A chiller that delivers

Rating: 7/10 (16 January 2010)

Whether this movie can inspire after repeat viewings remains to be seen, but the intention to scare the audience witless is clearly successful, and it is no surprise that this low-budget chiller became a runaway hit. If, like me, you saw the 'obvious' scenes coming, you may not be afraid to turn out the lights at bedtime, but that still won't mean you will be any less impressed at a very well thought out movie. Comparisons with The Blair Witch Project will be inevitable and numerous, but the impact is no less for that. There are three key scenes of sheer terror, and the old Hitchcockian values of 'what you IMAGINE happens off the screen is infinitely more harrowing than what you see ON it' gives the film a massive edge. The movie also won't get away from the 'what the hell are they still sleeping in that bedroom for' scenario, but this is still a worthy hit, and will be one of the most talked about movies of the last decade and beyond.