For a bookish kid, frightened of virtually everything, a trip to a remote Scottish castle is viewed as yet one more of life?s ordeals.

But ten-year-old Paul is dragged along by his father who has an eye on their holiday destination as a piece of real estate, while fooling the wife that the trip is strictly family R?n?R.

Unfortunately, a hammy ghost is determined to put a spanner in the works as the devious dad tries to strike out a deal with the washed out castle owner who fancies swapping damp Scotland for steamy Rio.

While the ghost?s off-putting antics have been ideal for driving away nosy tourists, they now threaten to queer the pitch for the deal.

Such is the plot for ?The Ghost of Canterville?, a German offering, which will doubtless will be witnessed tonight by a child audience smartly turned in their favourite Halloween costumes for the showing.

However, scary the film definitely is not.

Neither is it hilarious as billed. The film?s few laughs are all rather obvious but it scores better on charting the dilemmas of overcoming deep-seated fears as Paul, aided by the friendly ghost, comes out of his shell.

Paul learns there are other people with problems as well as he learns the sticky end his ethereal pal suffered when he was immured.

(No, I didn?t know either ? the online dictionary has it as being built into a wall ? not a nice way to go). He confronts his fears to help his friend and even surprises his long-suffering parents.

As in most kids films I have seen recently the father is cast as a dubious character although he does improve.

It is difficult to find fault with the film, which won best film at this year?s Leeds Young People?s Film Festival in 2006 although it took some getting used to tartan clad kilt-wearers speaking German.

But equally, I didn?t find much I really enjoyed about it either despite some good performances by virtually all the central characters.

However if it?s an excuse to dress up who am I to knock it?