Disappointing

Rating: 4/10 (15 April 2012)

Contains spoilers!
I don't normally review but this film annoyed me enough to write something. This could have been a hugely enjoyable - the two technicians, Jenkins and Whitford, provide a virtual light relief to the by-the-numbers teen slasher set. The idea is quality- take a routine teen slasher and make it the Truman Show. The problem is not with the concept, the problem is feeling excessively cheated by a poor ending. The whole film build on the ethos 'The ancient Ones' need appeasing. So instead of a teen slasher you now have a chuck a virgin in the volcano scenario. In defence of the film, the whole sub level scenes are truly inspired but it's too late to save the plot. My biggest issues with this film- firstly the only actual 'jump' moments are the ones that have been scripted a million times before, i.e. turn around and the monster is stood there, standing with your back to a window etc. The second issue is with the idea that the Ancient Ones have a penchant for teen slasher films, even deciding the order in which the jock, nerdy girl etc get bumped off. So as long as these gods get to see their own custom made low budget teen slasher the world is spared and we get saved a large CGI hand busting out the ground to smite everyone. The best thing about the ending was Nine Inch Nails providing exit music. I'm sure there will be loads of people who will say, "but that's the point! it's meant to be clichéd." Fine but then the parts that aren't clichéd deliberately need to be deviously ingenious to make up for it and this falls short. At least this won't be turned into a franchise.