They Reach

I'm convinced every review here saying this movie was decent, is a troll.. Was this some school project, is that why they used stop motion for some effects? Did the children actors write and direct this? At least it was somewhat funny..

Don't take this too seriously and you will enjoy. I watched it blind and it held my attention from start to end. It is a bit of a mess at times but overall an enjoyable flick. Casting is good. Characters are likeable. Female lead is definitely the standout. FX are competent. Storyline is a bit silly almost to the point that it appears diliberate? Maybe a tongue'n'cheek tribute to Stranger Things/Goons genre? If you like those I am sure you will enjoy this.

Temper your expectations and you can find this one quite enjoyable! The acting is good, the story is simple, solid, and fun, the look is great(camera work, color grade), and the music holds it all together quite well.

This definitely has a bit of a Stranger Things vibe but it certainly has it's own direction and feel, if not an entirely different sort of motivation. The story isn't entirely predictable, which is nice.

Overall, if you like the horror/mystery genre I think the odds are good you would enjoy this movie as well.

There was some good production values. There is an actual film crew. There are crane shots. Drone shots. Steadicam, handheld, dolly and tracking shots. There is good lighting. This was not shot on cellphones. So kudos to a decent DP.

The set design is very good. Lots of dank spaces like basements and libraries. The effects, as sparse as they are, are not distractingly horrid. The costumes (other than the cop uniforms) are fairly accurate.

The acting is a mixed bag. Some players are better than others. And this isn't Shakespeare. But you can tell that they filled out the cast with crew, friends or amateurs.

The plot is a bit schlocky. At times it is lighthearted and whimsical. Then it ramps up the tension or gets zany. But the story is more about the kids fumbling around the town with a supernatural mystery to keep them busy.

Oh, and the soundtrack is pretty spectacular for a lower-budget film.

It's not great. But it gets points for effort.

A lot of reviewers, some of whom, I supect have not seen this film, have, in my opinion, been very unfair to it. "They Reach" is by no means a bad little horror film.

There's a real "Stranger Things" meets "The Goonies" vibe on offer here, rounded out with a 70's nostalgia trip, that's done extremely well. This is balanced by surprisingly excellent acting from younger cast members in particular, who really steal the show.

The horror effects are nothing special but they don't really need to be. In spite of the blood and minor gore, this is on a certain level a dark horror comedy. Its not supposed to be taken too seriously.

In short this ones a winner. Its inherently likable, watchable and entertainingly silly in a scary demonic kind of way.

7/10 from me.