Terribly written, predictable, repetitive, self-indulgent SPOILERS

Rating: 1/10 (12 August 2006)

I've learned to stay away from movies written and directed by the same person, though the concept of pot-holing drew me in to see this one.
Boy, was I wrong to see this.
There may be some spoilers ahead, if you haven't seen it and actually want to, you should stop reading.
Characters are terribly underdeveloped which is a terrible waste. It's basically just a group of girls one exactly like the other and frankly nobody cares who dies when. In fact I can only recall one of their names. The movie opening is a total cheap shot, a visual insert which a high-schooler could have come up with (and probably written better). Then after waiting for what seemed like an eternity through some of the most on-the-nose dialogue ever, the inciting incident is finally revealed (and has nothing to do with the opening event). Then we're treated to clichéd, overdone Hollywood moments fed into a boring and predictable script, e.g. girl in bed rips off heart monitor, dying victim passes on bracelet revealing secret love - oh puh-lease. The plot is boringly predictable. Monster appears. Makes scary noise. Girl(s) flee or fight. Monster appears. Makes scary noise. Girl(s) flee or fight. Monster appears. Makes - you get the point. The poor writing is compensated for by an overly dramatic and distracting score, and of course plenty of gore (human bones, a lake of blood). I felt like I was at a baseball game, casually chatting to the person I went to see this movie with (as were the rest of the audience). At only two points were we actually 'in' the movie. But it's worth staying until the end for two reasons. First, there is the final escape. This might well have been the most over-the-top scene I have ever seen in my life. For a second I actually thought they were having a laugh at their own movie! But then when I realized they were serious? I CRINGED. Then there is the final hurrah, which makes absolutely no sense and frankly leaves the audience bewildered and angry they actually spent money to see this nonsense.
The real disappointment is that this movie has a fantastic premise. So much could have been done with this. They really blew it. And I'm really disappointed in Lionsgate. I had great hopes for the kinds of movies they wanted to put out.