Anonymous 616

Was drawn into seeing 'Anonymous 616' with a cool poster/cover, a very intriguing if not creative premise and as someone with a general appreciation for horror. That it was low-budget, which from frequent personal experience is rarely a good sign due to that there are so many poor ones out there, made me though apprehensive.

'Anonymous 616' is a film it doesn't do enough with its potential (although there are far bigger wastes of potential in film) and could have been much better. 'Anonymous 616' is very weak with a lot of big problems. It certainly could have been far worse, considering the large number of films seen recently being mediocre at best and terrible at worst.

Lets start with the positives. The setting is atmospheric and spooky and 'Anonymous 616' is surprisingly well shot and easy on the eye, was expecting a cheap looking film and to me that wasn't the case here.

'Anonymous 616' has some suspenseful and creepy moments in the first third and it started off on a fun and intriguing note.

Albeit, there is nothing new here, it's all familiar territory and executed in old-hat fashion. The second half also takes itself far too seriously and gets incredibly idiotic, a very completely different film feel here. The creepiness dissipates completely fairly early on, with the horror and tension being nowhere near enough. Things start not making much sense and gets silly, with one of the most ludicrous and easily foreseeable plot twists ever. The acting

Further issues are that it was clear that it was written in haste. There is a very rushed and careless feel to the story, especially in the second half where confusion and choppiness can be found in editing and narrative, and the underdeveloped and scrappy script likewise. Then there is some padding and aimlessness that also gives the film a dragging sensation. The characters are flimsily developed, annoying and bland, the direction lacks focus and the music and sound editing are far too intrusive and obvious.

In summary, weak. 3/10 Bethany Cox

I have seen Daneil DeWeldon portray a Tennessee Williams cross-dresser with heart-wrenching vulnerability, and in Anonymous 616 a PTSD plagued vet who unravels with terrifying believability. This actor is a chameleon who can deliver the best, the worst, the darkest, and--yes--the creepiest of the characters he undertakes to serve up to the audience so fearlessly. His next stop should be with A-listers in a mega-hit. That said, this movie was a vehicle for a mind-blowing performance by a gifted lead actor; but the story was hardly deserving of his talents. Brutal and, in many ways, offensive, I would not recommend it to people of delicate sensibilities. Not sure whether it was trying to make a statement about drug use bringing out the worst in a sufferer of PTSD, or implying that torturing prisoners of war can invite Satan into your heart. Either way, the outcome was unsavory and both the vet and the viewer end up losers.

I just have to laugh at all these positive reviews! I gave it a 2 star rating (Because I reserve the 1 star rating for Asylum movies) I disagree with the other reviews. Not so hot acting, I really didn't feel it "suspenseful", "thrilling" or "riveting". The only reason the flick was "thought provoking" was due to the lack of lack of story. So it makes to try and feel in the gaps. And by these reviews, these people had more of an imagination than what's in the movie. I came to the conclusion that it was the cast members who gave the rave reviews.

The other reviews recommended this movie, so I was left very disappointed, if not scammed, after watching it.

Let's begin by saying that the acting is fine for the most part and the cinematography looks professional. The movie starts okay, with a suitably mysterious opening and a first act that makes you wonder what's going to happen.

Unfortunately that's all that can be said for the good parts. The real plot is started by an element that could have been interesting but is immediately followed by decisions so mind-blowingly idiotic that the whole thing becomes impossible to take seriously and you are taken right out of the movie.

The rest of the movie is a succession of meaningless acts of cruelty with intellectual talking points thrown in to make it appear smarter than it is. Religion, morality, war and man's innate violence are some topics brought up seemingly at random and with nothing to say that hasn't already been said by a much better movie or your weed smoking college roommate, when it has something to say at all.

To top it all, the movie ends with a ridiculous "twist" that manages to be both completely nonsensical and more predictable than a children's cartoon, means nothing to the viewer since it highlights even more the idiocy of the main character and brings a new character at the last minute, and ends with unintentionally funny special effects probably done by someone who wanted to show off to their mother what they learned to do with a computer.

Don't waste your time.

The movie is well done - the acting is quite good, the story line keeps you guessing, the production values are solid...

What's not to like?

Perhaps some people could draw some deeper 'statement' from the movie - I did not - however its not a preachy film and certainly is open to interpretation - which I like. Enjoy.