The Trailer:
Director: Peter Cornwell
Cast:Chandler Riggs, Shirley Knight, Frances O'Connor, Joel Courtney & Dylan McDermott
Synopsis: After her mother (Shirley Knight) suffers a stroke, Rebecca (Frances O'Connor) and her two sons, George (Chandler Riggs) and Buddy (Joel Courtney), move in with her and discover she may have magical powers.
This movie is based on a Stephen King short story, and it is obvious... Obvious that this is based off a short story, that is, due to the numerous filler scenes throughout and just plain weird scenes that don't offer anything to the story. What I assume was the magic and suspense of the original tale is lost in an attempt lengthen it with random details and unnecessary silliness. And for the most part, this just isn't scary in any way. It's really just stupid. The dialogue between the brothers, especially their little brotherly arguments, sounds ridiculous and forced. Actually, most of the dialogue throughout the movie sounds dumb. Maybe it's the casting or the writing, but I'm leaning more towards the writing. I think the writers tried to add a backwoods, "hill folk" dialect, but it's just laughable. But, that's also not to say that the actors didn't play a part in the dumbness of the dialogue: for the most part the actors talk with such an non-enthused tone that it's unbearable to listen to them. Now, some emphasis on the filler scenes and unnecessary details. In the beginning it's mentioned that that Buddy is a young aspiring chef and we see him prepare some meals and bring his own spices for his lunch, but then it is never mentioned again. What was the point of adding this detail to the story? I have absolutely no idea. Another unnecessary detail: George can play the violin. I really think this detail was only mentioned so that he could have a dramatic moment hitting a bully over the head with his violin case filled with rocks. But, again, this detail is never mentioned again. Perhaps these details are just added in to give the illusion that these characters have a life out of this horror-story but it doesn't even really accomplish that. Filler scenes... oh I'm already bored writing about this movie. Anyways, there is a random romance angle between Rebecca and a married neighbor, Jim (Dylan McDermott) that never comes to fruition, which honestly I didn't much mind. But if nothing was ever gonna happen between the characters, why include this? Oh yeah, to take up some time while the grandma is wasting away becoming some kind of demon. Oh right, it is discovered that the grandma dabbled in dark magic as a younger woman and now she must pay the price. Hence the "horror" aspect of the movie. There's also mention of a "death wolf" myth that seems like it's going to become a tool in saving the grandma's soul, but nothing ever comes from it. Anyways, mostly the entirety of the movie is just a bunch of hoopla to waste time until the last twenty minutes or so that has the bulk of the "scares". And I mean that ironically, because it's not scary especially for a rated R film, which this is. In addition to all this, there's a voiceover from George at the beginning and end of the film that I really just find to be sappy annoyances. Bleh..
Even though I have all this criticism about the movie, I did however like some things. The score is fitting and reminiscent of older horror flicks. I also really liked the opening title sequence which showcases dark, Gothic artwork that I would more than happily like to hang in my house. And I also really love Chandler Riggs, which I realize is kind of a polarizing statement. People either really like him or really hate him. Whatever, it was nice to see Carl not being Carl. And the dementia-like symptoms of the grandma kind of struck a chord with me due to my own grandma falling victim to dementia and Alzheimer's which caused her to sometimes act cruelly towards us.
The few things I actually like about the movie definitely do not outweigh all the things I didn't like. It just feels like it could've been good as a short, but not a feature length film. The story becomes too stretched and thin that it's barely there. I wouldn't watch this again.
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