[yasr_overall_rating]
After a doctor is called to visit a crumbling manor, strange things begin to occur.
I will say, I really wanted to enjoy this film. It de it hard for me to do that though. All the individual pieces are well done. However, as a whole, this movie just doesn’t work as well as it should. The whole plot is honestly quite interesting, the characters are also very interesting and have a decent amount of depth to them. There are just some things that happen that contradict what has been set up previously that just ruins the film as a whole.
For starters, the cast of characters are spot on, everyone in this is extremely interesting. I can say that I never really grew bored with them. That being said, with this being a period piece, I did feel like things, at times, were a bit too perfect. In the sense that the characters did not let their flaws come full force. Everything seemed like it was wrapped up in a perfect bow almost. I’d say the biggest example of this is Faraday (Domhnall Gleeson), he never really lets himself go. Now that could just be part of his character, I just do not believe him when things get to their peak. Which is a shame because there was much more to that character in my opinion.
In terms of atmosphere, this films nails it, especially from a visual sense of creating a tone that is both tense and spooky along with a sound design that adds to these senses to make you a bit paranoid. That even adds another layer of uneasy to make your viewing even tenser. It just leads to nothing though, in spite of all the individual pieces and technical mastery. Nothing really happens, it just ends with you going “oh okay.”
With it all being said, this movie does have a lot going for it. However, it never quite gets there, I wanted it to so badly. Whenever it seemed like they were putting their foot on the gas they choose to slow down and play it safe. I’d say it is worth checking out at some point just not really in a theater setting, I only say this because I don’t think it is worth the money.
In theaters Friday, August 31st
