The Luring

I'd rather watch paint dry then watch this again. My husband said why do I have to be so mean... And I asked him to tell me that it wasn't that bad he goes no it was bad it was really bad... Considering that I don't think I'm being so mean. This was an hour and a half that felt like three hours of my life that I can't get back. From the writing, to the storyline to the acting it just seems like somebody had way too much time on their hands and no talent...

The level of suspense in The Luring makes this clever psychological thriller a lot scarier than I was expecting. Written and directed by Christopher Wells, the film plays tricks on its audience by disguising itself as a midnight movie, making us think we can put our guard down.

From the first scene to the last, we're guided on a wild ride that's elevated by strong performances across the cast, coupled with a very well-done original score. But it's the nice little touches that make The Luring a worthwhile watch: from the way the characters become transfixed by the serene paintings (a metaphor that things aren't always as they seem), to the way poetry ties characters together and foreshadows their demise, to how the toy truck is used as bait.

We follow Garrett, played by Rick Irwin, and the hopeful romantic Claire, played by Michaela Sprague, whose characters have very different ideas about where their relationship is heading. The film digs into the power dynamics of dominance and submission and how we change our persona depending on who we're confronted with. A beautifully executed oner at the lake reveals a lot about their relationship; as the camera creeps closer, the tension builds, making us feel like an evil force is manipulating them.

The small vacation house somehow magnifies insecurities in some and amplifies self-indulgence in others, which leads to a heart-racing sequence involving a ten-year-old boy, all under the watchful eye of a sinister figure, chillingly played by Dan Berkey.

The way Wells reintroduces the devil in the bowling alley scene is brilliant. We almost forget his earlier involvement, so when he reemerges, the framing cuts off his head, creating unsettling foreshadowing that plays out in an underbelly of suspense.

Throughout the film, the characters are plagued by nightmares, and the blending of reality and dreams makes us wonder if they're trapped in purgatory or caught in a web of pure evil.

The Luring grabbed my attention because it quickly earned it.

First off, let me say that I don't understand the low ratings here... "The Luring" is a pretty well-made suspense film - a rarity in the genre, and for that I was EXTREMELY grateful! They are rare enough from big studios and rarer still in the indie film world. The attention-grabbing opening scene immediately engaged me, making me want to find out the rest of the story of "the cabin in the woods" - which admittedly is a standard horror film trope, but it was done so well that ...trope/schmope. I'm IN. Production value is top notch, with simple, yet effective practical effects, and the acting of the entire cast is strong. The story flows well most of the time - but as is the case with many films like this, the viewer occasionally needs to work to suspend their disbelief. The child actor (Jake Katzman) in the opening scene was particularly good. Not easy to find effective child performers, and the other kid actors were good as well. Don't want to give too much away, but there were times while I was watching where I was literally screaming at the TV for Claire (Michaela Sprague) to ditch Garrett (Rick Irwin) because...DAMN - what a whacko that character is! Then there is another character who reminded me of The Tall Man in Phantasm, and he is appropriately creepy. Also very creepy was the ultra tall clown, and I wish there was more to that subplot. Overall, There is a lot to like with this indie thriller, and director Christopher Wells' work. Recommended.

Christopher Wells' "The Luring" is an indie psychological horror film that blends atmospheric tension with emotional depth. The story is about Garrett (Rick Irwin), who returns to his childhood vacation home in Vermont to confront a traumatic birthday from his childhood that he cannot remember. Wells crafts a moody and suspenseful narrative that relies on character development more than blood and gore. If people like suspense more than the traditional blood and guts horror usually offers, I would give this film a shot. The complex story with dark visuals will leave viewers thinking about this film after the credits roll.

The Luring takes it time on screen, not rushing, so I did check it out closely, see if I'm not missing anything. Some scenes felt random, the colour changes a lot, of course I thought about symbolism, but I failed to capture it...perhaps because it was not really there. Just a shadow, a whisper, but nothing really concrete, that would come back and hit you in the head with a brick after reconsidering those particularly, weird moments.

For a horror or a psychological one, it never seems to up its game, it genuinely becomes more and more easy to anticipate what's going to happen, so you will find no spark there. Towards the end it did have a scene, so out of the blue, so bold, it really managed to make quite the impression, and it even got me thinking how much more room there was for it, or in how many other movies, such scenes could appear and just shake you from the core. But then it continued towards its conclusion, one that I saw coming for the last 30 minutes, so it was a steady, easy ride from there till the very end.

Overall, sadly, I don't feel like recommending The Luring, because it has a weak plot, slow but not in a good way development, and the ending itself falls flat. If you do decide to watch it, lower your expectations and just try to see what those out of touch moments are all about. Because even if they represent something, the ending itself is so explicit..made little sense to make the movie stuffier for such a bland finish.

Cheers!