This movie will make your skin crawl...

Rating: 8/10 (23 April 2006)

This is simply the most disturbing movie I have ever seen. I'm not much for watching disturbing movies because of the imprint they leave, but I just couldn't keep away from this movie. Having played the first game, I had thought the movie would be very similar to it from just the previews. I WAS WRONG. There are a lot of elements and similarities between the first game and the movie, but they're different enough to be fresh and new. People who've played the game know exactly what to expect, and will be on the edge of their seats waiting for it to happen. The movie won't let you down. The first encounter with the creatures alone will make your skin crawl and will exceed your expectations. It's just wonderful and disturbing at the same time.
Music and SFX, a lot of the songs were taken directly from the games. The tracks not in the games work just as well, keeping a creepy atmosphere, even when things calm down. I have no gripes with the music. The sound effects are haunting, especially the ones the creatures make.
Visuals, this movie is very beautiful and well done. The greatest show of visual effects are when the sirens go off and all hell breaks loose, literally. The paint and plastic peels off the walls and falls to the ground like wet paper. It all looks real and somewhat disturbing, seeing an Elementary School turn into a sort of slaughter house. That's why it's so great. The creatures will make your skin crawl as soon as you lay your eyes on them. Most of them are real actors in costumes with some added effects. The way they move is disturbing in its' own. Such things I cannot fully explain. You'll just have to see to know what I mean. Also... a contributing factor to how disturbing this movie is.. the gore. It seems like there was no border, no restrictions on the gore, and it was all well done.
Plot, the plot of this movie is good and well written along with the script. Like I said before, there are some similarities between the games and the movie, but not too many. It usually seems like you think one thing is going to happen, but then something else happens. The story does not disappoint unless the viewer is a person that likes a lot of crazy twists and turns, this movie does not have it, but some movies just don't need it. Mostly you're just guessing who's going to die and who won't die.
Acting, the acting was fantastic, I had no problems with it, even Sharon had a very good actor, her body language was dead on with every line. It's the acting you'd expect for a great movie such as this.
Overall, I loved this movie and I will definitely buy it when it comes out. The only problem I had with this movie was the ending, it just doesn't satisfy, but there's one thing you do know by the end of the movie, a sequel is in the works. However, it still doesn't make up for being unsatisfying. It's the kind of unsatisfying where you watch a movie, get half way through, and then turn it off. It leaves you wanting more. Perhaps this is some kind of marketing ploy, I don't know, but I can tell you this, I can't wait for the sequel.