insipidous

Rating: 3/10 (3 March 2011)

I like horror (movies), but I am not the kind of fan that will fawn over any poorly lit and scripted serving of it. I want to see a storyline, I wanted to be driven into a nightmare and scared, but I am not willing to forget what makes a film good for a few excited(?) jumps.
I wanted to like this dud I am reviewing, I did. I went with a good friend, it was a premiere at Lincoln Center in Manhattan, the director, writer and actor were there, it was sweet and personal, but the movie is just BLAH...
Didn't like it- it felt laborious, theatrical and cliché-ridden. The directing was choppy- the director never found the right groove it seems and he was trying so damn hard I could hear it. It dragged and it went on endlessly. If it weren't for the loud bouts of sound effects I would not have found a rhythm at all. The acting was unconvincing and listless (ok Rose Byrne had moments of clarity), including the two (extra) heavy handed comic relief atrocities that popped up for no apparent reason than a technical need for a diversion to liven up the sea of dull. I didn't care for a single character, I pretty much wished them dead and over with. Not good.
The storyline was way predictable- part Paranormal Activity, part Amityville, part Poltergeist, and not in a good way- ugh- just DULL... Didn't get scared, except for my popcorn running out...