Written and directed by Zak Hilditch, based on a short story by Stephen King. Starring Thomas Jane, Molly Parker, Dylan Schmid, Neal McDonough, Kaitlyn Bernard, Brian d’Arcy James, Eric Keenleyside and Bob Frazer.
Plot: a farmer decides to murder his wife to stop her from selling their farm, but he convinces his son to help, he winds up in an nightmare he never saw coming.
Wilfred James (Jane) opens the film, sitting in a hotel room, writing a confession. He’s going to tell us a story. The story of how he got to be in this hotel and why he needs to make this confession. So, we go back in time several years and get to meet his wife and son. The son, Henry (Schmid) is living well on the family farm. He’s in love with the neighbor’s daughter, Shannon (Bernard) and is pretty happy. Arlette (Parker) however, in unhappy and I’ll admit it, a bit of a bitch. She doesn’t just threaten Wilfred with divorce, she also threatens to take Henry with her.
Thing is, Henry doesn’t want to leave the farm either, but Arlette doesn’t care. She is convinced Henry is better off without Shannon. Possibly better off with only her in his life forever and ever. She even says very, very inappropriate things to him about his relationship at the dinner table. Things that I would never say to any man, let alone my own son. So, when it comes time to murder Arlette and Wilfred decides he needs Henry’s help, Henry actually goes along with it. I’m not saying it was the right thing to do because I believe someone would’ve killed her sooner or later anyhow. But they do it and it doesn’t turn out well for them.
When they kill Arlette, they throw her body into the farm’s dried up well. Wilfred tells everyone that she went to the city without them, taking only what she could carry. Henry gets a little too quiet though and Shannon senses something is wrong. She still continues to see him however, and even gets pregnant. Her father (McDonough) is going to send her away and when Wilfred agrees that it’s probably the best decision, Henry runs aways with her.
The story isn’t a conventional one. I haven’t seen this sort of ending in a while. It was crazy, crafty and creepy. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I didn’t enjoy all the animal deaths, but it was all for a reason, so I’ll accept it. No one was truly likable, but the rules were followed and the effects were sufficiently frightening. I jumped once or twice. And I’ve read the story, so I know this movie was a suprisingly good adaptation.
I suppose I could list my favorite movies here, but instead I'll give you a strange glimpse into what makes me TaraRomero.
1. I met George Romero. He was the kindest and sweetest man. He talked to me for longer than he should have with the line getting longer. He also held my hand. And when he noticed the ladybug I have tattooed on my wrist, he said he liked it and asked me it's name. Till then, it had not had a name. Now, I call him George.
2. I love stickers. All stickers. I just adore them. I even ask for stickers for Christmas! As a matter of fact, the birthday that just past, every member of my immediate family gave me sticker packs as gifts. Affordable and extremely appreciated.
3. I have never put much stock in astrology or horoscopes, but I LOVE the magic of the MBTI. Omg. I am an INFP and it actually sounds just like me. Introverted mostly. Creative always. Heart before head and not the most logical. Totally me! For better or worse.
4. It's no surprise I count horror so high up on the list of things that make me, me. However, it's so within my soul that I was part of the Horror Club in college. Interesting bunch. And even took a Horror Lit class as an elective. I got an A.
5. Coffee always makes me happy. Always. I'm particularly fond of caramel macchiatos. But I'll drink black coffee if it's the only thing available.
6. I hate shock for the sake of shock and endings that depress me. I always mention the movies Within (2016) and the Eli Roth produced, written and starred in, Aftershock (2012), as proof of this distate I have. I abhor the idea that just because I like horror, some people think I'd actually praise a movie that lets you think the "Final Girl" just made it through the night, only to slap her in the face with a tsunami.
7. We are big time animal people. I mean, if I could, I'd have an elephant, a bear, a zebra, a penguin, an otter and a meerkat, living with me. Seriously though. We have 2 dogs right now and 2 cats. Both cats we picked up when they each came to our front door hungry. And both dogs we got from 2 different sets of neighbors. Both who, unfortunately, don't know how to care for pets long-term. But they're happy and healthy now!!
8. Revisiting my love of horror, one of the above cats, my cat, is a little black guy named Church. Because Pet Sematary. His middle name is even Pascow. To give credit where credit's due, the name was DJ's idea. But he loves horror too!
9. I'm big into art. Along with movie posters and an Anne Frank quote, I have some actual paintings on my wall. I really think Dali paints beautifully when he wants to. And if I don't get to see Michaelangelo's Pieta in person some day, I will be very disappointed.
10. Lastly, I find Emily Dickinson's poetry intriguing. I took an elective course about her as well. But do you know I injected horror even there? I was given a poem to dissect and I picked one on death, of course. Then, I researched old "Death Photos" and even printed out copies for everyone in the class. They were so interested in looking at them that it stopped them from all looking at me, and I was able to deal quite well with my stage fright. Haha
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