A pretentious take on a spooky story in which everyone speaks in deliberate tones. Ultimately, Philip Haas' adaptation of AS Byatt's novella promises very much more than it delivers. Mark Rylance, in an incredibly stilted performance that has nothing to do with real life, is the explorer and naturalist drawn like a moth to the flame of Eugenie (pallid Patsy Kensit), the daughter of a rich amateur insect collector (Jeremy Kemp) who has invited him to stay. To his amazement, the naturalist, who has little in common with Kensit, finds her keen to marry him. Allowed only into her bedroom to breed, he finds himself in a few years the father of a whole collection of siblings as pasty as their ancestors. If all this seems to be leading to some horrific discovery, don't expect anything too startling from the plot as (long) drawn out here. There are two good performances, from Saskia Wickham and Kristin Scott Thomas, but not much substance for a running time this long. Not for people who dislike watching ants, either.

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