Just didn't do it

Rating: 3/10 (8 August 1999)

Maybe it was the hype, but this was an all around mediocre film, which I probably liked less because the hype was so much. Excellent concept, excellent premise, but it was no 'The Omen'. I understand what was trying to be done here, but to be honest the one piece of information which you didn't want to know (that all three are going to buy the farm) was plastered up on the first frame of the movie. After that it was an exercise in conclusion. You knew they would die, it was just how that was the issue. And the how was a pretty boring trip. I must admit that the stick figures creeped me out and the last 30 seconds were intense. But honestly I just am not intimidated by a pile of rocks. I know, I know, it's the simplicity of the whole thing that is supposed to make it work, but I just didn't find it very scary.
The other thing, and this bothered me too, is that streams turn into creeks turn into rivers turn into lakes and oceans. In the first 30 seconds they show that they have a field guide with them, but apparently no one read it. Follow the stream!!!! It was almost like watching a cheese film where the dumb victim runs upstairs when the zombie is chasing them. I suppose the possibility of intense magic precludes this as an option but we never get the inkling that that is the reason. Instead, by the end, I almost felt like our heros get the benefits of their stupidity.
Regardless, I must give kudos for I wouldn't have done better with $60,000 and I've seen much worse with 10-100 times that amount. It's an OK summer movie, but it is not overwhelmingly scary or intimidating
David Campbell