Over-hyped? Yes! Bad? Nope!

Rating: 7/10 (23 October 2009)

OK, so this film had it coming, didn't it? It asked for it, didn't it? So, I have no argument with people who fell for the over-hyped marketing ploy and thought they were going to see something really extraordinary, and then wound up bored out of their gourds by this film and its slow pace and subdued atmosphere. They got cheated, and I don't blame them for hating it and feeling ripped off. THIS JUST IN: This is NOT the scariest movie you've ever seen! Unless you have the sensibility of Jane Austin or Little Miss Muffet, you will not be traumatized by the depicted events in this film. But viewing the film from a more objective point of view, it is really not a bad little horror movie! There are plenty of chills for those who take the time to immerse themselves in the experiences of the couple on screen without placing the huge expectations of shock and awe that the film's ad campaign burdened it with. The low budget camera tech calls on the actors to be believable in their roles, and they are. Micah is the typical jerk that girls like Katie usually hook up with, and the negative energy generated by the growing tension between them produces their undoing at the hands of the entity following her around. There are very small subtle things that one can appreciate: The economical but effective voice modulations in Katie's last line "We'll be OK." And the creepy smirk on her face just at the end, were very nicely done. Although the end of the movie leaves us wishing we'd seen more visual FX about the haunting spirit, you have to admit that the film accomplishes a lot with very minimal means. I just wish it hadn't been so over-hyped. When all is said about this film, I agree with many reviewers on this board when I recommend that there is absolutely no reason not to save your admission money and wait for the DVD release if you want to see this film for your self. Under those conditions, you won't feel nearly so cheated as if you paid full admission in a theater.