Stylish and Hilarious but not scary

Rating: 7/10 (25 August 2018)

A very visually compelling little ghost story (with a lot more to it than ghosts) with oodles of bizarre imagery to illustrate what is essentially a decent into madness but there's way more to it than that as you will find in the layers of meaning that have spawned a thousand fan theories. However, it happens that it is so over the top that any attempt at being genuinely chilling falls on its face but it's still quite a ride as it slowly builds atmosphere and then delivers.
The sensation of isolation yet with a little world of memories to explore is the lasting impression in what really ought to have been a PC game if the flavour had been conceived two decades later.
I wonder if Jack Nicholson was miscast. His vivid, bestial father stands apart from other examples of the character type by the comical twist but does kind of change the tone of the movie.
Not exactly very sensical the first time round but then again it isn't supposed to be. Definitely worth a view just for the experience but as a horror movie it doesn't quite work.
Probably its makers best movie.