The Well

"The Well", is where "Hostel" meets "A Picture of Dorian Grey", and indeed with some old school Italian gore direction, a la Umberto Lenzi. I've been waiting for this one since Stieges 2023 and Zampaglione (Tulpa)'s direction did not disappoint. La Vera (Terrifier 2) carried her "final girl" crown well, though obviously in a more demure manner. The acting by the four prisoners was excellent and the cinematography was top notch. The story was a bit thin but the gore and other visual effects made up for it in spades. Zampaglione truly got right that which Rob Zombie usually buggers up. He even had a family member who could kinda act in the film.

As an Italian I am really happy for this film, finally an Italian horror shot well and with extraordinary special effects thanks to my friend Carlo Diamantini, national pride, one of the best make-up artists ever and my fellow countryman who invited me to the preview of this film and also introduced me to the director Federico Zampaglione (who confirms that he has a certain talent when it comes to horror) and a couple of cast members, including Lorenzo Renzi who I had already appreciated in the Amazing TV series "Romanzo Criminale".

About The Well, I can say that we are faced with an exquisitely old school product, with monsters and blood and a very suggestive final scene, Zampaglione has great mastery with the camera and knows the old Italian horror classics, especially Argento and Fulci. As an Italian, horror lover and friend of Diamantini I tell everyone to run to the theater and enjoy this little jewel full of gore and violence!!!

It's been so long since I watched a good italian horror and here it is! Cinematography is quite great with its very interesting, beautiful shots. Every single scene is plenty of suspense, discomfort and tension, both in the manor and in the dungeons. Photography is amazing as well, using lights in different effective ways, by changing shades and colors up to the environment involved. Practical effects are absolutely perfect and they look like the ones from the 80's. What a cool choice! The ugly deaths and the characters are all beautifully pictured and the acting is great. Cruelty, gore, evilness and selfishness are served in cold blood with no escape at all!

Terrible, in every way. A non-existent film direction, embarrassing dubbing and a stupid script. They try to quote the Italian horror of the 80s but they end up trashy, the soundtrack is ridiculous to say the least and used at the wrong times. The only positive things are the protagonist's acting and the gore scenes. The rest is rubbish unfortunately. We see the passion for the genre but we don't see the talent or any other artistic ambition, this is not the Italian horror we need. Furthermore, it must be underlined that all the influencers who talk about cinema and who have expressed negative opinions and sensible criticisms on the film have been accused of incompetence by the film's official Instagram account. Except the director who accepted them. Shameful, that's not how cinema is made.

There is very slow buid up. Plus the suspense they want to create that is also not engaging. I need 4 days to compete it !!

Still completed with skipping. There is only violence. No horror or no paranormal activity. You cannot make movie horrific by only using violence. Story is also boring and strange. Can't grip your audience. The actress did well with acting. What's with the well ??? There is better well in "Ring" movie. Here only cutting body parts makes you scare ! No scare also only feel weird. Expected good story but cannot match with even poster also. Only the tent scene is little scary.