Hangman's Curse

I didn't like this movie at all. For starters, the dialog was strained and unrealistic for teenagers. The main reason though, the whole thing is based on a novel by Frank Peretti, a christian propagandist author. This shows up repeatedly in the movie, from a football player asking the lead female "Do you believe in the hereafter?" to repeated prayer references. I am mostly writing this review so that people renting this film will be aware of the religious subtext without having to subjagate themselves to it.

The actual storyline was alright and the acting wasn't too bad, except for Mr. Peretti himself, he plays a scientist named algernon (an obvious reference to the brilliant science fiction novel Flowers for Algernon) and his presence is pretty annoying.

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.

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)

Nate (David Keith), Sarah (Mel Harris), Elisha (Leighton Meester) and Elijah Springfield (Douglas Smith) are members of a secret government project called 'Veritas'. Their works is investigating and try to solve mysteries. They are assigned to work as undercover students and janitor in the Rogers High School, where a ghost is apparently haunting and threatening the students. In the end, the Springfield family finds a hidden secret and reveals the truth. 'Hangman's Curse' has a silly, inconsistent and absurd plot, plagiarizing 'Spy Kids'. The participation of the writer Frank Peretti in the role of the scientist Algernon Wheeling is so ridiculous that irritated me. The guy is horrible, trying to be funny but indeed being very unpleasant. The inconsistency of the silly character of Elisha Springfield, supposed to be a highly trained teenager agent, but screaming and acting like a moron is another terrible point in this film. The exaggerated attack of spiders in the end of the story is so amazingly absurd that certainly destroys any good opinion that a viewer might have about this movie. 'Hangman's Curse' is a watchable and very forgettable flick. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): 'A Maldição da Forca' ('The Curse of the Hang')

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.