Spirit Trap

Okay, this movie wasn't THAT BAD. I've seen horror movies that were way worse. (The Black Dahlia Haunting, for instance. I have no idea how it managed a higher rating than this movie. If you ever have to choose between the two, choose this one.) There were a few "Wtf is going on?" moments, but nothing too bad. However, I personally wouldn't pay to watch it. It's just something entertaining to watch if you have nothing better to do. The reason I watched it was because it has Billie Piper in it. The acting was pretty good, which I was not expecting, due to the low rating here on IMDb. If you're a fan of Billie, you may as well watch it.

After seeing the advert for 'Spirit Trap' in my local Cinema, I already had low hopes for the film. And it certainly did not disappoint. Its almost as if the director sat down and said to himself "How should i not make a film?" and then proceeded to film everything he thought of.

The center point of the film, the haunted house, looks like a set used in amateur theatre with over exaggerated lighting effects and tacky looking decor. The editing was appalling, cutting from scene to scene every few seconds, and lets just not mention the acting.

Overall, the film feels fake, bland, lacks a decent storyline and generally feels like something a 10 year old could think up with no problem.

In London, four students have a call from the student accommodation office of the local university offering lodging in an old house. The psychic Jenny (Billie Piper), the graph design student Nick (Sam Troughton), and the couple of lovers and drug dealers Tom (Luke Mably) and Adele (Emma Catherwood) are welcomed by the weird Tina (Alsou). Nick fixes a spirit clock, and sooner Jenny sees the crimes that happened in the house in the past, when two lovers died. Along the two next days, Jenny, Nick, Tom and Adele disclose that each one of them had killed a person on the past and also that they are trapped in the house, since a ghost is claiming a killer for a killer to release the soul of Edmund Joseph.

The storyline of "Spirit Trap" is very interesting and quite original, but the screenplay is not so good since presents this idea in a confused way. I liked the concept that a soul could be exchanged by another in hell provided the basic rule of "a killer for a killer" is accomplished. I liked also the performance of the unknown cast. In my opinion, there are some unfair and some exaggerated reviews in IMDb, since this movie is neither a crap nor a masterpiece, only another reasonable and entertaining haunted house horror film .My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "A Armadilha dos Espíritos" ("The Trap of the Spirits")

Standard haunted house thriller, but since it is a British flick, much of he dialogue is unintelligible. What it boils down to is several attractive youths move in an abandoned House where murder has been committed in the past. Each has his/her own shady story to tell. Some people die, and spirits abound. The sets are impressive, reminding me of Hammer's Dracula castle sets. The always attractive Billie Piper plays a psychic, and is the main reason for watching this turkey. A couple of halfway decent sex scenes keep one's interest from totally flagging. Shot in Romania, apparently on a set left over from another movie. Now that's economizing! That's how THE TERRROR with Jack Nicholsoand and Boris Karloff got made.

Yet another craptastic movie I got to see for free at my SU bar here at university. Boy, am I glad it was free.

Firstly, this film is really, really confusing. I'm not saying I didn't understand what was going on, rather that I didn't understand peoples reactions and/or WHY things were happening. For example, in one scene which I shall dub the "confession" scene, two characters reveal flaws they have. This makes them randy, apparently, and they begin a relationship right there. Now, I don't know about anyone reading this, but I wouldn't really be in the mood if I had just confessed something about myself to my potential partner, and had them do the same back, but hey, I'm not stuck in the house that quality movie-making forgot.

Another problem with the film is, I have to say, the performances. The only actors in this I recognised were Sam Troughton (mainly because I know his connection to Patrick) and Billie Piper. They were the best actors in this by a long shot, but then, scarlet fever is better than cancer, so lets not be too hasty in giving out the applause.

On a brighter note, the clock in the hallway looked cool.