(2016) ***
While travelling abroad, Maria and Michael fall in love with India and decide to relocate there after Maria informs him that she is pregnant with their second child. Fast forward 6 years and we learn that during this time their older child, Oliver, died in a tragic accident shown in a harrowing flashback. Maria is unable to resolve her grief over his death and attempts to commit suicide. Her housekeeper, Piki, takes pity on her and informs Maria about a secret Hindu temple where visitors are able to communicate with the dead to share their final goodbyes. The catch; they can only communicate a single time through the temple’s front door. Under no circumstances is Maria to open the door even if Oliver begs. Maria makes the journey to the temple (at night of course (?)) and performs a ritual as instructed by Piki. Soon she is conversing with Oliver who informs her that he does not like where he is and wants her to open the door. After struggling she relents, opening a portal between the living and the dead. Oliver’s sprit follows her home to torture his family including his younger sister.
Setting the story in India is an attempt to distract us from the fact that you have seen this story before countless times. Things go bump in the night, a piano plays by itself, and the family dog tries to warn them all that there is an evil presence in the house. There are a few good, cheap scares of the jumping cat variety and the flashback to Oliver’s death is potent, but in the end there is nothing new here. I liked the concept but the film ultimately disappoints by not adding anything new to the genre.
4 comments:
I'm curious about rating the movie on the lack of originality. I've done the same thing, in terms of disliking a movie because of the "nothing new" factor. But then, this summer I saw Lights Out, which again, really didn't have anything new, but that I loved. Hopefully I'll get a chance to watch/review it again this month.
I struggled with the rating. It was fun and I would check it out. I want to I see Lights Out!
I also saw Lights Out and concur with Trevor, it was nothing new and even had a cgi scare factor but still it was good. I think it is possible to overcome the monotonous feeling if the film is done right and the story sucks you in. There is an element of discovery in Lights Out as they back story is put together and that definitely helped with the engaging factor.
Too bad it ultimately didn't live up to its premise.
Post a Comment