Algo Maligno

I decided to see this film not because it was the last of Brittany Murphy's - unfortunately short - career, but rather because I was an appreciator of horror in general. However, I wasn't surprised by what I found: another cheap film, with all the faults of the genre, but at least capable of entertaining us for a while.

The film begins with a couple who try, after a terrible accident that kills her parents, to move their relationship forward and prepare for their wedding. It turns out that, as the date approaches and all the preparations are made, the bride begins to feel that she is being chased by something, or someone, and that she is in danger.

The film is unremarkable, has a very worn script and doesn't bring anything new. The feeling is that we've seen the same thing, much better, before. The most usual horror clichés are also very present. The ending is pretty good, but I'm not sure if it's really worth the effort to see the rest of the movie. It will never be a memorable film, but if we want a film that entertains us for a while without having to think too hard, I think it meets the requirements. Darin Scott's direction is erratic and boring, and the script by Joe Colleran and Joseph Mungra is basic and uninteresting.

Shantel VanSanten is the protagonist in the role of the young bride. She's beautiful, she's sexy, but she's not particularly remarkable or has shown any remarkable talent, just doing what really needs to be done. It may be little, but it was what she needed to shine in this movie. Brittany Murphy, far from the heyday of her career, hit rock bottom here, with a minor role in a forgettable movie. And while it's not a film cut out for male actors to stand out, I think John Robinson and James Patrick Stuart did a satisfying job and are good additions to the cast.

Technically, it's a film that has very little to present to us. Being a low-budget film, there are no great effects or cinematic gimmicks here, nor an amazing soundtrack. Nothing. Cinematography, which would perhaps be the technical aspect with the greatest propensity to stand out, is tiring, uninteresting and does not bring anything really good or worthy of note.

This is a bad movie. It took years to get released and there is a reason for this. It is truly bad. The acting is terrible. Everyone in it is truly bad. It is filmed like a cable movie. Both the direction and cinematography are amateurish. Even the editing looks like something out of "The Room," which is the movie this most reminded me of. But where "The Room" became a midnight movie laugh fest, one which its creator now insists was intended to be a dark comedy, "Something Wicked" takes itself very seriously. Which makes it all the worse when you are laughing out loud at how bad it is. The only thing redeeming is the ending - and it is not worth the trouble of sitting through this piece of junk.

I am surprised that some of the reviews are so damning of this film.

OK - its not a classic, but it isn't absolutely dire either.

The storyline is excellent and you never know what the whole story is until right at the end - which was something I didn't really expect until the last 5 or 10 minutes.

It is worth watching provided you don't have any expectations.

The only thing I didn't like about the film was the casting of John Robinson in the key male role. He is too effeminate to be credible. The role needed someone who could play the age but also have something interesting about them. He was just bland from start to finish.

'SOMETHING WICKED': Two and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

This ultra-low budget horror flick will probably be most well known as being Brittany Murphy's last film. It was also shot entirely in Eugene, OR (in April of 2009 through June of that same year; just months before Murphy's death in December), and made on a budget of just $3 million! It's finally being released (five years later) and it wasn't worth the wait. I had no idea that Murphy's career had hit such a low; that she was resorting to doing supporting roles in really bad B slasher flicks (and she, like the rest of the cast, is pretty terrible in the movie). Like almost all fright flicks it does have it's pluses too though and the ending is killer (even if the rest of the movie is painful to watch).

Shantel VanSanten stars as Christine, a young college student who was just admitted to 'Oregon University' in Eugene (I'm assuming they mean University of Oregon). John Robinson costars as her fiancé James, who makes a living working at a local sawmill. As the film opens James asks Christine's parents (Betty Moyer and Lance Rosen) for their blessing to wed their daughter. They say the young couple must wait until Christine is done with school (which really upsets James and Christine). Then while James (being the designated driver) is driving them all home, from dinner, their car is struck by a train and Christine's mother and father are killed. The story then flashes forward multiple months when Christine is now attending school (as planned) and being stalked and terrorized by someone. Could it be another student, her obsessive police officer brother Bill (James Patrick Stuart) or Christine's parents back from the grave (making sure she follows their wishes). Murphy plays Bill's wife and Christine is now living with the couple as well.

The flick was directed by Darin Scott (who's directed a few other micro budget slasher films, like 'DARK HOUSE' and 'CAUGHT UP') and written by Joe Colleran and Joseph Mungra (the two also collaborated on the film 'THE American GANDHI'). It does seem like it was made by people with little to no experience (in making movies) and felt awfully amateurish (almost like a Syfy Network flick). I did really dig the ending though and although VanSanten sucks most of the movie she is memorable in the film's climax (and sexy throughout, especially the ending). I have to give the movie some credit since it was accomplished on such a low budget and filmed in my home state of Oregon (it also features a cameo by a friend of mine, Broderick Boyd, as a valet). It is a bad film but it's not horrible. Brittany Murphy was a much better actress than this though and she deserved a better swan song.

Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcnKD6oDiBo

You know that feeling, when it's just pouring outside, you are in no mood for anything but a movie, most likely a horror, something not too easy, not too hard, that will go along perfectly with a beer and some chips? You might hit jackpot with this one.

So is it really that good? Well, no, but it is a fun ride, made with a tight budget, good actors, a better plot than most and some decent kills. It's just one of those movies that you won't desire to replay but you do wish for at a certain point, if we were a few years back, it would be the perfect thing on TV at that exact moment when you were ready for something to fill in the time. So, if you can relate to what I'm saying, I think you'll enjoy this one.

Now all you have to do is grab yourself a beer, some chips and wait to rain. Let the movie wait, it needs a good environment to be played in.

Cheers!