Disappearance

We rented this film from our local store. Was disspointed that it wasn't a real movie, but a TV story transfered to DVD. The quality is pretty good, and the acting is adequate. In the very first scene, I thought it was really going to suck. When they start out, there is a large SUV driving in the desert with the family in it, and the obviouse reflection of the film truck in the vehicle was the worst I have ever seen. But then, the movie got better and better from there. It is a story about a family traveling through a desert region. They decide to spend some extra time in a ghost town and get caught up in an mystery. This is a well made "made for Tv movie". It was acceptable for our family and young teen age children. It is frustrating at points to see those characters behave in ways we think we would not. But thats entertainment. Its Family Vacation meets twilight Zone on a Pancake budget. The movie wraps up with a mysterious settlement of characters that is unanticipated as will as undefined. Some very high level thought going on there. It is a movie that seems familiar due to all the regular plot gratuities.

I was surprised when I realized how many people don't like this movie because it leaves many question unanswered. Throughout the history of mankind most frightening things were those which couldn't be seen or explained. Expecting evil is usually more scary than meeting it. (That's why the best of Halloween is first part of the first movie). In fact, I was pleasantly surprised that such a movie came from USA, especially from TV, and after watching these reviews I'm even more glad that someone still makes movies for those who don't rank movies according to gallons of ketchup-blood on screen. Of course: Friday the 13th fans should avoid this film.

Recently I saw a Swedish horror "Det okanda", and I suggest it to those who want to check my statements about fear of unexplained. From USA movies I could chose an early Spielberg movie "Something Evil" which didn't become as great hit as his later works, probably because audience didn't get enough explicit horror scenes, and a final answer. Also, most of the monsters (aliens, genetic freaks etc) look rather funny than scary when they appear on screen. If not at once, surely some years later - try to watch giant bugs, or Martians in 50's or even earlier horrors.

Finally, I don't say this is a great movie. Though I like to think during and after watching, and explain things to myself, I still have no idea what is the meaning of the raven, especially in last minute or two. But I do hope that there will be no sequel: some questions should stay unanswered.

Overall, the movie was good. There wasn't much originality but a really big plus was given because there wasn't much violence. Don't get me wrong: I don't hate horror/mystery movies with gore, but it is a very refreshing change when a movie comes out with little or no violence. Yes, the end of the movie was open-ended but that was intended to leave the viewer's imagination run wild. For those of you who hate making sense of the ending and don't want to think up what happened...I came up with one. So, if you haven't seen this movie yet, please don't read the rest unless you want the ending to be spoiled for you. I've decided that the boy, Matt, who took pictures of everything became that black-bird...because, remember, at the very end we see the desert in the bird's point-of-view and then it takes a snapshot of it's view, like Matt would have. I'm thinking that the old man in the begining at the restuarant took the body of the little girl since at the very end she sees a motorcycle and says "Nice bike" as the old man looked at the family's car in the begining and says "Nice car." There's lots of symbolism in this. I'd also like to say that I think that there wasn't just one "creature." It was probably a cross between a bird and human. How else would things like that be able to walk and fly?

Good movie. Good ending.

OK, I saw the previews, and immediatly said to myself, there's some possibilities with that one. I watched it, and I must admit, I was held captive for the two hours. I mean, I didn't want to turn it off, or go channel surfing. It was entertainning, and suspenceful. Now, I MUST admit, it had an ALFUL lot of tv horror movie CLICHES. The very first scene was a bit over done and almost turned me off. There was NOTHING original about it, I had that feeling of seen it, been there, done this before. But yet, it still was kinda fun to do it again.

It didn't really drag anywhere, the pace was decent, but the ending left me a bit confussed. I don't know if it just was a total let-down and cop-out, or a stroke of genius on the story-line. Actually, it had that Jeepers Creepers ending feeling, kinda like the evil won nad the good was over-come. All the question were left UN-ANSWERED, and left you with an unsolved mystery.

Is it demonic? Is it aliens? What is it? What is happening? Were those the REAl people at the end? Does everyone die and get "replaced" with mindless drones?

I wonder if they are planning a sequel to this, because it felt like part one to a mini-series, and I'm still waiting for part two.

This movie kept me on the edge of my seat until the final few minutes of it. The conclusion left many unanswered questions. With a different ending it would be 5 stars. I would give it 4. The characters are believable and the kids' weren't annoying. I would compare it to a 2 hour Twilight Zone episode.