Through the performances of Ruth Wilson and Maggie Smith, the character of Mary Gilbert comes to life, a promising journalist who visits a great home and finds out through a disturbing conversation some horrible secrets that ultimately ruins her career. The fascinating Dame Maggie drops into the house years later and finds a willing ear (caretaker Danny Lee Wynter) to share the story with, going from her initial visit to another visit years later, seeing the source of those stories (David Walliams) the first time since that earlier encounter.

While Ruth Wilson does not look like the younger Maggie Smith did, you could imagine the older Dame Maggie once looking like the younger Wilson. This is quite a different Maggie Smith that is nothing like her many famous characters, someone I could see her being away from the stage, nowhere near a film set, quiet and introspective, and humble as a private citizen. She somehow seems happier here letting things out as if it was her finally able to look into who she was as opposed to her public image. This is the younger, calmer Maggie of "The Honey Pot", "Love and Pain and the Whole Damn Thing" and "Lily in Love" rather than the wisecracking or loveable sour characters she's beloved for.

At times, the flashbacks with Wilson seem to go too far close to the present day (the swinging 60's and early 70's in particular),and it seems like she's aging far too slowly to be Maggie during the era of Jean Brodie, looking closer to a younger Vanessa Redgrave or even Glenda Jackson at that time. But it's easy to get past this one little flaw because as long as Dame Maggie is speaking, she manages to convince you that she could be anywhere. As far as the secrets that she reveals are concerned, they are revealed in such a subtle way but have an underlying feeling of evil behind them that it becomes creepy to see Walliams age during the times of the future that Smith through the eyes of Wilson sees. It's best to look on this with suspended disbelief, and the unexpected will not be surprising when it occurs. Wynter, a rising young British stage actor, is polite and charming and hospitable, a delightful discovery in my film viewing research.

Mary arrives at the home of Elliot, where she's greeted by house minder Joe. Joe invites her in and gives her the tour, Mary reveals that the house is a place she visited in her youth as a writer. Mary explains that on one occasion she encountered a strangely intriguing man Greville White, and that Greville become to recount stories of a shocking nature. Stories that Mary would remember for a long time, and which somehow gave him a powerful hold over her. Rejecting his advances, Greville ensured that Mary's life took a downward turn. His impact would live with her forever.

A superb follow up to Joe's Palace, Danny Lee Wynter had done a great job bringing Joe to life and giving the house a strong character. Those characters once again combine and tell a totally different story, so different in tone to Joe's Palace. It manages to be both creepy and engaging. I've always been a fan of David Walliams, but in this serious, slightly odd role, he gave what I see as his finest performance, he's quietly chilling. When Maggie Smith is on screen you can't help but watch in awe, she is outstanding, as is Ruth Wilson as her younger self.

Mr Poliakoff you've done it again. This is exceptional, 9/10

Sometimes I wonder why a scary movie even gets made. Is it a warning so other impressionable girls won't make the same stupid mistakes as the heroine? Is it to give sick people in the audience ideas of how to torture others? I don't really know the point of Capturing Mary, but I will say this for it: it gave Maggie Smith more to do than her usual movies these days. If there's one thing she's known for nowadays, it's for having a stiff upper lip. In this movie, she readily shares her secrets and traumatic memories, and frequently tears up remembering her weakness and ruined youth. In one scene, she actually collapses in a heap and bawls her heart out! Hard to imagine, isn't it?

I wouldn't exactly recommend this movie, though, unless you really love Maggie Smith and don't mind scary movies. It was just too creepy for my taste. Ruth Wilson plays young Maggie Smith (I know; they look nothing alike) and when she attends a cocktail party, she allows her curiosity and fascination for one guest, David Walliams, to overpower her judgement. She follows David into a secluded wine cellar and listens to his vast confession of disgusting secrets of others. This horrifying conversation damages the rest of her life, and through flashbacks, we see how. Watch at your own risk, and certainly not at night. And ladies, never ever follow a creepy man to a wine cellar, even if he promises he just wants to tell you a secret.

DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. The very first thirty seconds of the film are of a staircase spinning around in a circle, and that will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"

Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to scary and adult content, I wouldn't let my kids watch it.