Baby Blue

The plot was great. I kind of knew that it would be a good movie because Anthony Turpel was there (and c'mon, look at him). But that suspense was WOW!. It was so hook grabbing that midway I almost forgot about Turpel and just enjoyed the film. I have to say the best part of these movies is the realism they bring compared to big Hollywood movies. They kind of create a documentary/curiosity feel that's never too tense so you can rest easy at night. However, I have never cursed (no pun intended) out so many people while watching a horror movie in my life. I wanted to punch each character in the face or become Baby Blue so that I can make them punch themselves. I really do praise the directors for articulating the best annoying hipster character they could. They deserve a raise. But other than that, really great movie. And there was no sarcasm in this review (literally) 😐.

Honestly this was one of the best independent films I've seen in while. It truly had me jump a couple times and was well edited.

I wanted to watch this to see Cyrus Arnold. Loved him in Mr. Harrigan's Phone, and wanted to see him in a less mean role. He did amazingly! He sold it on the fear factor and just hit it out of the ballpark on his choices for his character's reactions.

The other cast members were great too! The siblings played well off each other. Baby Blue just was fantastic with his serial killer vibes. He kind of reminded me a bit of Ricardo "the Night Stalker" Ramirez meets Henry Bowers.

It's a clearly low-budgeted little indie horror flick, but they really got the most out of the moderate means. The premise is not that original (a group of not so bright youngsters who want to make it in the world of internet vlogs go on a ghost-hunting trip), it's a bit like Ghostbusters with a camera, or a Scooby-Doo episode without Scooby-Doo. But they still made a pretty decent story of it, with a serious sinister undertone and a creepy atmosphere. The few VFX were convincing enough, it has a good pace, and the acting was fine (although the annoying August character went way over the top!). Just a pity that the actor they used for the killer didn't look in any way as menacing and horrifying as was intended, in spite of covering his face with blood smears; the sunglasses and cigarets made him look almost cute, like some defiant teen.

If anything, the writing was a bit unbalanced. The dead, but still haunting serial killer didn't get any serious background or motives for his acts. The unfortunately killed Hutch seemed to be forgotten by everyone, including the writers, as was the sister of Baby Blue who apparently still hovers in that house (or I missed some clue). Her sudden change of sides from obedient daughter to the savior of the victims came totally out of the blue. And the very last scene in the car impressed as an afterthought of the writers: hey, let's throw in something that we could use for a sequel! But there were some pretty strong scenes too: the blinded guy in the basement looked great, and the whole sequence with the deranged mother from hell and her milk-obsession was absolutely top notch!

I am not sure what movie everyone else in the reviews watched, but it was not this one. I am willing to bet that the reviews praising it are either friends of if not the actual people who worked on the film, because besides cinematography, it was terrible. This movie is a amalgamation of several tropes that make other movies good, essentially trying to be 3 separate movies...and fails on all fronts.

The film references way better movies like "The Ring" and "The Shinning", the director stating something along the lines of this being a love letter to the genre... nope. As a mess of a film that can not seem to figure out what it wants to be, and can not seem to keep it's own plotlines coherent or consistent. Referencing or nodding to better films does not make yours any better. Even as a student film it would be subpar. The film attempts so many potentially great things, yet somehow can not deliver.

If "edging" was a movie, this is it. Go watch a classic horror, or a gritty crime drama. Would have rather put toothpicks under my toenails and kicked a wall than watch this again. Trash movie, garbage story, sad credit for all involved. Unfortunately, it isn't even a "The Room" kind of movie that is "so bad its it's good" and will becomes a cult classic. It's just plain bad in all aspects, besides the cinematography.

If it seems like I am ranting or hating on the movie, I am. I have no skin in the game, but the fact that this is my first review in my entire life, and the only film I walked away feeling like I wasted my time...that should say something.

The final scene was seemingly thrown in last second in hope's of a sequel, although fitting as it was a terrible ending.

Trying to stay relevant, a group of friends desperate for their big break in the video content-producing industry decide to look into a local true crime case, but the more they investigate the situation the more they come to believe the thought-dead serial killer has targeted them and must stop his rampage.

For the most part, this was a generally decent and enjoyable effort. One of the finer points of this one is the overall setup in place that serves the film incredibly well. The idea of the group being forced into tackling the true crime case to continue their career is clunky but worthwhile enough for this kind of effort, and the backstory featured here of the case involving the fate of the figure they're working with is quite chilling. The exploits at the hotel where the victim lived and bring them into contact with the real nature of the curse and how that continues against the series of ritualistic occurrences ties everything together under the curse. This sets up the rather fun storyline where the supernatural figure starts to insert himself into the group's life and torment them for the resurrection angle that brought him back. The series of interactions with the supernatural figure appearing out of nowhere playing mind games or instructing victims to graphically kill themselves while the rest of the group heads off into a five series of investigative processes on how to stop the curse is all handled quite nicely. It all leads to the twist-laden finale as the participants in league with the killer get introduced and start providing some vicious confrontations with the killer and his targets that allow for some fun gore and action to have some positive aspects. There are some flaws to be had with this one. The biggest drawback to be had here is the troublesome antics of the cursed brother who we're supposed to find funny yet everything he does is lame and unfunny. The jokes and quips about a learning disability aren't an excuse for the type of setup here that goes for some laughably immature and ends up causing more trouble for the group to have to deal with as he is directly responsible for continuing the struggle which makes him hard to like. That's also the cause for the killer who's a completely non-threatening figure with his faux-greaser style, baby-face looks, and goofy motivation that leaves everything incredibly underwhelming which all lowers the film overall.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence, Extreme Graphic Language, and Brief Nudity.