MovieChat Forums > The Gravedancers (2008) Discussion > Why are people talking about this movie ...

Why are people talking about this movie like its good?

posted 17 years ago by Koutchbooom
52 replies | jump to latest

This movie was not even Sci-Fi Channel late night good. This movie was so bad. Now understand that I wanted this movie to be good, I missed the 8 Films To Die For weekend, but thought that it was a really cool idea. They could have packaged it better, rather then haveing to pay one ticket for every movie. Had I paid money to see this movie I would have hunted the makers down South Park style for my money back. These movies promised to be too scary for theaters, and what the distributors didn't say was, what kind of scary. Not real scary like "Oh man I am gonna be freaked out tonight" like The Descent, but more like "Oh man I can't believe people actually put money into something like that and then other people saw it and thought "WOW we should try to show the world this"" scary. Like seeing this movie has made me give up all faith on direct to dvd movies, like recently they have been going up in quality and I have seen a few that were worth while. But after this and what I am assuming is 7 other films of equal to or less than efforts, I will only see movies that were at somepoint meant to be in theaters. Not just a gimick to get some quick cash for a distributor who realized they bought a bunch of crap and wanna put a bow on it for us and tell us what a neat present they got us.

Now I know why there was very little to no buzz about any of these movies. Not on any fan/geek movie site were their people talking about 8 films to die for before they came out. And you think their would be something, I don't recall anything, just a bunch of people going ...
WAIT A MINUTE!!! Oh man breaking news, for those of you who haven't heard SCI-FI actually got the rights to show all the 8 Films to Die For this halloween. So i guess these films are as good as Sci-Fi films. And also note that there is going to be another 8 films to die for this year as well. Lets just hope they can actaully find 8 films to at least watch this year.

[–] JosiahSilas 17 years ago

Horrorfest would have been a brilliant idea if it was what I had expected it to be from the trailer. Instead it looks more like a bunch of low-budget forgettable horror movies, and that's just not that exciting.

--
Don't make me take off my sunglasses!

[–] aggrevateddamage 17 years ago

I actually agree with the second poster. I was expecting really super scary movies, boy have I been disappointed with the ones I've seen so far. The Hamlitons is good, so is Undead and Dead Little Things. Dark Ride, skip it.

[–] I-MovieLover4-ever 17 years ago

Before I saw Gravedancers I was really excited. I thought these were going to be the scariest movie's I've ever seen, not one bit of this movie was scary. I felt that it was a waste of time. I can't believe they were described as too scary for theaters, I wonder were we watching the same movie. That's why I don't listen to critics.

Sam: hey, about before, sorry.
Dean: no chick-flick moments.
Sam: fine, Jerk.
Dean: Bitch.

[–] Kimberwyn 17 years ago

That's all marketing and hype. They're just horror movies that didn't get release, which tells you something to begin with.

But with that said I thought the movie was cheesily entertaining.

www.GirlsTalkinSmack.com

[–] sagefoole 17 years ago

It wasn't all that bad, just terribly predictable. At least it wasn't another Grindhouse or Blair Witch!!!

"More tears have been shed for answered prayers than for those that go unheard!"

[–] wacastca 17 years ago

Sagefoole did you even watch Grindhouse? Im guessing you havent because Planet Terror and Death Proof are some of the best movies made

[–] sagefoole 17 years ago

Your guess is totally correct, and I pity the fans of Grindhouse. The total revenues aside, I was capable enough to avoid the theater after watching the previews... You call them the best movies ever made-was that before or after your favorite mood altering substances? And what does your statement have to do with the movie that is actually being discussed? I mean, since Grindhouse isn't really worth talking about in the first place...

"More tears have been shed for answered prayers than for those that go unheard!"

[–] wacastca 17 years ago

Im glad i had a chance to go to the theatres to see Grindhouse. It was the most fun ive ever had at a theatre. You say Grindhouse isnt worth being discussed yet you say this movie isnt all that bad... i feel pity for YOU

[–] sagefoole 17 years ago

It was the most fun ive ever had at a theatre.

To each his own, there isn't enough money on Earth to make me watch anything else by Quentin Tarantino-Dusk to Dawn was bad enough. Or Pulp Fiction. Both were awful. He must be one of the worst film makers in cinematic history.

You say Grindhouse isnt worth being discussed yet you say this movie isnt all that bad... i feel pity for YOU

And if you actually read my post, I actually wrote that The Gravedancers ...wasn't all that bad, just terribly predictable. No where did I use the term it was a good movie. And I really don't care if you like Grindhouse or not-as of this post I have wasted far too much time on that garbage. Homage or not there's a reason grindhouse films were left in the 70's. Now, I repeat my question from the previous post: What does that P.O.S. movie have to do with the subject of this board?

"More tears have been shed for answered prayers than for those that go unheard!"

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] sagefoole 17 years ago

wow u don't know nothing about cinema then.

OK, about the grammar... Never mind, public education at it's finest! You are grossly mistaken, I know what I need to know about cinema and that is I know what I like and don't like.

...but he's damn good.

Then why was Grindhouse such a tremendous flop? And back to my original question: what has this to do with the movie originally being discussed? Personally, I would love to se Elvira get ahold of Gravedancers! That would be funny!!!

"More tears have been shed for answered prayers than for those that go unheard!"

[–] wacastca 16 years ago

You're the one that brought it up in your first post, i was just defending it.

[–] sagefoole 16 years ago

Good answer!!! Great point, I concede. However I simply mentioned it, and Blair Witch, as comparisons of suck A$$ movies... I still think that Grindhouse sucks and is the lowest point on the cinematic thermometer. Gravedancers isn't that far above them so let's get back to that.

"More tears have been shed for answered prayers than for those that go unheard!"

[–] wacastca 16 years ago

Fair enough, one more question, did you see Grindhouse?

And i have a recording of me and my friends watching Gravedancers. Its like 15 minutes of us laughing so hard. The part where the guy is laying on the ground and scoots out of the way before the possessed chick gets hit by the car, oh man that *beep* is classic. Its worth buying the movie just for that part. Its kind of like the deer getting hit in Cabin Fever haha

[–] sagefoole 16 years ago

...did you see Grindhouse?

As I posted earlier, I saw all I needed to in the previews. And yes, it is entirely fair to make a judgement about a film based upon the trailers-that is why the studios invest in them; to entice people to watch their movie. It is not unreasonable or illogical for someone to develop the opposite feelings about the film in question.

...before the possessed chick gets hit by the car,...

Yeah, I'll bet Elvira would have tons of fun with that scene alone!!! Comic relief is a good redeeming quality. I watched it on Sci-Fi so there was no gratuitous nudity, which is a great redeeming quality for most any film...

"More tears have been shed for answered prayers than for those that go unheard!"

[–] wacastca 16 years ago

You cant get the full effect of a movie just by watching the trailer. Have you ever seen the trailer for Dreamland? My friend and i saw the trailer and went out the same day to get the movie because it looked so amazing. We were sadly mistaken haha

[–] sagefoole 16 years ago

You cant get the full effect of a movie just by watching the trailer.

True, but you aren't supposed to get the full effect of the movie. The trailers are there to entice a person into seeing the movie-not tell the whole story in a 30 second sound bite. And I saw all that I needed to, too much actually.

Have you ever seen the trailer for Dreamland?

No, I haven't. I try to avoid commercials like the plague!!!

"Bacchus has drowned more men than Neptune"-Rube

[–] Gandolph_Lundgren 9 years ago

To each his own, there isn't enough money on Earth to make me watch anything else by Quentin Tarantino-Dusk to Dawn was bad enough. Or Pulp Fiction. Both were awful. He must be one of the worst film makers in cinematic history.

If you think Pulp Fiction is a bad movie, you definitely don't have a clue what makes a good movie.

[–] nabors76 9 years ago

Well, that is your opinion and you are certainly welcome to it. And we all know what opinions are like, now, don't we? You've expressed yours, now you may go and waste someone else's time. (Or did you fail to catch that part about "to each his own?")

House and Gibbs are my role models!!!

[–] Gandolph_Lundgren 9 years ago

It's not just my opinion. A cost of $8 million with cinema takings of over $213 million. Preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". Yes, it is my opinion that Pulp Fiction is a great movie & seems to be the opinion of most people.

[–] nabors76 9 years ago

😴Insignificant twaddle-especially if it contains an endorsement from morons in Mordor on the Potomac that wouldn't be able to tell the difference between art and glow in the dark Elvis on black velvet. Like you and the fools that spent so much money on that garbage, the Library of Congress has all their taste in their mouths... Again, since you apparently have a reading challenge I will repeat the main point you obviously missed:To each his own. You like Tarantino drek? Fine. I don't care. WTF does it matter to you if I don't? Is you existence so pathetic that all must agree with you? I don't really care, hate away. Revel in it. I have wasted too much time on you as it is... Good bye, good riddance. (That means you may go now...)

House and Gibbs are my role models!!!

[–] macaddict1856 16 years ago

Grindhouse was trash.

[–] Gandolph_Lundgren 9 years ago

Grindhouse was trash.

No it wasn't.

[–] goodguy309 17 years ago

Let me tell you that as far as B-movie horror flicks go, this was actually quite well produced. The actors were very believable but the only negative mark on the film was the ghost trying to kill the gravedancers.

I was surprised that I like it as much as I did. I've also seen The Hamiltons and that was pretty good also.

[–] Alice-Morgan 9 years ago

Yeah I just saw it and to be a B list horror movie it's pretty good, it's not A list so don't expect great CGI.
Seeing the plot it was exactly what I expected, I didn't like the big face ghost though.

Like the view? It's the only thing you'll be catching tonight 

[–] laeyisoracle 17 years ago

I couldn't even make it through Gravedancers. This move is UTTERLY BORING. Not scary at all and the characters are sooooo damn bland. They kinda seem monotone, in a way. The commercial for this movie was awesome. Scary looking creatures and the premise was interesting. But, that was it. I think it would've faired a little better if it was:

1. Faster paced. It moved too damn slow.

2. Younger cast. I can believe dumbass college students going crazy in a graveyard, and them being the targets of vengeful ghost wrath, but all these middle aged characters? There's a reason why horror is mainly to showcase younger characters, because it's FUN to see them freak out. It's fun to see them act like dumbasses and get killed. Older 30-somethings, not so much.

Strange enough, for being a horribly written movie, Dark Ride was more of an effective horror film than Gravedancers. More faster paced, more classic horror formula. Cliche, yes. But, I didn't nearly fall asleep during it. That's my number 1 rating system. If a movie makes you want to fall asleep, pack your bags, cause it's leavin time.

[–] sludgehound 17 years ago

I agree, Boring and slow paced indeed. Only a mere 4 on 10 scale and that's a gift for the sort of silvery opening shots in the living room. Made me just for a sec think maybe something artsy might be possible.
Nope. And that hokey old chestnut of the paranormal University people. What a yawn. Even the Hershey chocolate syrup blood was so desperate.
"Let's have a blood flow, arm grab. Yeah that's fresh!"
Thanks for mentioning Dark Ride. Passed on it the other night but it'll come around again. Just seemed kinda ordinary until know better.
Trying Little Wicked Things. So far better than Grave but not sure if it'll get there in real scare dept. Certainly given enough time to bonding audience with the characters -- at the expense of chills and scares. Sort of using that India director's tone. More of that low-key neo art thriller than genuine spook terror. Anyway sticking with it.
Better luck in future than with Grave. Plus side is they do make you appreciate stuff like 28 Days Later which worked out ok for a low budg.
Grateful to IMDb for all the time its saved avoid the crud.

.

[–] laeyisoracle 17 years ago

Well, Dark Ride wasn't spectacular, but it did move faster. It was what it was, a teen slasher flick. And it moved like one, so that wasn't bad(though there ARE far superior slashers out there).

Yeah, I managed to finally sit through Gravedancers, and it wasn't AS bad as I thought, but definately wasn't as GOOD as I thought it COULD'VE been. Again, I can't stress how bad the idea to have 30-somethings as main characters, especially for the way they showed them. I know there are a lot of 30-somethings that still act like kids, but I don't wanna see it. It isn't appealing, IMO. Sid was balding, for chrissakes, and he acted like an assy punk!! There was too much adult whining for my tastes. Then the whole CG cheese kinda killed it at the end. The ghosts looked cool, though. Kinda like a cross between zombies and Pumpkinhead.

Just seen Wicked Little Things(SPOILERS AHEAD). Started out slow, but picked up around the halfway point. Alright zombie flick. Couldn't stand how they brought in the teenage element to the movie. It basically starts off as a "family horror" flick, a family having to face a horror together, but around near midway, they introduce a group of teens for the teenage daughter to hang out with. Either make up your mind, do a "family horror" or a "teen horror", and go all the way with it. But, don't do both. For instance, look at Poltergeist. Perfect example of a family horror, as the family was the main point. The family trying to pull together to overcome this evil. As soon as the teens show up, the daughter goes off to fool around and get ripped. Especially with a plot point that the family(the mother and two daughters) were just trying to get over the death of the father, they could've works SOOOOO much more with that as far as character development is concerned. Then, a couple of times, the mother has a few "dumb blonde" episodes where she makes HORRIBLE mistakes that get her(and other people) into MORE danger. I was kinda hoping for the teenaged daughter to get killed. She got on my nerves with her constant complaining. She was the typical(so sad) teenaged daughter cliche of a rebellious smartass. Urgh!

[–] sludgehound 17 years ago

ha ha about Wicked. So true. Hate it when they take a good start and mix
in the stake cliches. I too liked the mother and young daughter. Well
played. Good for their book.
Wish they had gone with the dark mood of the 'mountain people' and evil
developer. Liked the blood on the door (I Am Legend?) and dark creepy
'town folk'. How about the looks given by the shop owner. "We don't
deliver up there." And his initial creepy looks at the little daughter.
Bunch of neat red herrings.
One cliche not usedm thankfully. would have been to have Mom escued by a
handsome brut with a teen son!
Imagine this in hands of 28 Days Later director/writers. Teen would have
been sold as a sex slave, turned into a witch-zombie, made to eat the
teem boys. Etc. Lovely.
Still there were a few moments Wicked felt right for a low budg but that's
the curse of 98% of them. Just training wheels.
Will watch for more from the Mom & daughter. And yes even the teen girl
just for her smile as she tried to make friends meeting the 'gang' for first time.
OT Funny I remember some big budg ones where they threw in the dumb kid
move like in The Peak and Volcano. Better ones avoid that like in Twister.
Concept development seems a lost art in filmland right now.
Watching the buzz on Jolie and Brosnan maybe doing a Thomas Crown Affair 2
based on the old jewel heist Topkapi. Horror films worn out on me until
maybe they offer some really strong ones over Halloween. later.

[–] mparks88 17 years ago

I saw this movie last night. It sucked.

"The malls are the soon to be ghost towns
Well, so long
Fare well
Good bye"

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] goodguy309 17 years ago

MeanChe, these movies weren't the Sci-Fi channel collaboration. They were shown at the Horrorfest in Toronto last year. Sci-Fi channel bought the rights to all eight movies.

I do agree that the Sci-Fi channel shows cheap movies but every now and again, they show some cheap, really good movies.

My wife doesn't understand why I watch the Sci-Fi channel. But, I'm not alone!!!

Take care,

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] Legendary_Badass 16 years ago

I just watched it. Clearly the funding went into getting a handful of known actors. I have to give them a positive review on keeping the story interesting and using whatever money in a manner that worked. The Sid actor wasn't good, but not everyone gets the chance to make a shoestring film with a supermodel, so you have to take what you can get.

[–] Wyattrock 16 years ago

this i will agree was not the type of film that should have been in horrorfest, it was lower budget, but did not contain the type of material it should have. However, that doesnt in anyway mean this is not a good film. it was a highly original and highly entertaining ghost film. The ghosts were well done and it was a genuinly creepy movie.

I will admit that the ending scene with the giant head was a bit weak, but up until that point i really enjoyed this film, and it left me feeling id like to see it again, so much so i went out and bought it...now before you go trashing me saying i must buy some *beep* movies...consider this...just because i own ONE film that in YOUR opinion isnt any good..does not mean i have bad taste in films...ive got everything from citizen cain to the toxic avenger so...relax.

-Wyatt T.

[–] cardssoccer18 16 years ago

I'm watching this right now and yea it does kind of suck but as soon as the OP said that the decent was scary he lost all credibility

[–] jamesroo 16 years ago

boy did u miss the whole thing . its one of the best horror flicks on
sci-fi channel and hope it comes out on dvd.i dont get your problem
with it at all.its a really good flick with good special makeup and its
even scarey something u cant say about a lot of horror films today.man
u sure missed the boat on this one.better go watch friday 13th get your
fill of gore.hard to figure what u think is a GOOD horror flick.

[–] fullmetal23 16 years ago

its boring for you ppl with no one to watch it with
when me and my gf saw it, we had a blast.

[–] PrivateVasquez 16 years ago

This was the only Horrorfest movie I saw in the theater and I had a blast. The director Mike Mendez at least has versatility. Check out a The Convent. One of the best over the top low budget movies I've seen. I still quote that movie. Gravedancers was completely different, and shows he is willing to try new things unlike the repetitive movies of Eli Roth.

"Carol Anne, go into the light"!

[–] rageinblack 16 years ago

This movie could have been great but, the amateurish approach and especially sheer stupidness of the movie characters, and the unneeded last scenes.. ruined it all.

[–] StarryNight04 16 years ago

I watched this one when it was on Comcast Free Movies back during the summer.
My cousins and I began the movie, and it seemed like it would be pretty decent. The whole "don't dance on graves" thing was an ok premise. The creepiest part was the creature in the bed, that freaked us out. But then it just crashed and burned... What a let down.

In retrospect, none of this Horrorfest was very good. I've seen 5 out of the 7 (Dark Ride, Penny Dreadful, Gravedancers, Wicked Little Things, & the Hamiltons) and none were even halfway scary .. They were all like Sci-Fi original movies ...

= (

[–] BlondeVixen 16 years ago

<This movie was not even Sci-Fi Channel late night good.>

Well....at least it wasn't one of their "originals" about giant man-eating CGI crocs, mutant fish, snakes, dinos, etc.