Hangman's Curse

I just saw "A Hangman's Curse" and let me say-- I am disappointed.

I've been a fan of Frank Peretti novels for years and I've read everything he's come out with. Like most fans of Christian fiction, I've been dying for a film version of This Present Darkness since the 80s. Looks like that will never come.

Frank Peretti seems to write 2 different kinds of books 1.)books for adults that kids should probably not read (The Oath gave me some serious nightmares when I was 13) and 2.)kids books that are usually entertaining enough for adults to enjoy (for instance, Tombs of Anak and that whole series). This new "Veritas Project" series, though, seems like kids books that adults really can't relate to. I was in my early twenties when the Hangman's Curse came out and I thought it was one of his least inspired. So, *why* is this the first one to be made into a movie (this one was in the works before the Tilly TV special)?? Why not the Visitation or the Prophet or THIS PRESENT DARKNESS (heck, Fox has owned the movie rights to that for years)??

Anyway, besides starting with a mediocre story, this "movie" had huge problems. The leads did a decent job of acting, but all of the extras and bit parts were horrendous! The group of girls that befriend Elisha... it was like they weren't even trying! Huge after-school special vibe. The picture quality in general was sub-TV as was the contrived dialogue. (What happened to the hilarious exchanges between the PC/tolerance-obsessed teacher and Elijah???) And what was with that fat kid being one of the popular/cool guys on campus?? So he was good at football. My experience around high schoolers was that being good in sports did *not* automatically provide an in with the beautiful crowd.

And speaking of which, nice reinforcement of stereotypes. The ONLY people in that school were either a.)beautiful popular prep/jocks b.)hopelessly dorky nerds c.)angry Columbine-esque goth losers. No normal people? No people that relate to several groups? No jocks who like goth bands??? How Saved by the Bell is that? I almost expected Slater to drop by, but luckily this was one of the first Christian movies to not feature fashion/slang from 8-10 years before it was made. And then at the end of the movie... the goth people are "fixed" and the one redeemable jock (one of 2 minority characters in the film)is teaching them how to be normal, since they're not goth anymore ("this is how you throw a frisbee...")

There were a few upsides to it, though.

1.) Good music. Until recently, most Christian movies don't take advantage of all the great Christian music that's out there. Looks like that might finally be changing. Mercy Streets did. The Champion did. And now, Hangman's Curse did (is it required that "Extreme Days" be played in every Christian movie now?)

2.) At least your youth group won't spend the whole movie laughing at the language and clothes/hairstyles of the actors.

3.) The girl who played Elisha was incredibly hot. Like inexplicably hot.

4.) It gives us some hope that Peretti may be gearing up to put more of his projects on film... (we've gotten two in the last 2 years).

If he does, let's hope they do it a little better.

I loved this film. I don't know why anyone wouldn't. Okay so the end is a little bit of a let down, but that shouldn't discount the rest of the film. I loved it up until the part where everyone is outside at the picnic where I thought it was 'OK.'

I'm surprised that there wasn't a larger viewing audience; this seems like the kind of movie a lot of people would like to see, it has the jocks beating up the nerds and the goths, I mean isn't that the type of movie everyone likes to see (please note the sarcasm)? I personally loved this film, and it's probably because I like movies that are out of the norm. If you haven't seen the movie or you haven't seen it before without listening to someone's comments first you should watch it unbiased for once and make up your own opinion.

I thought this movie was a great movie overall. I loved it and the story line was awesome. I definately wouldn't consider it 'the best' movie but it was pretty good. Jake Richardson isn't a great actor..He is a ok actor.He was very hot when he was all 'goth', but at the end he definitly wasn't..n yeah. I loved the movie just not the ending of it because it was really stupid in my opinion to have them change their clothes and their personalitys..they ( Crystal & Ian ) were either fake when they were pagan/wiccan or at the end. Because they changed their personalitys completely and their clothes too. N I thought the whole Brother/Sister spy-kid like black outfits were very pathetic..even if Elijah (the guy twin person) was extremely hot . Yes.

HANGMAN'S CURSE is a mildly entertaining film, combining horror elements with social commentary. Set in a high school, it rounds out its cast with the usual Goth misfits and the jocks, two natural enemies. A "curse" that sends jocks who are also known bullies into comas brings a family of paranormal investigators to a local school.

Despite the elaborate poster, the film is not scary. I hesitate to call it a horror film. At most, it's a mystery, with the two young teens as the actual leads. The parents really do little except run around peering into microscopes. For those who have seen these type of movies before, all the answers should be obvious by the 50-minute mark, leaving 50 extra minutes for the characters to catch up.

It's not a bad film. I would even recommend it. But it's definitely not going to scare anybody.

P.S. HANGMAN'S CURSE will be memorable to me for one thing: ITS TEENS ARE ACTUALLY PLAYED BY TEENS!!! Yes, they still do exist.

6 out of 10

(go to www.nixflix.com for a more detailed review of this movie)

On par with many "After School Specials". The effects aren't very special. The plot is insipid. The acting is acceptable though not noteworthy. I can't in good conscience recommend this to anyone who enjoys either horror or dark fantasy,while utilizing tropes of both it doesn't use them to any real effect. It is a safe film for younger teens, older preteens, and precocious younger children. It is obviously geared towards the Christian ethical sympathies and will be watched by many a youth-group in all probability. Watch it or not as you choose. I would not watch this again. It is not destined for greatness. It is destined for the clearance rack.