Don't Say Its Name

From the synopsis, I thought this had some potential, and there are some things that work, but it's really a mixed bag. Some of the characters are a bit two dimensional and, without going into spoilers, I don't think the costumes and special effects worked very well. Given the apparent budget constraints, they probably would have been better advised to go in a different direction with some things. It gets points for having an interesting setting, and some of the non-plot-device characters are realized in an interesting way, but there are a lot of plot elements that seem a little contrived and don't make a lot of sense. Like, say, if you were walking down a road, and a car revved its engine and came charging at you, would you (A) run down the road and try to outrun the car or (B) run to the side of the road away from the charging car? I'm just saying - that happened to me once and my first instinct was to jump to the side. I don't regret seeing Don't Say It's Name, but it's not really one I would recommend other than for the cultural representation aspect. There is something to that, but there are better examples of aboriginal cinema.

There is nothing a film can do to irk me more than have bad sound. Nothing. Poor writing and bad acting get to me less. This one really, really ticked me off. It isn't that it's muffled or poorly recorded, it's the mix. My GOD will you PLEASE bring the dialogue up in the mix and take about 30 percent or a little more off the INSANE volume of the music and sound effects? Please. Watching this late at night with everyone else asleep is an absolute nightmare. Can't hear the dialogue so you turn it up then there's music loud enough to wake the dead. Seriously, stop that. Movie wise, it's well made. Derivative, not very original but entertaining enough. Performances are good. Could have been better if I could hear more than half the dialogue over the blaring, bass heavy music.

I had the opportunity to sit down and watch the 2021 horror movie "Don't Say Its Name". And I did so without having the slightest clue what the movie was about, aside from it being a horror movie. But it being a horror movie that I hadn't already seen was sufficient to make me want to watch it.

Now, I am not by any means familiar with Inuit folklore or myths, so the whole Wheetago thing was new to me. That being said, then I will also say that writers Rueben Martell and Gerald Wexler actually managed to put together an entertaining enough movie.

But while "Don't Say Its Name" wasn't a milestone in horror cinema, not even by a longshot, then it was actually an entertaining enough movie for what it turned out to be. And I do believe that this was my very first Inuit horror movie ever seen.

The acting performances in "Don't Say Its Name" were good. And I wasn't familiar with a single actress or actor that were in the movie, and that is something that I enjoy in movies.

Visually then "Don't Say Its Name" was actually surprisingly good. They definitely managed to put together the visual CGI effects well enough and that certainly added a lot to the movie.

"Don't Say Its Name" was a nice surprise, though hardly a movie that I will return to watch a second time. Nor is it movie that I would recommend horror fans to rush out to get their hands on.

Watchable, although not an outstanding movie. My rating of "Don't Say Its Name" lands on a five out of ten stars.

Really solid acting and filming. Great editing and production quality. Good script and storyline. The CGI and special effects make-up were also excellent. It was more of a supernatural thriller than a horror I think, but regardless, I enjoyed it.

I read the other reviews and I didn't experience any flaws, other than from the reviewers themselves.

I hope to see more content like this.

This film packs in a lot of complex themes into its story without being one sided or overly preachy.

Unfortunately, much of what it explores is hampered by a less than perfect delivery.

Watching this you can't help wishing someone with a stronger vision and more deft touch had been behind the wheel.

Where the movie could have used subtlety to communicate, it relied on dialog and over the top characters.

That had the unfortunate effects of slowing the pace down and giving too much away, too soon.

The mystery and suspense aspects of this film are therefore less successful than the social commentary and supernatural elements.

Still, there is enough in Don't Say Its Name to be worth your time.

You simply need to approach the film when you are feeling patient enough to overlook its flaws, in favor of focusing on its strengths.