Author: Melissa Howland

Nerdy, snarky horror lover with a campy undertone. Goonies never say die.

WAMG At The INDIANA JONES: THE COMPLETE ADVENTURES Press Day At Skywalker Ranch

Indiana Jones and his one of a kind tales are finally coming to blu-ray, and to celebrate INDIANA JONES : THE COMPLETE ADVENTURES, I went on a little adventure of my own… to the press day at the legendary Skywalker Ranch.

In June of 1981 director Steven Spielberg and executive producer George Lucas introduced the world to Indiana Jones when the unforgettable RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK debuted in cinemas. Exploding to instant acclaim, the film has now been carefully restored, alongside remastered versions of the archaeologist’s other thrilling adventures: INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM, INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE and INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL. Prepare for excitement, adventure and snakes – “Why did it have to be snakes?” – all with pristine picture and sound when INDIANA JONES: THE COMPLETE ADVENTURES debuts on Blu-ray today from Lucasfilm Ltd. and Paramount Home Media Distribution.

CHECK OUT THE TRAILER HERE:

Before going to the ranch, myself and the rest of my media cohorts were picked up and magically whisked to a local theater to see RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK on the IMAX screen. The film looks fantastic. It was a treat to see such a classic film on the big screen. (You can read more tomorrow about the restoration in my review of INDIANA JONES : THE COMPLETE ADVENTURES.)

The next morning we were taken over the river and through the woods (literally) to the Skywalker Ranch. The first location that we were taken to was George Lucas’ private Stag Theater Screening Room, which seats 300 people. While inside, they showed us clips from the new 2-part documentary that is included in the bonus features in the blu-ray set. They also went over how they restored RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK.

While restoring RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, they were painstakingly careful. Their main goal was to preserve the films original look, sound and feel. They scanned the original film at 4K and then went over each and every frame individually to check for damages, and to make repairs.

Next, Academy Award winning sound designer Ben Burtt and visual effects supervisor Dennis Muren talked a bit about working on the films.

The sound design was restored using Ben Burtt’s original master mix, which had been preserved in the archives since 1981. They created new, higher quality stereo surrounds by using the original effects and music tracks. Originally, these were only used in mono. Burtt stated that he was not to pleased with the original sound of the film…

“I felt for years that the original recordings that were done back in 1981, the original masters on RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK were possibly… higher quality than what we were getting on the release of the film, you know, theatrically as well as on home video. I’d actually gone to a screening of the film at the Academy, and I hadn’t heard it in many years, and I was a little disappointed by what I heard… and I thought there was some… I wanna look into this!”

Dennis Muren on the visual effects:

“The effects for the Indy films took second place to, ahh, the story… and the characters. That’s what were featured in the Indy films. You know, Harrison Ford, all of the supplimentary actors… the secondary guys, the sets, the locations, just the plot… all that stuff was in the forefront, and our effects did not… uh, in any way could not show up as being flashy. They had to just fit right within that.”

You can check out some of their thoughts on the film here:

All of the discs feature teaser and theatrical trailers. INDIANA JONES: THE COMPLETE ADVENTURES also includes a special bonus disc with such features as On the set with Raiders of the Lost Ark, Making the Films, The Stunts of Indiana Jones, The Effects of Indy, and so much more!

Next, we were taken into an area where few have traveled… The Lucasfilm Archives. Walking into the Lucasfilm Archives was like walking into my own nerdy wonderland. They had a nice display of Indiana Jones props and costumes laid out for us to enjoy. Check out my pictures below. (There are also more in the thumbnails towards the bottom of the page.) Everything below is film used.

While there, we also got a brief tour of a part of the property, including the Tech Building, George Lucas’s vineyards, and Ewok Lake. You can check out those photos, as well as more from the Lucasfilm Archives below.

For those of you that would like a chance to see some of the props in person, the will be displayed from October 12th, 2012 -August 21st, at the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana, California as part of the Indiana Jones: Adventures in Archaeology exhibit.

INDIANA JONES : THE COMPLETE ADVENTURES is in stores today

CABIN IN THE WOODS – The Blu-Review

When five friends take a trip to a secluded cabin, they expected a weekend of fun. What they didn’t bargain for was a trip where they fight for their lives.

One of the best horror films I have seen in a long time, CABIN IN THE WOODS stars Kristen Connolly (THE HAPPENING), Chris Hemsworth (THE AVENGERS), Anna Hutchison (TV’s “Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior”), Fran Kranz (THE VILLAGE), Jesse Williams (TV’s “Grey’s Anatomy”), Richard Jenkins (THE VISITOR) and Bradley Whitford (TV’s “The West Wing”) as they set off on their adventure into the unknown.

Check out the trailer here:

A rambunctious group of five college friends steal away for a weekend of debauchery in an isolated country cabin, only to be attacked by horrific supernatural creatures in a night of endless terror and bloodshed. Sound familiar? Just wait. As the teens begin to exhibit standard horror movie behavior, a group of technicians in a control room are scrutinizing, and sometimes even controlling, every move the terrified kids make. With their efforts continually thwarted by the all-powerful eye in the sky, do they have any chance of escape?

At first glance, it starts off like any other horror film, including a creepy stranger they encounter on their way to the cabin that warns them of the dangers ahead. Typical horror stuff, right? Wrong! The film then takes some crazy twists and turns, bringing it to a level beyond the normal hack/slash film. It’s not since SCREAM that I have seen a movie try to outline the rules of horror (In a respectable way), and this film not only does that, but goes above and beyond. The film is innovative, smart, and includes some of that Joss Whedon humor that we all know and love. He and Drew Goddard knocked this one out of the park. It’s visually stunning, clever, and relies on wit rather than relying on cheap horror scares to make you jump a few times.

THE BLU-RAY

At first glance, I was kind of mad at the blu-ray for its hologram. Holy spoiler alert! The beauty of this film is that the audience doesn’t really know what’s unfolding until the right moment. The film is full of surprises. The sad part is that they put the biggest surprise on the cover! If I bought this, and had yet to see the movie, I would be furious! They may want to rethink that.

AUDIO: The English 7.1 DTS HD Master Audio is incredible. Once the creepy music creeps in, you will be in horror movie heaven! The sound is crisp, clear, and brings out the best in every blood curdling scream.

VIDEO: The 1080p High Definition 16×9 Widescreen transfer (2.40:1) is stunning. The film is made to have some rather murky/dark scenes, but it still is clean and precise.

BONUS FEATURES:
  • Audio commentary with Writer/Director Drew Goddard and Writer/Producer Joss Whedon : This not only gives great information, but it’s also rather funny and witty. They go into production difficulties, working with the cast, and even their thoughts on the final film. One of the better commentaries I’ve listened to in a while.
  • “We Are Not Who We Are: Making The Cabin in the Woods” featurette : This mini documentary is filled with great behind the scenes footage and Joss Whedon goodness, this covers everything from where they wrote the script to production details.
  • “The Secret Secret Stash” feature: This section includes :
    • “Marty’s Stash”: A look at Marty’s smoking tools as shown by actor Fran Kranz
    • “My name is Joss and I’ll be your guide” : A guided tour of the interior and exterior of the cabin set by Joss Whedon.
  • Wonder-Con Q&A with Joss and Drew : A fun Q&A session after a screening of the film with the audience.
  • “An Army of Nightmares: Make-Up & Animatronic Effects” featurette : If you have not watched the movie yet, do not watch this. A close look at the effects needed for the film. It’s really cool, especially if you are into special effects. Still, there are spoilers in this section.
  • “Primal Terror: Visual Effects” featurette : Again, if you have not watched the movie yet, you might not want to watch this. It has spoilers as well, and is another glance into the visual effects world.
  • “It’s Not What You Think: The Cabin in the Woods” Bonus View Mode (Blu-ray Exclusive) : Although the viewing screen is extremely small, it’s still interesting to hear the cast and crew talk about the film. Still, they could have made the screen a bit bigger so we can make out what is going on in the box.
  • Theatrical Trailer

Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon haven’t really ventured into full-blown horror until now. Sure, they have tv shows with horror tones, but nothing like this. Growing up as fans of horror, they have created a movie that goes above and beyond what is being produced in modern horror today. CABIN IN THE WOODS is fun, different, and exciting. Aside from the spoiler hologram box art and the small viewing window in the Bonus View Mode, I am very pleased with the Blu-Ray.

OVERALL RATING: 4.5

CABIN IN THE WOODS is out on Blu-ray Disc (plus Digital Copy), DVD (plus Digital Copy) and On Demand today From Lionsgate

FAT KID RULES THE WORLD Q&A With Matthew Lillard And Cast

FAT KID RULES THE WORLD, the directorial debut of Matthew Lillard and based on the YA novel by KL Going, will be opening in theaters in New York on October 5th, followed by Los Angeles on October 12th and VOD October 25th.

In preparation, Matthew Lillard hosted a free screening of FAT KID RULES THE WORLD last night (Tuesday, September 11th), followed by a streaming Q&A for The Cinefamily at the Silent Movie Theatre in Hollywood, CA, and WAMG was there.

Check out the Q&A here:

Produced by Whitewater Films, the film won the Narrative Feature Spotlight Audience Award at the 2012 SXSW Film Festival and the Kickstarter campaign to support the domestic release raised over $150,000.

FAT KID RULES THE WORLD stars Jacob Wysocki (Terri, TV’s Huge), Matt O’Leary (Natural Selection, Brick) and Billy Campbell (TV’s The Killing) and is based on the novel by K. L. Going. The film features original songs and score created by Pearl Jam Lead Guitarist Mike McCready.

The film follows Troy Billings who is seventeen, overweight, and suicidal. Just as he’s about to jump in front of a bus, he’s saved by Marcus, a charming high school dropout/street musician. The two begin an uneasy friendship when Marcus enlists the musically challenged Troy to become the drummer in a new punk rock band. As Troy’s relationship with Marcus grows, Troy’s father becomes increasingly concerned about his son’s new friendship.

Matthew Lillard talks about the decision to release the film independently through a Kickstarter-funded campaign HERE:

Anyone (and that means you!) can still bring FAT KID RULES THE WORLD to their local theater by visiting Tuggthefatkid.com and requesting a screening.

For More Info:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fatkidrules

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FatKidMovie

Official Website: http://fatkidrulesthemovie.com/

FAT KID RULES THE WORLD opens in theaters in New York on October 5th, followed by Los Angeles on October 12th and VOD October 25th

HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET Prize Pack Giveaway

HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET is hitting theaters soon, and in order to celebrate… WAMG is giving away a HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET prize pack!

Winner will receive:

    • the novelization of House at the End of the Street
    • a savvy keychain flashlight, a signed poster
    • a $30 Fandango gift card (so the lucky winner and a friend can go see the movie)

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE A US RESIDENT. PRIZE WILL ONLY BE SHIPPED TO US ADDRESSES. NO P.O. BOXES.

2. FILL OUT YOUR FULL NAME (first and last) AND EMAIL ADDRESS BELOW.

3. Tell us a haunted tale, or a tale of unexplained, strange occurances around your town.

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN FROM ALL QUALIFYING ENTRIES. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PRIZES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED.

Seeking a fresh start, newly divorced Sarah (Oscar®-nominee Elisabeth Shue; Leaving Las Vegas, Piranha 3D) and her daughter Elissa (Oscar®-nominee Jennifer Lawrence; The Hunger Games, X-Men: First Class) find the house of their dreams in a small, upscale, rural town. But when startling and unexplainable events begin to happen, Sarah and Elissa learn the town is in the shadows of a chilling secret. Years earlier, in the house next door, a daughter killed her parents in their beds, and disappeared – leaving only a brother, Ryan (Max Thieriot, My Soul to Take), as the sole survivor.  Against Sarah’s wishes, Elissa begins a relationship with the reclusive Ryan – and the closer they get, the deeper they’re all pulled into a mystery more dangerous than they ever imagined.

For More Info:

Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/HouseAtTheEnd

Twitter Page:  @HouseAtTheEnd  #HATES

 HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET opens in theaters on September 21

WAMG At The FINDING NEMO 3D Press Day

On August 14th and 15th, I attended the FINDING NEMO 3d Press Junket in San Francisco, CA. I believe Crush, one of the loveable sea turtles from the film, sums the whole trip up best with this memorable quote:

“Saw the whole thing, dude. First you were all like “whoa”, and we were like “whoa”, and you were like “whoa…” ”

Nemo, an adventurous young clownfish, is unexpectedly taken to a dentist’s office aquarium. It’s up to Marlin (Albert Brooks), his worrisome father, and Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), a friendly but forgetful Regal Blue Tang, to make the epic journey to bring Nemo home. Their adventure brings them face-to-face with vegetarian sharks, surfer dude turtles, hypnotic jellyfish, hungry seagulls, and more. Marlin discovers a bravery he never knew, but will he be able to find his son?

The first night of the trip we were taken to Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, CA for a screening of PARTYSAURUS REX, with an introduction by Mark Walsh (Director – “Partysaurus Rex”) and Kim Adams (Producer – “Partysaurus Rex”), followed by FINDING NEMO 3D.

The next day we went to The California Academy of Sciences where I sat down with director Lee Unkrich, Pixar Stereoscopic Supervisor Bob Whitehill, Director of 3D Production Josh Hollander, Mark Walsh (Director – “Partysaurus Rex”) and Kim Adams (Producer – “Partysaurus Rex”) in roundtables with 3 other press members. Check them out below!

FINDING NEMO 3D – Bob Whitehill & Josh Hollander

FINDING NEMO 3D – Director Lee Unkrich

PARTYSAURUS REX – Mark Walsh and Kim Adams

The trip was a ton of fun. You can check out more pictures below.

About PARTYSAUSUS REX:

Poor Rex.  Buzz, Woody and the rest of the “Toy Story” gang think he is a just a wet blanket. But when Bonnie takes him to bath time, he goes from a party pooper to king of the hot tub!  Creating a bubble bash like no other, everyone’s raving about the Partysaurus Rex!

Academy Award®-winning film “Finding Nemo” returns to the big screen in thrilling Disney Digital 3D™ for the first time ever. Teeming with memorable comedic characters and heartfelt emotion, this stunning underwater adventure follows the momentous journey of an overprotective clownfish named Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks) and his young son Nemo (voiced by Alexander Gould)––who become separated when Nemo is unexpectedly taken far from his ocean home in the Great Barrier Reef to a fish tank in a dentist’s office. Buoyed by the companionship of Dory (voiced by Ellen DeGeneres), a friendly-but-forgetful blue tang, Marlin embarks on a dangerous trek and finds himself the unlikely hero of an epic effort to rescue his son––who hatches a few daring plans of his own to return safely home.

Directed by two-time Oscar® winner Andrew Stanton and produced by Graham Walters, with an Oscar-nominated screenplay by Stanton, Bob Peterson and David Reynolds, “Finding Nemo” also features the voices of Willem Dafoe, Brad Garrett, Allison Janney, Austin Pendleton, Stephen Root, Vicki Lewis, Joe Ranft, Geoffrey Rush and Elizabeth Perkins. Stanton serves as the unflappable sea turtle, Crush, and Peterson as the musical manta ray teacher, Mr. Ray.

FOR MORE INFO:

Website: Disney.com/Finding-Nemo

Facebook: Facebook.com/PixarFindingNemo

FINDING NEMO 3D swims into theaters September 14

New Theatrical Trailer: THE TWILIGHT SAGA : BREAKING DAWN – Part 2

Hold on to your fang-lovin’ hats TWI-HARDS… because the trailer for THE TWILIGHT SAGA : BREAKING DAWN – PART 2 has officially been released.

THE TWILIGHT SAGA film series stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson and tells the story of 17-year-old Bella Swan who moves to the small town of Forks, Washington to live with her father, and becomes drawn to Edward Cullen, a pale, mysterious classmate who seems determined to push her away. But neither can deny the attraction that pulls them together…even when Edward confides that he and his family are vampires.

Did you know that not only did they use 3-week-old babies to play Renesmee, but they also used an animatronic baby? Yes, a robot baby! Also, THE TWILIGHT SAGA : BREAKING DAWN – Part 2 was filmed directly after THE TWILIGHT SAGA : BREAKING DAWN – Part 1, shooting from November 1, 2010 until April 15, 2011. That sounds like a long time, but that’s less than 3 months per movie!

Academy Award® winner Bill Condon directed both the first and second part of the two-part finale starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner. The film, based on the fourth novel in author Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight” series, was written by Melissa Rosenberg with Wyck Godfrey, Karen Rosenfelt and Stephenie Meyer producing.

The action-packed, modern day vampire love story TWILIGHT, the first film in the series, was released in theatres on November 21, 2008 to a blockbuster reception. The second installment of the film franchise, THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON was released November 20, 2009 the third installment, THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE was released June 30, 2010, and THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN – PART 1 was released on November 18, 2011.

The next and final chapter in THE TWILIGHT SAGA, THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN – PART 2 will arrive in theatres on November 16, 2012.

Visit the official site: http://www.breakingdawn-themovie.com/

Become a fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/twilight

Follow on Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/twilight #BreakingDawnPart2

Win Guaranteed Passes To An Advance Screening Of FAT KID RULES THE WORLD… In Hollywood

FAT KID RULES THE WORLD, the directorial debut of Matthew Lillard and based on the YA novel by KL Going, will be opening in theaters in New York on October 5th, followed by Los Angeles on October 12th and VOD October 25th.

To celebrate, WAMG is giving away a pair of a pair of skip-to-the-front-of-the-line-guaranteed-seats tickets to the Tuesday, September 11th screening of FAT KID RULES THE WORLD by The Cinefamily at the Silent Movie Theatre in Hollywood, CA. Matthew Lillard will be hosting the screening, followed by a streaming Q&A.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW. REAL FIRST AND LAST NAMES REQUIRED.

3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: What would you like to ask Matthew Lillard?

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED. DUPLICATE TICKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

FAT KID RULES THE WORLD stars Jacob Wysocki (Terri, TV’s Huge), Matt O’Leary (Natural Selection, Brick) and Billy Campbell (TV’s The Killing) and is based on the novel by K. L. Going. The film features original songs and score created by Pearl Jam Lead Guitarist Mike McCready.

The film follows Troy Billings who is seventeen, overweight, and suicidal. Just as he’s about to jump in front of a bus, he’s saved by Marcus, a charming high school dropout/street musician. The two begin an uneasy friendship when Marcus enlists the musically challenged Troy to become the drummer in a new punk rock band. As Troy’s relationship with Marcus grows, Troy’s father becomes increasingly concerned about his son’s new friendship.

Anyone (and that means you!) can still bring FAT KID RULES THE WORLD to their local theater by visiting Tuggthefatkid.com and requesting a screening.

If you are in the Los Angeles Area and would like more info on attending The Cinefamily screening at The Silent Movie Theatre CLICK HERE.

For More Info:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fatkidrules

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FatKidMovie

Official Website: http://fatkidrulesthemovie.com/

 

DVD GIVEAWAY: I HEART SHAKEY

The family comedy, I HEART SHAKEY, is now available to rental nationwide and in stores today! To celebrate, WAMG is giving away copies of the film on DVD.

HOORAY!

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE A US RESIDENT. PRIZE WILL ONLY BE SHIPPED TO US ADDRESSES. NO P.O. BOXES.

2. FILL OUT YOUR FULL NAME (first and last) AND EMAIL ADDRESS BELOW.

3. Since we are all fans of Canine American’s here at WAMG… we will keep this fun! What is the best name for a dog?

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN FROM ALL QUALIFYING ENTRIES. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PRIZES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED.

I HEART SHAKEY, was shot in the Chicago area and stars Steve Lemme (Broken Lizard comedian, Super Troopers, Beerfest), Steve Guttenberg (Police Academy franchise), Beverly D’Angelo (National Lampoon’s Vacation movies), Alfonso Arau (Three Amigos), 12-year-old acting phenom Rylie Behr and a rescue dog named Ebony. The movie also touts some of the hottest actors and comedians in Chicago including Andy St. Clair and Greg Holloman (of Second City fame) and award-winning stage actress Janet Ulrich Brooks. It tells the story of a widower, his 9 year-old daughter and their devoted mutt Shakey. The film follows this family of three as they move from a small town to Chicago and are forced to get rid of their dog, who wreaks havoc in their new apartment building. It is a simple heartwarming story geared toward kids that focuses on the importance of loyalty and keeping the family together. It has been approved by the Dove Foundation & Kids First for family viewing.

The film is currently available OnDemand by Phase 4 with Spotlight Pictures handling its international release. The filmmakers, Kevin and DeAnna Cooper, are ex-Hollywood executives and a husband/wife team that left the studio system to build their production company in Chicago. I HEART SHAKEY is the first film from their company.

FOR MORE INFO:

www.iheartshakey.com

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/IHeartShakey

Twitter : https://twitter.com/iheartshakey

I HEART SHAKEY is in stores today

Meet The Cast Of THE INBETWEENERS In Hollywood Today!

That’s right!

All four stars from the hit UK film THE INBETWEENERS will be on a shuttle touring Hollywood, and they want to meet you! Simon Bird, James Buckley, Blake Harrison, and Joe Thomas will be at the following locations today…

  • 3:50pm – Pink’s Hot Dog
  • 4:40pm – Hollywood & Highland in front of the Grauman’s Chintese Theatre
  • 5:20pm – Saddle Ranch on Sunset Blvd

So come out and say hello!

Graduation just wouldn’t be complete without an unchaperoned, uninhibited and unforgettable island holiday with your pals. At least that’s what recent grads Will McKenzie (Simon Bird), Jay Cartwright (James Buckley), Simon Cooper (Joe Thomas) and Neil Sutherland (Blake Harrison) think when they book a two-week getaway to a notorious international hotspot on the isle of Crete. The lads hit the resort’s infamous club strip and try to join in the legendary party scene with humiliating-and sidesplitting-results. Surrounded by scantily clad hotties, outrageous escapades and a plethora of bodily fluids, clueless intellectual Will, love-struck puppy Simon, chronic masturbator Jay and dimwitted cougar-bait Neil go on “Pussay Patrol” hoping to find high times and, more importantly, wild sex in one of Europe’s craziest vacation spots. Instead, they naively blunder from one mortifying experience to another, managing to sabotage every chance they get to fulfill their dreams.  Convinced that the solution to all of their problems lies in a weekend party-boat excursion, but without the funds or connections to get tickets to the once-in-a-lifetime blowout, they seemed doomed to once again be left outside the action in this raucous and raunchy coming-of-age comedy based on the hit UK television series created by Damon Beesley and Iain Morris.

FOR MORE INFO:

Website: http://www.theinbetweenersusa.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/inbetweenersUSA

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheInbetweenersUSA

THE INBETWEENERS film opens Friday, September 7th

 

THE POSSESSION – The Review

Despite being based on a true story, THE POSSESSION lacks any real scares.

After his divorce from Stephanie (Kyra Sedgwick), Clyde (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is trying to make a new home to share with his daughters. While picking up dishes at a local garage sale, his youngest Em (Natasha Calis) becomes fascinated with an old wooden box. Buying it for his little girl, Clyde was completely unaware of the horrors contained inside… A demon spirit. As Em’s behavior begins to change, the secrets of the box begin to unfold, and the race begins to save her soul.

Being a fan of horror, I really wanted to like this film. I tend to love a good possession film. This one, however, really lacked in a couple of areas. Mainly writing and timing. The actors are the best part of this film.

To start with, the writers didn’t really develop the characters, other than a bit with Clyde and Em. The character of Stephanie was very bland. I couldn’t tell if they wanted me to like her or resent her a bit. This isn’t a stab at Kyra Sedgwick’s acting, because I had no real problems there. (The acting will be discussed further down). Either way, I didn’t really care one way or another about the character.  Em was concentrated on in the sense that she was an active vegetarian or vegan who wanted her parents to get back together, but they really could have spent more time on her. The same goes for Clyde. You could tell that he was a loving dad who wanted to make his daughters happy, but was also preoccupied with his career. The sense that I got was that they wanted to make him seem like he was putting his career first. Instead, I felt like the love of his daughters was always at least equal to his job, and that they failed a bit at giving him a bad streak. This wasn’t the type of movie where we should feel confused about the character roles. Sure, this is based on a true story… but it’s embellished enough to the point where they should have developing the characters into specific roles in the story.

Let’s talk pacing for a sec. This movie was beyond slow. I get that they wanted a real feeling, unraveling what supposedly happened over 29 days, but, since this story is already embellished, it should have moved faster. There were large lulls where something small or insignificant happened, and to build hype they put in a large “BOMBPT” to try to build suspense. (Yes, that is Melissa vernacular for the loud musical noise that they used). I mean, a good portion of this movie had very little going on. I get that they are trying to make it seem real, but  they also could have spent more time on the actual possession, and focused a bit less on the boring steps leading up to it. The sound effects trying to build suspense were almost comical. Em just shoved pancakes into her mouth… “BOMBPT”… and now the girls are going back to their mothers. This ties in with character development. Maybe I would have cared more when the small things were going on with Em if they would have taken the focus off of the divorced parents and developed her character more. Perhaps I would have been more concerned if there weren’t so many drawn out scenes where nothing was going on. As a viewer, I need to stay in the moment. If I am checking my watch, I am no longer concerned with anything onscreen.

That ties in directly with timing. The audience shouldn’t be checking their cell phones for the time, or laughing when it is clear that the film is trying to build suspense. As a fan of the horror genre, I get that sometimes the worst horror films are the best horror films. This, however, does not even fall into that category. This film had my attention in the beginning. It kept my attention 1/3rd of the way in. Then, they lost me. If they cut the 92 minutes (Which is not long at all for a horror film) down by a 30 minutes, they would be in much better shape. What really gets me though, and leads me to give the film the benefit of the doubt, is that THE POSSESSION was originally supposed to have an R rating. I truly believe that they film would be much better if they wouldn’t have recut it to appease the MPAA and gain a PG-13 rating. I understand that by gaining the PG-13 rating they expanded their audience base, but they also cheapened the movie. I am really anxious to see the previous version. I guarantee it is a better film.

Sidenote: I could go into the actual story that this is based on, but this film is really embelleshed. If you are curious about the tale of the dibbuk box it is very easy to find online.

That being said, I have always enjoyed Jeffrey Dean Morgan as an actor. He plays a wonderfully concerned father, and has a strong presence on-screen. Natasha Calis has great chemistry with Morgan. Her role is not an easy one to portray, and I am eager to see what is next for her. In a way, she reminds me of a young Anna Paquin. Matisyahu was the most surprising to me. His role of Tzadok was inspired. He was both young and sentimental, but still carried the traditions of his faith heavily on his shoulders. I would love to see him spread his wings and try on a variety of characters.

As much as I have adored the past few releases from Lionsgate, I would wait for the Blu-Ray on this one.

OVERALL RATING: 2 out of 5 stars