Gripping story with well-crafted characters

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

While some of the issues explored in this have elements that can cause cringing, I don't consider this a horror movie. This is more of a drama with some paranormal and uncomfortable aspects. It's not a bad movie. I just didn't get the "horror" I thought I was going to see.

I can't believe that people would give this movie a terrible rating! I think you must be a complete amateur to give this movie any less then 7 because its is beautifully made, very realistic actor and actresses and completely heart warming as well as keeping you wanting to find out more! Just because it doesn't have blood and guts splattering all over gods creation, don't mean it's a terrible movie, much less a movie for little kids!! I will agree that maybe it shouldn't have been listed under horror and more like thriller but that's not the movies fault, it's whomever listed it under that category! And when u give it a bad rating, it messes with people thinking that the actual movie sucks when it's the listers fault! Some people may not watch or rent it then! Anyways (end rant) GREAT MOVIE!! Must see!!

Last Kind Words is a reflective, atmospheric film rich in character and drama. It is not a typical horror movie, and in fact horror fans attracted by the promotional art may be disappointed at the lack of gore or special effects.The story begins when young Eli's parents move to an isolated farm to begin a new life. Eli's father drinks too much and is haunted by a memory that won't let go of him. Bored and restless, Eli goes for long walks in the nearby woods in search of peace. There he meets Amanda, a pretty young girl that Eli quickly takes to. But the farm's owner warns Eli that Amanda is dangerous. What kind of danger lurks within the forest, and what secrets wait for Eli to discover them? This is a somber, sometimes deceptively quiet movie that works because of traditional movie-making elements that are well-executed from beginning to end. Direction is unobtrusive but well balanced, and the acting from the small cast (primarily Eli and his parents and Amanda, with Brad Dourif as the only "name" actor as the reclusive farmer) is for the most part quite good, though it's no surprise the benchmark performance goes to Dourif. The script makes sense, unlike some genre screenplays which throw logic to the winds and hope nobody cares, and in the end you understand why everything turns out the way it does. The Kentucky setting is evocative and the simple country setting is not only picturesque but at times eerie and disconcerting.Though not the horror movie some who approach this film may be expecting, Last Kind Words is in fact much better than most low-budget productions of whatever genre. Sensitive, touching, and yet creepy in its subtle way, Last Kind Words will entertain you while you watch it and linger in your mind's eye for some time thereafter.

Image Entertainment always gives independent filmmakers an outlet to get their projects out to the masses. Many of these movies fall into the extremely competitive genre of horror and suffer from collapsing into the realm of cliché. "Last Kind Words" is one of the rare exceptions to this unfortunate trend.17-year-old Eli (Spencer Daniels) and his family move to the Kentucky backwoods after the father (Clay Wilcox) loses his job. He decides to work on the secluded farm of a childhood friend and recluse (Brad Dourif). Upon exploring the woods near his new home, he meets a girl named Amanda (Alexia Fast) and feels an instant connection to her. His journeys also expose him to a dark secret the dead want restitution for from beyond the grave.It's always a treat when you put in a movie expecting nothing more than a one-dimensional horror yarn but you get so much more. Looking at the cover of "Last Kind Words," you'd think it was just another typical angry ghost flick. Instead, Director / Screenwriter Kevin Barker and Storywriter Amy Riherd Miller fashioned a touching feature that takes a coming-of-age tale and gives it more depth by combining it with an old- fashioned Southern Gothic ghost story. It keeps the viewer's interest and slowly leads them to the answers to their own queries without losing any potency along the way.The acting in independent or low-budget films can be questionable at times. That's not the case with "Last Kind Words." You can tell every actor in the movie was dedicated to the film and put their best foot forward. Brad Dourif completely embraces his role as the enigmatic hermit and landowner. Spencer Daniels commands every scene he's in. You can see the emotional depth he invested in the role in his eyes. Alexia Fast is passionate as the character of the mysterious and tragic Amanda.I have a hard time using the term "horror movie" to describe "Last Kind Words." There's so much more to it than the usual jump scares we're used to getting these days. While the film does provide adequate thrills and chills, they're accompanied and spread throughout a grievous tale of isolationism, selfishness, loss, and the quest for closure.