Lake Alice

As a long time collector of horror dvds/blu rays, I have come to the conclusion that eye catching cover artwork doesn't always equate to a good movie.Take lake alice,or lake tomahawk as its known in the u.k. The cover art features a blood stained and gore encrusted tomahawk smashing violently through the surface of an ice covered lake.Striking huh ? Well it was impressive enough to make me rush to the counter to pay for it. Sadly said artwork is vastly more imaginative than the movie contained within. Think of the most groan inducingly predictable slasher movie you have ever seen and then times it by two and you'll be left with 'lake alice'.Ok so not many people watch a slasher flick expecting dazzling originality, but to be as derivative as this is some feat.Originality issues aside ,'lake Alice' commits the biggest sin in horror cinema and that's being boring.Nothing happens for vast swathes of the film and when it does its largely lacking in blood,tension of anything remotely thrilling.Trust me gorehounds will get more joy out of an episode of 'dexter' and everyone else will probably be asleep come the denouement,I know I nearly was.

I love horror, and I love whodunnits. Becoming a fiftysomething grandma has not changed my preference for good horror. My favourites are The witch in the window, (best horror ever made), Terrified, Dark was the night, Don't look now (from 1973,with Donald Sutherland) The Witch, Caveat, and most of James Wan. This film is far from those.

However, it is by no means bad. In fact, I found it quite good. The actors are fine, the scenery, suspense, the cold weather, the christmas theme, the build up, the killings, the twist, the lovely cabin, I liked all of it.

No annoying teens, no plot holes, likeable main charachters. I want them to survive, and I care about them. Especially one scene, which has to do with mistaken identity, was heartbreaking to watch.

No, its not brilliant, but it is decent. I'd rather watch this than snore fests like Saint Maud or Amulet.

Bad movie, we spent 40 minutes waiting for something to happen and nothing happens, when at last the suspense and the terror start, it is all very obvious and boring.

The reason for the murders to take place does not make sense, nor does the ending.

Get away from this movie.

I have never seen such a poor, so called horror film, lots of over the top screaming and very little action or story line. Very predictable victims and very predictable assassins. A child of 11 could create a better script.The film only lasts 75 minutes and believe me, that is the only good point. If you have an hour and a quarter to spare, do not use it watching this movie. You will regret it.

Perhaps because I am a big fan of the Horror Genra I was (literally) able to predict the Killer in this film 8 minutes into it. That may be hard to believe but if you have watched as many horror films as I have, it wasn't hard. There is a slight twist which I won't disclose and spoil it for anyone so I will simply give my perspective.

I think a "5" rating is justified for this film but may be a little generous. Acting, story line, plot and sound were sub par. Twist endings are always enjoyable but this one was a bit too much. If you have to take a simple formula used 100's of times in a Horror/Thriller and add one more factor to it to say "it's original", then anyone with $25,000 can produce an "original" film I suppose. This does not, an original film, make.

If you use your head a little and pay attention to the characters introduced in the first 10 minutes of the film any true Horror fan with half a brain will see who the Killer is, quite obviously. Pay close attention to facial expressions and subtract the obvious. That is how I guessed it right probably less then 8 minutes in.

To that end, I would not "Dead-Pan" the movie completely, but, don't spend a dime on an On-Demand order or theater viewing of this film. Wait a couple months to buy it in the $3 bin at your local Walmart or Grocery store. That I would recommend.