FrightFest

8/10 - Solid if not spectacular. Great performance from the youngest kid in particular.

Another enjoyable flick, albeit the plot had been spoilt for me by reading a too informative advance review, without which I may have enjoyed it even more. The kids and Sarah Bolger did well in their roles, while the python scene is already legendary! 7.5 / 10

I gave it 5/10. I went off it a bit when the babysitter started doing her bed time story of her background giving reasons for why she was like she was. I just couldn't buy it. I was hopeful at the beginning with the kid riding the bike that the film was going to have a black protagonist but it was not to be. Horror is very white.

I was wondering if the film was tapping into the fear of parents - anything can happen to children if you're not watching them, worst nightmares come true - or harking back to memories of us being kids and babysat by adults we didn't like and having to do as we're told when we have a sneeky suspicion they are wrong? Or just generally looked after people that weren't our parents/uncomfortable with.

And is the whole babysitting thing too American? I never really had that or did it.

As a red-head, I felt the ginger kid got the worst treatment. Deservedly some may say. I remain steadfast in my belief that gingers are under-represented but over-abused in horror. That said, she was incredibly annoying and I felt that Emilie was somewhat justified in her actions.

I quite liked this one, although it was a bit messy plot wise. Great acting, especially from the youngest kid.

We knew she was wrong from the start, but was interesting to see the kids come to that realisation through her irresponsibility and lack of care. The bedtime story scene was poor exposition but I suppose they had to relay her character motivation somehow.

Loved the python and porn VHS scenes, deeply uncomfortable to watch. The elder boy manning up at the end was excellent, especially when he drove the sports car.

Oswald Cobblepot wrote:The elder boy manning up at the end was excellent, especially when he drove the sports car.

Except that most adult Americans can't 'drive stick' so I'm dubious as to how an 11 year-old mastered clutch control on a classic car that probably had no synchro-mesh.

That said, I did quite enjoy this. Its lo-fi ending was quite refreshing given that we can usually , so the way it almost fizzled out was a nice change. Plus, as has been mentioned a couple of times, the kids' performances were great. Either that youngest one is a natural actor or most of his scenes were ad-libbed.

first third was interesting and then it turned into the most ridiculous plot.

spoilers ahead............
i know its just a film but we need a bit of realism 2/10

killer guinea pigs wrote:spoilers ahead...

Edited your post to add the spoiler tags and hide the spoilers. Technology, eh?

This movie was actually quite disturbing, one of the best movies of the year.

This was disturbing and I felt my body cringe in places and want to look away but couldn't. ..or wouldn't. Usually right after it made me chuckle to myself in an air of disbelief. As if it made my brain go "ha! Oh my, wait...no way...ok the thought in my brain is actually happening...and it got even more disturbing!" Which rarely happens so good job there if that was the intent.

I went from internally booing and cheering, then booing the kids efforts again then kind of happy at how it ended. Even with the 'Home Alone' aspects thrown in at a couple of points.

would I watch it again? Probably not. Will I talk about it? Yes . Will I recommend it to others? Maybe a select few.

3/5