Writer: Mike Flanagan, Jeff Howard (Screenplay)
Starring: Karen Gillian, Brenton Thwaites, Katee Sackhoff, Rory Cochrane, Annalise Basso, Garrett Ryan, James Lafferty
Plot: Tim Russell (Thwaites) is being released from a mental home at the age of 21 due to something that happened while he was a young child. His sister Kaylie (Gillian) is waiting for him and plans to talk him into fulfilling a promise he made with her when they were children. She has got her hands on a mirror that she believes to be reasonable for the incident which left their parents Marie (Sackhoff) and Alan (Cochrane) dead. She plans to use the mirror to draw out whatever it is causing a string of deaths and finish it all once and for all.
Verdict: What Happened?
Story: I really didn’t follow what was happening here at all, the jumps between the past and present are awful, plus just figuring out what was real or a trick is just as confusing. The ending you could see coming a mile off and next to no jumps leaves this film giving us just talking, talking, a bit of shouting and screaming and finally more talking about what was real or what was made up to cover up what happened. (2/10)
Actor Reviews
Karen Gillian: Kaylie the sister determined to uncover the truth about what happened to her parents and stop it once and for all. She pushes her brother into helping but could it be that she is really the crazy one of the siblings? I can’t blame her for a terrible script and she does well with what little she has to work with. (6/10)
Brenton Thwaites: Tim freshly out the mental home he gets caught up in his sister’s plan to uncover a truth he believe he has come to deal with. This is another case where he does well without much to work with. (6/10)
Katee Sackhoff: Marie the mother who is slowly breaking down because of the suspicious her husband is having an affair, but is she being controlled by something more sinister? She plays the range on emotions well throughout. (6/10)
Rory Cochrane: Alan the husband who has started to act strangely ever since the family moved into a new house. Good performance playing the difference between good and bad well. (6/10)
Director Review: Mike Flanagan – Doesn’t do a very good job here, makes a very messy story with no scares no suspense just endless talking. (2/10)
Horror: No horror involved that offers anything scary. (2/10)
Settings: What should be a good setting really doesn’t add anything to the film even though it is good for the genre. (5/10)
Special Effects: Poor special effects well when some are needed they fail to use them. (3/10)
Suggestion: This isn’t even worth trying to watch it really doesn’t do anything for a horror fan. (Avoid)
Best Part: Nothing
Worst Part: The jumping story.
Believability: No (0/10)
Chances of Tears: No (0/10)
Chances of Sequel: Hopefully not
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: No
Box Office: $28,728,472
Budget: $5 Million
Runtime: 1 Hour 45 Minutes
Tagline: You see what it wants you to see.
Overall: Awful ‘Horror’ Film
Rating