Too long and too cerebral

Rating: 5/10 (1 July 2019)

I must be of the few people on the planet who had no idea that this movie came from a video game, and to me it's pointless comparing the two, so at least 50% of the reviews on this site can be discounted. It's a movie - end of. Or it should be. As such, it's one of the most eerie, atmospheric horror films I've seen for a long time. The special effects are stunnng. And that's what my five stars are for. I was completely captivated from the beginning. However, the convolutions of the story are a bit involved - dark Alessa, super-dark Alessa, innocent Alessa.....it's all a bit difficult to follow. I lost interest about half an hour before the end, which was a shame because it started so well. Maybe it's really aimed at the gamers who know what to expect and who recognise the characters. However technically it's a tour de force and I can see why it has a cult following. According to some reviewers who are clearly totally captivated by the whole concept, there are a whole host of underlying themes here which were obviously lost on me. But the special effects are great!