Pernicioso

Usually when horror films involve clichés, they turn out bad. But dose that mean all of them that involve said clichés turn out bad? No. "Pernicious" begs to differ with there execution of clichés, and hidden potential not seen.

The plot of the movie was quite intriguing for what it stood for, but the way this film executes the said plot seems to collide; clichés with potential. First off, in the movie you have a load of things you've seen in other horror movie plots. Many horror fans of which see loads of horror movies will realize that when watching this, seeing many elements of which have been seen thousands of times before. But when the movie offers many of it's execution ideas, things seem to be colliding all over the place. Potential kicks in when the movie executes some pleasant little surprises here, and there. The movie manages to give the audience some new, unique plot twists, as well as simple plot situations. Then, as said before, it also mixes in many clichés toward the plot of which we've all seen in many other horror films in the past. Overall, the entire storyline, and plot of this movie collides clichés, and potential. The potential being pleasant, likable, and unique ideas seen in few movies before. The clichés being situations of which the storyline / plot leads too; elements of which we've all seem before, only kicking off to being another part of execution. Just in a different movie.

Clichés only continue, plaguing into the three main characters, as well as some other background characters seen through out this film. The three characters are just three characters we've seen billions of times before, nothing different. Our three characters have, pretty much shown us through out this entire film every single female character cliché in the book, execution little, to nothing different then what we've all already seen before. Some background characters share the same disappointment. Without spoiling anything, these background characters are pretty much like those other background / backup characters you've seen in your typical paranormal film. However, some said characters have some unique offerings, giving the audience some little relief from the constant clichés that has been thrown at us from the previous characters; shedding little light. In the end, some characters were worth it, but audiences have to put up with three some - what annoying clichéd main characters.

Finally, for the entire execution of this film. The execution wasn't bad .. for displaying said clichéd elements above. It's execution, by tying everything together in this film wasn't bad. It has some grip toward what it was doing, while, of course tying in some of the pleasant surprises this film has to offer, from plot twists, to surprise execution, etc. It held a solid grasp through out, keeping that way until the very end, instead of falling apart into a complete mess; Thankfully, the audience don't have to witness a mess; a bullet successfully avoided.

In conclusion. This film wasn't the worst thing in the world, but on the other hand it was close, and almost hit the oncoming bullet toward becoming complete garbage. The movie had some surprises here, and there, some relief of which the audience can enjoy. This film also has some enjoyable, unique elements of which the audience can notice, and happily gain relief. Once again, though, on the other hand this movie tried to pull off some so called "surprises" but fell flat, managing to be highly noticeable. Overall, this film wasn't that bad. It had some decent acting, some small surprises, as well as decent gore, and a solid, yet clichéd storyline. I wouldn't recommend this to those who can't stand clichés seen millions of times before, but for those looking for a small piece of entertainment, here you go.

Now this movie although a 'scary movie' is not very scary at all (at least for me, I've seen over 700 horror movies so I suppose I don't scare easily anymore but I don't think anyone is really gonna clench to their seats with this one).

But it still kept my attention somewhat throughout the running-time which is a bit of an accomplishment at least, granted the pretty faces helped a lot with that and it's also visually fairly competently done... The scenery is nice and scenes of gore and blood are good fun, even though the jump-scares are less successful.

The acting is... so so at best but yeah seen a lot worse when it comes to that as well.

The music is a little overbearing at times, over-dramatic and loud.

The script is, again I've seen movies with worse lol, but yeah nothing to spend your last money on and probably a movie that only holds up for a one time watch.

And yeah I wouldn't call it "good" but it kept my attention somewhat so it's not all bad either, in the end I can only give it about 4 or possibly 4.5/10 though.

Three American fitties, Alex, Julia and Rachel (Ciara Hanna, Emily O'Brien and Jackie Moore), travel to Thailand in order to teach English to children (and to pick up sleazy British guys in bars for casual sex), but find themselves menaced by a Kumari, the vengeful spirit of a young girl who was sacrificed in a bloody ritual.

Borrowing heavily from post-millennial horror hits The Grudge and Hostel, James Cullen Bressack's Pernicious is a wholly unoriginal torture porn/creepy girl ghost story that tests the patience from the word go. Its three central girls might look great in a pair of tiny shorts, but they're unsympathetic characters, behaving in an irresponsible manner that is bound to end badly; the torture element is suitably nasty with fine gore effects by Jerami Cruise, but it's nothing we haven't seen many, many times before; and the supernatural scenes are totally predictable and scare free, supposedly nail-biting moments including the old 'it's under the duvet' trick and the tried-and-tested 'bathroom mirror reveal' (yawn!).

Just about bearable thanks to the lovely ladies (alas, no nudity!) and the gore (best bit being the shot of a pulsating brain in an old woman's crushed skull), but don't expect Pernicious to deliver anything remotely original.

Pernicious starts off like a rather naff TVM. Three models (supposedly teachers) rent a house in Thailand and experience some weird goings on, before shrugging them off and going shopping/clubbing. This pretty much continues for a good part of the film before they can ignore it no longer.

Actually the above précis makes it sound more interesting than it really is. There is no real script or acting to speak of, just by the numbers progression. I thought for a moment the film was dubbed because some parts have badly out of synch speech. After every trauma they remain immaculately presented, with not a hair out of place, and strangely unmoved by their experience.

There are a few scenes of Herschell Gordon Lewis style camp ultraviolence, which although obviously fake, is the only redeeming feature of the film. However, they jar with the pedestrian pace and made-for-TV style nature of the rest of the film.

Overall, although not terrible, you need to be seriously bored to bother with this one.

Supernatural horror that tries to incorporate too many elements. While not 'perfect', I wouldn't say its 'dreadful'...true, it could have been better. But if your sitting around looking to watch a horror movie, there are much much worse ways to spend your time. At least it wasn't 'formulaic'...well, not TOO much.

OK. The 'good'- 1) Pretty girls 2) creepy supernatural legend 3) exotic location 4) insane gore, ala 'Hostel' 5) nice twist AT THE BEGINNING, 6) The protagonists are smart, not like the typical 'tripping in the forest' or 'looking in the basement when they should be running the hell away'. Btw, did I mention it has some really pretty girls ? (no nudity guys).

The 'bad'- 1) Uneven acting (mostly from supporting cast), 2) Stilted dialogue and story after the first third of the movie.

As I said, it definitely could have been better. But you gotta love these people who continually pan certain horror movies as 'awful' and 'avoid at all costs'...its entertainment people !! You don't like it, turn it off and watch something else...or better yet, make your OWN movie. To say you want the 'two hours' of your life back...gimme a break...your life isn't all that exciting if you're sitting on the couch surfing for movies to watch.

Bottom Line: Like a 5 course meal with some of the courses a bit 'off', leaving you savoring the good bits and wanting more.