BBC Radio 4, 21 November 2022 and on BBC Sounds

 

“You have to get your hands dirty.”

This instalment moves into a much darker space. There are still so many questions that don’t have clear answers, but digging through the dirt of Heol Fanog’s past uncovers nastier things than a couple of worms and a dead mouse.

Firstly there’s another apparition, seen by Liz and her children. I understand that the kids might be picking up on and emulating their mother’s fear, that’s perfectly logical. It’s also plausible for me that there’s more than one entity there, perhaps a benign presence and a malignant one?

The Rich family meet an exorcist who seems to take the battle more seriously, as Bill sinks lower, using his own blood in his dark artwork. “The Devil is just a name we once chose to describe… evil,” Rev David Holmwood explains to Liz. He spends months preparing, and when he finally comes to the house, he’s ready for action. Even before he arrives, something tries to stop him, but that’s not the creepiest thing in store.

As the forces of darkness possess Liz, it seems to take a heavy toll on poor Bill. The dramatic excerpts this week are particularly effective as the quality of the cast comes to the fore. I’m thoroughly invested in their story now and it has to be said, that Robins chap spins a good yarn. Half the reason I’m so invested is the excellent pacing, and the splicing of the narration from our key witness with the dramatization of her tale. It’s like The Battersea Poltergeist on steroids as we head into the penultimate episode next week.

Verdict: Cross over to the dark side of the valley…9/10

Claire Smith