Sadly Over-hyped

Dreadfully Boring

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

I've seen interviews with the writer/director and my hat is ff to him. He seems like very mature and passionate filmmaker who appreciates constructive criticism brought to his work. My respect to you sir!I thought the camera work and lighting had some nice touches, creative and moody. The film didn't get sucked into the ocean of other films with jump scares every 2 minutes. This film went the creative route, though the "child living in the walls" thing and whispering off screen is a tad cliche. This film needlessly bogs itself down in complexity, where I honestly didn't know what the threat was. The film was busy spinning many plates; the memories of her abusive mother, this bethany person who haunts her, the strange visions she keeps having, her self inflicted paranoid injuries. I kept saying to the screen in front of me "make up your mind, film. Choose one!" Its trying to go in too many directions, it ended up that none of them provided a scare factor, I was just confused the whole time rather than frightened....BUT, having said that, by the end of the 3rd act I had all the necessary information that should of been setup in the first act, built in the second and payed off in the 3rd. In the film the payoff is the setup, thus all the confusion.For me the film kicked into gear about an hour or so into the film, when her husband believes his wife and the presence of Bethany. Though this script needed obvious work, I'm aware from interviews with the director that he is given insane deadlines to write a feature film before principle photography begins, so this could be the case here. The plot points in the third act where we learn what happened to her twin sister, how she was tortured and abandoned....thats the setup to the film aka the first act, what is this doing in the 3rd act?? Its not some big reveal, as I mentioned its essential context that could be used to set the stakes and provide some depth to the character and organic motivation for her moving home again, because there really isn't one here.And a final question, Tom Green playing a psychiatrist?:)....really?

James Cullen Bressack is the prince of horror. Once again, he brings us a scary, frightening and haunting tale of family values.After the passing of her mother, Claire and her husband Aaron (Estes and Ward) move into her childhood home where many evil memories reside. From the moment Claire and Aaron begin their new lives in this house, creepy things start to happen…and all to Claire. Is this her imagination? Does anyone see what is physically and violently happening to her? From the chilling shower scene, to the threaded face (yes, THAT made me cringe!), it is clear that Claire is being haunted by someone in her past.Flashbacks appear, as a young Claire recalls piano lessons to bouts of untidiness by her mother (a vicious Doherty who hasn't shown this level of cruelty since playing Brenda Walsh!), and the abuse endured continuously throughout her upbringing.Zack Ward is the compassionate husband Aaron, trying to get a grip on his wife's sudden outbursts and resistance to having a child of their own. "Not in this house" she snaps. You see, Claire wasn't the only child growing up in this malicious home. Her best friend was imaginary. An imaginary little girl named Bethany.So, what happened to Bethany? Is she haunting this young couple? Is she bitter about Claire's departure so many years earlier? Is she….real?There are plenty of alarming moments that will jump-scare you out of your seat. Bressack has mastered the art of terrifying you as the plot unfolds into a spine-tingling family secret that will freak you out. It's simply grotesque…how far a self-absorbed mother will go to depict the ultimately perfect family.And let's not forget the zany Tom Green! Who…well…is NOT very wacky at all. In fact, as the therapist for Claire and Aaron, he seems to be the only person with his head on straight. If you like The Grudge, you'll enjoy this. If you hated The Grudge….you'll still enjoy this. LOL!

I don't expect much from any thriller/ horror movies nowadays. I just watch anything that comes out new. When it comes to Bethany, I thought it's a bit slow paced at start but it gets creepy and intense til the end. Well plotted, and casts were pro acted. Totally worth watching I must say 👍🏻

"Bethany" is a well crafted Horror title that, unlike most horror, doesn't spend half the budget on fake blood and prosthetics. It doubles down on plot and character development. Aaron (Zack ward) is an easily relatable husband wanting only a family and financial security with his wife Claire (Stefanie Estes) This is put in Jeopardy when the couple inherit Claire's mother's house and Claire starts to experience a psychological breakdown the source of which is explained through the movie. The episodes are believable in what a psychosis looks like, ranging from to the "no way that's actually happening" to the "maybe that is real". Overall the movie is enjoyable, well written and acted. It has the quota of jump scares and uncomfortable shots one would expect but the best part was the questions to the nature of a psychosis and how would people really react to it ? Overall I recommend you watch it if you want a story that has more body than blood.