Foto na pamyat

I honestly adore the horror films, and I try to watch all the best representatives of the genre. I prefer mystic to slashers - all those ghosts, demons and etc. Watching Russian horror film is always a kind of box of chocolates, as Forest Gump said, you never know what you're gonna get. It may be a fierce trash, and maybe a great picture better than many Hollywood ones. With the same feeling I started to watch Foto na pamyat. It's quite strange but this time it was the second variant. If I hadn't known, I wouldn't have thought that the film was Russian. The plot is really very interesting. Polaroid camera killer is something new. It reminds of my beloved "Final destination" and "The ring". There was a lot of horror connected with photos as well. However here polaroid photos, giving such a nice retro flavor, are evil themselves. The main characters go on vacation and do not suspect what troubles await them ahead. Accident, misunderstanding where you are, the inability to call for help and as a result - overnight in the dark forest. Finding an old house nearby, they decide find some help there, it's empty since it was abandoned many years ago. Having searched the rooms, they find a camera inside and take a photo. Only no one knew that after that death itself would appear for boys and girls! Here we have a good old house with squeaks and sounds, surrounded by a dark, ominous forest. In short, the most beautiful setting for a strong horror. The atmosphere of fear, cold and hopelessness created just perfect. The picture tells us that it is not a pretty good idea to touch old things, such as old camera. The actors coped well with their task, although sometimes they overplayed a little bit. I especially liked Sanjar Madi. He is quite a nice guy, and as it turned out to be quite talented. In general, I am very pleased that I put that film on. It's nice when the movie is better than you hoped.

We are so used to photographing ourselves and everything round us, that we have completely forgotten that it may lead to real disaster. No wonder our ancestors endowed the art of photography with mystical properties. They considered photography as something very special, anxious and personal. Take, for example, the "post-mortem" fashion, which was quite popular a century and a half ago which depicted dead people. Some theologians and mystics still call it a kind of play with death itself ... You have to agree that this subject is incredibly fascinating, even though extremely scary. This film also made reconsider my attitude to the thoughtless click on the camera button, because something really awful can be hidden behind this hobby. The protagonists of this story are young people who decided to go to the country. But as often happens, on the way a small incident happens to them and now the guys have to stay overnight in some abandoned cabin. Where they find the main story trigger, an old Soviet camera "Sekunda". Tell me the truth, who could resist temptation of taking a few polaroid retro pictures? The guys couldn't. From now on a cruel camera will presage their upcoming death. Though the story with a bundle of teenagers in center who tries to avoid death in the middle of the woods is not new, the film turned out to be atmospheric It creates a feeling of penetrating cold and gradually glowing tension, which at a certain moment reaches its apogee. I do not argue that from time to time places logic fails, the actions of the heroes are not always adequate, but this is already a kind of law of the genre. My verdict: the film is quite interesting and frightens pretty well. The heroes are easy to feel sympathy for and the idea with deadly camera is superb.

A brief summary: it is not a scary movie per se, each plot twist (and there are not many of them) would be foreseen by a 5 year-old under caught syrup influence, actors can't play... If you want to watch an unintentionally made parody comedy, like any Final Destination, but much worse, then watch this.

Longer story (still no spoilers): The plot itself is very standard for an average horror for teens, yet they forgot to put any logic into characters' actions, making them not just helpless and flawed (which is somewhat expected from a horror movie), but more like mentally disabled or straight dumb. Most deaths in this horrific movie are results of totally illogical and unmotivated actions of characters, which causes strong desire to break something (that is how dumb the plot and dialogues are). The crew (starred actors) performance is unnatural and provides no entertainment at all... unless you are watching this as a freak show of emotionally handicapped, which wouldn't be advised and is not nice for many reasons. The whole plot can be compressed into 3 sentences (or 10, if add unnecessary details, which are not affecting the plot).

And the screamers... neither of the screaming moments was delivered. None. I would be more terrified with a spam phone call during the lunch break, then with all this movie put together.

In total: I dare to bet, that this review is more entertaining, then this movie.

But i will say that it fulfills nearly 90% of the criterias to a fully mature mystery horror thriller. the only dragging anchor that i stroved with was the bad luck of viewing an english dubbed version, of half dedicated voices that tries to nail together some russinglish, but i wont let that affect my review.

its a film about the thing that i guess everyone above the age of 50 still keep saving in the back of the cabinet in case vintage should become the new fashion again, namely the camera obscura, in this case a really vintage version of a polaroid. but its not a normal camera, so have a look and youll find out its properties.

i have seen polaroidmovie in the past, made on much higher budgets, and much weaker result than this one thats actually very good on surprise and a very twisted end. its a sequel to come i guess...

acting, varies a lot, from mediocre to excellent, story pretty generic, story could have filled 3 ''post-it''s, the eerie cabin well stocked and equiped, and the woddy locations are just like where i spend my leisure hours in the night with my headlamp walking my dogs at a time of day that i wont meet anyone else, cause my dogs a pretty rabbid against strangers( chinese powder puffs--he-he), and the deafening silence in the night are very well enhanced.

there are some blod and gore, not so barbaric but still... anyway the grumpy old man had a good hour and a half of tension, even dubbed so let that be a sign of quality. recommended

I don't understand how this film has got less than 3/10. This is a nice movie. Not a great one, but a decent one, entertaining, different, with some good twists.

It does have stupid moments, stupid actions, but, come on, this is not Psycho or It.

If you like horror movies, I think you will enjoy it.

Maybe some reviewers hate it because it is russian, and they cannot stand russian people...