Sadly Over-hyped

A Major Disappointment

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

And a titch or two above half-good. This tale of a spooky house harboring terrifying premonitions may not be anything all that new, but it's relatively well acted and the California wine vineyard aesthetic is competently captured. Furthermore, it bears mention that lead Isla Fisher rocks a revealing '70's retro look in a couple scenes here with stunning savoir-faire.Strut on, girl.

Pregnant Eveleigh Maddox (a fine and affecting performance by Isla Fisher) moves with her husband David (a solid and credible portrayal by Anson Mount) to a vineyard to start a new life in the wake of a traumatic automobile accident. However, Eveleigh finds out that said vineyard has a dark past that puts both her and her baby in danger. Director Kevin Greubert relates the engrossing premise at a gradual pace, makes nice use of the beautiful bucolic setting, grounds the premise in a believable everyday reality, and ably crafts a spooky and unsettling enigmatic atmosphere. Fisher and Mount make for an attractive and appealing couple; they receive sturdy support from Gillian Jacobs as the perky Sadie, Joanna Cassidy as the helpful Helena, Eve Longoria as loyal gal pal Eileen, and Jim Parsons as the concerned Dr. Matheson. Lucas Sussman's clever script delivers a real doozy of a surprise twist at the end. Both Anton Sanko's shivery score and Michael Fimognari's polished widescreen cinematography are up to par. Well worth a watch.

OK this was not a good horror film. It lacked so much in the script that it gave up at the end. The acting was decent the story was not. Why did they go different styles because in the end you could not figure out what they wanted as a film. There were a few good moments but I was bored after 30 minutes It tried on a few levels but felt like it was a bunch of students trying to make a decent horror flick.Some nice ideas that were not used the best way.Had promise and that's where it ends.Watch on Netflix at your own discretion.

Occasionally you come across a thriller that has a run-of-the-mill sounding story line, accompanied by some surprisingly big actors in the lead roles. To me this is usually a sign that the movie is going to have a bit of an X-factor about it, often in the form of a twist. The three actors that caught my eye in this one were Isla Fisher, Jim Parsons and Eva Longoria. Nothing huge there, but for an almost unheard of horror/thriller they're still surprising to see. The first 90% of the film their presence wasn't making a lot of sense, then the final 10% began and I realised what had enticed them along. It's nothing mind-blowing or game changing, but it's more than enough to save the film from being a complete disaster.I did have to wonder though whether this is what Longoria's career has come to. She was a big star not that long ago, yet it appears since 'Deperate Housewives' came to an end her stocks have dropped and she's reduced to having nothing roles in little-known films. I kept expecting her character to get more screen time or at least have some important reason for being in the story, but sadly it never came. The reveal and the twist are what make this film, there is no doubt about that. My advice would be don't give up on this film too early, it gets better.