The Unwilling

A mysterious chest without history or concrete relation to its owner and that looks like it was melted in a fire houses a demon who, for no given reason, arranges for six people-a tolerable man with inconsistent OCD, two unlikable men, and three bodaciously derrièred women-to gather on pretext of hearing the recently deceased family patriarch's will read, and genie-like grants a single wish to one unwitting victim at a time whose body it then possesses in order, for no reason, to try to kill its next victim.

Dialogue is ridiculous, people open doors for no reason and enter rooms with no purpose. I really hated the husband and the dope fiend, and it is incredible that the husband's women want that creep, incredible that the cousin weeps for her brother.

The shadows, the road, the mirror, the darkness, the trap, and the hurricane are nice ideas.

Dina Meyer, Bree Williamson, and Austin Highsmith vie with one another to see whose plump booty is most tantalizingly in-your-face. I love them all. They make the film worth watching.

Ending classical music over credits is beguiling.

Watch with two grilled-cheese sandwiches and Perrier.

Cheaply made bad movies can be fun, but in my opinion actors should have the same level of integrity and pride in their product as I have my entire life as a professional musician. I'd NEVER go play a gig with garbage equipment. I have too much respect for my own level of professionalism and always trying my best to entertain those who paid to see me and my band mates perform. Too many bands have no standards and in the world today, the venues are letting them get away with having no talent at all. The main reason is because the customers don't complain like they used to in the 'good ole days'. Once upon a time... when a band was playing even at local cover bars and was not top notch, the patrons would complain and that band would never play that venue again. Now, the patrons don't care. The bands average quality has gone in the toilet, and the local bar owners aren't paying more than $300 for a four hour show by a full band of any size. Consider that being a musician is one of the few jobs someone has where they MUST learn to perform for years before doing a show. Buy their own equipment which can cost thousands of dollars. Drive to their gig, take about an hour to set up. Play for four hours or longer. Then break down everything, pack up, drive back home, and unload everything into your house. Add all those hours up and divide the pay by the minimum of 3 person band, it adds up to $100 per person per night for the 'privilege to play at some dive club or bar. Keep in mind the people playing have spent thousands of dollars in lessons and gear, hundreds of hours practicing, gas money there and back like every job not from home, and all the hours each show costs in time divided into at least six hours of work per person. That comes out to about $15/hr. IF you have only three people in the band. And the way things are now, only the weekend nights are the two nights per week you have a chance to play. Anyone want a job like this for an average weekly pay of $200 minus expenses?

The point of all this is to emphasize my initial statement about integrity and why it's so important. I'll never understand why famous actors who have done top notch movies would agree to do something as pathetic as this movie I give four stars to just because of the actors previous work and quality. And in case no one knows... my musician life and those of actors trying to become known are the root of the phrase...Starving Artist. Simple premise nonone can live on such poor income or no income and even if you work, no benefits until you hit the big time. Anyone ever think what happens to non famous people who get sick and have no health coverage? I'll guess that might be why talented actors do such terrible movies since they are Unionized and must be paid the minimum. I've no idea what that might be, but I'm fairly certain it's much more than someone like me would ever get since musicians have no more unions in most areas of work like we used to, and all else already written. We get sick or for any reason can't play. The band typically gets a fill in player unless whatever you're doing musically is so amazing, no one else can fill in. Then the gig gets cancelled and the owner of the venue might decide to not hire you again.

I've been a Lance Henriksen fan ever since I saw him in Pumpkinhead. Apart from being a very versatile actor, I really love his voice. Pity he was only in the film a few minutes. I loved the very different characters - each with their own issues. The photography was very amateurish at times. Some interesting visuals (note I said interesting not good). Interestingly enough, the film won an award for Best Visual Effects... The film got increasingly worse as it progressed, but hey, if you want to see something you haven't seen before, then this is probably it. The effects are very, very low budget and practical. Its definitely not a good film, but somehow I still found it watchable. The ending was pretty laughable, actually, but you have to see it. You will be entertained either way - whether you like it or hate it.

I liked this movie. I thought the acing from the lead characters: David, Michelle and Cheryl, was very good and convincing. I also liked that this movie combined a few different horror ideas, like the haunted box, people trapped together, and characters with disabilities that constrain their ability to act. It is a low budget film but the filmmakers made something suspenseful and interesting.

Oh, and Bree Williamson is very pretty in this movie. I recommend this one.

If you're a fan of horror that is so bad that it's good, you might just have a blast with this one. The first hour is original and unusual; I can't remember a story-line quite like it. The ending fails to impress, but horror fans are used to that. Overall, it's a hoot!