Directed by Adam Randall. Written by Devon Graye. Starring Helen Hunt, Jon Tenney, Owen Teague, Judah Lewis, Libe Barer, Gregory Alan Williams, Erika Alexander and Sam Trammell.
Plot: a 10-year-old boy goes missing and the lead investigator on the case begins to experience strange occurances in his home.
I’m going to begin this by saying, this is not really a scary horror movie, but it is a good one. Certainly very creepy. So, let me tell you what it’s about. Although, I’m not going to tell you that much at all because then the payoff wouldn’t payoff for you and you really need to experience it for yourself.
Like the plot above says, a little boy goes missing. Greg Harper (Tenney) is put on the case. Things in his home are not going well, even before they begin to be strange. He and his wife, Jackie (Hunt), are no longer sleeping together. He’s on the couch and his son, Connor (Lewis), blames his mother for all of it because she apparently had an affair with a man named Todd (Trammell). True, affairs are awful things and you shouldn’t have them, but Greg and Connor are extremely mean to her because of all this. I’m like, if you hate her that much, just leave her. Damn.
Anyway, there’s this crazy thing called “phrogging”. Phrogging is when people leap from house to house, living in people’s homes they do not know, who do not know them, and the whole game is that you can’t let them know you’re living there at all. So these weirdos live in their crawlspaces and attics and basements, moving around at night so the homeowners never see them. It’s crazy bananas and I don’t know why it’s a thing at all, but it’s a real life thing and it also happens in this movie.
Alec (Teague) and Mindy (Barer) end up breaking into Greg’s house. They are there a while, too. However, what one thinks might be happenstance isn’t as coincedental as is first believed. Beyond that, I can say nothing. Or at least, I won’t say anthing. I can’t because the story is too good to give away. I mean, it blew my mind and while many people assume they can trick me, I’m not easily caught off guard when it comes to these types of stories. This one got me though. I was positive the story was heading in one direction and then it took a sharp turn into crazytown and it worked perfectly.
DJ did not watch this movie with me because it is very much a psychological horror and he isn’t always up for those. I really enjoyed it though. I think I shouted at my TV once or twice. It was so original and so realistic. The script was enjoyable, the cast was amazing, the direction was marvelous and when it came down to the wire, even the Freddy Claws was there when it mattered. It was a good watch and I think you have to watch it to believe it.
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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