Siren

Is there one horror buff out there that hasn't seen the much acclaimed V/H/S/ franchise. Well if so you do know that there were some weird and gory tales to see. "Amatuer Nigh" was on the first part and let this full feature being an adaption of it.

When I did see the siren it immediately reminded me of Splice (2009). Did I like Siren, well, somehow it did remind me of the VHS segment but it didn't feed my hunger. There isn't that much of gore in it. Let me even say that there isn't that much of horror in it or even scary moments. What it did deliver was a lot of nudity at strip bars but after a while I thought, let's bring in the horror.

So many reviewers did like it somehow but for me it was rather weak. It do has a few good moments but face it, the hitting of ones knee to break it is done off-camera. And the biting of the siren in faces is also done off-camera. Siren looks to me as a flick made quickly to cash in on the VHS reputation.

Gore 0/5 Nudity 1/5 Effects 2/5 Story 2/5 Comedy 0/5

The plot has no obvious continuity issues, and the scenes are carefully thought out, if a bit naive - but in a positive, honest way. It could even be called a spiritual sequel to the 'episode' with the demon girl in V/H/S, the influences are clearly there but the story is constructed separately, in a neat narrative. The actors are refreshingly on par, nice chemistry between the cast shows through which is always good. The movie is not a huge production, and it does not try to be. This is a good thing because it shows focus on what can work. And it is not lazy or jaded, nor does it look 'poor'. The few downsides it does have come naturally from a lack of budget, but they are not distracting. Other than that, it manages to feel like a properly engaging movie.

I am certainly not sorry for spending the time to watch it.

20 May 2017. Siren is one of those horror movies that might have been better, but really how could it? Too often other movies become so simplistically, stereotypical. The PBS television movie Dracula (1997) had similar polished authentic focus. Here the Siren is depicted quite well considering, without either the romanticized nor the glorified monster portrayal. Like in the Keanu Reeve's cult horror Constantine (2005) or perhaps even more like the more recent depictions of eerie characters like Anya Taylor-Joy's Morgan (2016) or Scarlett Johansson's Under the Skin (2013). In the lower budget tradition of Stanley Kubrick's last movie classic Eyes Wide Shut (1999), Siren really wasn't so much scary as it is absurdist horror with a more human inhuman twist. So really this movie while it isn't superb and a great classic, it is a solid horror movie that stands out from most other for its creepy factor, its more all American plot outline, and its more somber rather than typical gross out ending.

I am a horror fan but have been disappointed lately with all the retold stories out there. When I saw this movie on redbox I checked IMD and read the first review. When I read demon girl from VHS I was sold. I really enjoyed that episode so I headed off to the box and I am glad I did. Really I think this is a prequel to the VHS story. I thought the acting was good and special effects. I like how it brought out a sense of endless nightmare, like those dreams you can't wake up from. These folks have stepped in it and there's no going home for you Dorothy. But seriously, I would recommend this movie to anyone, horror buff or not. Good times to the end.

As a fan of the first V/H/S, particularly the segment upon which this film is based, Amateur Night, this prequel-sequel does not do the series justice. What made the first film great was the romantic element, you just couldn't help but fall in love with Lily. She was the cute, quiet, shy girl who "likes you." (Of course, with quite the dark secret, but that's part of the appeal to us sick ones.) This film rushes every encounter with Lily, and does next to nothing when it comes to expanding any sort of story surrounding her. Not to mention, she seemed to change from a succubus to a siren somewhere in between these two films.

I will concede, however, that SiREN does add some interesting details. Take Mr. Nyx, for example. A "man" that appears not to age and owns a supernatural strip club? Again, my gripe is that the film did not expand much on the details. You're just expected to run with it, "A supernatural strip club with cult-like outfits and memory leech drinks? Of coooouuurrrse!"

In summation, if the film had focused just a tad more on the details, fleshed out the story a bit, amped up or added more romance/sexy demon scenes, this movie would've been exactly what the fans wanted. Damn shame it wasn't.