If the writers had bothered to tighten up the script even a little bit, this could have been a creepy little thriller. But there's not even a whiff of internal logic here--nothing anyone does rings remotely true. The script seems to have been written as they were filming, adding lame explanations and stupid situations just to get each teen alone. As a result it simply isn't scary at all. The only jolts come from loud noises in the dark (sets are all painted black and lights are never switched on). There's nothing wrong with the cast--all of them valiantly try to look terrified even though you're not quite sure why. Newman is OK in the central role, which requires more of him than the others; Thomason is hilarious as the token expert on supernatural things ("We have to do a banishing!"); and what Haas is doing here, besides being the token Yank, is anyone's guess. This is obviously an attempt by British filmmakers to tap into that US teen slasher market. And to be honest, it's much better than most American efforts, simply because there is a gruesome edge here that those lack. But that's the only nice thing I can say about it.

themes, violence, language

14.Jan.02