lewiskendell
Most of the recent horror movies that I've seen have been so dismal that Dead Birds gets a slightly favorable review just for not being awful, despite the fact that it's not particularly scary.The setting and time period were refreshing and the build-up and pacing of the movie were enjoyable. However, once the full story behind the haunted plantation is revealed, it was disappointingly generic. I only paid about $3 for Dead Birds, and I suppose that it's worth that price and a hour and a half of the average horror fan's life. You won't hate it, but a few months from now you won't really remember what the movie was about.And yes, there was a dead bird in the movie, but what's with the name?
loomis78-815-989034
Set in Alabama at the end of the Civil War, we focus on a group of criminals who turn a bank into a bloodbath as they steal the gold and head for the border and Mexico. Their leader Will (Thomas) decides to stop at an abandoned plantation house for the evening. Making their way through a large cornfield in front of the house a white hairless creature with fangs jumps out of nowhere and delivers the first jump scare of the film before being gunned down. Once at the house, a few of the gang's members are thinking of grabbing the gold and deserting the gang but that is the least of Will's troubles. The house has a sense of dread and dark atmosphere hanging over it from what the former owner (Muse Watson) may have done to his family and his slaves. Voodoo may be at the end of it but the group begins having frightening visions, hearing voices and some of them start turning up missing. This independent feature from Writer Simon Barrett and Director Alex Turner is a high quality horror film. Making the most of an excellent two story house in the middle of nowhere, the house is practically a character in this movie. The rain storm raging outside makes this film's atmosphere top notch, and the creepy sounds and visions this film provides will put any viewer on edge. Don't forget the gore and some of the scariest original creature monsters you've seen in a while and Dead Birds is one creepy Horror film. Director Turner gets a lot of credit for not going overboard with the spooky elements and gore, he sticks to the story and all of it comes off very believable. The only frustrating part of this movie is its back story concerning the former owner and what happened on the property. It's obvious it has everything to do with what is happening to our gang of thieves and why the house is the way it is, but we never really find out why. They're a few flashbacks which show you some great stuff but the film never ties it all together in an understandable fashion. It's a shame but this head scratching over the storyline will be what stops this from becoming a classic. It's still a ton of fun and must view for any horror fan.
Hanky3
I've just finished watching this movie and now feel like I've woken from a terrible coma. Truly dull. Complete lack of tension and suspense. The only really horrific thing about this is that I won't get back the one and a half hours spent watching it to do something more interesting like the washing up.The film apparently had a large budget (1.5 mil). Do not be fooled. This money must've been spent on the catering.Avoid.If you must see Dead Birds, go and find some at the side of the road. Watching these for the duration of this movie will give you infinitely more entertainment.
mikeprosser
Apparently nobody saw the original version of this film when it was called THE DIVIDING HOUR.They almost literally did a scene for scene remake with minor changes and set it in the civil war. Bank robbers on the run all the way to the end... same plot... same twist.Watch it and tell me the writer of Dead Birds (title makes no sense) was actually writing something "Original".Regardless, it has much better production value than DH which was made for 7 grand.I enjoyed the flick quite a bit... despite the fact that I made THE DIVIDING HOUR and never got a residual check for this unlicensed remake ;) Plagiarism is the highest form of flattery in my book.
AD
