Strawberry Estates

I don't know why I do this to myself. After having read a hilarious review at SomethingAwful.com, and having a weakness for both found-footage and B-movies, I decided to take the plunge and rent this movie. Thank God it was only a couple of dollars! It's an insult to Blair Witch Project when any comparison is made of this POS to Blair. This movie (and I use the term loosely) was a travesty: the acting was atrocious, the characters were despicable (I wished them all dead within a couple of minutes of being introduced), the sound was hilarious (particularly scenes where the wind blocked the voices, so they used sub-titles - yeah, that's realistic for "found footage").

There are some movies I've watched that have nearly been this bad (thank God only a couple), but those movies were so bad they were entertaining, and I've actually watched them more than once (such as The Expedition, and Witch Graveyard). But I will NEVER watch Strawberry Estates again, and will remember the director's name (Ron Bonk) as a warning to stay far, far away from anything he's associated with.

I cannot believe the positive User Reviews of this movie that I've read here. If they are in fact sincere and not being sarcastic, I fear for the future of mankind. I strongly suggest reading the aforementioned review at SomethingAwful.com - not only did it make me laugh out loud, but it is spot on (and No, I have nothing to do with that web site).

There's something ridiculous about the found footage genre that I tend to find endearing...

if you saw a squirrel you'd have thought it was the antichrist!"

~Strawberry Estates

This film is about as terrible as The St. Francisville Experiment. Here's why: (1) About 99% of the film is talking...(2) The acting is not believable whatsoever...(3) Did I say about 99% of the film is talking?

Well, there you have it. Watch Cannibal Holocaust or even The Blair Witch Project before watching this crap. Like I said, it ranks down there with The St. Francisville Experiment. Avoid!

The objective breakdown:

Cinematography: Non-existent. It is unknown what this movie was shot with but what was edited was not worth the effort. The individual shooting the film did not know how to focus the equipment. You can essentially attain a headache by attempting to view. Color is horrid, shots not blocked. I would liken to compare to a first effort by a person that knows nothing of the film process and received a cameras for their birthday.

Sound: Horrendous: They either used one microphone and just planted it in one location or multiple mics and not configured correctly. The amplitude of a voice will go from too loud to so soft you can barely hear and back again. Try and understand the reception from the walkie talkies.

Music: There is none. You would think the creator would have known someone that could have created a little mood music and loop it incessantly like so many other bad movies.

Acting: Stupefying: it is painfully obvious that no one is an actor. One would think at least one person would at least be passable. This is what one gets when one has no money and friends that you believe can act or you spent money and have no clue what talent is.

Script: Your brain will disengage within a matter of minutes. The writer loses focus and just rambles from one thing to another. We are subjected to idiotic conversations that are supposed to be thought provoking but are the lamest and non logical arguments one hears constantly. I do love the comment about psychics solving crimes, you can read about it in the National Inquirer! Now that line made me laugh!

Funny that they mention "Purgatory" because this is what I classify this movie as. It is a "Purgatory" or "Limbo". It has absolutely no redeeming quality to it what so ever. It is not passable and it does not provide any amusement in being so incompetently made. Do NOT waste time from your life viewing this piece of flotsam.

Worst thing about this movie is the awful "acting". Some, like the student, are ok. Others, like the professor and psychic are just bad. Like reading from a script at that very moment bad. The actress playing the student is very likable and adorable so it makes up for her not so great acting. The video quality is bad but it's supposed to be so that's ok. Scratch my first sentence: the worst thing about this movie is the talk talk talk talk. Talking about nonsense that has nothing to do with the plot. Why have a 10 minute argument about God? Just get on with the ghostly stuff.