MovieChat Forums > Absentia (2013) Discussion > Totally seriously, can someone explain t...

Totally seriously, can someone explain the hype?

posted 8 years ago by FriendLee93
13 replies | jump to latest

I'm a fan of Mike Flanagan as a writer and director, so when I heard about this movie being his first feature, I was intrigued. The fact that it got so much praise had me even more interested.

Now that I have...I really don't get it. I tried so hard to like this film, but I was floored by the bad acting and how absolutely bored I was throughout this thing. I'm not trying to hate on this movie, I would just really like someone to try and explain the praise.

[–] AlwaysSilent 8 years ago

I loved it because Im obsessed with all movies with stories like this. Im glad hes making money off trash like Oculus and Ouija 2. A legendary writer/director deserves billions of dollars and hopefully he will give us another movie like Absentia with high quality acting in the future.

[–] FriendLee93 8 years ago

I am 1000% in disagreeance with you on Oculus.

But even with the rest of what you said, stories like what? Everything about this movie, and the way it was made, was SUPER generic.

The Titanic sinks, Bruce Willis is a ghost, and Rosebud is a sled

[–] HarryPotterIsGarbage 8 years ago

Oculus was definitely miles better than this low budget movie. Better cast, much better production and scarier.

[–] I_Created_U 8 years ago

I really enjoyed it for some reason, gave it a 7/10.

I can't really explain why beside from the fact that i found the story quite original and refreshing (a haunted overpass, wait what?). Also, i tend to like indie thrillers and horror movies more, I'm often positively surprised, which is the opposite effect of the blockbuster which often (always?) disappoints.

It is noteworthy to say that I'm more on the psychological side of horror movies, rather than on the gore, sheer violence and gratuitous torture or pointless jump-scares side, as it's so often the case with the horror genre nowadays. And this movie fills my criteria. Beautifully uncanny and off-beat, with a compelling soundtrack and convincing performances.

Horror Movies i liked: Absentia (7), The Witch (8), Hush (7), The Invitation (7), These Final Hours (8), It Follows (9), Southbound (7), The Boy (2016) (7), Ich seh, Ich seh (8), Spring (6)

I didn't like: The Babadook (4), Housebound (5), The Loved Ones (4), Krampus (4), The Boy (2015) (3), The Veil (3), The Visit (5).

People who don't like their beliefs being laughed at shouldn't have such funny beliefs

[–] FriendLee93 8 years ago

I'm usually of the same mindset as you. I prefer indie horror a lot more as of late, but there have still been some mainstream theatrical films that I enjoyed that you mentioned.

For instance, I loved The Babadook and Krampus.

With Absentia though, it just never hooked me. There was an inkling of a good idea in there, but even the more subtle scenes (the ghostly appearances of the husband) stop being subtle once they're used over and over. The acting wasn't good. The cinematography was fine and I liked the idea of showing the potential outcomes to scenarios, but that still didn't make the movie any good.

The Titanic sinks, Bruce Willis is a ghost, and Rosebud is a sled

[–] kasiakasiasmith 8 years ago

The acting was terrible, the girl playing Tricia was bloody awful. The girl who played Callie was pretty decent. Don't get me started with the cops and the romantic subplot.

[–] A-Zupreme 8 years ago

As much as I found this movie frustrating, I also found it equally fascinating. The plot, to me, was unique: There was a certain offness to the film's vibe that so few horror films utilize and the mystery was intriguing. What I respected most about this was that it didn't dish up and deliver the plot to the viewer on a silver platter. Rather, it was up to the audience to figure it out for themselves. I very much compare it to other horror/thrillers, like Triangle and End of the Line. Neither of those really steam line their plots, either... they're rather complicated and difficult to understand without repeat viewings.

I wanted to dislike this too after I finished it, but I came here and read some of the discussions and grew to realize just what a creepy little gem this movie was and gave me a new respect for Michael Flanagan (I didn't like Oculus). Luckily, I'm not someone who writes off a film so easily so if a plot is unique and different, I will go to the discussion boards to gather different opinions/insights which is how I grew to appreciate this one. I plan to re-watch this one again very soon.

I didn't mind the acting, either. I watch a lot of low-budget stuff, so one learns not to criticize too much, especially if the story and cinematography makes up for it which (in my opinion) is the case here.

[–] PaulMemoli 8 years ago

I just watched this film. It moved a lot slower than most films that are grouped as "suspense" or "horror". At first I was annoyed that Catherine Parker's character (younger sister) looked like she was quietly high much of the time. Her smile just did not seem all that appropriate to the material. Then we find out that she shoots up (dope?) and that eternal smile becomes a bit more understandable.

I won't ruin the second half of the film for those who have not seen it. I would suggest that films that are concerned with people who are kidnapped by UFOs and then returned are thematically very close to this film. The headshaking, shoulders shrugging, the attempts to find a rational cause but "rational" only by what is commonly accepted as true... these simply lead to frustration and non-action.

No one wants to believe that the Boogie Man is real, and that disbelief means that no solution will ever be found.

I would recommend this film to people who like horror-mysteries without any gore or extreme bloodshed.
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Just as every cop is a criminal, And all the sinners saints. As heads is tails Just call me Lucifer...

[–] EndeAbgrunds 8 years ago

To me, this movie feels like a jumbled up mess. It's difficult to bash on a film that was made for less than 100 thousand dollars. But in the end, the story is the most important ingredient(or technically speaking the script).

The movie starts off like a cliche ghost story, with some lines of dialogue suggesting a murder mystery. Then we get a few random moments in this tunnel and then a bunch of filler... Then boom! All of a sudden it's a creature horror.

It seems like Mike Flanagan had an IDEA for a movie, but didn't know how to expand on that idea. So instead, just filled in the blanks with any other idea he could think of.

[–] alnel-68277 8 years ago

my gosh, I think you guys should re-watch this movie. This film messed me up for a week. People that criticize keep talking about plot holes or certain glitches in the story line. I think you either just understand what Flanagan was trying to get at or you don't. I'm kind of at a loss to explain the negative reviews of this movie. The way I take in movies- I don't tend to analyze every last element of the story and try to have it fit together. I think there are investigative movie watchers and the more emotional/ mood-sensing movie watcher, if you're the former you're not going to like this one, but if you suspend your disbelief a bit regarding specifics of the plot a pretty horrifying concept emerges.

What scared me the most was just thinking of what this guy must've endured the years he was missing. His lack of dialogue, pale complexion, and fearfulness only added to my imagination (which does a good job of scaring me as it is)> I agree with what others are saying about the soundtrack too, very odd choice of music, it somehow worked though as it gave this whole movie a sort of dysphoric and heavy feeling that almost smothers you with an odd mixture of grief and terror. I've never seen a movie better able to strike that odd blend.

[–] bainz 8 years ago

look at all the leaves on the movie cover (Palme d'Or or whatever they're called)....what a joke...this movie was dull...don't get the hype either

[–] Prelude-in-C-maj 7 years ago

Some people like atmosphere and creepiness in their horror, and this film fits that bill.

I like it because it's a slow-burner full of eerieness rather than more visceral horror.

It's more like "It Follows" than Saw or or Hostel.

[–] eentweedrie 7 years ago

@OP

I think you expected too much of this movie. Maybe you are spoiled by other horror movies out there.

I was intrigued by Absentia, wanting to watch it for quite a while. When I finally could I tried not to expect much, but what I received was so much more. The whole eerie vibe is just awesome.

I thought it was really impressive what Mike Flanagan created here, especially on such a tight budget.