This has got to be the absolute worst of all of the Asian horror rip-off wannabees around. It is the least terrifying and most boring of all the horror films I've seen since the year 2000, and perhaps even earlier.
The whole plot idea is just another version of The Shining with some Poltergeist stuff mixed in for good measure. Every time the father goes wacko, I'm fully expecting him to pop his head through someplace and say, "Here's Johnny!" There's positively no suspense in this thing at all and the whole last half hour is completely obvious, so it's just a matter of, do you turn it off, or watch to see how right you are. Besides that, the story idea is beyond lame and without any depth or thoughtfulness. It's a exercise in pursuing filmic style over substance, yet here the substance is almost non-existent and the style is plagiarized.
To make matters worse, the acting is tepid at best. The actors portraying the mother and father turn in rudimentary performances without conviction, the son is also just there for the filling. The most terrifying moments of the whole film are when watching the performance of the daughter, basically a one-note deal, with every facial expression used for effect being about the same, and a monotone voice warbling in constant teenage angst. We have characters constantly whispering for no reason regardless of their setting.
Also, the daughter is just about the most obnoxious and bitchy teen girl ever, and attempts to present herself as the moral fascist in charge of the family. Viewers may find themselves hoping for her demise at the end just to be rid of her. And also hoping for the end to come as soon as possible so they can watch something else.
PS: I've read every HP Lovecraft story published, and I don't see this as being anywhere close to "Lovecraftian".
The whole plot idea is just another version of The Shining with some Poltergeist stuff mixed in for good measure. Every time the father goes wacko, I'm fully expecting him to pop his head through someplace and say, "Here's Johnny!" There's positively no suspense in this thing at all and the whole last half hour is completely obvious, so it's just a matter of, do you turn it off, or watch to see how right you are. Besides that, the story idea is beyond lame and without any depth or thoughtfulness. It's a exercise in pursuing filmic style over substance, yet here the substance is almost non-existent and the style is plagiarized.
To make matters worse, the acting is tepid at best. The actors portraying the mother and father turn in rudimentary performances without conviction, the son is also just there for the filling. The most terrifying moments of the whole film are when watching the performance of the daughter, basically a one-note deal, with every facial expression used for effect being about the same, and a monotone voice warbling in constant teenage angst. We have characters constantly whispering for no reason regardless of their setting.
Also, the daughter is just about the most obnoxious and bitchy teen girl ever, and attempts to present herself as the moral fascist in charge of the family. Viewers may find themselves hoping for her demise at the end just to be rid of her. And also hoping for the end to come as soon as possible so they can watch something else.
PS: I've read every HP Lovecraft story published, and I don't see this as being anywhere close to "Lovecraftian".