Transcendent Horror

Rating: Null/10 (7 August 2000)

No teenagers. No 'dream sequences'. No slashers. No sophomoric comedy relief. No CGI overkill. No NOTHIN' to insult the viewer's intelligence or embarrass the cast and crew. Pure and simple: the best horror film of the 90s, and the most moving and transcendent horror film in many, many years. Hell, maybe ever. Somewhere, Val Lewton, Montague James and Ambrose Bierce are looking down, beaming with pride. If you're not choking back an honestly-earned sob by the film's end, please resign from the human race. And this from someone who, having read 'An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge' as a child, saw the snap ending coming very early on. Doesn't matter: masterpiece.