Do Céu ao Inferno

Acting is ok. Cinematography is ok. Directing is meh. What is really bad is the writing. There so so many times where these people aren't doing anything that makes sense. The choices that are made are bad and illogical. It really is just super bad writing. The acting is ok though some performances were meh. Nothing ever felt scary. I am a HUGE horror movie fan and this was just horrible. It really felt like this was written by young people posing in horror. Do yourself a favor and skip this. It really is meh at best. Again, acting is ok. Cinematography is ok. Its the bad writing and maybe directing that makes this a hard pass.

Just some observations mixed with questions to follow. I don't recognize most of these characters. The lead and her bestie's relationship seem plausible enough. Others however, don't feel like people that exist any place but in a movie. How and why are the antagonists here friends? The sniveling Gooch is completely and stupefyingly inept, getting owned every time by female characters, both enemies and allies, and he loves slapping his head... a lot. He's also easily the most helpless, hopeless character and the movie's (scape)GOAT! I won't bother much with the vaguely lesbian Kendra, and her butterfly knife(?) or the leader of the strangely insular trio Barrett, making(and looking)like an ersatz, young Kevin Bacon. Of greater concern is the linchpin event, at the heart of this story. Barrett is the highly privileged son of a congressman who trolls the streets in broad daylight picking up a familiar, but hesitant young girl, with his number one and two in tow? Really? Who thought this was a winning idea? You'll notice phones are like another character here. Things happen with them that are highly questionable, but convenient to the plot. Dermot Mulroney is on board, in a turn similar to the one he played in this year's Scream sequel, and the late Anne Heche plays his wife and she, well... see for yourself. The lesser known players are solid enough, but some say and do "iffy" things that detract from their performances. One scene has the lead girl, Eden intending to schmooze up to (Barrett) Schroder for reasons known to both, but when it's just the two of them alone, he's doing all the talking while she can barely wait to dispense with the small talk, cutting straight to the chase with all the finesse of Godzilla stomping through Tokyo! While this movie's third act is more interesting than what came before it, it's the clunky stuff that came before that holds it back, as a whole. I actually started this review while still watching the film. I was ready to give it 2 stars 30-40 mins in, before it continued to it's conclusion and I realized that it would be too harsh a judgment. It's simply not that bad, but it also, while competently assembled with a certain amount of flair, has character, dialogue and script/plot issues that keep it firmly in, "It's ok" territory.

This film does little to develop any of the characters, and the plot is basic rich/poor at a fancy school. Except the target is entry to an Ivy league school rather than to stop bullying.

So stock rich kids & poor kids engage so the poor one can finagle into a school that her poor friend has a full ride. Rich kids are standard rich kids with all the excess that comes with it.

Oh wait, the film starts wurh a missing girl!

What starts as a standard party to get ahead turns into a heist and hostage situation. All the wrong choices are made, all the obvious signs are ignored, and the revenge is served stupidly.

Oh well. Anne Heche filmed her part soon before she died. She looked as if she was ready to fall over intoxicated. Or she was reeling from chemo.

Tense only due to the stupidity if the characters.

Have you ever watched a movie that was so bad that it made you physically angry? This is that movie. For some reason it was certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. The numbers had to be manipulated. There is nothing good about this movie. I don't know how anyone involved with this travesty watched the finished product and declared "yep, it's ready". The plot is a re-tread of much better movies (young woman gets hunted by a group of killers) but with terrible dialogue and even worse acting. It's sad to see Anne Heche (R. I. P.) who is clearly not all there and the usually solid Dermot Mulrony ham it up, and at the same time, phone it in. This movie could have been wrapped up in about 45 minutes and it would have been better. Most of the scenes seem to be dragged out to fill time. Do yourself a favor and skip this one.

This movie is a must-see for fans of thrillers that expertly balance action with psychological depth. The film keeps you on the edge of your seat with a series of clever plot twists, intense action scenes, and compelling dialogue that keep you fully engaged throughout. What sets this movie apart is how it seamlessly blends action and psychology. While there are plenty of thrilling moments, the real heart of the story is the characters' attempts to outsmart and undermine each other. This gives the talented cast, particularly Anne Heche and Dermot Mulroney, ample opportunity to showcase their skills and share believable chemistry on screen. Anne Heche, in particular, delivers an exceptional performance that really stands out. Overall, this movie is well-crafted and thoroughly entertaining, with a solid storyline that never drags on unnecessarily. Enjoy and watch this one. RIP Anne Heche.