parsonm2 This is one that slipped by me.The reviews seemed mediocre to average on IMDb which generally among horror ratings means it may be decent. I avoided spoilers on this one since there seemed to be a mystery of sorts involved. This is a decent supernatural horror movie. I've seen a couple movies based on Jim Jones type suicide cults, its been done before and as good as some have been, seeing more of the same generally doesn't interest me. This was something completely different though more akin to H.P. Lovecraft's "The Thing on the Doorstep" or the movie "Skeleton Key" which I won't go into detail about but I'd recommend for similar reasons. Needless to say, I enjoyed it. It's not stellar but it's good and well done.

sukanya-samy Jessica Alba, Lily Rabe (from the American Horror Story) and Thomas Jane (from The Mist fame) star in this low-budget horror film and I admit, the star cast itself made me want to see the movie. Its on Netflix and its fairly a recent release, so I was like why not. The movie has some surprises which I didn't anticipate, so I am making sure this review does not have spoilers.First reviewed on broth of blogsIt connects to a true story about Jim Jones, played by Thomas Jane and how he ordered mass suicides, which resulted in the greatest single loss of American civilian life in a deliberate act until the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.Plot and Script25 years after a cult commits what looks like a mass-suicide, the lone survivor Sarah Hope (Rabe) decides to go back to the house where it all happened. Only this time, she has Alba and her crew to film her reactions. Alba has another motive – she is the daughter of the FBI agent who raided the place and her father committed suicide just days after the raid. Alba feels connected to Rabe because the same incident destroyed both their families. Upon arriving at the crime scene, weird things start happening and they discover tapes that the leader of the cult, Jane had recorded. They find out the main purpose of the cult was not just to follow their leader, but more sinister.Without going into details, the plot has major holes. There is no explanation about how the crew who is watching the tape is able to see the incidents like they were actually there – and so you as the audience, is even more confused. The first 30 minutes is really interesting but then it starts tumbling down without logic.Characterization and Acting (C&A)Thomas Jane gives a great performance as the leader of the cult and you can see why people would follow him. Its amazing how some of these guys can brainwash an entire sect but that's the power that ordinary people give these guys.Alba and Rabe were just OK, no great shakes. The others didn't have much of a part to play.The thing that annoyed me most was that when weird things start happening, they would be like, ya okay, this is nothing. Wouldn't you be on the edge? Wouldn't you not volunteer to go alone into a house where you heard whispers?Well, our characters did all those stupid things and more.Sounds and Effects (S&E)Another thing I hate about horror movies nowadays are the nonsensical jump scenes. Just putting a loud noise with a sudden break in the visual is not called a jump scare people, its just noise. I think some of the more nuanced filmmakers understand that – like James Wan. When you see his movies, you will realize that he uses sounds to build up the tension, not just use a loud sound to make you jump.Cinematography and Visuals (C&V)A large part of the movie is in the dark, so it is a little difficult to see but the I like the look of the film. It is deliberately washed out to convey the tragedy. The old films of the cult also show the 70s/80s where everything was so sepia and hippie.Direction and Overall (D &O)I wish the movie didn't take a super-natural turn. The first half hour had so much promise. And I wish the story explained more of what was happening – the reactions to some of the incidents in the house were just idiotic and unexplained.So here are my scores:Plot and Script (P&S)- 0.5Characterization and Acting (C&A) – 1Sounds and Effects (S&E) – 1Cinematography and Visuals (C&V) – 1.5Direction and Overall (D &O) – 1Overall Score – 5 out of 10Watch it if you are really really bored and you have tonnes of time, its on Netflix. First reviewed on broth of blogs on wordpress

jdollak I was a little surprised to see another movie based on the Jim Jones massacre after watching The Sacrament recently. This movie takes a strangely supernatural approach to the subject matter, which could be a decent idea. However, the movie gradually falls apart the longer it goes on.The first misstep is the photography. I've seen this trend toward using washed out colors in horror movies, and every time I see it, I hate it a little more. I want to see what happens. I don't want to spend my time trying to figure out what I'm looking at. The approach comes across like a muddy black-and-white picture with very low contrast. Mix this with mostly dark interiors and exteriors, a bit of shaky-cam, and I have no clue why I'm still watching.Then the story gets going. A documentary crew arrives at the compound where a cult committed mass suicide during the 80s. The crew has a guest - the one survivor of that mass suicide, who doesn't remember anything. Until, of course, she does.A bunch of stuff happens, involving people moving around inside and outside a house. Ghosts are involved, and some sort of possession. All of this is a dull slog, since it's hard to care about it if you can't understand what you're watching. Mostly interchangeable characters also make this hard to follow.The one saving grace that the movie has is the flashback scenes, which we get to watch in the form of videos that the crew watches. There are a few questions I have about this. Why are they using a projector when there are VHS tapes? When we go into watching one of these movies, how are these nicely edited with multiple camera angles? This is supposed to be a found-footage portion of the story, but it's actually better than the rest of the movie. At least, it seems that way because it's got better lighting than the rest of it.The twist to the story is that the cult was actually right. They had found some path to immortality of the soul (or something like that). They were in the process of going through the last step when the police arrived and interrupted it, ensuring that everyone would die.Why did the police arrive then?The logistical and plot problems of the story aren't the biggest offense. What bothered me the most was how the story effectively tries to give credibility to Jim Jones. It sucks all of the horror out of these charismatic leaders that persuade (and force) people to do their bidding, and exchanges that for a cartoonish ghost villain.In summary, this movie took a premise that was legitimately scary, then tried to justify the real horrors, then turned the source of that horror into a misunderstood ghost.Nothing scary in it. Mostly boring, but also sort of puzzling. I have the feeling that the twist was so central in the writer's mind that he never considered if it was a good idea or not.

ten-often Don't listen to the naysayers who think the only decent movie is a top-notch blockbuster world-wide smash hit.Don't listen to those who say this isn't a "real horror/suspense movie." Some think real horror must be gobs of guts and blood. Some think it must keep you constantly on the edge of your seat while tearing up the armrests with your fingernails.Nay nay I say. There is room for everything as long as it is done entertainingly.This movie has a gripping story contrary to most horror flicks which simply flash panties while young girls run from monsters with stories that someone was abandoned, unloved, or otherwise wounded by society and now spends their deformed adulthood splicing up people (or it's a monster from an urban legend). Same stories, different colors of underwear.Well, let me remove the nails from this cross and help you transcend to a new adventure beyond the veil of horror.Lean back with your popcorn and soda, enjoy the story and mild supernatural mystery. You won't find fingernail tears in your armrests but you will enjoy watching the story unfold even if you don't get to see those gratuity flashes.Watch it with friends and you may even find yourself discussing the possibilities of the spiritual theories posited within. Just for fun, of course.