Whilst trawling through the internet, trying to find a series like Children of the Stones- a compelling sci-fi, mystery, PG/ suitable for kids after school-type folk horror show- I found out about Shadow of the Stones. My curiosity piqued by the term ‘stones’ I thought I’d give it a try.

The 6-part series follows the story of an unhappy teenager called Liz who befriends a sailor from America called Steve who sails upon a yacht called the Marie Lamont. The name of the boat is important as Liz feels that she is a kindred spirit with the person it is named after who lived over 300 years ago.

Liz wishes upon the ancient Granny Kempock stone and finds herself connecting with a 17th century girl, called Marie Lamont, who was tried as a witch. But what connects Steve's ancestor Marie Lamont with Liz

As her divorced mother's relationship with her teacher gets more serious, Liz is understandably upset and takes it out on the family. Will the spirit of Marie Lamont take over and wreak havok?

I recognised a lot of the cast including Shirley Henderson, who is now most famous for playing Moaning Myrtle in Harry Potter and being a friend of Bridget Jones, and Alan Cummings, who plays a jealous young man interested in Liz, who has starred in many shows and films including the original X Men film trilogy, Spice World and loads more. Both are solid in this early career role but Henderson in particular plays a headstrong and arrogant teenager with aplomb.

The series is interesting enough as the folk tale element is intriguing and the story of a connection to the land and ancestry is always ripe for storytelling. The scenery of Renfrewshire is gorgeous to look at and, being a series that was made in 1987, shows a different time in terms of fashion and technology.

The budget is obviously minuscule but the simple story of a young girl feeling isolated and alone in her community is a powerful one. The earnest acting makes this an intriguing watch and Henderson really goes for it, changing from a young precocious girl to angry vengeful timeslip witch seeking revenge on those who wronged her. The folk tale element of Marie Lamont and the Granny Kempock stone is compelling and draws you in as it looks at mental health and whether we do enough to support those at a younger age.

Okay, it no Children of the Stones but then, what is? This is a solid short series and we'll worth a couple of hours of your time.

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