REVIEWED: HEIDI YOU will get some sense of the dull worthiness of this project when you hear that the opening credits - editorialising in surprising fashion - state that it is based on the "acclaimed" novel by Johanna Spyri, writes Donald Clarke

The producers do not put the word "charming" near Emma Bolger's name, but, having enjoyed the young Irish actress's effortlessly confident performance, I am happy to do so here. It looks as if In America might not be a fluke.

What else can one say about a bog standard, mid-budget adaptation of Heidi? Slovenia and Wales deliver strong twin performances in the role of Germany. Diana Rigg, playing one of two grandmothers, is worryingly convincing as an ancient. Wicked Auntie Pauline McLynn, who isn't asked to be sinister as often as she should, emerges from the mist with impressive prim malevolence.

Actually, the whole picture is distinctly unnerving. Everywhere you look you see beastly adults - wizened Geraldine Chaplin, Bergmanesque Max Von Sydow - lurking in the shadows. I can't say if it will frighten younger children, but it scared the bejaysus out of me.