lost-in-limbo

A haunted house horror ride that spawned a video game and said to be an influence for the 'Resident Evil' games. Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, you can't help but see some flashes that had me thinking of his film; Pulse (2001), especially regarding the shadow ghosts. I wish it had been far more foreboding though, as the light-hearted humour and bright lighting in the first half of the characters exploring and interacting does seem to undermine it at times. However the vivid set designs of the abandoned mansion in the woods are like something out of a Mario Bava gothic horror film, so when it gets dark the spook levels rise and Dick Smith's makeup FX provides the gooey goods with a nasty moment or two. The climatic final battle (like out a video game) is a light show of unhinged thrills, and pulsating special-effects that are well worth the wait. Think 'Poltergeist', but on steroids.

Watching this late at night into the early morning is the perfect time, yet watching this on commercial TV wasn't such a great idea. Every time it established suspense, it was broken up by a TV commercial and it sort dragged it out longer than it should be. This remake by the same film-maker of the 1989 "UFO Abduction" adds an extra 30 mins, plus some faux interviews in between the found footage to discuss what we are seeing, and to share some light on what they think happened to this family. I found it to start off well, some chilling imagery with the few alien encounters, especially their first encounter in the woods. But come the half-way point, despite the escalating fear and anxiety of the situation it sort meanders with the family trying to come to terms with their ordeal, and the one-by-one disappearance of family members before its abrupt, yet suitably disquieting final moments before the camera finally goes static.