The Well

Federico Zampaglione's The Well is a chilling exploration of ancient curses and the darkness lurking beneath the surface of seemingly idyllic settings. The Italian filmmaker creates an unnerving atmosphere, layering the film in so much dread, you'll find yourself gripping the armrests in anticipation, even during its pitfalls.

The film follows Lisa Grey, a young art restorer, as she is commissioned to restore a medieval painting in the picturesque Italian village of Sambucci. What begins as a seemingly routine assignment soon unravels into a nightmare. As Lisa delves deeper into the painting's history, she becomes entangled in a web of malevolent forces and terrifying encounters.

Amongst the incredible creature design, one of the film's greatest strengths, lies in its atmospheric storytelling. It's an enchanting, eerie, atmospheric, gothic nightmare that lulls you into a hypnotic state. Zampaglione's direction is astute, creating a palpable sense of dread and unease throughout the film with ease. The haunting score, combined with the film's moody cinematography, immerses the viewer in a world of darkness and decay.

While the film's plot may seem familiar to fans of the horror genre, for the most part, The Well manages to offer a fresh take on the haunted house trope. The film's exploration of ancient curses and the supernatural elements add a layer of complexity that makes it all the more intriguing.

The performances in The Well are generally strong. Lauren LaVera delivers a convincing portrayal of Lisa, a woman caught between the beauty of art and the terrifying secrets it holds. The supporting cast also provides solid performances, adding depth and credibility to the film's characters.

However, The Well is not without its flaws. The pacing can be a little too slow in places, some of the plot developments may feel predictable and slightly underwritten. I personally wanted more lore, and scarier scares. Despite these minor shortcomings, The Well remains a chilling and unsettling cinematic experience. Its masterful direction, strong performances, and exploration of psychological horror make it a standout film in the genre. While it may not be a cinematic masterpiece, it's a well-crafted horror film that deserves to be watched.

The well was better than the sum of its parts brought together would have you seen. Lauren lavera coming off her terrifier fame has ventured into a new horror this time playing a character called lisa. Shes on her way to italy to restore a painting in a big mansion on behalf of her father who could not be there. It seems routin at first but the woman she is doing it for seems to have an altier motive. These some gore here and there and the makeup of the creatures we see is very good. There are other characters a group lisa meets that get caught up so its interesting watching the action unfold from their perspective also. Overall the well was well good in fact and I enjoyed for what it was even if some elements fell flat when it was brought all together.

To start with, this was not what I expected. After reading the reviews, I thought this is gonna be another poorly made "amazon prime" special - low budget, made with little talent to fill a time slot. I was surprised.

Firstly - I'm a huge movie fan and a massive indie horror supporter. I'm a filmmaker myself and produce folklore horror films based on Scottish Myths. So a folklore story based in rural Italy is right up my street.

For the first 20 minutes I was unsure, then something clicked and I started really enjoying it. Interesting premise, some creepy moments, well shot, surprisingly well acted, good creature / monster design and yes good gore if that's your thing.

I would definitely give this a go.

"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.

2023's movie The Well lures viewers with Lauren LaVera (Terrifier 2 & 3) as the protagonist, Lisa, who travels to a small Italian village to restore a medieval painting to its former glory. Little does she know that there's much more to the painting, as it is bound by an evil curse. On her way to the house where she is to meet the woman who hired her and her seemingly stubborn daughter, she also encounters three backpackers. The audience follows their parallel storyline, though not necessarily to flesh out their characters but for different reasons.

Lisa's father, a well-known art restorer, was unable to restore the painting himself, so he sent his daughter. It quickly becomes clear that their relationship is somewhat strained, as Lisa mentions he is a very strict man. The painting must be finished within two weeks because, as the owner says, it will be part of an exclusive auction in London. This sudden deadline catches Lisa off guard and puts pressure on her work, prompting her to start the restoration immediately. However, she quickly becomes distracted by various things, as her character is overly curious. This tendency is slightly annoying to watch because you know it will inevitably get her into trouble.

The movie has a good and creepy atmosphere, and the painting definitely carries a mysterious aura. The film has a nice vintage style and looks visually appealing overall. The acting is mostly fine, with Lauren LaVera particularly standing out as she carries most of the film's weight. True to its title, The Well includes scenes involving a well, but since the primary focus is on the painting, the title feels a bit misleading. Whenever the well is brought into the story, the film shifts toward a tone of torture porn and gore. These scenes, while unsettling and somewhat out of place, weren't entirely unwelcome, as I do enjoy some good gore-and the movie certainly delivers on that front.

In the third act, the different elements of the story come together, revealing the truth about the painting and the people surrounding it. Unfortunately, the ending feels a little rushed and leaves many things unexplained, which was disappointing. The film also includes many predictable elements, but overall, I had a decent time with it. While it's not groundbreaking, I think it's worth a watch for fans of the genre. [5,7/10]