Neither the Sea Nor the Sand

Neither the Sea Nor the Sand (also known as The Exorcism of Hugh) is a 1972 British horror film, based on the book of the same name, by Gordon Honeycombe. The film is directed by Fred Burnley, and stars Susan Hampshire, Frank Finlay, Michael Petrovitch and Michael Craze.

Plot
Anna Robinson, having recently left her husband, has retreated to Jersey, where she attempts to sort out her complicated life. One day while out walking, she encounters a man named Hugh Debernon, with whom she begins a relationship, much to the disapproval of Hugh's religious brother, George.

On a holiday to Scotland, Anna begins to question the relationship, worried that it may just be an affair, for which Hugh reassures her that it is not the case and declares his love. While Hugh is chasing Anna on a beach, he suddenly collapses and is pronounced dead by the local doctor. A distraught Anna cannot accept that he is gone. During the night Hugh miraculously returns, much to Anna's delight, convinced that the doctor had made a mistake.

During their trip back to Jersey, Hugh does not speak and continually stares at Anna. Upon their return home, Anna realises that something is wrong. George tries to convince Anna that Hugh is dead, for which she remains in denial. He accuses Anna of being a witch and that she conjured an evil spirit that possessed his brother's dead body, which somehow explains why he is apparently alive and burns Hugh's hand to try and prove his theory. George is adamant that Hugh is possessed and must be exorcised by a priest. Hugh begins to communicate with Anna telepathically and appears to go along with George's wishes. While travelling to see a priest, Hugh forces George off the road and jumps to safety as George plummets over a cliff to his death.

The local authorities attempt to inform Hugh of George's death as Anna continues to conceal the truth and reveals that Hugh died in Scotland and passes on Hugh's death certificate. She soon realises that they can't keep up the facade for much longer as Hugh begins to get aggressive. A friend of Hugh's, Collie Delamare, tries to comfort Anna following the news of Hugh's passing and becomes suspicious of her. Anna realises that Hugh is really gone and is willing to die to be with him. Collie follows Anna across the beach and witnesses her join Hugh as the pair walk into the sea.

Cast

 * Susan Hampshire as Anna Robinson
 * Frank Finlay as George Dabernon
 * Michael Petrovitch as Hugh Dabernon
 * Michael Craze as Collie Delamare
 * Jack Lambert as Dr. Irving
 * Betty Duncan as Mrs. MacKay
 * David Garth as Mr. MacKay
 * Anthony Booth as Delamare

Critical reception
Horrified Magazine said, "Neither the Sea Nor the Sand has the texture of a folk tale – something that is evoked by a particularly memorable score, which is too rarely-discussed in coverage of the film, from Nachum Heiman." Radio Times rated the film 2 out of 5 stars. In a negative review from Time Out, it comment that the film "must qualify as one of the worst films of the decade", and that "Gordon Honeycombe scripted this awful effort from his own novel".

Home media
Neither the Sea Nor the Sand was released on DVD, on Region 1 in the United States and Canada from Redemption on 30 January 2007. The film was released as a rental pre-cert VHS in the United Kingdom in December 1980 through Guild Home Video, and on Region 2 DVD on 21 July 2008 via Odeon Entertainment. It was again made available on DVD from Odeon on 17 July 2017, in a set comprising three films, which includes Blue Blood and The Legacy.