TheLittleSongbird Saw 'The Haunting of Helena', being fond of horror regardless of budget (even if not my favourite genre) and being intrigued somewhat by the idea. Being behind on my film watching and reviewing, with a long to watch and review list that keeps getting longer, it took me a while to get round to watching and reviewing it.Giving 'The Haunting of Helena' a fair chance with being interest and apprehension, it turned out to be far better than expected. Won't say that 'The Haunting of Helena' is a great film because it isn't and the potential, while not wasted, is not fully lived up to. Considering the large number of films seen recently being mediocre and less and wasting potential, was expecting worse and was relieved that while wanting in a fair few areas it was actually one of my better recent low-budget viewings.'The Haunting of Helena' started off quite well, the first twenty minutes or so starting the film off on a promising, unsettling and atmospheric note that really does intrigue. Production values did have some eeriness and nowhere near as cheap as expected, and the music, which not the most memorable in the world, didn't detract from the atmosphere. The setting is effectively spooky and some of the acting in support was not bad. There are spooky and suspenseful moments and it isn't dull. The direction doesn't feel phoned in and the storytelling in the first half does intrigue.However, the story was severely wanting in the second half after starting off promisingly. It is very disjointed and after the promising start the final third especially loses atmosphere, one loses interest and things start to not make sense. Too much of the film is vague and doesn't explore some elements and story strands enough, some dropped soon after being introduced, go nowhere or serve much point.Ending is unsatisfying, on top of feeling hasty there are too many loose ends hanging in the air. Got the sense that the writers didn't know how to end the film. Would have liked much more tension and suspense, scares could have been more consistent and some weren't surprising enough. Found too the script to lack natural flow and with a bit of cheese going on, and the characters bland with some adopting some annoying and not always logical decision making. The two leads' acting is even more problematic than the second half's storytelling, at best it was poor and too often terrible.Overall, better than expected but not great still. 5/10 Bethany Cox

chameleonaram I truly don't understand why this movie scores this low. I watched hundreds, maybe thousands horror movies threw the years. And from experience I know that a movie doesn't need to be too complex or with to much gore and all that. The acting, music, camera work and things like that drag you into it, and small things can scare you with all those things being printed inside you. The way this movie builds up is very satisfying. Just a nice flow where you feel that the makers put a lot of time into details, especially the music and wow, the acting and choice of actors. In my book this.movie is a classic. I really enjoyed it and was pleased with the ending since the twist at the end puts all the parts together in a logical way.Do not believe the bad reviews, honestly, those people are after the terrible 80's horror movies, without emotion, content or anything. This.movie is my new standard and should be a warning to future horror movies, watch and learn from these masters. What a delight this movie is!!!

jglrichey It's not a bad film. It's got some decent direction and some well-constructed scenes, even if it's got nothing new to add to the genre. However, the acting from the lead is so stilted and wooden that it undermines the entire movie. I'd have given it a watchable 5 apart from that.

Mohammed Ezz This Italian horror movies is one of the best horror movies I watched in 2013. I'm a big fan of horror movies and when I see it's Italian I expect a big thing and good horror and this what's I got with this movie.This movie backs me to the horror movies of the 90's! The movie is good for who like the classic horror movies of ghost who for persons had been killed by horrible ways, and those ghosts back to do somethings we like to watch in horror movies :)) and the end of this movie alone can makes me give it 9/10 as it has a surprise and they did it with a good way using the effects and the good acting of Harriet MacMasters-Green who I surprised that I didn't see her in any movie I watched! Good story and effects, also the acting the the main actress was so good, and the end was suitable for good horror movie.