The subject matter of this movie is disturbing. Let's get that out of the way to start with. But nevertheless this is a well put together horror movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat right the way through. There are a couple of mis-fires in the plot and camera work (which are discussed elsewhere in these reviews so I wont rehash them) but for the most part this is very well done.
The acting is superb. The kids are exceptionally good especially the oldest boy in a very demanding role - the film is carried by him as much as the mother character. The only real let down is the ending. Sorry, but it was completely stupid. That just wouldn't happen in real life and when you take such great pains to make a "realistic" movie you can't get away with such a ridiculous conclusion to it. The same is true of the major plot holes. I still recommend this movie - as long as you can handle the idea of children being killed which not everyone can do. BUT I would stop the movie a couple of minutes before the end. You'll know the spot. It was a perfect place to finish but then they jumped forward a few weeks or whatever and stuck in a ludicrous "surprise".
The thing is, if you're going to tackle a subject as distressing and fraught as a mother murdering her children you absolutely cannot make it a silly, "fright night" shocker with gaping plot holes and tacked on stupid "twists" at the end. You can get away with doing that in most horror flicks - especially slashers - because people don't mind as much when it's totally exaggerated and not very likely stuff going on all through the movie. But this movie was handling something much more real and terribly possible involving children AND they were portraying it as a straight realistic story, not as something supernatural or bizarre. The makers of this flick needed to keep that in mind and show respect for the topic, but instead they went for the cheap and nasty option. I think this explains their low ratings.
One of the better movies around in this genre right now - especially if you prefer realistic drama, nail-biting suspense & acting over simplistic "gore-fests". But it lost a lot of points for the ending & some ridiculous plot issues.
The acting is superb. The kids are exceptionally good especially the oldest boy in a very demanding role - the film is carried by him as much as the mother character. The only real let down is the ending. Sorry, but it was completely stupid. That just wouldn't happen in real life and when you take such great pains to make a "realistic" movie you can't get away with such a ridiculous conclusion to it. The same is true of the major plot holes. I still recommend this movie - as long as you can handle the idea of children being killed which not everyone can do. BUT I would stop the movie a couple of minutes before the end. You'll know the spot. It was a perfect place to finish but then they jumped forward a few weeks or whatever and stuck in a ludicrous "surprise".
The thing is, if you're going to tackle a subject as distressing and fraught as a mother murdering her children you absolutely cannot make it a silly, "fright night" shocker with gaping plot holes and tacked on stupid "twists" at the end. You can get away with doing that in most horror flicks - especially slashers - because people don't mind as much when it's totally exaggerated and not very likely stuff going on all through the movie. But this movie was handling something much more real and terribly possible involving children AND they were portraying it as a straight realistic story, not as something supernatural or bizarre. The makers of this flick needed to keep that in mind and show respect for the topic, but instead they went for the cheap and nasty option. I think this explains their low ratings.
One of the better movies around in this genre right now - especially if you prefer realistic drama, nail-biting suspense & acting over simplistic "gore-fests". But it lost a lot of points for the ending & some ridiculous plot issues.