Strange Nature

I got the chance to sit down and watch the 2018 movie "Strange Nature" here late in 2019. And since I wasn't even familiar with the movie and the fact that it is a horror movie, of course I did sit down to watch it.

Well, first of all I must say that the movie does have potential. Just a shame that writer and director James Ojala didn't really fully utilize all the potential that was readily available with the storyline. I mean, the movie starts out alright and is sort of interesting, but then it just settles into mediocrity and doesn't really recover.

And for a horror movie, then the end result that is "Strange Nature" wasn't really much of anything impressive. Sure, the movie is watchable, but it is hardly a memorable movie, nor is it a movie that offers enough contents to support more than a single viewing - if you even get through it the first time around.

The acting in the movie was adequate, but don't get your hopes up for anything particularly outstanding.

The effects in the movie were, well, a mixed blessing. Some of the special effects, particularly the animal effects were actually quite good. But on the other hand, the effects on the people's faces was an eyesore and it looked so god-awful fake that even a blind person would stop and object.

"Strange Things" is adequate enough if you have nothing more interesting on your to-watch-list. But this is hardly a shining gem in the horror cinema.

This only had a rating of about 5 when I watched it. I was bemused at the extremely low score because the movie had some strong acting performances with the main female lead and her father. Decent script and cinematography. Also a quite heartwarming and engaging sub plots involving deformed residents and eventually a red neck showdown.

I didn't actually realise this was meant to be a full blown horror movie until the end. It was a decent environmental conspiracy film that I thought was based on real events. I would have scored the movie as an 8 but for one appallingly bad final scene that was just completely out of place with the rest of the film and ruined its credibility for me. I wont spoil it but it was a cheap shock tactic right at the end. I can't believe none of the writing or production crew said "No" to that because it was so ridiculous.

Anyway, definitely worth a watch.

First: I found it interesting that all the 8/9/10 all come in one cluster and all single review profiles. I don't recall hearing about this "true life event". It may have happened. This trope has been done better. However the film is what we are here to talk about. For having several known stars and assumably a decent enough budget. The production values were worse than most of the stuff on the SciFi channel. The horror is the acting and writing. Save yourself don't waste your time.

Really with a story like this, the writers and directors should have done so much better. The acting was subpar, the direction worse, and the effects, should have went to a Halloween store.

Pity it was so low budget, could have been something worthy of getting folks talking and taking notice of the environmental damage being done by ignorance and greed. Instead it turned into a gore feast comedy. The scene with the cop being chewed to bit was simply hilarious (worth sticking it out just for that).

It is really trying as another reviewer already stated. And while I've seen better monster movies, I've also seen worse. So this is ok, if you don't mind the low budget nature of it. No pun intended here. Also a very nice turn up from a horror actress who almost just does a cameo in this. Her acting with the camera, without anything being there (literally) is quite funny. I know it is supposed to be scary, but yeah ... well at least something I would say.

There are some nice effects though and the characters are overall likeable. Even the ones you wouldn't think are ok ... or decent. The action ramps up towards the end with some nice (gore effects) ... and then there is a twist at the end ... a good one or too obvious? I'll leave that up to you ... remember though there is a bonus scene after the credits (fyi)