Nice draft. Well, Pleasantly surprised – the film, for nothing that low-budget, looks quite decent, in some places clearly rubbing the nose more “expensive” films of the same genre. Unprofessionalism of course climbs from all the crevices, because of which the material justifiably seems raw, but despite this work is noticeably pretentious, and judging by Joshua, debutant Betz has a chance for a great thriller future, both directorial and screenwriter.
I liked, first of all, the atmosphere itself - the film does not pull on the map for 2006, but gives the impression of being shot 10-15 years ago. A kind of semi-underground and because of this very lively and realistic style, catching from the very beginning. Next – a pretty pretty scenario, and asking into the hands of some more eminent and money comrade. Stories about various childish sins are not new, but this picture takes them to new incomprehensible levels of savagery. Another plus is that although the scenario is largely predictable, it is impossible to predict everything until the end - a "special" feature from the viewer is deliberately hidden until the final. I liked that the creators of the picture, aware of the lack of funds for the coolness of bloody scenes, do not try, as it often happens, to jump above their heads and show the relevant moments sparingly and slightly detached, without disappointing the viewer with cheap and giving him the opportunity to think up the rest of the details himself.
The main points on which Joshua lame, in my opinion, there are two things. The first is, of course, operatorship. A simple and twitching camera “from the shoulder” in many scenes looks inappropriate and somehow quite amateurish. Nevertheless, the key final scene in the living room, where Kelby meets his... in order not to spoil, let’s say, his past, on the contrary, shot very cool, original and, most importantly, creepy. Worth a few revisions. The second point is acting. Not a single familiar face – all or almost all of the filmed are beginners. This can be seen, often it is very disappointing (especially not impressed the mother of the main character), but I can say that I have met the game and worse.
If you find fault even more and try to draw some comparisons and parallels, then immediately a kind of “classical” musical design pops up, in places extremely similar to the first “Omen” – apparently, to emphasize the plot. And a fan of “Evil Dead” also, of course, will dig up a couple of visual “clutters” in this film.
The result: quite "draft" in execution, but plot and stylistically quite competent and interesting work, and made, frankly, from almost nothing.
7 out of 10