Truly terrifying

Rating: 10/10 (12 October 2009)

Let me start by saying I don't scare easily. I've seen nearly every famous horror and slasher film, but this movie got under my skin more than any film since The Exorcist. When a horror movie actually prevents you from getting sleep the night you see it, you know it's done its job. This film has been compared to Blair Witch, and rightly so. Like Blair Witch, the build-up is gradual and hand-held cameras are used. And like Blair Witch, the main characters are not Hollywood good looking--they're real and appealing. And they become absolutely unglued as the movie progresses. This is a "minimalist horror movie making" at its finest. The movie tips its hat to past classics, like the original The Haunting and Poltergeist, but also reminded me of Open Water in its depiction of a typical American couple thrust into an extraordinary situation, and how that impacts their relationship. I hate to use the cliché of "don't see it alone," but in this case, seeing it with another person may ease the anxiety. And you will want to talk about this movie afterward. Highly recommended.