I knew it, I just knew it. After two excellent films with the sequel slightly outdoing the first - what were the odds of the third not being an utter disappointment? Slim to none, if experience serves. And so it was. Sabrina is not a bad Horror film, I would say it's even above average, it simply doesn't remotely meet the standards of the two previous titles (i.e. The Doll and The Doll 2). I hoped it would, I really did want to continue the blissfully terrifying journey, but all good things must come to an end.
From a pseudo-academic perspectives - Sabrina's main feature is that it combines, burnishes, enhances and conveniently presents all the aspects that served to slightly downgrade the first two films, so it's quite easy for one to understand what went slightly wrong in them and terribly wrong in this one. First, the illogical and unrealistic features, i.e. mortal injuries shrugged off as if they were nothing more than stepping on a Lego piece barefoot, or a character sleeping through a commotion in their bedroom but rudely awoken by noises from a different building. Second, something that had come to mind in the first two films but became too blunt in this one - the role of authorities. People injured and killed by supernatural events, and where is the police? We see the protagonists receiving medical care, but how come they aren't questioned as suspects? Seriously, this just might be cultural ignorance on my behalf, but is this how Indonesian social norms are? A simple "I am a psychic, officer, this person was killed by an evil spirit!" gets you off the hook? Seriously, is this how it is there? Such features really damage suspense of disbelief which is crucial in supernatural films (that are quite unbelievable to begin with).
To that I must add that while the acting in the two previous films hadn't been all that impressive - the acting in this one, namely by young Richelle Georgette Skornicki as little Vanya, was simply an eyesore. I realize she's a very young beginner and shouldn't be judged too harshly, and I also realize at least part of her unconvincing role is due to direction, but still, she was the one thing that felt fake and unfitting acting-wise.
Also, again unlike the first two films in the bluntest of ways, some scenes in Sabrina felt completely out of place. So out of place that it was embarrassing, honestly, I can't help but wonder what drove the director to add them. For instance - I'm very much not a fan of gore, especially when it is so obviously pushed into a film for its own sake. Sabrina actually had less scenes involving gore and ridiculously exaggerated amounts of blood - which only serves to emphasize the sheer redundancy of the one or two gory scenes. Almost like the film was done and ready and suddenly the director remembered "damn! I forgot to add gore! Quick, edit a scene!". Honestly, people who enjoy gore (completely legitimate, to each their own) wouldn't be satisfied which such a small amount and people who don't, like me, would simply be frustrated by such an unnecessary addition.
And finally - the plot twist. The one thing that to me makes good Horror films great and turns great Horror films into masterpieces. The first and second film had excellent, smart and sophisticated plot twists that I believe caught most of the audience completely off guard. This one? Couldn't have been more predictable. Honestly, anyone who saw at least one of the previous two films would know the "twist" 20 minutes into the film. This is perhaps the most felt downgrade from the other films.
However, to be fair, as I've said so in the beginning - Sabrina is not a bad film. For instance, certain changes from the second film are actually explained, instead of leaving it to the obvious to fill in the gaps (an all too familiar method in cinema today and since ever, unfortunately). Also, the doll itself is much better than the one in the second film, and even the fact that it bares the same name is explained in a satisfying enough manner. The story is compelling, the scenes are suspenseful, the antagonist is terrifying and presented in quite an innovative and original way compared to most other films involving possessions. Also, just like in the previous two films - exorcisms are done in a manner unfamiliar to most of us, meaning not in the Christian way (no criticism or offense meant to Christians or Christianity). After hundreds of films using the sorely overdone Latin catchphrases and "the power of Christ compels you", it was blissfully refreshing to see a Muslim exorcism! While this has been a feature of all three films and can't be considered a distinct advantage of this one - it was still, as said, refreshing to see.
All in all, Sabrina is quite entertaining and enjoyable, particularly for viewers who haven't seen the previous two films. Most of my criticism is due to the sheer disappointment due to Sabrina's overall low level in comparison. I would recommend watching it if you indeed saw the two others (for closure's sake, albeit an unfulfilling one), as well as if you've seen a trailer and found yourself intrigued. Or simply if you're a fan of creepy dolls. While I'm glad to have watched it - I would recommend to everyone to lower their expectations if they don't wish to feel their time has been wasted for naught.
From a pseudo-academic perspectives - Sabrina's main feature is that it combines, burnishes, enhances and conveniently presents all the aspects that served to slightly downgrade the first two films, so it's quite easy for one to understand what went slightly wrong in them and terribly wrong in this one. First, the illogical and unrealistic features, i.e. mortal injuries shrugged off as if they were nothing more than stepping on a Lego piece barefoot, or a character sleeping through a commotion in their bedroom but rudely awoken by noises from a different building. Second, something that had come to mind in the first two films but became too blunt in this one - the role of authorities. People injured and killed by supernatural events, and where is the police? We see the protagonists receiving medical care, but how come they aren't questioned as suspects? Seriously, this just might be cultural ignorance on my behalf, but is this how Indonesian social norms are? A simple "I am a psychic, officer, this person was killed by an evil spirit!" gets you off the hook? Seriously, is this how it is there? Such features really damage suspense of disbelief which is crucial in supernatural films (that are quite unbelievable to begin with).
To that I must add that while the acting in the two previous films hadn't been all that impressive - the acting in this one, namely by young Richelle Georgette Skornicki as little Vanya, was simply an eyesore. I realize she's a very young beginner and shouldn't be judged too harshly, and I also realize at least part of her unconvincing role is due to direction, but still, she was the one thing that felt fake and unfitting acting-wise.
Also, again unlike the first two films in the bluntest of ways, some scenes in Sabrina felt completely out of place. So out of place that it was embarrassing, honestly, I can't help but wonder what drove the director to add them. For instance - I'm very much not a fan of gore, especially when it is so obviously pushed into a film for its own sake. Sabrina actually had less scenes involving gore and ridiculously exaggerated amounts of blood - which only serves to emphasize the sheer redundancy of the one or two gory scenes. Almost like the film was done and ready and suddenly the director remembered "damn! I forgot to add gore! Quick, edit a scene!". Honestly, people who enjoy gore (completely legitimate, to each their own) wouldn't be satisfied which such a small amount and people who don't, like me, would simply be frustrated by such an unnecessary addition.
And finally - the plot twist. The one thing that to me makes good Horror films great and turns great Horror films into masterpieces. The first and second film had excellent, smart and sophisticated plot twists that I believe caught most of the audience completely off guard. This one? Couldn't have been more predictable. Honestly, anyone who saw at least one of the previous two films would know the "twist" 20 minutes into the film. This is perhaps the most felt downgrade from the other films.
However, to be fair, as I've said so in the beginning - Sabrina is not a bad film. For instance, certain changes from the second film are actually explained, instead of leaving it to the obvious to fill in the gaps (an all too familiar method in cinema today and since ever, unfortunately). Also, the doll itself is much better than the one in the second film, and even the fact that it bares the same name is explained in a satisfying enough manner. The story is compelling, the scenes are suspenseful, the antagonist is terrifying and presented in quite an innovative and original way compared to most other films involving possessions. Also, just like in the previous two films - exorcisms are done in a manner unfamiliar to most of us, meaning not in the Christian way (no criticism or offense meant to Christians or Christianity). After hundreds of films using the sorely overdone Latin catchphrases and "the power of Christ compels you", it was blissfully refreshing to see a Muslim exorcism! While this has been a feature of all three films and can't be considered a distinct advantage of this one - it was still, as said, refreshing to see.
All in all, Sabrina is quite entertaining and enjoyable, particularly for viewers who haven't seen the previous two films. Most of my criticism is due to the sheer disappointment due to Sabrina's overall low level in comparison. I would recommend watching it if you indeed saw the two others (for closure's sake, albeit an unfulfilling one), as well as if you've seen a trailer and found yourself intrigued. Or simply if you're a fan of creepy dolls. While I'm glad to have watched it - I would recommend to everyone to lower their expectations if they don't wish to feel their time has been wasted for naught.