Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes
Trouble logging in?
By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .
By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .
By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.
Email not verified
Let's keep in touch.
Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:
- Upcoming Movies and TV shows
- Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
- Media News + More
By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.
OK, got it!
Movies / TV
No results found.
- What's the Tomatometer®?
- Login/signup
Movies in theaters
- Opening this week
- Top box office
- Coming soon to theaters
- Certified fresh movies
Movies at home
- Fandango at Home
- Netflix streaming
- Prime Video
- Most popular streaming movies
- What to Watch New
Certified fresh picks
- Challengers Link to Challengers
- I Saw the TV Glow Link to I Saw the TV Glow
- Música Link to Música
New TV Tonight
- The Veil: Season 1
- Hacks: Season 3
- The Tattooist of Auschwitz: Season 1
- A Man in Full: Season 1
- Acapulco: Season 3
- Welcome to Wrexham: Season 3
- John Mulaney Presents: Everybody's in LA: Season 1
- Star Wars: Tales of the Empire: Season 1
- My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman: Season 4.2
- Shardlake: Season 1
Most Popular TV on RT
- Baby Reindeer: Season 1
- Fallout: Season 1
- Shōgun: Season 1
- Dead Boy Detectives: Season 1
- Knuckles: Season 1
- The Sympathizer: Season 1
- Goodbye Earth: Season 1
- Ripley: Season 1
- Them: Season 2
- 3 Body Problem: Season 1
- Best TV Shows
- Most Popular TV
- TV & Streaming News
Certified fresh pick
- Dead Boy Detectives: Season 1 Link to Dead Boy Detectives: Season 1
- All-Time Lists
- Binge Guide
- Comics on TV
- Five Favorite Films
- Video Interviews
- Weekend Box Office
- Weekly Ketchup
- What to Watch
Best Horror Movies of 2024 Ranked – New Scary Movies to Watch
30 Most Popular Movies Right Now: What to Watch In Theaters and Streaming
What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming
Awards Tour
The Most Anticipated Movies of 2024
Poll: Most Anticipated Movies of May 2024
- Trending on RT
- Challengers
- The Fall Guy
- Play Movie Trivia
Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop Reviews
Undemanding but not unsatisfying, its story of a seemingly haunted bookshop is easy to settle into and deliberately obvious clues are dropped along the way.
Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | May 3, 2023
The case itself is nothing special, but it features enough twists to keep viewers on their toes, and Cox and Grammer make for a fine detective duo.
Full Review | Original Score: B- | Feb 9, 2022
Find Family Movies, Movie Ratings and Movie Reviews
Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop Parent Guide
The plot is thin, the characters thinner, and the solution isn't hard to figure out but a good time is had by all..
Digital on Demand. Elizabeth Willoughby loves an investigation. So, when some family friends start experiencing strange occurrences in their bookshop, they turn to Elizabeth and task her with finding a non-supernatural explanation for their haunting.
Release date February 8, 2022
Run Time: 90 minutes
Get Content Details
The guide to our grades, parent movie review by kirsten hawkes.
Upon the unexpected death of her parents, young Elizabeth Willoughby (Scarlett Graham) becomes the ward of their friend, Robert Windsor (Giacomo Gex). Assuming the management of Lizzy’s Yorkshire estate, Robert also oversees her education, which consists of indulging her obsession with ancient history all morning and requiring physical activity all afternoon. Her exercise regimen involves a heavy dose of martial arts and boxing, which will come in very handy in the years to come.
Twenty five years later, Elizabeth (Nathalie Cox) is happily established as a book author and classics professor, with a reputation for amateur detective work. Still living with Robert (Kelsey Grammar) on her estate, she is contacted by friends of her late parents in the hopes that she can help with an unusual problem. Helen Deakin (Louise Bangay) is being haunted by the ghost of her late father, and her husband, Oliver (Steven Elder), isn’t sure whether the apparitions are real or the manifestation of a mental disorder. As Elizabeth starts to investigate, she encounters catty book club members, an oily property developer, and some very eerie occurrences…
Parents will be relieved to know that this show also contains minimal amounts of negative content. There’s some plot-related violence, although it’s kept to a minimum, and some scenes of social drinking. There’s nothing here that can’t be watched by tweens or fastidious grandparents (unless they are unusually sensitive). If your ten year old loves reading Nancy Drew books and wants to watch mysteries on TV, this is a good place to start. It’s clean, it’s easy, and it won’t haunt anyone’s dreams.
About author
Kirsten hawkes, watch the trailer for miss willoughby and the haunted bookshop.
Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop Rating & Content Info
Why is Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop rated PG? Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop is rated PG by the MPAA for violence, thematic material, scary images and brief language.
Violence: A woman collapses. A main character hears a struggle and people screaming over the phone. A very decayed corpse is seen in a body bag. A character threatens another with a gun and hits her on the head with it, knocking her out. There’s brief conversation about killing people. There are scenes of physical combat. Sexual Content: A man and woman kiss. There is mention of adultery. Profanity: There are a few terms of deity in the film. Alcohol / Drug Use: A woman takes anti-anxiety medication. Main characters drink alcohol to relax. Adults drink alcohol at social events.
Page last updated May 31, 2022
Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop Parents' Guide
Why does Robert insist that Lizzy learn self defence and martial arts? How does that help her in the long run?
Do you believe in ghosts? Why or why not?
What clues help Elizabeth solve the case? Did you notice them? Did you notice any clues that led you to the solution?
Related home video titles:
The go-to films for catching ghosts are Ghostbusters , its all-female reboot, Ghostbusters: Answer the Call , and its 2021 reboot, Ghostbusters: Afterlife .
Ghostly flicks include Goosebumps, Scooby-Doo , The Haunted Mansion , The House with a Clock in its Walls , and The Corpse Bride.
If you want more family movies about amateur sleuths, you can try Nancy Drew , Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase , Spy Cat , Sherlock Gnomes , or Pokemon Detective Pikachu .
Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop
Where to Watch
Nathalie Cox (Miss Willoughby) Kelsey Grammer (Robert Windsor) Louise Bangay (Helen Deakin) Tara Fitzgerald (Diana Branson) Steven Elder (Oliver Deakin) Caroline Quentin (Sarah Clarkson) Nicholas Jones (Professor Vernon Murray) Wayne Gordon (D.I. Pryce) Bhavna Limbachia (Dr. Gaya Shirani) Marc Bannerman (Charles Vaines)
Brad Watson
A University professor with an insatiable appetite for investigation is asked by some old family friends to investigate a series of hauntings at their antique bookstore.
Advertisement
Search This Blog
The top entertainment and news stories of the day
REVIEW: Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop - Starring Nathalie Cox and Kelsey Grammer
Popular Posts
REVIEW: Night Swim (2024 Film) - Starring Wyatt Russell, Kerry Condon, Amélie Hoeferle, and Gavin Warren
REVIEW: The Family Plan (2023 Film) - Starring Mark Wahlberg and Michelle Monaghan
Film Gate Reviews
Movie reviews: Hollywood and Indie, specializing in independent comedies, dramas, thrillers and romance.
Saturday, February 26, 2022
Miss willoughby and the haunted bookshop: movie review.
Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop — Brad Watson
Miss willoughby and the haunted bookshop rides its quaint aesthetic all the way to feeling already dated..
On paper, Brad Watson’s Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop has all the necessary goods to deliver a perfectly enjoyable, entertaining flick. Half detective story, half ghost tale, all taking place in the Northeastern English countryside of York where rows of beautiful, old brick buildings line cobbled streets, the film — at least in its initial outlook — promises to be one of those well-known British policiers imbued with an aura of suspense and mystery. Miss Willoughby quickly introduces the story of a young girl, Elizabeth Willoughby, who after tragically losing her father is fostered by one of his military officer friends. U.S. mariner Robert Thompson (played by Kelsey Grammer when the film jumps ahead) proceeds to train little Elizabeth both physically (martial arts and boxing) and mentally (chess and literature) at a majestic family manor. Years quickly fly by, and the film cuts to the 40-ish Elizabeth (Nathalie Cox), now an elegant, well-mannered, and even sexy ancient history professor who teaches at a local university. But just as viewers are primed to watch a complicated drama of puzzles and thrills — after a family friend asks Elizabeth to investigate (more in a private detective capacity) a series of suspicious haunting incidents at the town bookstore Deakin’s — the larger story begins to feel much less captivating than its logline suggests, and its early promise notably wanes.
Saddled with an increasingly unengaging plot, a series of long-winded dialogues, plenty of drab situations, and a few unchallenging twists, the screenplay is a notably lackluster affair. Indeed, it mostly fails at meeting even the most modest expectations for this type of film — those of a particularly English character that mount investigations of either paranormal events or spectacular crimes and which often lead to long-concealed family and/or local history secrets, not far from the Agatha Christie mold. But what saves Miss Willoughby from becoming an abject flop is Watson’s tasteful and quaint (even if, academic) visualism, due in no small part to the posh costuming and ravishing set designs, not to mention the allure of the gorgeous locations, which are beautifully, cleanly captured by Watson and DP Ross W. Clarkson. The tender chemistry between the leading duo of Cox and Grammer offers another mild hook for a film with a relative lack of meaningful incident; even if the former isn’t entirely convincing as a professor-turned-detective, the latter’s well-grounded work acts as a solid anchor for the film’s ostensible core.
Miss Willoughby can best be regarded, then, as a quite typical, overly generic work that is nonetheless filled with plenty of visual charm, its lack of substantial wit compensated for with colorful, trimmed images. Adam Langston’s overshadowing score threatens to drown out these mild pleasures, but it’s still ultimately a harmless and unassuming film which its target could easily enjoy with a cup of tea in hand as a bit of casual, escapist Sunday afternoon fodder. It’s a film sketched with an antique aesthetic that situates it somewhere in between Enola Holmes and Knives Out , but with a more old-fashioned sensibility than the former and dramatic development and thrust than the latter. Indeed, despite its small charms, Miss Willoughby and Haunted Bookshop is so committed to this throwback vibe and its TV-quality mystery that it already feels preternaturally aged, even upon its release.
Published as part of Before We Vanish — February 2022 .
- Before We Vanish
- by Ayeen Forootan
You Might Also Like...
The Human Surge | Eduardo Williams
Bird Island | Maya Kosa & Sérgio da Costa
Ray & Liz | Richard Billingham
Zack Snyder’s Justice League | Zack Snyder
Missing Johnny | Huang Xi
Kin | Jonathan & Josh Baker
(C) Copyright 2019 - Solo Pine Designs. All Rights Reserved. Designed & Developed by Solo Pine . | Privacy Policy
Privacy Overview
Get news & reviews in your inbox
- Prime Video
- Documentary
- Producers Corner
- Watch Lists
- More Than A Movie Night
- It’s Dove Approved – Family Movie Trivia Game
- Dove Ratings
- Privacy Policy
Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop
Orphaned at a young age, Elizabeth Willoughby inherited her family estate. Now an Ancient Civilization professor at University, Willoughby receives a call from old family friends asking her to investigate a series of hauntings at their antique bookshop.
Dove Review
**This review is contributed by Super Channel—a channel dedicated to providing integrity and accountability in today’s entertainment.
Shot in North Yorkshire, England, the stunning architecture, the intriguing storyline, the high production value and a mystery that must be solved, gives you the opportunity to play detective and will keep you on your toes until the very end. Dove approved for 12+ due to some short but frightening scenes and thematic events that may not be suitable for young children.
Movie opens with the very sad scene of the funeral of young Elizabeth’s parents. Set in England in the ‘90s, Elizabeth inherits the family’s elaborate estate complete with servants. Robert, a long-time family friend, US military man and now Lizzy’s guardian, trains Lizzy in boxing, martial arts, and physical endurance.
Elizabeth Willoughby (Nathalie Cox) matures into a lovely and beautiful woman and Robert (Kelsey Grammer) never leaves her side as he continues to caretake the Estate and guide her like a doting parent. An Ancient Civilization University professor, Elizabeth finds great joy in her students as she explores the material with her enthusiastic participants. It’s a good and prosperous happy life.
As Helen Deakin (Tara Fitzgerald) proceeds to clean up after the book club meeting, a very large crash startles and scares her but no one is there. Eerie music plays, the lights flicker, books fall off the shelves, as Helen panics and runs out of the building only to see an image of a man reflected in the glass door. As she drives off, she is terrified and the scene cuts to the outside of the darkened building that appears spooky and creepy. Her night is restless as she tries desperately to make sense of what she saw. Elizabeth receives an anxious call from Oliver Deakin (Steven Elder) co-bookshop owner and dear old family friend, leaving her puzzled and she agrees to meet at teatime tomorrow.
Elizabeth listens attentively as Helen tells her of her fear of being haunted, the strange noises, things out of place, images in her peripheral vision… and the smell of her late father’s exclusive Parisian perfume! Elizabeth is positive there is a logical explanation for everything and insists on helping solve the mystery.
As she enthusiastically takes on the task, Elizabeth is taken from logical to illogical to uncovering a sinister plan to force Helen into selling her beloved bookshop. And the movie ending will leave Elizabeth just a little bit rattled and leave you questioning what you just saw, too!
The Dove Take
This movie is a soft mystery with some thematic events that support the script and keep you guessing, but not unlike other similar programming suitable for older children. Parental guidance is recommended.
Dove Rating Details
A Christian funeral with narrative about God and Jesus Christ.
Robert is ever loyal to Lizzy’s parents trust in taking care of their young daughter; Elizabeth is caring and concerned for her friends.
Gentle hugs and kisses.
None except for “shut-up,” spoken somewhat in jest, to cattle who are mooing.
Woman with a handgun; man is discovered knocked out; woman is knocked unconscious.
Wine with friends during a book club gathering; other alcohol consumed but no unruly behavior.
Drowning victim exposed in body bag momentarily; women locked in a building; gunfire; eerie music and brief ghostly scene; unscrupulous behavior in plotting a plan of greed.
More Information
Film information, dove content.
Faith Film Producer DeVon Franklin Steps in Front of the Camera for ‘Jesus Revolution’
Cyrano: Love is a Verb
Redeeming Love: Grace Rising Up Out of the Dirt
Filmmakers Highlight the Hope and Heroism in “Gi...
Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop
About this movie
- Rent or buy
- Categories Categories
- Getting Started
Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop
Customers who bought this item also bought.
Cast and Crew
Other formats
3299 global ratings
How are ratings calculated? Toggle Expand Toggle Expand
- Amazon Newsletter
- About Amazon
- Accessibility
- Sustainability
- Press Center
- Investor Relations
- Amazon Devices
- Amazon Science
- Sell on Amazon
- Sell apps on Amazon
- Supply to Amazon
- Protect & Build Your Brand
- Become an Affiliate
- Become a Delivery Driver
- Start a Package Delivery Business
- Advertise Your Products
- Self-Publish with Us
- Become an Amazon Hub Partner
- › See More Ways to Make Money
- Amazon Visa
- Amazon Store Card
- Amazon Secured Card
- Amazon Business Card
- Shop with Points
- Credit Card Marketplace
- Reload Your Balance
- Amazon Currency Converter
- Your Account
- Your Orders
- Shipping Rates & Policies
- Amazon Prime
- Returns & Replacements
- Manage Your Content and Devices
- Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
- Conditions of Use
- Privacy Notice
- Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
- Your Ads Privacy Choices
Kelsey Grammer, Nathalie Cox Complete ‘Miss Willoughby’ U.K. Shoot Amid Coronavirus
By Naman Ramachandran
Naman Ramachandran
- ‘Asterix’ Live-Action Film in the Works at Studiocanal 6 hours ago
- Luna Carmoon’s Venice Winner ‘Hoard’ Acquired for U.S. and Canada by Sunrise Films (EXCLUSIVE) 10 hours ago
- ‘Jojo Rabbit’s’ Archie Yates, Nadine Marshall, Anna Wilson-Jones Lead Coming-of-Age Drama ‘Clout’ (EXCLUSIVE) 10 hours ago
“Frasier” star Kelsey Grammer and Nathalie Cox (“Clash of the Titans”) have completed principal photography at York, U.K. on mystery/suspense feature “Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop,” directed by Brad Watson (“The 7th Dimension”).
“This has been a terrific experience,” said Grammer. “Although COVID presented a new set of challenges, we were able to work very effectively through new standards of film production. I would urge my family of actors at SAG-AFTRA to take a page out of the British playbook; we can responsibly get back to work. I have nothing but high praise for everyone associated with this production, from the director Brad Watson to the costume, make-up and hair folks to the young people who are just getting started in this marvellous profession.”
The film is produced by Philippe Martinez for MSR Media, alongside Alan Latham from Highfield Grange Studios. The film’s financial partner is Kirsty Bell from Goldfinch Entertainment who served as executive producer alongside Lee Beasley and Karinne Behr from MSR Media.
“It is certainly a bit of a challenge to shoot during these extraordinary times, but we are thrilled with how the production of ‘Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop’ went without a hitch,” said Martinez. “With strong organization and clear guidelines, we have proven that starting and completing principal photography during COVID-19 is not only possible, but also safe. The enthusiasm of everyone in the cast and crew, including Nathalie Cox and Kelsey Grammar, who gallantly flew in from the U.S., to be back on set was truly special and certainly translated to the quality of the shoot.”
Popular on Variety
The film began shooting four weeks ago in York amid strict compliance with COVID-19 health guidelines, with the supervision of a COVID-19 official on set and followed BFI guidelines.
Also starring in the film are Caroline Quentin (BBC’s “Dickensian”), Steven Elder (“The King”), and Tara Fitzgerald (“Game of Thrones”).
MSR Media International is handling worldwide distribution rights.
Set up as the first film in a franchise series of features, “Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop” is a family adventure that follows the escapades of Elizabeth Willoughby (Cox) who was orphaned at a young age and was raised by retired U.S. Marine, Robert (Grammer), who also runs the family business.
More From Our Brands
Hunter biden is gearing up to sue fox news ‘imminently’: report, inside antigua’s new adults-only all-inclusive hotel, complete with overwater bungalows, real estate firm lvxp proposes new venue for las vegas nba team, be tough on dirt but gentle on your body with the best soaps for sensitive skin, bold and the beautiful’s kimberlin brown opens up about her return: ‘fans were going crazy’, verify it's you, please log in.
Letterboxd — Your life in film
Forgotten username or password ?
- Start a new list…
- Add all films to a list…
- Add all films to watchlist
Add to your films…
Press Tab to complete, Enter to create
A moderator has locked this field.
Add to lists
Where to watch
Miss willoughby and the haunted bookshop.
2022 Directed by Brad Watson
In this shop, every book is a mystery.
Miss Willoughby is an educator and keen adventurer, an heiress to a family fortune who, along with her ex-forces butler, Robert, and cheeky but reliable Jack Russell, Bentley, gets pulled into mystery and adventure surrounding a haunted antique bookshop.
Nathalie Cox Kelsey Grammer Caroline Quentin Steven Elder Tara Fitzgerald Louise Bangay Wayne Gordon Nicholas Jones Bhavna Limbachia Marc Bannerman Giacomo Gex Scarlett Graham Lucas Livesey Lauren Dickinson Russell Richardson Bryan Samson Barbara Jillings
Director Director
Brad Watson
Producers Producers
Thomas Mattinson Lisa Gabriel Jane Widgery Alan Latham Philippe Martinez
Writers Writers
Chad Law Kate Wood Josh Ridgway
Story Story
Philippe Martinez
Casting Casting
Jeremy Zimmermann
Editor Editor
Cinematography cinematography.
Ross W. Clarkson
Executive Producers Exec. Producers
Kirsty Bell Karinne Behr Lee Beasley
Production Design Production Design
Composer composer.
Adam Langston
Costume Design Costume Design
Julia Drummond-Haig
Makeup Makeup
Jessica Richardson
Hairstyling Hairstyling
Highfield Grange Studios Goldfinch Studios Grindstone Entertainment Group MSR Media SKN
Releases by Date
06 mar 2022, 08 feb 2022, 01 jun 2022, releases by country.
- Theatrical TP
New Zealand
- TV Channel 5
- Physical PG
95 mins More at IMDb TMDb Report this page
Popular reviews
Review by 📀 Cammmalot 📀 ★★
”So we’re in the business of ghost-busting now?”
Tonight on Unwatched Mysteries - Miss Willoughby sets out to solve the mystery of who this languid milquetoast film was made for... and why?
I suppose it’s meant to be old-fashioned, charming and fun… but it feels more like a failed TV pilot in search of a hard-to-find audience.
Actually, this is what I imagine ‘Murder, She Wrote’ would have been like if it took place in England, involved mysteries with no murder, and if Jessica Fletcher was actually a rich British orphan raised by a US Marine who teaches her combat skills and looks a lot like Frasier.
”Do I detect a teeny-weeny degree of cynicicsm?” “Can you blame me?”
Cinematic Time Capsule – 2022 Ranked
Review by Curtis ★★
When this popped up, it seemed somewhat conspicuous that three actors (Nathalie Cox, Kelsey Grammer and Caroline Quentin) as well as the large British estate who starred in the somewhat mediocre Father Christmas is Back in late 2021 had reunited for the somewhat mediocre Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop , a cozy mystery stitched together from some very familiar tropes.
Elizabeth Willoughby (Nathalie Cox), educator/author/mystery solver, and her faithful American manservant Thompson (Kelsey Grammar) are contacted by an old friend when his wife Helen claims nightly visitations by her extremely deceased father. Will Miss Willoughby be able to solve the mystery of the Haunted Bookshop in time to save Helen from whatever, or whoever, is out to do her harm?…
Review by Maggie ★★
never letting mom pick the movie again
Review by Peter Spencer ★★★
It's a shame that this was a one-off; it felt like it was going to turn out into a film series!
Review by Kilian 🎞️ ★★½
Britisch, charmant und äußerst seicht im Abgang kommt »Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop« daher. Da ist alles gut gespielt und für TV-Verhältnisse auch technisch ordentlich umgesetzt, doch das Drehbuch ist halt vorhersehbar und ohne wirklichen Konflikt. Hat man alles schon irgendwo mal gesehen und macht trotzdem noch irgendwo spaß.
Review by han 🐺 ★½
idk it was my mom’s bday and she wanted to watch this for some reason
Review by Bronco Henry ★★★
I love these films that no one has ever heard of but apparently just came out
Interesting.
Though Kelsey Grammer was the only best highlight of this film!
Review by Joe ★★½ 1
Channel 5 Family Movies on a Sunday afternoon be wild. Sponsored by the Legoland Windsor Resort. My favourite part was the weirdly long erectile dysfunction advert in one of the breaks.
Review by Christa Bass ★★
This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.
When I grow up I want to be a rich black-widow stealing husbands in the country.
Review by UltimateMovieRankings ★★★½
This was a very average mystery movie. Seeing Kelsey Grammer on the DVD cover was the main reason for watching this one. Grammer is fine in a supporting role. The mystery is really easy to figure out. Still, I was entertained while watching this one.
Review by Jason Still ★★★
A rather generous three stars for what is, essentially, a by-the-numbers, overtly old-school, very English, televisual, amateur sleuth ghost yarn…
…always fun to see Dr Frasier Crane, though his presence rather shows up some comparatively dodgy afternoon TV acting, which, to be fair, is where this belongs, along with a nice brew and a digestive in between Jonathan Creek and Midsomer Murders…
… very easy viewing - three stars for the escapism and cheesy plot; can’t help feeling it was the pilot for a series that wasn’t greenlit, a series I’d likely watch 🫢
Select your preferred poster
Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop (2021)
PG | Adventure, Crime, Mystery
- Comic Books
- Comic Book Films
- Gaming News
- Table Top Gaming
Select Page
Miss Willoughby And The Haunted Bookshop: Just A Meh Mystery [Review]
Posted by Jessica Lancaster | Feb 11, 2022 | Movie News , Reviews | 0 |
Grab some tea and settle in for a whodunit mystery . Miss Willoughby (Nathalie Cox) is on the case.
Orphaned as a child, raised by a family friend (Kelsey Grammer), and skilled in strategy, literature, and martial arts, there’s no case Miss Willoughby can’t solve. But even she is baffled when a longtime friend tells her that a ghost is haunting the bookstore she runs. Is someone playing a trick on the poor woman? Is it a hallucination? Or is something more sinister going on?
Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop Review
In a niche carved out by Miss Marple and Nancy Drew , and solidified by the likes of Phryne Fisher and Jessica Fletcher, one Miss Willoughby has some big shoes to fill. (And to cut off any early complaints at my comparison of lady detectives, I would direct you to the marketing for the film, which declares, “Move over Miss Marple, there’s a smart, stylish new detective in town.” )
The Haunted Bookshop certainly goes through great lengths to convince the audience of Miss Willoughby’s vast talent and capabilities. The film opens with a montage of her youthful accomplishments: plowing through book after book, out-maneuvering family-friend-turned-parental-figure Robert at chess, and learning multiple forms of martial arts. And the grown-up Miss Willoughby certainly seems poised and stylish, as promised.
But does she live up to her lofty expectations?
In short? Not really.
I love a mystery-solvin’ lady, and I wanted to love Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop. But what stands out the most about Miss Willoughby as a movie is that it just… doesn’t stand out. Quite frankly, it was pretty flat and boring.
On paper, that doesn’t make a lot of sense. It’s a mystery! There’s a ghost, and a kidnapping, and maybe even murder! Our detective has the smarts and the kick-ass-ability to unravel the case and take on anyone who comes her way! I am writing exclamation points to convince myself these are exciting things!
Unfortunately, none of these elements really come together as strongly as they should. Despite grounding its core mystery in a haunting, the ghostly apparition in question never really builds the thrills it should. Similarly, much of the plot progresses at a crawl, with few scenes jumping out and making you pay attention. The movie barely scrapes an hour and a half, but feels much longer. It also seems like the kind of story where you could watch the first 10 minutes and the last 10 minutes and still reasonably understand everything that happened. It just feels like the bulk of the plot never gives us anything to really sink our teeth into.
Miss Willoughby handles her delicate case with an endearing kindness, but doesn’t pick up on enough breadcrumbs to lead up to the big reveal. Don’t get me wrong – she solves it, in the end. (Uh, spoilers, I guess?) And the explanation she provides does prove she knew what she was doing all along. But we don’t get nearly enough “small wins” – you know, where the detective picks up on little details as the story progresses and reveals their meaning to us, proving their mettle and keeping up audience intrigue. This, combined with a lack of a true “red herring” and subpar thrills, means Miss Willoughby fails to deliver a truly compelling whodunit.
All in all, Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop is a supremely middle-of-the-road film. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t great either. The performances are fine, but not standout. The mystery doesn’t fully deliver, but the story at least shot for some emotional resonance that demonstrates it wanted to provide more than just thrills.
Were Miss Willoughby’s adventures to continue, I might give her a second chance to impress me – but maybe that’s just because I’ll have forgotten all about her by the time another film rolls around.
Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop is now available on digital VOD and DVD.
Keep Reading:
Top 5 Best Murder Mysteries Of All Time
Miss Willoughby Review
Summary Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop is a supremely middle-of-the-road film that fails to deliver a truly thrilling or compelling whodunit.
About The Author
Jessica Lancaster
They say write what you know, and I definitely know how to be a nerd.
Related Posts
John Wick: Chapter 4 – New Featurettes Revealed With This Week’s Hardcopy Release
June 16, 2023
[Review] Van Helsing S05E03 Lumina Intunecata
May 4, 2021
Moonfall Drops Sci-Fi Disaster Action In New Teaser Trailer
November 2, 2021
Creepshow Episode 302 – Vintage Frights Plus Mind Games [Review]
September 29, 2021
Leave a reply Cancel reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Sign Up For Paramount +
What are you looking for?
Recent reviews.
- Astro Note Ep. 4: A Gourmet Ghost Story [Review] Score: 96%
- Dead Boy Detectives: Superb Supernatural Fun! [Review] Score: 85%
- HUMANE: Taking A Stab At The Elite [Review] Score: 80%
- Kaiju No. 8 Ep. 2 “The Kaiju Who Defeats Kaiju”: Silly Kaiju Man [Review] Score: 100%
- Spice And Wolf: MERCHANT MEETS THE WISE WOLF Ep. 4 “Romantic Merchant And Moonlit Farewell”: Economic Intrigue [Review] Score: 100%
- Astro Note Ep. 3: Bento Boxed Lunch Hijinks [Review] Score: 97%
- Sadly, ‘Challengers’ Is Not A Smash [Review] Score: 50%
- Black Butler -Public School Arc- Ep. 2 “His Butler, In Disguise”: Game Of Public School [Review] Score: 100%
- Boy Kills World – Frenetic Action With Some Strange Quirks [Review] Score: 85%
- Knuckles – For The Silly Warriors Out There [Series Review] Score: 86%
Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop (2022)
A University professor with an appetite for investigation is asked by some old family friends to investigate hauntings at their antique bookstore. Nathalie Cox and Kelsey Grammer star.
Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop
A University professor with an insatiable appetite for investigation is asked by some old family friends to investigate a series of hauntings at their antique bookstore.
Exclusive Clip: Kelsey Grammer Refuses to Move On in Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop
Our exclusive clip from Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop has Kelsey Grammer remaining dedicated to standing by the titular sleuth.
Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop Trailer Drops Nathalie Cox Into a Ghostly Whodunit
Kelsey Grammer co-stars in the new trailer for the upcoming supernatural, whodunnit mystery adventure Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop.
- Everything Advanced Search
Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop
Find similar titles by category
Miss Willoughby And The Haunted Bookshop Filming Locations
Miss Willoughby And The Spooky Bookshop shooting areas remember Birdsall House and the Eastern field for York, Uk. It was recorded during the pandemic.
The film is about a college teacher with a crave researching powerful and loathsomeness occasions.
His old family companions request that he make quick work of the paranormal exercises occurring in their classical book shop.
At the point when the film character Elizabeth Willoughby acquires the family property where she was raised concentrating on history and writing, she fosters an interest in tracking down replies to tormenting exercises.
At the point when her companion maintains that her assistance should find the solutions to the presence of apparitions and moving articles in her book shop, she volunteers to end the close to home torment of Helen. The film’s name provides the watchers with a thought of what’s in store from the film.
Nonetheless, it gives an exemplary English bend to the film with the sumptuous life shown by each person in the film.
Miss Willoughby And The Spooky Bookshop was recorded in the North side of York. The film shows the wonderful old block structures of that area.
A large portion of the film shooting occurred inside the wonderful property of Birdsall. The spot has been the focal point of fascination for different occasions around there, from wedding occasions to now a shooting area subsequent to being found in the loathsomeness spine chiller film.
The property’s Facebook page likewise posted about the fact that they were so glad to have the immense star cast of the film, including Nathalie Cox and Kelsey Grammer.
As the film is additionally about Willoughby, the property has been home to them for many years, and they believe it’s unplanned that it was shot in a similar structure.
Birdsall Birdsall is a dignified home in North Yorkshire. They have weddings, occasions houses, and craftsmanship visits and have turned into a shooting area.
The structure is from the sixteenth hundred years however was rebuilt in 1749 with a second story to the primary reach.
The bequest has been home to the Willoughby family for the vast majority progressive ages. The region offers a scope of exercises and potential open doors for visitors, for example, trail blazing bicycle rides and earth pigeon shooting.
It has facilitated numerous oc casions and relationships from individuals all around the UK. In any case, the primary feature came when the film named My Father’s Christmas Date was part of the way shot there.
Additionally, during the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the shooting of different films, for example, Father Christmas is Back occurred nearby. One of the movies, Miss Willoughby, was quick to begin shooting in the UK under the new pandemic rules and was likewise quick to wrap.
Going for the film began only weeks before the Coronavirus pandemic took a grievous turn. The creation for the film was closed down in mid-Walk 2020 because of the pandemic. It was perhaps the earliest autonomous film to shoot in the UK keeping the rules of the public authority.
A manager was on the set consistently to guarantee the cast individuals met the endorsed rules.
One of the entertainers Kelsey Grammer said that despite the fact that there were difficulties they worked cautiously and caused a film that will to be cherished by its watchers and advises everybody to watch the film with their loved ones.
The lead job entertainers Nathalie and Kelsey were on the set after they flew from the US as they wanted to keep shooting notwithstanding unsure times.
Big diversion brands like Highfield Grange Studios and Goldfinch Amusement delivered the film close by MSR media taking care of overall dispersion of the film.
The watchers partook in the startling turns, flexible acting, and different exciting circumstances the storyline gives. It depicts the person who researches the paranormal exercises occurring after the demised relative’s phantom begins to show up at the book shop.
Miss Willoughby And The Spooky Bookshop is a frightfulness secret film coordinated by Brad Watson and composed by Philippe Martinez, Kate Wood, and Chad Regulation.
Meet The Cast Of Miss Willoughby And The Spooky Bookshop:
- Nathalie Cox as Miss Willoughby
- Kelsey Grammer as Robert Windsor
- Louise Bangay as Helen Deakin
- Tara Fitzgerald as Diana Branson
- Steven Elder as Oliver Deakin
- Caroline Quentin as Sarah Clarkson
- Nicholas Jones as Professor Vernon Murray
- Wayne Gordon as D.I. Pryce
- Bhavna Limbachia as Dr. Gaya Shirani
- Marc Bannerman as Charles Vaines
- Scarlett Graham as Young Miss Willoughby
- Giacomo Gex as Young Robert Windsor
- Bryan Samson as Roland’s Ghost
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tcLGrqCdnaSeuqZ6wqikaKiVpL2tsY6moKyrXay2rbjOrp6hmqlirq%2BwjK2fnmWYlsKvwMSdZJunn6DAqbvPZp2ipJ2eu6h5y6iamqyZpLu0eZRwa21rY2O1tbnL
- ← Previous Post
- Next Post →
IMAGES
COMMENTS
Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop PG 2021 1 hr. 20 min. Adventure Mystery & Thriller List Reviews 42% Fewer than 50 Ratings Audience Score Orphaned at a young age, Elizabeth Willoughby ...
Parents need to know that Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop is a light and frothy British mystery movie. It has some supernatural scenes with an implied ghost, as well as real violence with kidnapped adults and people being knocked out with blows to the head. The lead character, Miss Willoughby (Nathalie….
Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop is a simple old fashioned British whodunit mystery. Miss Willoughby is not Miss Marple and this story is definitely not a Agatha Christie story. Also the movie has a TV look and may be a bit slow for some, but it is a good story with very likable actors.
Verified Audience. Tom Cassidy Common Sense Media. Undemanding but not unsatisfying, its story of a seemingly haunted bookshop is easy to settle into and deliberately obvious clues are dropped ...
The plot is thin, the characters thinner, and the solution to the puzzle isn't hard to figure out but a good time is had by all. If you're looking for a movie that will allow you to gently tease out the solution with minimal mental effort, Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop fits the bill. And if you like it, you'll be thrilled to ...
Film Movie Reviews Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop — 2021. Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop. 2021. 1h 30m. PG. Adventure/Crime/Mystery. Where to Watch. Stream. Buy. $9.99. $9.99.
Brad Watson directs Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop, Elizabeth Willoughby a University professor, played by Nathalie Cox, has an insatiable appetite for investigation and is asked by some old family friends to investigate a series of hauntings at their antique bookstore. Elizabeth Willoughby lost her parents at a young age, she is ...
Check out Milk_Tray_Guy's 6/10 review of "Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop" Check out Milk_Tray_Guy's 6/10 review of "Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop" Menu. Movies. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. TV Shows.
Released: May 4, 2022. Running Time: 95 minutes. Worth: $13.00. If you are looking for a light movie on a Sunday afternoon, complete with cobble-tone towns and English estates, then this is for you. This is a fun detective romp that doesn't take itself too seriously. The title gives the viewer a 'clue' as to what to expect; Miss ...
Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop (2021) 4/10. The movie suffered from a generic and weak storyline... 16 February 2022. Right, well initially I was lured in by this 2021 crime mystery's title. I mean, with it being titled "Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop", I figured that I would be in for something with some kind of haunting.
April 11, 2022. Tragically orphaned at a young age, Elizabeth Willoughby (Nathalie Cox) inherited her impressive family estate and was raised by retired US Marine, Robert (Kelsey Grammer), who also runs the family business. Under his watchful guidance, her childhood was spent studying strategy, history and literature, all the while mastering ...
Kate Wood. Writer. Miss Willoughby is an educator and keen adventurer, an heiress to a family fortune who, along with her ex-forces butler, Robert, and cheeky but reliable Jack Russell, Bentley, gets pulled into mystery and adventure surrounding a haunted antique bookshop.
Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop is, as you can probably guess from the title, an old-fashioned and juvenile mystery. A family-friendly mystery meant for … kids? Except probably not, with a cast full of adults, a potential murder on their hands and an English country-side setting straight out of classic novels, it's more like a Miss Marple mystery to be solved by the Scooby Doo gang.
On paper, Brad Watson's Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop has all the necessary goods to deliver a perfectly enjoyable, entertaining flick. Half detective story, half ghost tale, all taking place in the Northeastern English countryside of York where rows of beautiful, old brick buildings line cobbled streets, the film — at least in its initial outlook — promises to be one of those ...
About this movie. Move over Miss Marple, there's a smart, stylish new detective in town - meet Miss Willoughby! Orphaned as a child, raised by a family friend (Kelsey Grammer, "Frasier"), and skilled in strategy, literature, and martial arts, there's no case she can't solve. But even she is baffled when a longtime friend tells her that a ghost ...
Orphaned at a young age, Elizabeth Willoughby inherited her family estate. Now an Ancient Civilization professor at University, Willoughby receives a call from old family friends asking her to investigate a series of hauntings at their antique bookshop. 7. Negative Rating.
Elizabeth Willoughby is a woman of many talents. History professor, detective, and adventurer, there is no mystery she can't solve. But even Miss Willoughby is baffled when an old family friend tells her that a ghost is haunting the antique bookstore she runs. Is someone playing a trick on the poor woman? Is it an hallucination? Or is something more sinister going on?
Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop. Orphaned at a young age, Elizabeth Willoughby inherited her family estate. Now an Ancient Civilization professor at University, Willoughby receives a call from family friends who have been experiencing a series of hauntings at their antique bookshop. 3,299 IMDb 5.3 1 h 35 min 2022.
Set up as the first film in a franchise series of features, "Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop" is a family adventure that follows the escapades of Elizabeth Willoughby (Cox) who was ...
When this popped up, it seemed somewhat conspicuous that three actors (Nathalie Cox, Kelsey Grammer and Caroline Quentin) as well as the large British estate who starred in the somewhat mediocre Father Christmas is Back in late 2021 had reunited for the somewhat mediocre Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop, a cozy mystery stitched together from some very familiar tropes.
Move over Miss Marple, there's a smart, stylish new detective in town - meet Miss Willoughby! Orphaned as a child, raised by a family friend (Kelsey Grammer, "Frasier"), and skilled in strategy, literature, and martial arts, there's no case she can't solve. But even she is baffled when a longtime friend tells her that a ghost is haunting the bookstore she runs.
Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop Review. In a niche carved out by Miss Marple and Nancy Drew, and solidified by the likes of Phryne Fisher and Jessica Fletcher, one Miss Willoughby has some big shoes to fill.(And to cut off any early complaints at my comparison of lady detectives, I would direct you to the marketing for the film, which declares, "Move over Miss Marple, there's a ...
Kelsey Grammer co-stars in the new trailer for the upcoming supernatural, whodunnit mystery adventure Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop. By Matt Watkins Dec 15, 2021. A University professor ...
PG. Lionsgate English1h 30m. movie. ratings. (1127) sign up. Cast Nathalie Cox, Kelsey Grammer, Louise Bangay, Tara Fitzgerald, Steven Elder. A professor who moonlights as a local sleuth must solve the mystery of a ghost that is haunting her friend's bookshop. This stylish whodunit features Kelsey Grammer ("Frasier").
It depicts the person who researches the paranormal exercises occurring after the demised relative's phantom begins to show up at the book shop. Miss Willoughby And The Spooky Bookshop is a frightfulness secret film coordinated by Brad Watson and composed by Philippe Martinez, Kate Wood, and Chad Regulation.