De poel

Directed and co-written by Chris W. Mitchell, this Dutch film introduces us to a group of campers determined to enjoy themselves however much events conspire against them. By events, I mean that Leannart (Gijs Scholten van Aschat, who co-wrote this), his wife Silke (Carine Crutzen) and his two sons discover unpleasant things about each other, as they do about friend Rob (Bart Klever) and his daughter Emilie (Jamie Grant). That's bad enough, even if, for the viewer, the myriad sardonic altercations are so true to life they raise a smile of familiarity (in some cases - not all). As a character drama, this succeeds handsomely. But there's worse to come.

When unpleasant things start happening, the images and moments are captured so fleetingly, that you're in danger of missing them. Suggestions of the supernatural, the possibility of nasty legends about the pool of the title proving to be true, and effective moments of realistic gore. You'd leave, wouldn't you? This bunch take a long time to reach that decision. Is it too late? I'm not giving anything away, although (for some, at least) you might guess the answer with a degree of confidence.

I had great fun with this, although the line between real and hallucinogenic is so blurred, we're occasionally flummoxed as to what is going on; and van Aschat and his fellow writers, isn't falling over himself to explain things. My score is 7 out of 10.

A nice try for a horror movie. There has never been a dutch scary movie that actually was scary. Compared to the rest of them, this movie is a masterpiece. It almost gives you a scare and its first 35 minutes are entertaining minutes. Then it unfolds to be a'the shining' wannabe. All the characters become unlikable. The motives are weird and unprovoked. The movie becomes predictive. And after an hour of watching you start to lose interest to see the end. It's just follow-up of nice shot scenes, but no overall story. The acting isn't that bad. I wouldn't recommend this movie for anybody looking for a entertaining evening. Because there wasn't any nude in the movie, something that we dutch always find functional, I can't give this more then a solid 4. Not really bad, but still far from good.

Never mind the 'critics' this is a nice small dutch movie, well acted, and surprisingly well done. No it's NOT a blockbuster nor was it intended to be one. Good watch anyway. gave it an extra point because of the naggers

A bad camping trip. A group is headed out for a perhaps week long camping trip. Rather then stopping in a meadow, Lennaert says they wanted to camp near water, so he goes to explore. He comes back, and tell them there is water, and it is inside a nature preserve. Seems nice enough, and the first night one of them regales them of a ghost story about strange happenings at the pond. But no real details. But things start to get strange. Is some of what is seen hallucinations or spirits? Good purchased food suddenly rots. Maggots get into food. Canned food is found broken open. Not a pleasant time, and Lenneart seems to fancy himself as a survivalist, able to overcome anything. Things just keep getting worse, and trying to walk out back to the cars only gets them back at the pond. It is more mystery than real horror, although things that happen are horrible. One can stay to the end (the movie is short) to see how it unfolds, or get bored and stop without missing much.

As a genuine horror fan and a Dutch native, I did not have high expectations of this horror movie. Even without the expectations this movie was dissapointing. The story does not come to life, the acting was mediocre and there was no suspense. Things hppening for no reason and a terrible end that makes no sense. After watching the movie there was just a feeling of regret. I could have watched something even remotely interesting. This comes from somebody who has watched so many pulp and B movies.