Jakob, remaining mute and his face being a complete blank for most of the film.
- Crusty Caretaker: The statekeeper, Alessio.
- Dead All Along: It's revealed that Lillia committed suicide the day Jakob's mother passed away.
- Downer Ending: Verena catches the same illness that plagued Jakob's mother, she is buried alive in Malvina's tomb, and it's implied that Malvina is now in possession of Verena's body.
- Foreshadowing: Before Malvina dies, she tells Jakob that "another woman will come along".
- Hollywood Atheist: Subverted. It's unknown if Verena is an atheist/agnostic, but she doesn't believe in spirits or voices.
- Replacement Goldfish: Verena becomes one of sorts for Jakob and Klaus.
- Shout-Out: To The Cask of Amontillado and The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe.
