A teenager comes into possession of a vintage Polaroid camera; its images provoke a series of supernatural killings. Low-key though good-looking teen horror flick, borrowing from the Final Destination and Ring franchises, among many others. Nothing new apart from the calling-card approach by Klevberg (extending a 2015 short film of his), who then helmed the Child’s Play reboot.
Tag: Javier Botet
Slender Man (2018, dir. Sylvain White)
Four teenagers invite an urban legend into their lives; disappearances soon begin. Autumnal and muted horror flick based on the meme character. A couple of OK performances and some directorial moments aside, there’s nothing here that hasn’t been done a hundred times before, and often better.
Mama (2013, dir. Andy Muschietti)
Two girls, feared lost for five years, are found feral in an isolated cabin. Generally effective jumpscare horror, impressive in its first acts, though increasingly awkward in plot event terms and tone as the melodrama develops. Some very neat moments, though.
The Other Side of the Door (2016, dir. Johannes Roberts)
A grieving mother is offered a way to say a final goodbye to her dead son. Straightforward jumpscare malarkey with a premise very similar to the superior Wake Wood. The film benefits from its interesting Mumbai setting, and some committed acting.
Freehold (2017, dir. Dominic Bridges)
An estate agent’s flat has a secret lodger, who shifts from a subsistence existence to a campaign of psychological warfare. The first hour is great, but the lack of an ending and a clunky coda undermine some of the movie’s earlier successes. Worth watching tho.
255 Review 