October 9, 2010
A remarkably creepy film for only a 12 certificate, maintaining the suspense right up until about twenty minutes from the end, which benefits from a quirky script and a top-notch cast. It starts out intriguing - grumpy teen Dane and his kid brother Lucas have been forced to move to a small town from Brooklyn and into a beautiful old house. In the cellar they discover a trap door bolted shut with many padlocks. You know it's going to be a really bad idea to cut them off, but what the heck, Dane does it anyway. Underneath is a mysterious black hole that has no bottom; it swallows all light and everything they chuck down it - but something down there is watching them and pretty soon it's going to come up and find them.
A splendid character turn from Bruce Dern as 'Creepy Carl' who used to live in the house introduces the correct air of menace, doom and panic. The evil darkness down the hole, as you might expect, issues forth as your worst nightmares. Remember the bit in Voyage of the Dawn Treader, when they get to the Dark Island where your dreams become real (not day-dreams - dreams)? The things that terrify twelve year old Lucas and peronsable girl-next-door Julie are indeed very disagreeable, and these are the best parts of the movie - as is usual with such films, the minute you get an explanation of what's going on it ceases to be very frightening.
Dane's worst nightmare is a splendidly Freudian and tragic one, explored in a wonderfully retro dream sequence that's a clear homage to vintage Hitchcock. Teri Polo is on top form as the brave single mum from whom all this terror has to be concealed - not an easy task when the nightmares are as real as cars and can be seen by everyone else. Nathan Gamble as Lucas and Hayley Bennett as Julie are also wonderful, but best of all is Chris Massoglia - last seen as the reluctant hero in the somewhat patchy but interesting Vampire's Assistant, he now appears to have grown very appealingly into his face and body and to be an effective and rivetting actor. He's particularly good at moody teen angst in the opening of the film, and it's great to watch him being drawn into the adventure in spite of himself.
So pretty good, and thoroughly recommended (just close your mind off for the final twenty minutes!)
A splendid character turn from Bruce Dern as 'Creepy Carl' who used to live in the house introduces the correct air of menace, doom and panic. The evil darkness down the hole, as you might expect, issues forth as your worst nightmares. Remember the bit in Voyage of the Dawn Treader, when they get to the Dark Island where your dreams become real (not day-dreams - dreams)? The things that terrify twelve year old Lucas and peronsable girl-next-door Julie are indeed very disagreeable, and these are the best parts of the movie - as is usual with such films, the minute you get an explanation of what's going on it ceases to be very frightening.
Dane's worst nightmare is a splendidly Freudian and tragic one, explored in a wonderfully retro dream sequence that's a clear homage to vintage Hitchcock. Teri Polo is on top form as the brave single mum from whom all this terror has to be concealed - not an easy task when the nightmares are as real as cars and can be seen by everyone else. Nathan Gamble as Lucas and Hayley Bennett as Julie are also wonderful, but best of all is Chris Massoglia - last seen as the reluctant hero in the somewhat patchy but interesting Vampire's Assistant, he now appears to have grown very appealingly into his face and body and to be an effective and rivetting actor. He's particularly good at moody teen angst in the opening of the film, and it's great to watch him being drawn into the adventure in spite of himself.
So pretty good, and thoroughly recommended (just close your mind off for the final twenty minutes!)