MovieChat Forums > Amusement (2008) Discussion > Visually Well Done, But Made No Sense. (...

Visually Well Done, But Made No Sense. (Review)

posted 15 years ago by ChadFoster1
8 replies | jump to latest

SPOILERS AHEAD!
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I was actually really looking forward to this movie. The trailer looked great and it made me wonder why it wasn't ever getting released... well now I know why.

The visuals in the movie are stunning. Everything looks like it was on a grand scale, even though it probably didn't cost much. The acting was fairly good, with the standouts being Jessica Lucas and Tad Higenbrink. Mainly because they put some personality into the relatively paper thin characters. As the lead, Katheryn Winnick seemed to just play Tabitha how she was written. However, there was not nearly enough depth to do that and be effective. Shelby was the most forgettable character of them all, with Tad stealing her segment.

The biggest flaw in the movie is that is just doesn't make any sense. Why is this guy after these girls in the first place? Because they didn't think his art project was funny?

How did he really expect to capture Shelby? Had that drug-addict not jumped out onto their car, he really wouldn't have gotten the chance. How did the trucker magically end up at that old house? How the hell was he running that old hotel in Lisa's segment? And how did he get upstairs and change so fast? Where in the world did the freaking psychiatrist come from and why were there no police with her?

Nothing made sense in this movie. Sure some parts were genuinely frightening, but on the whole the movie was a disappointment. It was relatively short, 84 mins, so I think a good extra 10 to 15 minutes of character development could have been added. Hell, maybe even an explanation for all of the things I pointed out?

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] rrpostal 15 years ago

I know it's not really what you mean, but you have to love the "location" of the underground cathedral tunnel thing with million dollar plus sliding glass panels and ornate traps that winds up being UNDER a ramshackle old cottage with a fake truck room. I must also point out that after spending what must be a fortune to build this particular set up, the genius killer gets an old jalopy of a truck that barely runs. Of course this leads to his downfall.

Now THAT is funny!

I must also point out that this movie had the quintessential horror idiocy where the victim has the killer on the ground, indisposed, and completely vulnerable yet she manages to only run away from his prone body just to finish being chased for the rest of the movie. It really is a cliche at this point but it makes it no less irritating. Actually I think I'll start saving movie clips where that happens. For the record the other common scene that I collect is where a semi comes out of nowhere to "surprise" somebody or crash into their car. You'd be surprised how many movies have what we call "semi scares". And , yes, this movie had one of those also.

[–] hotfila24 15 years ago

you should read my topic "its not supposed to make sense- i explain a few things.

[–] kbtoys100 15 years ago

i can answer a few of these and the others i can take a swing at:

-Why is this guy after these girls in the first place? Because they didn't think his art project was funny?

i guess so. thats what got me also.

-How did he really expect to capture Shelby? Had that drug-addict not jumped out onto their car, he really wouldn't have gotten the chance.
-How did the trucker magically end up at that old house?

well, we saw the killer had the radio in his car so he was the one that told the trucker about the other route that went to his house and maybe he had a different plan to get them (maybe some sort of trap on the road?) but that still doesnt explain why the trucker trys to run over tad or just walks into the house and calls.

-How the hell was he running that old hotel in Lisa's segment? And how did he get upstairs and change so fast?

maybe he was rich and owned it or killed the owner (even though there were all those rotted corpses, maybe he lived there and the other place he just used?) and maybe their was a secret elevator or something to get up their.

Where in the world did the freaking psychiatrist come from and why were there no police with her?

i dont know about this one either. maybe their were police with her but they were killed when she was in their. or maybe the psychitrist was drugged or crazy.

i hope that helps. i just finished watching it so im only guessing at what i think are the answers.

[–] WarpedRecord 13 years ago

Thanks for the explanations. You did a much better job than the film did. I found the visuals impressive, but the story fell flat after the first few segments. 5/10 stars from me.

[–] spam-17-398352 10 years ago

oh and: why didn't he let lisa inside the hotel when she wanted to?

[–] jloner 13 years ago

Really loved the visuals.

[–] schnoidl 8 years ago

definitely going to watch for more from the DP; almost every shot was gorgeous.