U/A; HORROR
Dir: Joe Dante
Cast: Chris Massoglia, Haley Bennett and Nathan GambleRating: **1/2
WHAT'S IT ABOUT: A single mother (Teri Polo) and her two sons (Massoglia and Gamble) move into a new neighbourhood. The older son, Dane is a cranky introvert about having to move often while the younger one, Lucas is more upbeat and outgoing. After an informal introduction to the girl next door, the three come upon a locked hole in the boys' basement. They find the keys, try every mean to find out what's at the bottom ¦ everything short of actually going down there. Well, maybe they do... and maybe they don't. I'll keep that one hanging. What I can tell you is this: that hole causes the three youngsters to face their deepest, darkest fears.
WHAT'S HOT: Joe Dante is an old hand in helming spookfests and the thrills and chills are in place. However, since the story falls in the genre of psychological horror, the creatures never really scare. It's the moods and situations that really grab and startle you. Don't be fooled by this film's leisurely pace and simple enough storyline, the real hooks are the film's witty dialogue and the deadpan acts by the lead trio. Trust me, it actually works in their favour. Thankfully, there are very few cheesy lines and you don't have characters stating the obvious. That's such a relief! The film doesn't spend too much time with subplots.
WHAT'S NOT: For all its worth, the film shouldn't have been so middling. It should have gone for the kill and heightened the scare fare several notches higher. You keep getting the nagging feeling you're in for a rerun of Jumanji. The film fails on one factor alone: the finesse of visual effects. Agreed, the story didn't demand a greater scale, but as a viewer watching a movie like this one, expectations do run high. Also, what's with Dane calling Lucas a 'dickhead' all the time?
WHAT TO DO: It's a decent entertainer but had the potential to do so much better. Don't go expecting much and it will surprise you. If you plan to skip it anyway, it would do you well to rent a DVD one lazy afternoon.
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