The Music Box

This film tells the story of a woman who has been given guardianship over her niece after the death of her sister. They move into a house that has a strangeness to it and while trying to plant flowers and make it more like home, the little girl finds a possessed carillon or music box. The little girl quickly becomes very attached to the box and begins to behave in strange ways. Will they be able to figure out what is really going on with this box?

The story isn't awful and in a lot of ways it sorta reminded me of "The Possession" (2012). That film was about a young girl finding an antique dybbuk box, buys it, brings it home and a lot of not so good things start happening. Unfortunately, this film is not nearly as good.

I don't mind watching low budget films because there are those times that I come across some gems and finding those are something I enjoy doing. I still have standards though. It is obvious that this is a low budget film. Not a large cast, very few props, actors that are not so skilled and a script that needs work. This is low budget but low budget doesn't have to be bad.

The key things I look for when watching low budget are: 1. Is the story somewhat believable and does it avoid having a lot of holes? 2. Do I believe the actors have taken on the identity of their characters or is it clear to see that they are just playing the part? 3. Did the director use the settings and props to the fullest capability considering budget? and 4. Was it filmed well?

This film just didn't get there. I believe there was a good attempt but it just sorta flopped. The biggest problem for me was the acting. It felt awkward. I just have to ask, did anyone else think the Doctor's voice was weird? It almost seemed like his lines were recorded in a sound studio while everyone else was just filmed by on set boom operators. It was just weird.

Anyway, if you are looking for something impressive, you aren't going to find it here. If you aren't a fan of low budget, you should definitely avoid it. However, if you do like the low budget stuff and are kinda like me, looking for that gem, this isn't it but you may find it slightly okay. Don't go into it with high hopes.

The acting wooden, unprofessional, lingering camera shots that make the actors feel extremely awkward.

Formulaic 'horror', with a small home, some cheesy gargoyles you can purchase anywhere and silly statue photos hung in the home.

I wanted to stop playing it but a family member was having fun laughing at this poor imitation of a movie.

Literally, do not bother.

Besides having no notable or believable characters; in particular the Shrink who sounds like a less emotive robot than a robot -- there is the incredibly bad camera work -- camera too close, lingering shots of someone's waist etc. Could have forgiven the shoddy effects if the story were any good. My husband and I kept each other amused by saying things like "Hasta La Vista, I'll be back" whenever Antonio Lujak said a line. They misspelled "Mystery" in the library computer (LMAO!) and I have no idea why only one actor had an American accent and all the rest had a different one from all the others. Overall, left us completely dissatisfied. Plot started out strong and went out with a whimper. No reason or rationale for the ending.

This is a frustrating film to watch. The atmospheric cinematography, creepy sound design and good use of locations is undone by much of the acting, or lack of it. Rachel Daigh as Annabelle is fine, but most of the other actors simply look bored. Antonio Lujak brings some impressive eyebrows to Doctor Loris but very little else. Strangely, the supporting cast delivers much better performances than the main, although some have been very awkwardly dubbed.

There's often a problem with juvenile actors taking major roles. Annabelle is often reduced to dramatically shouting for her daughter whilst in her underwear; that the little girl is unable to produce any kind of emotion makes her sullen and precocious rather than troubled and needing to be 'understood.'

There's a sense of 'better done elsewhere' with many of the scare effects - if this is the first horror film you've ever seen, it might score a few chills. Otherwise, there's a good chance you've seen most of the set pieces before. Blurred images stand behind characters; when they turn around, they're gone. You get the idea. Also, the pacing is leaden and never really picks up.

This Italian production is mildly effective on occasion but is unlikely to give anyone nightmares. My score is 4 out of 10.

The movie itself had potential. But mister Antonio did his best to screw it up. So after like 30 minutes I was done. Yeah, obviously he has the looks but far from acting skills.