Based on the novel by Sarah Waters, Affinity is a tale of power and possession set in the late 19th century — part gothic-tinged doomed romance, part supernatural mystery. For forgiving fans of sapphic-flavored period pieces (perhaps that most niche of niche sub-genres), this film will undeniably delight, but others most have trouble with its disjointed pacing.

The film unfolds in Great Britain in the 1870s, where a London socialite, Margaret Prior (Anna Madeley, an ethereal beauty), finds escape and
purpose in a world in which she is not able to be with her lover, Helen (Ferelith Young), by becoming a mentor who brings hope and comfort to the female inmates
at Millbank Prison. It’s there that Margaret, thwarting the advances of Theophilus (Vincent Leclerc), becomes infatuated with Selina Dawes
(Zoe Tapper), a medium who was incarcerated after a séance gone horribly awry. As the story unfolds, Margaret, who is at first
skeptical of Selina’s gifts, soon discovers a world of secrets and
shadows, heightened passions, and the allure of the supernatural.

The melodramatic plottings here are fairly familiar, but, as with a lot of modestly budgeted, flip-side Victorian tales, there’s a certain indulgence one must embrace — namely a concession for all the dialogue that tells us how things are, rather than showing us. That, and the purely utilitarian nature of many of its supporting characters, mark Affinity as fairly predictable, mood-dipped entertainment. On the other hand, its solid acting and production value help elevate the material, so one certainly doesn’t grow too weary of watching.

Though the movie just recently premiered on the Logo cable channel, this DVD bills itself as featuring an extended version
of the Victorian-era suspense thriller. Housed in a regular Amray case, the DVD is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, with a Dolby digital 2.0 stereo track. Bonus features consist of a brief making-of featurette, a single deleted scene and candid one-on-one interviews with
award-winning novelist Waters (Tipping the Velvet, Fingersmith) as well as Madeley, Tapper and the movie’s screenwriter, Andrew Bate. To purchase the DVD via Amazon, click here. C (Movie) B (Disc)