Tuesday, October 12, 2010

My Soul to Take

* 1/2


The film starts 16 years in the past. A multiple personality afflicted serial killer breaks down, killing his wife, attempting to kill his daughter, and then dies (or does he) in a car crash on the way to jail, or the hospital, or the morgue - I'm not really sure which. Then, because the police officer escorting him suggests it, maybe his multiple personalities really represent multiple souls!


On the same evening, seven children are born premature. Flash-forward 16 years to these kids' 16th birthday and the anniversary of the serial killer's death, and everyone is superstitious about the connection these events may have. Once the teens start dying, it become apparent that one of the two main characters is actually the killer! At the end, the dramatic twist is that... oh, it was that kid.


Part of my disenchantment with this film was that it was written and directed by Wes Craven, and frankly, I expected so much more. Glancing at his imdb profile, I don't think I'd give any of his work from the last 30 years lower than 3 stars. I had high expectations going into this movie. The fact that it turns into a rote slasher film without any of the surprises or self-referential jokes that characterize much of Craven's work, really disappointed me. Lowered expectations always affect how I feel about a film. Like, The Phantom Menace. Normally, it would have just been a bad movie. But, since it was a bad Star Wars movie, it became atrocious.


The other big qualm I had with this film was the 3D. There was as much reason to put this movie in 3D as there is to convert Glengarry Glen Ross to 3D. I get it. The characters stand out from the background - how cute. But, without anything visually impressive, the 3D is just kind of annoying. This one is not worth the time or effort.




7 comments:

Catfreeek said...

Sounds dreadful. Nice to see you Trevor :)

JPX said...

Nice scoop, this just came out! I've been trolling online for a bootleg but no luck yet. Everything you state in your review makes me realize that I wouldn't like this movie at all. Thanks for taking one for the team! It's nice to hear from you, I hope we get some more reviews out of you.

DKC said...

I was wondering how this was - wonder no more, I guess! And now that I've been duly warned, I think I'll skip it!

Octopunk said...

"At the end, the dramatic twist is that... oh, it was that kid." I haven't (and won't) see this, but that sounds like the perfect description of the big reveal that just isn't.

Good to see you, Trevor. Any friend of Tami's...

Landshark said...

Funny I just read a scathing review of this in the morning paper. You liked it about as much, it seems!

Love your line about 3D Glengary Glen Ross!

50PageMcGee said...

3D Glengarry Glen Ross -- Where it's almost like Al Pacino is calling *me* a "stupid fucking cunt."

Johnny Sweatpants said...

Wes Craven ain't all that. Scream 3 was kind of crap and I'd put Shocker up there as one of the lamest, least scary horror movies ever. Also Hills Have Eyes Part II (1985) is in the so bad it's good category.

Welcome back Treveor!

Malevolent

 2018  ***1/2 It's 1986 for some reason, and a team of paranormal investigators are making a big name for themselves all over Scotland. ...