Bethany

As much as I love horror movies, then there was no reason for me not to sit down and watch "Bethany", especially since the synopsis for the movie did seem interesting.

However, I didn't even get to the end of the movie, not even to the half of the movie. I gave up on "Bethany" after mere 35 minutes. Why? Well, because it was some very, very boring and long 35 minutes where nothing, absolutely nothing happened in the movie.

I am not even sure if the movie would have picked up pace at some point after the 35 minutes, and I have no intentions of going back to find out.

There was nothing appealing to the story, as director James Cullen Bressack managed to muster an incredible slow pace that utterly killed the atmosphere of the movie, and there was no tense build-ups of suspense or dread. Essentially, there was nothing aside from Zack Ward and Stefanie Estes sitting around in an old house trying to come to terms with something through means of slow paced dialogue.

As for the acting, well I can't claim to be impressed with what I saw during the 35 minutes that I managed to endure. I am not familiar with Stefanie Estes, so I don't know how she usually performs. As for Zack Ward, well he wasn't really putting on what could be ranked among his top performances here.

For a horror movie, then the only thing truly frightening about "Bethany" was how slow paced and how devoid of anything even remotely scary or frightening the movie turned out to be.

If you enjoy a good horror movie, then "Bethany" is not a great pick.

Really drawn out and dull. Some little scares. It's definitely horrific at times but overall it's very poor.

I've been lucky lately as it was a while since I watched a real stinker but luck never lasts forever. Bethany is in the category of movies I wished I never watched. There's not much positive to write about this movie, I can't think of anything actually. Everything was bad, the story, the actors, the special effects, the cinematography, even the soundtrack and sound effects, everything was mediocre. First rule to make an interesting horror movie, have a good soundtrack and avoid all that lame slow piano music. I don't get it that directors still don't get that. They all look like amateurs when using that highly irritating and numbing sound. Bethany is a movie I can't unwatch but I will for sure forget everything about it in the future. In fact, I already did, that's how bad it was.

'Bethany' drew me into seeing it, with a cool poster/cover, an intriguing, if not exactly novel, idea and as someone with a general appreciation for horror. That it was low-budget, which from frequent personal experience is rarely a good sign due to that there are so many poor ones out there, made me though apprehensive.

Found the film to be pretty weak with a lot more wrong than right. 'Bethany' is not great, or good, has a fair share of problems (fairly big ones too) and doesn't do enough with its potential, which was hardly small. There are however a few decent, even good, qualities in 'Bethany', at least it wasn't intelligence insulting or inept (unlike some films seen recently) though the potential was never lived up to.

Lets start with the positives. The scenery is atmospheric, likewise with the very nice way it's shot. The music is suitably spooky and quirky and doesn't distract at all from the atmosphere, while not exactly enhancing it.

'Bethany' started off fairly spookily and the ending intrigues.

However, the story does feel over-stretched and some of it feels vague, under-explained. The more 'Bethany' progressed, the duller, more predictable, more senseless and less scary it got, and too many characters are too sketchy and with nowhere near enough to make one want to endear to them. Making the film feel bland and forgettable with not enough heart put into it.

Acting is not good, though Zack Ward fares serviceably and it was interesting to see Ellen Gerstell, best known for voice acting, in a role. Stefania Estes is a lifeless lead though, while Shannon Doherty looks tired and disengaged and Tom Green playing it straight didn't turn out refreshing or surprising, instead it felt odd and without much personality.

Dialogue can be stilted and rambling while the pace is uneven, dragging in a lot of the second half and never is it exciting. Found the supposedly shocking moments not surprising or scary and the supposedly creepy atmosphere dreary, due to the excessive obviousness and the lack of tension and suspense.

In conclusion, pretty weak but not unwatchable. 3/10 Bethany Cox

Horror movies with a low budget do have quite the hard standing with fans of the genre. And even more so with the occasional viewer. If you are part of the latter group I don't think you'll find much worthwhile here - especially in the slow beginning.

It does take its time and is rather dull at first (some moments excluded). The actors are fine and the special effects are ok considering the budget. It does take up pace and has some interesting ideas towards the end. Again not sure if you'll be able to stick around or care after a certain point. Not really the worst I've seen, but also not as original as it may think it is. Still decent effort overall.