Directed by Ryan Little. Written by Steven A. Lee and John Lyde. Starring Corri English, Sandra McCoy, Alice Greczyn, Michael J. Pagan, Eliot Benjamin and Corey Sevier.
Plot: a group of “friends” sneak into a haunted house the night before it opens and soon find themselves trapped inside.
While this is not a perfect movie, the whole haunted house thing has a very apparent Halloween feel. And it’s not an awful movie either. We actually really enjoyed it. And the Jared Padalecki cameo is quite hysterical.
The film starts with good girl, Sam (English) and her step-sister, Hailey (McCoy), who simply don’t like each other. Honestly, Hailey isn’t even trying, but she’s forced to take Sam to a party with her, or she won’t be able to go at all. Inevitably, this group of people who obviously aren’t all even friends, start talking about a haunted house that is opening soon. And the comic relief of the bunch, Zane (Benjamin), works for the haunt, of course, and he can get them in.
The bad blood between Sam and Hailey is further aggrivated by the fact that Carter (Sevier), the super hot, super jock, dating Hailey, is being very nice to Sam. The rest are equally stereotypical in their designs. There is Devon (Pagan), the token black guy and Candice (Greczyn), the beautiful slut. Those two are almost offensive, but if you can side step the lack of political correctness, it’s worth the watch. The truly bewildering thing is the order in which these characters die really. Zane goes first and then it just isn’t as funny anymore.
It starts funny though and the actors can actually act. The rules are good and the fear statue provided a great motive that worked throughout the film. I have to admit though, I sort of wanted to call it a day after they killed Carter a little quicker than they should have. I’m a huge Hallmark fan. Huge. I cannot help myself, and I do not care, I love Corey Sevier and would have liked to keep looking at him. LOL
It’s rewatchable, however, with quality innovation and exciting effects. And the end, even without Corey, is pretty good and so adorably sweet. I suppose that sequel they hinted at in the end isn’t happening though. What a shame.
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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