The film that almost was

Rating: 3/10 (21 May 2020)

I wanted to like this movie and really tried but unfortunately I saw a lot of problems that the filmmakers could have avoided.
First off the film is super dark and for some strange reason none of the characters ever turn on the lights. I thought it was because they move into this new house but as they get settled and clearly have electricity, once it's nighttime their light switches are never in the on position. Even when they need to see they would much rather grab a flashlight than turn on the lights.
Cheep thrills. This film did things that were just cheap, like the demons face on the computer turning when Ethan Hawks character is distracted. Why? Less is more. Once you have the demon turning his head I felt cheated because now the mystery is gone.
Something to laugh about was once they decide to move out of this house, where a murder took place, Hawk's character throughout the film says their family is luring for money and yet they move into this huge, I mean super huge mansion at the end of the film. I thought they were having money problems- apparently not, And you'd think this house would have lights but again, no one ever turns them on, even when they hear a bump in the night.
Overall I can't recommend this film. It could have been better if they did one more rewrite, tweak a few things. Don't have creepy dead children shushing the screen because we've seen this before, maybe be more original than that.
The one good thing I did like was the 8MM footage they used, that seemed out of place because once you find out who's behind it you'd wish they took that footage and put it in something more Sinister.