Alex Spindler
Senior HTF Member
- Joined
- Jan 23, 2000
- Messages
- 3,971
*** Some SPOILERS ***
I saw the rotten tomatoes scores, so I knew what I was getting into. I was rather lucky that I had my expectations lowered, because I was initially looking forward to this one. The movie certainly isn't the worst I've seen, but there are many, many problems with it that make it an easy target for derision.
The premise sounds like it has a lot of promise:12 ghosts are trapped in a house and can only be seen with special glasses (which I imagine must have been a hoot back with the special specs the audience could wear). I imagined all kinds of nice situations, and the only one that came close was near the beginning with Shannon in the bathroom (not what you're thinking). Unfortunately, this is pretty much wasted because someone always has specs available and the film just uses quick cuts to attempt to surprise you. There are very few situations that were remotely surprising, as all the jump scares are pretty much telegraphed by the wearing of the glasses. It is summed up as 1) someone puts on glasses 2) ghost jumps at glass 3) repeat as necessary.
Also unfortunate is that there are too many ghosts for the screen time. Much effort is given to identify and personalize the ghosts (including a ridiculous roll call sequence at the end), but most are entirely inconsequential as only four really have any time (the Juggernaut, the Hammer, the Princess, and the Jackal). A few others get a brief moment, but some others seems to be pretty happy just glaring at people.
On a technical side, the house itself is not bad, but is certainly eclipsed by The Haunting's Hill House as far as creepy locations go. But it is well conceived, especially with the runes on the glass walls. The machine is a little hokey, but serviceable. The final conundrum is really silly, and drug down the ending entirely. This made the final solution all the worse.
The ghosts themselves are a mixed bag. Some, such as the princess and the Jackal, are well done and appropriately menacing. Some are more ridiculous, such as the Hammer and the kid with the arrow in his head, are latex jokes that look pretty silly. Most of the rest are uninvolving.
As far as acting goes, Shaloub tries here and there, but is largely out to lunch. Lillard starts off terrible but improves later in the movie. Shannon is acceptable, while F Murray Abraham is pretty unconvincing.
As far as the story itself, it contains some stock cliches told in some clumsy exposition that gets repeated more often than necessary. The rest of the movie is silly situations that characters create for themselves and then complicate by repeatedly, and I do mean repeatedly, splitting up. Why they can't see exactly where the ghosts are in a fully glass house is a small plot hole.
All in all, it isn't nearly as bad as the Rotten Tomatoes score would have you believe. However, a truly terrible opening and a poor ending certainly drag the film down.
Score : D+
I saw the rotten tomatoes scores, so I knew what I was getting into. I was rather lucky that I had my expectations lowered, because I was initially looking forward to this one. The movie certainly isn't the worst I've seen, but there are many, many problems with it that make it an easy target for derision.
The premise sounds like it has a lot of promise:12 ghosts are trapped in a house and can only be seen with special glasses (which I imagine must have been a hoot back with the special specs the audience could wear). I imagined all kinds of nice situations, and the only one that came close was near the beginning with Shannon in the bathroom (not what you're thinking). Unfortunately, this is pretty much wasted because someone always has specs available and the film just uses quick cuts to attempt to surprise you. There are very few situations that were remotely surprising, as all the jump scares are pretty much telegraphed by the wearing of the glasses. It is summed up as 1) someone puts on glasses 2) ghost jumps at glass 3) repeat as necessary.
Also unfortunate is that there are too many ghosts for the screen time. Much effort is given to identify and personalize the ghosts (including a ridiculous roll call sequence at the end), but most are entirely inconsequential as only four really have any time (the Juggernaut, the Hammer, the Princess, and the Jackal). A few others get a brief moment, but some others seems to be pretty happy just glaring at people.
On a technical side, the house itself is not bad, but is certainly eclipsed by The Haunting's Hill House as far as creepy locations go. But it is well conceived, especially with the runes on the glass walls. The machine is a little hokey, but serviceable. The final conundrum is really silly, and drug down the ending entirely. This made the final solution all the worse.
The ghosts themselves are a mixed bag. Some, such as the princess and the Jackal, are well done and appropriately menacing. Some are more ridiculous, such as the Hammer and the kid with the arrow in his head, are latex jokes that look pretty silly. Most of the rest are uninvolving.
As far as acting goes, Shaloub tries here and there, but is largely out to lunch. Lillard starts off terrible but improves later in the movie. Shannon is acceptable, while F Murray Abraham is pretty unconvincing.
As far as the story itself, it contains some stock cliches told in some clumsy exposition that gets repeated more often than necessary. The rest of the movie is silly situations that characters create for themselves and then complicate by repeatedly, and I do mean repeatedly, splitting up. Why they can't see exactly where the ghosts are in a fully glass house is a small plot hole.
All in all, it isn't nearly as bad as the Rotten Tomatoes score would have you believe. However, a truly terrible opening and a poor ending certainly drag the film down.
Score : D+
