When I saw this film, all I knew of it was the title and it was a horror. I didn't know the plot, the cast, I didn't see a trailer so I had no idea what to expect. I suspected it was an anthology type horror based on the title but that was the most I could guess at and what I saw was a very well made and genuinely scary film with a really good ghost story.
First the film is quite fast paced. It wastes no time getting to the 6 main characters of the film and most of the characters are quite likable. A chain of events leads them to explore a haunted house and just them being in the house is creepy enough. One of the characters takes a book filled with scary stories from the house and that leads to the rest of the plot of the film.
Now this could have been a lazily written ghost film where the ghost kills most of the characters for taking the book and leaves just one so she can return the book, apologize and move on. Instead the development of the story is very well done and written. You can understand the origins of the main antagonist and why she is doing what's she's doing.
Also the casting is also very well done. There are some real rising stars in this film who can act really well. You really feel for them as they fear for their lives. The character of Zoe is very sympathetic as we learn more about her and she becomes more interesting. I was also very impressed with the clever scripting and editing towards the films 3rd act.
Now what this film gets right are the clever twists and overshadowing to the characters fates. One character hates a scarecrow so much, he beats it constantly and he ends up becoming the scarecrow and can I just say that transformation was so harrowing to watch, one characters is obsessed with body parts in food and ends up actually eating a body part in a stew, another has a spider bite which gets ends up becoming a spider nest. All of this sounds like something from a bad tv movie but is executed so well, at times you can't help but look away as it happens.
Now I cannot continue this review without mentioning the creepy villains in this film. They are bloody scary to look at let alone watch them cause chaos. Whoever designed these visually terrifying and nightmare inducing creatures deserves more recognition. Possibly an award. The final monster in the 3rd act was a little cartoonish but it was still terrifying.
However there are some misteps that occur throughout the film mainly some cliches that make you question the characters decisions. In fact some fates are quite avoidable. One major cliche that occurs is the characters split up at one point. Have these kids never seen a horror film? You never split up during a horror film especially if you're next to die. The best thing to do is to stay together.
Another cliche there happens is the characters don't run away or do anything until it's too late. They literally stand in one spot and wait until the monster starts coming for them or stops forming before they realize it's time to run. One final cliche I need to point out is one character realizes there's a monster in his house so he decides to run upstairs, go into his room and hide under his bed. Why he didn't think of running out of the house to his friends is beyond me. It's like these kids want to experience to gruelling events that happen to them.
The final scene does hint at sequel being made but personally I don't think it should happen. This film seems perfect as a standalone horror film and I fear making a sequel would ruin it. Some sequels can appear risky and turn out to be great or just as good but the majority of horror sequels don't end up being that good..
Despite the cliches, this is a very well made and creative film that gives plenty of scares and is an enjoyable watch.
⭐⭐⭐
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