Interesting concept that was executed well enough to be watchable. I found it refreshing and entertaining.
36 Reviews
Creative and interesting
adeleysim5 January 2019
Interesting concept
wvbk22 December 2020
You rarely see a film about parallel universes in mainstream movies, this film fills the gap. The concept is interesting, the story plays well and well packaged for a small indie film. A few twists add to an entertaining hour and a half.
Would have been a good episode from Tales from the Darkside
TheValleyHillBilly24 July 2021
Cute presentation on the concept of parallel realties. Not a movie that is revolutionary or breaking new ground. Had to be really a cheap movie to make. I generously gave the movie 4 stars. Anything more would be an insult to better executed movie plots of a similar nature. It was a good movie to watch while doing something else...like reading and writing e-mails.
Alternative Banality
Millhaven_Curse24 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Love how in the review section of IMDb there is always at least one person that says of a little known about budget indie movie "This is the worst film I have ever seen!"
For me this isn't one of those. It is bloody close but not the very worst I have ever seen. I have found even with bad films that I have watched down the years there is usually something that keeps you watching until the end, and this was no different. I was actually interested in how this was going to pan out.
A young film-maker and her husband are going to make diary documentary about their super-vegan diet. Not long into the regime as she is inspecting the footage shot from the cameras dotted about the apartment she notices she has captured images of another couple going about their daily business in a slightly different version of their apartment. The couple are also happen to be a slightly different versions of themselves.
Mrs film-maker's reaction? Well you'd think she had discovered that her neighbours had been secretly using her bins outside of her home or some other minor transgression. Her husband's reaction although a little more concerned than she is, he isn't exactly making a fuss seeing that they have somehow opened up a portal to another reality.
The needless to say the acting, dialogue nor plot improve as the film goes on. The characters do all the standard wrong things you'd expect of the genre so no respite there either.
Moral issues of eavesdropping and messing about with a alternate reality time line that without due consideration to the effect it might have barely gets a mention.
Basically a good idea ruined by poor execution.
For me this isn't one of those. It is bloody close but not the very worst I have ever seen. I have found even with bad films that I have watched down the years there is usually something that keeps you watching until the end, and this was no different. I was actually interested in how this was going to pan out.
A young film-maker and her husband are going to make diary documentary about their super-vegan diet. Not long into the regime as she is inspecting the footage shot from the cameras dotted about the apartment she notices she has captured images of another couple going about their daily business in a slightly different version of their apartment. The couple are also happen to be a slightly different versions of themselves.
Mrs film-maker's reaction? Well you'd think she had discovered that her neighbours had been secretly using her bins outside of her home or some other minor transgression. Her husband's reaction although a little more concerned than she is, he isn't exactly making a fuss seeing that they have somehow opened up a portal to another reality.
The needless to say the acting, dialogue nor plot improve as the film goes on. The characters do all the standard wrong things you'd expect of the genre so no respite there either.
Moral issues of eavesdropping and messing about with a alternate reality time line that without due consideration to the effect it might have barely gets a mention.
Basically a good idea ruined by poor execution.
Nonsense and awful acting
carolehmenzies4 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Having read good reviews if this movie I was very disappointed that it did not live up to my expectations. The acting is simply awful - at times wooden and other times cheesy. At the point when the main characters discover their alternate dimension alter egos their reactions were that of two people that had just discovered a new TV box set, not just witnessed something totally unbelievable and shocking. From then on it just got worse as the plot just became a predicable goodies versus badies plot. No explanation at all as to the motives of the alter egos. At one point in the film I wondered if I had missed the fact this movie was a spoof and not an actual thriller! Really don't bother with this poorly thought through and badly acted nonsense!
This is the worst movie I have ever seen
kvanhoff2 September 2017
This is my first time writing a review. I felt I had to speak up after wasting $6 and an hour and 20 minutes of my life that I will never get back. I love horror movies, even bad ones, but this one was truly dreadful. The writing was awful. The acting was terrible. If this had been a student film, it would have gotten an F. The positive ratings must have been paid for. It's an abomination of a film.
Occupants is a single location, dialogue based scifi/ thriller, and rather thought provoking.
templegod216 December 2020
Before I start this review a full disclosure; I was given special permission from 'Occupants' director Russ Emanuel to submit this early review. 'Occupants' has several convention screenings throughout the U.S. this year, which I will link at the end of the review text. In addition, I submitted an unpaid testimonial video for the Peterson Research Institute, my dialogue is not used in the completed film, thus I have decided to review based on the distinct merits of the 82 minute production, instead of recusing myself from review as I did in 'Rock Of Ages'.
Intrinsically, 'Occupants' is a study of reality for the erudite. 'Occupants' forces the watcher to be engaged in the story at all times, and assumes the viewer is an intellectual sci-fi and or horror fan. There is no blood and guts, no murder, maiming, killing or fighting. Director Russ Emanuel and writer Julia Camara craft a bare bones tight suspenseful flick, with just enough information to continue to ask more alternative dimension, and reality questions.
'Occupants' opens innocently enough with couple Annie and Neil Curtis Briana White and Michael Pugliese setting up camera's throughout the house to record and document their commitment to clean living. Of course things go askew when another couple shows up in an alternate reality, and that couple turns out to be them. The highlight in 'Occupants' is the thought provoking and careful acting of Briana as Annie. Although both her and Michael Pugliese had to go through the dual character landscape, Annie had to carry the entire film, not only with dialogue, but every emotion possible, from anger, to happiness, to fright. Look for her star to rise in the coming years.
'Occupants' is basically a single location film, shot in a home. The audience are witnessing the lives of these two characters, and their doppelgangers. This aspect perhaps would have been additionally served by fleshing out one additional couple, beyond the minimal PRI videos. Perhaps a bit of nitpicking, I wanted to see a further scope of field explored, but Russ, in deference to pacing, kept the film tight of focus, which is also fine, but a bit of less impact. Again this is a lower budget film, and the ending is left open and asks more questions. One could assume that this was not meant to be it for the Peterson Research Institute and 'Occupants'.
Look for a fantastic, intuitive, extended cameo from talented 'Star Trek: Voyager' alum Robert Picardo as Dr. Alan Peterson. He is trying to wrap his mind around the goings on of the mysterious Curtis couple, and attempts to offer advice. Picardo is a pro, he has an amazing realism in all of his performances, not like acting, more like life. Again would have been cool for them to actually visit with him rather than video, but alas, the budget constraints, I am sure if a second 'Occupants' film, or a series is made this angle will be explored more in depth. There are concepts, not worth spoiling in 'Occupants', so the story will not be further discussed in this early review.
Definitely a no morons allowed film, if one does not like B movies, nor talking based movies, nor sci-fi, films, that raise more questions than answers, 'Occupants' is not for you. Dichotomy balanced in dimensional portals, juxtaposed into semi delusional state, is 'Occupants' in a nutshell. The film is thoughtful, and worth a purchase. Even with minor quips aside, 'Occupants' rates a 7 out of 10.
Intrinsically, 'Occupants' is a study of reality for the erudite. 'Occupants' forces the watcher to be engaged in the story at all times, and assumes the viewer is an intellectual sci-fi and or horror fan. There is no blood and guts, no murder, maiming, killing or fighting. Director Russ Emanuel and writer Julia Camara craft a bare bones tight suspenseful flick, with just enough information to continue to ask more alternative dimension, and reality questions.
'Occupants' opens innocently enough with couple Annie and Neil Curtis Briana White and Michael Pugliese setting up camera's throughout the house to record and document their commitment to clean living. Of course things go askew when another couple shows up in an alternate reality, and that couple turns out to be them. The highlight in 'Occupants' is the thought provoking and careful acting of Briana as Annie. Although both her and Michael Pugliese had to go through the dual character landscape, Annie had to carry the entire film, not only with dialogue, but every emotion possible, from anger, to happiness, to fright. Look for her star to rise in the coming years.
'Occupants' is basically a single location film, shot in a home. The audience are witnessing the lives of these two characters, and their doppelgangers. This aspect perhaps would have been additionally served by fleshing out one additional couple, beyond the minimal PRI videos. Perhaps a bit of nitpicking, I wanted to see a further scope of field explored, but Russ, in deference to pacing, kept the film tight of focus, which is also fine, but a bit of less impact. Again this is a lower budget film, and the ending is left open and asks more questions. One could assume that this was not meant to be it for the Peterson Research Institute and 'Occupants'.
Look for a fantastic, intuitive, extended cameo from talented 'Star Trek: Voyager' alum Robert Picardo as Dr. Alan Peterson. He is trying to wrap his mind around the goings on of the mysterious Curtis couple, and attempts to offer advice. Picardo is a pro, he has an amazing realism in all of his performances, not like acting, more like life. Again would have been cool for them to actually visit with him rather than video, but alas, the budget constraints, I am sure if a second 'Occupants' film, or a series is made this angle will be explored more in depth. There are concepts, not worth spoiling in 'Occupants', so the story will not be further discussed in this early review.
Definitely a no morons allowed film, if one does not like B movies, nor talking based movies, nor sci-fi, films, that raise more questions than answers, 'Occupants' is not for you. Dichotomy balanced in dimensional portals, juxtaposed into semi delusional state, is 'Occupants' in a nutshell. The film is thoughtful, and worth a purchase. Even with minor quips aside, 'Occupants' rates a 7 out of 10.
Not worth the time.
fad-3879828 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
A decent idea but (very) poorly executed.
Can I remind directors that lost/found/faked 'footage' films are devices to tell a story, to get inside a person and show naked emotion, not an excuse for low budget rubbish.
And Robert Picardo? I expected far better from him.
The associated material says this film won awards. Really? I hate to think what the competition was like.
Only positive is the decent production values, but since it's the inside of a tidy house that's not saying much.
You have been warned, watching this is time you will waste.
Can I remind directors that lost/found/faked 'footage' films are devices to tell a story, to get inside a person and show naked emotion, not an excuse for low budget rubbish.
And Robert Picardo? I expected far better from him.
The associated material says this film won awards. Really? I hate to think what the competition was like.
Only positive is the decent production values, but since it's the inside of a tidy house that's not saying much.
You have been warned, watching this is time you will waste.
Great story!
joseph-13111 December 2020
I enjoyed this film immensely. Brianna White has solid acting chops, as do her co-stars (not surprisingly, she just won the role of Aerith in the Final Fantasy video game remake).
I cannot speak for other reviewers, many of whom seem to have a "dark" history (and love) for trashing low budget movies- but I really did like this film. And there's a reason it's won more than a hundred film festival awards (and I checked- many were low-end festivals, but many more were NOT). So, I highly recommend this film - for horror fans, and for people who just love good stories.
I cannot speak for other reviewers, many of whom seem to have a "dark" history (and love) for trashing low budget movies- but I really did like this film. And there's a reason it's won more than a hundred film festival awards (and I checked- many were low-end festivals, but many more were NOT). So, I highly recommend this film - for horror fans, and for people who just love good stories.
The worst thriller I've watched this year
baseacct22 October 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I signed up for IMDb specifically to leave this review because I'm insulted by the 7 star rating this currently has. The only explanation is that these were left by the filmmakers, or at least paid for by them.
Plays like it was designed specifically to show film students how not to make a movie. At one point they zoom in on the video of a girl's ear until it's made up of about 10 pixels, then "enhance image" pops up in the upper right, and it focuses into a high-def image of her earring. It's hard to believe that a modern filmmaker could not be aware of this trope.
This gets a 2 because the male lead is passable, but overall this is worse than even the lowest budget grindhouse trash, because it's inexcusably boring.
Plays like it was designed specifically to show film students how not to make a movie. At one point they zoom in on the video of a girl's ear until it's made up of about 10 pixels, then "enhance image" pops up in the upper right, and it focuses into a high-def image of her earring. It's hard to believe that a modern filmmaker could not be aware of this trope.
- Banal, expositional dialogue - now that they're terrified and being threatened by their alternate-reality selves, when told they can close the portal by burning the house down: "That's arson!"
- Painfully unrealistic character reactions - female lead is attacked with a frying pan in her kitchen and knocked unconscious. A few plot points later they argue about whether they can call the police.
- If your CG looks THAT BAD, don't include it in the movie, just go with some practical effects. I've literally seen better CG in local TV commercials
- A lot of little things, like the fact that they use digital cameras, but they constantly push screen distortion that you'd only get from VHS tapes to add tension
- Not a single scare the entire movie - like literally not one
This gets a 2 because the male lead is passable, but overall this is worse than even the lowest budget grindhouse trash, because it's inexcusably boring.
Interesting movie
jhr201230 November 2022
What is it with all these reviews where people are looking for some deep meaning behind every movie? Why can't you just enjoy them for the entertainment value they offer?
Case in point is this movie, which is actually titled Alterverse. The premise is interesting. It may not be based in scientific fact, but who cares? The idea of an alternate universe is intriguing.
As a bonus is Briana White. She is an absolute doll (the blonde version). Smart and attractive, a winning combination.
Alterverse is an interesting movie I enjoyed and I think you will as well. Ignore the bad reviews. They are reading way too much into it.
Case in point is this movie, which is actually titled Alterverse. The premise is interesting. It may not be based in scientific fact, but who cares? The idea of an alternate universe is intriguing.
As a bonus is Briana White. She is an absolute doll (the blonde version). Smart and attractive, a winning combination.
Alterverse is an interesting movie I enjoyed and I think you will as well. Ignore the bad reviews. They are reading way too much into it.
A pretty good idea.
gnomewithonesock6 September 2023
This was pretty good cause it showed you what could happen if you alter things and expect other versions of you to just understand. Think of the different wavelengths humans are on in your own universe. That is how you should see this kind of situation. Annie was really a clueless chafector. I wished the movie went a different direction cause i have a lot of questions. I really did enjoy the idea of the camera and frequencies. I dont understand how those letters or the camera got where they did. The movie lost me at that point but overall it was a good idea and annie irritated me a lot. Some ppl just dont know when to stop.
Ridiculous Premise
Nancy_Morgan9 October 2017
The idea of accessing another dimension is interesting but the premise of this film is utterly absurd. To compound this, the acting is wooden and the reactions are nonsensical. If you were to find your video cameras were picking up on an alternate reality I'm pretty sure you would react a bit more extremely than "well that's a bit strange". I love decent low budget independent films, but this was awful. Sorry guys, you should have taken the idea of accessing an alternate reality and gone in a different direction than this. Also it is not necessary to show the camera's on screen menu ("REC", audio wave, battery power etc) in the footage as well as digitally adding lines to the footage to try to prove that it's a type of "found footage" film. Since when, nowadays, do you see this in the final footage in even what is considered "home movies"?
Totally lacking any redeeming factors.
mark-rutherford-969-65501928 October 2017
This is not the worst film I've seen, but it's close. Robert Picardo has a small role, bringing something interesting to an otherwise disappointing film. There is no demonstrable talent in the acting, direction, photography, lighting or writing. It sounds like an interesting proposition and may have been better in different hands. In this case the characters are unsympathetic and the situation soon ridiculous. If you're reading this having seen it already, I sympathise. If you haven't then I urge you to keep looking.
The sci-fi Paranormal Activity
Leofwine_draca18 October 2017
Warning: Spoilers
OCCUPANTS is very much an indie riff on the whole PARANORMAL ACTIVITY concept, with a young couple setting up various cameras around their home to record inexplicable activity. However, the difference here is that this is a science fiction rather than horror film, and parallel realities are the order of the day. The budget is very cheap here, which means there's a lot of theorising and heavy-handed exposition, but the idea isn't too bad. Old-timer Robert Picardo has a supporting role as a doctor following the proceedings.
Note the 100s of fake 8 star reviews on IMDb...So bad couldn't make it through.
plato-421197 November 2017
I have to admit this movie was so simple and boring I only made it about halfway through. Looking at the IMDb reviews it seems obvious there are 100s of fake 8 star reviews.
This movie is mostly 2 actors in 3 rooms talking. Glad I shut it off and saved an hour of my life.
This movie is mostly 2 actors in 3 rooms talking. Glad I shut it off and saved an hour of my life.
Implausible and Illogical
claudio_carvalho6 December 2021
The documentarian Annie Curtis (Briana White) decides to initiate a vegan diet with her husband Neil Curtis (Michael Pugliese) and make a documentary like the reverse of "Super Size Me". She buys and sets up cameras in most spaces of their house to follow their new pattern of eating. While checking the footage, she finds her husband and she in an alternate universe, and she immediately contacts Dr. Alan Peterson (Robert Picardo), a renowned researcher of paranormal activities. He suggests Annie to keep distance from the other couple since a contact could be dangerous. But when she finds a portal and decides to send a message to the other universe, she learns that Neil and she are in danger.
"Occupants" is a very low budget sci-fi with an implausible and illogical storyline. The plot and attitudes of Annie Curtis are stupid and beyond any reasonable sense. In addition, the acting and location are very poor, and I was lured by the fake reviews in IMDb. Fortunately, I bought this DVD on sale for less than 40 cents. By the way, the art of the cover is the best part of this movie. My vote is three.
Title (Brazil): "Habitantes" ("Inhabitants")
"Occupants" is a very low budget sci-fi with an implausible and illogical storyline. The plot and attitudes of Annie Curtis are stupid and beyond any reasonable sense. In addition, the acting and location are very poor, and I was lured by the fake reviews in IMDb. Fortunately, I bought this DVD on sale for less than 40 cents. By the way, the art of the cover is the best part of this movie. My vote is three.
Title (Brazil): "Habitantes" ("Inhabitants")
Delightfully different!
glarry7 December 2020
I found this film to be a fresh look at the theory of parallel dimensions. The pacing is creative and deliciously creepy. The horror of the situation slowly crept up on me like a tarantula climbing up my leg. The acting was superb! Very realistic! Bravo to all in involved in this incredibly intriguing film!
You're a man of integrity in both universes, Mr. Spock
nogodnomasters4 July 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Annie (Briana White) has set up cameras around her home as her and her husband Neil (Michael Pugliese) turn vegan. They say it opens you up to other worlds. Needless to say the cameras start to pick up other people who look similar to themselves, but are distinctly different, reminding me of a Star Trek episode. They discover their counterparts have a rocky relationship and Annie wants to help Anna.
Briana White was a joy to watch. She did all the cutesy things a girl does down to the toe pointing when talking. The film was more science fiction than horror, reminding me of another low budget film, "Primer" which had more geek stuff which this one missed the boat. It would have been better if they were conversing with a quantum physicist talking about string theory than some paranormal quack. Guide: No F-words, sex, or nudity.
Winner of numerous awards including best sci-fi at Shriekfest 2016
Briana White was a joy to watch. She did all the cutesy things a girl does down to the toe pointing when talking. The film was more science fiction than horror, reminding me of another low budget film, "Primer" which had more geek stuff which this one missed the boat. It would have been better if they were conversing with a quantum physicist talking about string theory than some paranormal quack. Guide: No F-words, sex, or nudity.
Winner of numerous awards including best sci-fi at Shriekfest 2016
A riveting movie once the beginning is gotten through
raggedycolbath18 August 2017
It starts out as a Reality show, not my cup of tea, but, as always I give them a chance, glad I do, it turned out to be a hell of a sci-fi ride I couldn't think of shutting off so give it a chance and go with it, though, mention of alternate realities giving away what was expected was a momentary let down to what was coming but I let it go to see what the characters expected, glad I did though still the characters shouldn't have known such a thing, it progressed like Jacob's Ladder in build up and went on it's way creating a mystery of it's own without finishing, a real must see, a sci-fi that makes you laugh in places, snicker and go wide eyed in other scenes, you'll be glad to have experience this reality like sci-fi movie, don't let the beginning turn you off, see it threw, then decide...
"Occupants" – A 'found footage' film of voyeurism and psychological terror
TGGeeks31 August 2016
There is something to be said about "found footage" films. Recently, we have started to see an increase of this style of filmmaking, and while a few have been firmly grounded in the drama genre, the majority of them are easily in the horror category. It's even possible to consider "found footage" as a sub-genre. The trick, however, is to keep it fresh. And Occupants has succeeded.
From the opening moments of Occupants we are immediately introduced to the Peterson Research Institute, an organization that deals with parapsychology, metaphysics, mythology, and extrasensory perception. We are shown a case file of a young couple, Annie and Neil Curtis from Los Angeles California, as well as some text scrolling across the screen informing the audience that this footage we are about to see was used with permission by the Peterson Research Institute, and that this case is unsolved. From here on the entire movie is built on this "found footage" sub-genre on the story premise of this young couple going through a detox regiment. Annie, is a filmmaker/documentarian and her latest project is showing how detoxification through diet and healthy living for 30 days will improve their lives. To adequately record all of this she has placed cameras in almost every room of the home that she and her husband, Neil, live in. This includes their living room, dining room, and kitchen. Annie does have an office in her home where she edits her films, and some of the footage used is taken from her computer camera as we see her working and editing her recorded footage. It is here that the story slowly starts to turn badly for our young couple as the footage Annie, and later Neil, review start to show glitches. They start off really quickly and are sporadic, but as the film progresses they start to occur with greater frequency, and then the heart of this thriller is revealed; they continue to see the same rooms and the same people in the recorded footage, only they are not the same rooms and the same people. The rooms are painted and decorated differently, and the young couple has a different look and appearance about them. Somehow the cameras that Annie has set up are now peering into a parallel universe. The observations made by "our" Annie and Neil start off as purely benign, but as the story progresses it becomes clear that things are not all rosy "on the other side," and what started off as a bad, slow turn, for our happy couple, suddenly takes a very seriously dark shift in this movie, now adding a creepy voyeuristic layer to this film.
Julia Camera wrote the story and she also served as this film's co-producer. The movie's stars are Michael Pugliese and Briana White. They clearly make up half of why this movie performs so strongly. They have excellent chemistry with each other, allowing us to believe that they are a happy, very much in love couple, especially in the first part of the film as they are documenting their detox regiment. You believe that you are actually watching something that might be on YouTube or other form of social media. Kudos must go to director Russ Emanuel for it was his decision that these two actors spend time together away from the set and the cameras just to become familiar with each other before filming. It worked brilliantly, especially as Annie starts to slowly have an emotional breakdown due to a highly unpleasant turn of events. The comfort level that actress Briana must have with her acting partner, Michael, needs to be there in order to give a truly emotionally vulnerable performance of this nature.
Michael Pugliese, as Neil, comes off as mostly jovial, optimistic, and very much in love with wife Annie. However it is in his portrayal of the "other" Neil that we see a totally different person. Michael's challenge is to play the same character, yet with a different twist. As Annie observes earlier, she says, "they are us," but as Neil later states, "they are totally different people." That's a difficult line to straddle and Michael executes with perfection. Both Briana's and Michael's acting could have destroyed this film. However they didn't. Their performances pulled me in, kept me intrigued, and seeing the events unfold through their eyes, as well as their reactions to said events, created a level of suspense that left me exhausted when the film was over.
The other half of this film's success rests on the shoulder's of director Russ Emanuel. With Occupants he manages to deliver two different stories, and yet they are sort of the same story. The way he was able to direct both Michael and Briana to have them act out two different parts, and yet the same parts, is what makes this entire film work, not to mention having the vision to have two parallel story lines intersect, and then later interact, in near perfect synchronicity. One last mention must go to actor Robert Picardo as Dr. Alan Peterson of the Peterson Research Institute. We only see his character in the film by way of video chat, but his part is in no way inconsequential. He is there to occasionally provide advice to our Annie and Neil as they try to understand, and deal with, what has become a series of terror filled events.
The most bone-chilling horror film is that where it is voyeuristic, and while this film starts off as "found footage," the moment it shifts to where Annie and Neil are the voyeurs is when the true psychological horror manifests itself. Through the incredible acting and directing of this film, we become the voyeur as we witness the nightmare that Annie and Neil are experiencing. Even as the closing credits were rolling, and for quite some time after that, I found myself quite shaken by what I had watched.
From the opening moments of Occupants we are immediately introduced to the Peterson Research Institute, an organization that deals with parapsychology, metaphysics, mythology, and extrasensory perception. We are shown a case file of a young couple, Annie and Neil Curtis from Los Angeles California, as well as some text scrolling across the screen informing the audience that this footage we are about to see was used with permission by the Peterson Research Institute, and that this case is unsolved. From here on the entire movie is built on this "found footage" sub-genre on the story premise of this young couple going through a detox regiment. Annie, is a filmmaker/documentarian and her latest project is showing how detoxification through diet and healthy living for 30 days will improve their lives. To adequately record all of this she has placed cameras in almost every room of the home that she and her husband, Neil, live in. This includes their living room, dining room, and kitchen. Annie does have an office in her home where she edits her films, and some of the footage used is taken from her computer camera as we see her working and editing her recorded footage. It is here that the story slowly starts to turn badly for our young couple as the footage Annie, and later Neil, review start to show glitches. They start off really quickly and are sporadic, but as the film progresses they start to occur with greater frequency, and then the heart of this thriller is revealed; they continue to see the same rooms and the same people in the recorded footage, only they are not the same rooms and the same people. The rooms are painted and decorated differently, and the young couple has a different look and appearance about them. Somehow the cameras that Annie has set up are now peering into a parallel universe. The observations made by "our" Annie and Neil start off as purely benign, but as the story progresses it becomes clear that things are not all rosy "on the other side," and what started off as a bad, slow turn, for our happy couple, suddenly takes a very seriously dark shift in this movie, now adding a creepy voyeuristic layer to this film.
Julia Camera wrote the story and she also served as this film's co-producer. The movie's stars are Michael Pugliese and Briana White. They clearly make up half of why this movie performs so strongly. They have excellent chemistry with each other, allowing us to believe that they are a happy, very much in love couple, especially in the first part of the film as they are documenting their detox regiment. You believe that you are actually watching something that might be on YouTube or other form of social media. Kudos must go to director Russ Emanuel for it was his decision that these two actors spend time together away from the set and the cameras just to become familiar with each other before filming. It worked brilliantly, especially as Annie starts to slowly have an emotional breakdown due to a highly unpleasant turn of events. The comfort level that actress Briana must have with her acting partner, Michael, needs to be there in order to give a truly emotionally vulnerable performance of this nature.
Michael Pugliese, as Neil, comes off as mostly jovial, optimistic, and very much in love with wife Annie. However it is in his portrayal of the "other" Neil that we see a totally different person. Michael's challenge is to play the same character, yet with a different twist. As Annie observes earlier, she says, "they are us," but as Neil later states, "they are totally different people." That's a difficult line to straddle and Michael executes with perfection. Both Briana's and Michael's acting could have destroyed this film. However they didn't. Their performances pulled me in, kept me intrigued, and seeing the events unfold through their eyes, as well as their reactions to said events, created a level of suspense that left me exhausted when the film was over.
The other half of this film's success rests on the shoulder's of director Russ Emanuel. With Occupants he manages to deliver two different stories, and yet they are sort of the same story. The way he was able to direct both Michael and Briana to have them act out two different parts, and yet the same parts, is what makes this entire film work, not to mention having the vision to have two parallel story lines intersect, and then later interact, in near perfect synchronicity. One last mention must go to actor Robert Picardo as Dr. Alan Peterson of the Peterson Research Institute. We only see his character in the film by way of video chat, but his part is in no way inconsequential. He is there to occasionally provide advice to our Annie and Neil as they try to understand, and deal with, what has become a series of terror filled events.
The most bone-chilling horror film is that where it is voyeuristic, and while this film starts off as "found footage," the moment it shifts to where Annie and Neil are the voyeurs is when the true psychological horror manifests itself. Through the incredible acting and directing of this film, we become the voyeur as we witness the nightmare that Annie and Neil are experiencing. Even as the closing credits were rolling, and for quite some time after that, I found myself quite shaken by what I had watched.
A great suspenseful.......
e-brown-839-18170228 August 2016
OCCUPANTS is a great, suspenseful thriller!
I feel that even Alfred himself may even be impressed with the patient use of suspense!
The movie is skillfully crafted, building into a crescendo of suspense which skirts the aspects of horror!
A great movie to watch and experience!
With each time finding a "new" hidden "ah-ha" - which makes you wonder "how did I miss that?!"
I have now read the screenplay and watched the movie several times, and I'm still not "tired" of this movie.
OCCUPANTS has really made me dream about the possibilities of parallel worlds, and the possibilities of crossing over!
I feel that you too will never be the same after watching this movie!
I feel that even Alfred himself may even be impressed with the patient use of suspense!
The movie is skillfully crafted, building into a crescendo of suspense which skirts the aspects of horror!
A great movie to watch and experience!
With each time finding a "new" hidden "ah-ha" - which makes you wonder "how did I miss that?!"
I have now read the screenplay and watched the movie several times, and I'm still not "tired" of this movie.
OCCUPANTS has really made me dream about the possibilities of parallel worlds, and the possibilities of crossing over!
I feel that you too will never be the same after watching this movie!
Very Spooky Film
fmodica19 December 2020
Who doesn't love a premise of alternate reality!?!!
wickedprops18 December 2020
The premise of the film is an interesting one, definitely makes you think of the environment around us. The canard POV was definitely a good choice, and makes great sense considering the the storyline and makes up for any camera flaws. The actor/actresses are engaged and make the film seem even more realistic for the audience. Ignor the negative reviews from rating trolls, be sure to check it out!!!
Great film with a few twists
seanzxr8 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This was brilliantly written about a Modern day couple with several twist into an alternate parallel universe.
SPOILER: The wife in both universes is played by the same person, which I still have a hard time believing. And if you lose your keys under a table, you knew where it went.
SPOILER: The wife in both universes is played by the same person, which I still have a hard time believing. And if you lose your keys under a table, you knew where it went.
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