Ed's Review Dot Com

Alliance Films , Blumhouse Productions,

Keri Russell, Dakota Goyo, J.K. Simmons, Josh Hamilton, Annie Thurman, Trevor St. John, Michael Patrick McGill, Ron Ostrow, Myndy Crist, Judith Moreland

The Barrett family live in a nice house in a nice suburb, with friendly neighbors and 2 nice boys. They’re struggling a bit, as Dad was laid off, and Mom is struggling to pay the bills with her job as a real estate agent, but the mortgage is in arrears, and the parents are not getting along very well. But as strange things begin to happen, they start to come back together to save each other and to figure out what evil force is out to get them in this horror film brought to you by the folks that brought us Paranormal Activity and Insidious.

This is a horror film that did not resonate with everybody. I think those in the audience with us enjoyed it pretty much. I really liked it for one major reason. It used the old fashioned method of telling a spooky story to frighten us, not so much depending on loud sounds to make you jump. Truly there are some startling moments, but I felt the tension built as we went through the story until the incredible ending. This is a PG-13 film, so it’s not a gory and disgusting and many new horror films are today, and that’s another reason why the blood and guts crowd is not real happy with this film, but it’s kind of nice to see a kinder, gentler horror film with no so much blood and dismemberment. The casting was good. Keri Russell was great as the mom, and Josh Hamilton did a good job as the troubled father, and the story does follow many cliche’s of the modern horror story, but there’s a good reason, it’s simply because that’s what works. I read the criticism of a number of other reviewers, and I didn’t agree with them. I felt it was a decent horror film with a lot going for it. No, it’s not a blockbuster in the box office, and it’s not one of those films that will have everyone in the office talking about it, but I feel it was a decent diversion, and certainly worth the time to watch it. Watch for this one on DVD if you wish, and if you come in expecting a more “family oriented” horror film, I think you’ll like it.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog