Director: Justin G Dyck
Writer: Keith Cooper (Screenplay)
Starring: Sheila McCarthy, Julian Richings, Konstantina Mantelos, Josh Cruddas, Yannick Bisson
Plot: A bereaved Satanist couple kidnap a pregnant woman so they can use an ancient spellbook to put their dead grandson’s spirit into her unborn child but end up summoning more than they bargained for.
Runtime: 1 Hour 37 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Anything for Jackson starts when Audrey Walsh (McCarthy) and Henry Walsh (Richings) bring their kidnap victim Shannon Becker (Mantelos) who is pregnant, the couple want to use the baby to bring back their lost grandson Jackson, using their connection within a Satanic cult.
Once Audrey completes the ceremony, they couple learn that they have accidently unleashed something pure evil inside their home, something they don’t control and is coming for them.
Thoughts on Anything for Jackson
Characters – Henry Walsh is a doctor who has selected the victim from one of his pregnant patients, he has created his alibi, which will give him a good out for any investigation and needs to think quick on his think when things start going wrong, only he does struggle with moments of this. Audrey is the one that is planning ritual, she will do anything to get her grandson back, she does start to befriend Becker, only she is filled with the pain of losing their loved ones. Shannon Becker is the young woman that is pregnant, she doesn’t know the father and is seen as the best victim for them to take, she does try to convince the couple to let her stay as part of the life of the baby and is put through just as much of the horrific events in the home.
Performances – Sheila McCarthy and Julian Richings are both great to watch in the leading roles, showing the uncertainty about what is going on within the walls, but the determination to get their grandson back. Konstantina Mantelos might well spend a large part of the film tied to the bed, but she does make us feel like she is more than just a victim.
Story – The story follows a couple that abduct a pregnant woman in hopes of using her baby to bring their dead grandson back to life, only for the ritual to bring evil they never planned for into their home. This does bring a fresh look to the satanic movies, showing us how the couple working the finer points out as they go, instead of having a set in stone smooth plan on what should happen, this shows us just how desperate they are to make this happen. The evil visits will add in good scares through the film and we will be left guessing to what will happen along the way.
Horror – The horror comes from the aftermath of what happens after the ritual, we see a string of horrific visitors that targets the opening they have created.
Settings – The film is mostly set in the one location, the home of the couple that are trying to make the event happen, it does make us seem to give us a feeling that we could easily be part of this world.
Special Effects – The effects in the film are great with one of the creations being strikingly scarier throughout its appearances.
Scene of the Movie – The Suffocating ghost.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – Not learning enough about Becker outside of the pregnancy.
Final Thoughts – Anything for Jackson is a bright fresh and terrifying twist on the satanic movies we have seen for years.
ANYTHING FOR JACKSON premieres on Shudder December 3rd in the U.S., U.K., Australia and New Zealand (note: Shudder does not have Canada, where it is presently available digitally via Super Chanel)
