Roald Dahl’s Tales of the Unexpected: The Landlady 1979
Roald Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected: The Landlady (1979) delivers a chillingly playful twist on a traveler's worst nightmare. Directed by Herbert Wise, this half-hour TV drama blends horror with dark comedy, spinning a tale of hospitality gone horribly wrong.
Director: Herbert Wise
Cast
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Roald Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected: The Landlady (1979) about?
The film follows Billy Weaver, a young man traveling for work, who stumbles into a seemingly welcoming bed-and-breakfast run by a charming but unsettling landlady. What begins as a simple overnight stay spirals into a dark mystery as Billy's fate hangs in the balance.
Who directed Roald Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected: The Landlady?
Herbert Wise directed this chilling episode, bringing Herbert Wise's knack for suspense to Roald Dahl's iconic story.
Who stars in Roald Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected: The Landlady?
The cast features Siobhán McKenna as the Landlady, Leonard Preston as Billy Weaver, and a special appearance by Roald Dahl himself.
Is Roald Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected: The Landlady (1979) worth watching?
While short in runtime, this episode packs a punch with its clever storytelling and eerie atmosphere. Fans of Roald Dahl's macabre style and classic horror will appreciate its tight, suspenseful narrative.
How long is Roald Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected: The Landlady?
The runtime is 24 minutes, making it a perfect bite-sized horror experience.
About Roald Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected: The Landlady (1979) — A Chilling Short Film Based on Roald Dahl's Classic Story
Roald Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected: The Landlady (1979) delivers a chillingly playful twist on a traveler's worst nightmare. Directed by Herbert Wise, this half-hour TV drama blends horror with dark comedy, spinning a tale of hospitality gone horribly wrong. Siobhán McKenna stars as the enigmatic landlady whose charm masks sinister motives, ensnaring unsuspecting guest Billy Weaver in a web of eerie hospitality. The episode, based on Dahl's classic short story, drips with suspense, exploring themes of trust, deception, and the macabre lurking beneath polite society. Wise's atmospheric direction and McKenna's unsettling performance transform a simple bed-and-breakfast into a psychological trap.
Set in post-war Britain, the story unfolds with a deceptively cozy glow, only to darken into something far more sinister. The landlady's polite demeanor and quaint home hide a gruesome secret, leveraging Dahl's signature knack for subverting expectations. With sharp dialogue and a creeping sense of dread, this short film showcases the author's genius for blending the mundane with the macabre. It's a masterclass in tension, where every smile feels like a warning.