A View from a Hill (film)

A View from a Hill is a short film which serves as the ninth episode of the British supernatural anthology series A Ghost Story for Christmas, and the first episode of its revival following the 1971–78 run. Written by Peter Harness, produced by Pier Wilkie, and directed by Luke Watson, it is based on the ghost story of the same name by M. R. James, first published in the collection A Warning to the Curious and Other Ghost Stories (1925), and first aired on BBC Four on 23 December 2005.

It stars Mark Letheren as historian Dr. Fanshawe, who visits the residence of Squire Richards (Pip Torrens) in order to catalogue and value an archaeological collection. He is lent a pair of binoculars which appear to show the ruins of a nearby abbey as they were when they were whole, and he soon discovers they belonged to a watchmaker named Baxter (Simon Linnell) who experimented with the bones of men hanged at a local gallows hill.

A Ghost Story for Christmas originally ran annually from 1971–1978, initially adapting James' stories before a move to original stories for the final two entries led to its cancellation. "A View from a Hill"" is the first episode of the 21st century revival, returning to the tradition of adapting James, and was the first instalment which didn't originally air on BBC One. It was well-received by critics, who compared it favourably to the original films.