Based on True Stories

The Banshee Chapter (2013) Review

January 8, 2014 by Eric S. Leave a Comment

Synopsis: Journalist Anne Roland explores the disturbing links behind her friend’s sudden disappearance, an ominous government research chemical, and a disturbing radio broadcast of unknown origin.

My Quick Review: I was pleasantly surprised by The Banshee Chapter, a genuinely creepy movie with well-earned jump scares that gave me jolts a few times.

The film is an effective mix of traditional filmmaking, ‘found footage’, and even actual documentary and news reels. The subject matter is based on real experiments conducted by the CIA during the Cold War.

Fans of the X-Files and HP Lovecraft stories (From Beyond is even cited by one of the main character) will find themselves right at home watching the Banshee Chapter and will look past through its shortcomings: poorly written dialog, awkward editing at times and some unconvincing acting.

What does work here like gangbuster is the tension building. First time director Blair Erickson manages to pull off many scary moments almost as well as James Wan did in The Conjuring. Sure, some of the jump scares are being abused but it almost always works.

In conclusion, The Banshee Chapter offers us many great scares and a creepy atmosphere while giving some new twist to the already tired found-footage genre.

My Rating: 6.5/10

Director: Blair Erickson

Origin: US

Click Here to Watch The Banshee Chapter Online Now!

The Paranormal Diaries: Clophill (2013) Review

December 19, 2013 by Eric S. Leave a Comment

Synopsis: In 2010, a documentary team was assembled to investigate the legend of the Clophill witches and to try and uncover the truth behind the paranormal events. What followed during that long weekend at Clophill was a terrifying journey into the unknown.

My Quick Review: Clophill is a UK entry to the Fake documentary genre and, despite some lengthy exposure, it does the job.

While watching Clophill you feel like you’re watching one of those Ghost chasers show, and this is actually not as bad as it sounds. The documentary crew seem genuine enough and the location is an actual infamous haunted ground.

If you’re into paranormal stories based on real places/events, you should be able to enjoy Clophill and get yourself immersed in the story. And this is probably the only way you will be able to feel some jolts towards the end when there is a cresecendo in the ghostly happenings.

It’s a pity that the filmakers (who are behind the Zombie Diaries movies) felt they had to add some family scenes (in the beginning and at the end) to give the movie more meat and bring even more scares towards the end. Those scenes are the weakest and fell very staged.

The documentary part works as a creepy investigation of the paranormal and will satisfy a niche audience. For most horror fans though, the lack of scares or genuine horror will have them turn off their tv way before the movie ends.

My Rating: 5/10

Director: Michael Bartlett, Kevin Gates

Origin: UK

The Castle Project (2013) Review

November 28, 2013 by Eric S. Leave a Comment

Synopsis: As Brian and his team tackle the intimidating task of renovating the historic Croke Patterson Mansion in Denver, CO into a Bed and Breakfast hotel, the workers begin to report supernatural occurrences, from sightings of apparitions, whispering voices and peculiar odors.

My Quick Review: I’m still not sure about the true motivation behind Brian Higgins’ film The Castle Project.

Is it a 100% real documentary, another “haunted house” found footage movie, some twisted christian propaganda or a great commercial for his newly opened Bed&Breakfast inn. Somehow I believe it’s a mix of all the aforementioned.

The movie quickly grabs the viewer’s attention with quick editing between previous home owners interviews, and a few live shot inside the house. When Brian starts to record himself spending the night in the mansion, the creep factor goes up a notch and, at this point, we are expecting some well deserved frights, that never come. It’s a pity that from this point forward, the documentary turns into some journey in the search of purgatory’s history and christian art throughout the ages.

The Castle Project ends with a somewhat interesting but far fetched explanation for all the unexplained events that have happened in the Croke Patterson mansion. It’s an unsatisfying ending that leaves us wanting more but works well as a teaser to the soon to be opened (at the time of shooting) inn.

My Rating: 6 (as a documentary) 4 (as a horror movie).

Director: Brian Higgins

Origin: US

Click Here to watch The Castle Project Online Now!

The Bell Witch Haunting (2013) Review

November 22, 2013 by Eric S. 1 Comment

Synopsis: Based on true events. The Robertson County Sheriff’s Department has released footage found on the bodies of the Sawyer family’s cell phones and video cameras. What was first thought to be a murder-suicide is now believed to be the return of a centuries-old demon responsible for America’s most famous paranormal event.

My Quick Review: The Bell Witch Haunting is the latest movie whose story is inspired by the bell witch legend (Blair Witch project being the most famous iteration so far).

While it starts as a standard but honest found footage movie, it quickly loses appeal when the script decides to cram as much “shocking scenes” as possible one after the other.

Suddenly, the acting becomes forced, the situation more ridiculous and useless than the others (the cable guy getting electrocuted in one of the most hilarious death scream I’ve ever heard; the badly made levitating bed cover; the possessed dad coming back home as if nothing happened; same with the sister; the awkward and fairly useless exorcism….).

What’s left of The Bell Witch Haunting is a mess of a movie, ripping off, unsuccessfully, scenes from Paranormal Activity and Blair Witch. If anything, it does prove that you still need talent behind and in front of the camera to make a satisfying found footage movie experience.

My Rating: 4/10

Click Here to Watch The Bell Witch Haunting Online Now!

Skinwalker Ranch (2013) Review

November 6, 2013 by Eric S. 2 Comments

Synopsis: A scientific research team investigates and documents the supernatural phenomena surrounding the disappearance of a cattle ranchers 10 year old son. Inspired by true events that shocked the paranormal community around the world.

Quick Review: Even after many bad movies in this genre, I’m still on the lookout for hidden found footage gems.

Skinwalker Ranch is a fake documentary, loosely based on real events, that looks like a mix between an X-Files episode and Paranormal Activity (it’s a bit reminiscent of Dark Skies as well).

The movie does not waste any time to show us some supernatural elements and this is more than welcome since so many found footage movies put us to sleep with long exposition scenes. We are quickly introduced to our team of film makers and Hoyt, the desperate dad.

The acting here is convincing and, as a result, we get a littly bit more emotionally attached when things go south and it genuinely makes us want to know more about Cody’s disappearance and all the supernatural happenings surrounding the ranch.

Unfortunately, after a while, the movie feels a bit disjointed and, while many things are happening, we are being rushed to quite an abrupt ending that leaves us hanging for more.

So, if you’re a fan of fake documentary and nostalgic of the X-Files, this movie is for you. For the others it’s still good fun and with a 70mn running time (before the credits roll in) it won’t take much of your time anyway.

My Rating: 6/10

Director: Devin McGinn

Origin: US