Let's be realistic.

Don't Believe the Hype

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

Wes Craven seemed to have a decent story on his hands but didn't execute and I say this as a fan of his. This is by far in the bottom tier of his films because many of his others are just so legendary. This on the other hand was predictable, dull with terrible execution. If I ever seen this film again on television, I would change the channel without a second thought. This film needs a visit from the Ripper.

I must admit, I expected this to be another movie "murdererlivesinanotherpersonagainandagain" but this movie has so many great, almost comedic and ingenious moments, that i give it 10/10 :) I liked all characters, youngsters and adults. Also very good performance from Raúl Esparza.

When Universal sold off their genre branch Rogue, what was then titled 25/8 sat collecting some dust until reshoots were ordered and a 3D post conversion added. The hostile reception and unpopularity of this film will probably never produce a director's cut, so I doubt we'll ever know if the original version is as messy as the released product, but boy is My Soul to Take a mess. The tone is all over the place and it barely makes a lick of sense, but as misguided as the film is, it's actually entertaining. The premise is complete nonsense about a killer with seven different personalities, who dies and somehow the personalities transfer to the wombs of seven unborn children. At their 16th birthdays they begin to get killed in typical slasher movie style and one of these kids is absorbing their souls - or something like that. Every teen character is an archetype and the end twist is as illogical as it is unsatisfactory. Bug's sister runs the school from the bathroom? Bug runs around his classroom dressed as a giant condor? Make no mistake, this is a ridiculous film that doesn't ever work and tries to create an aire of mystery with some half baked mythology, but its clumsiness has some charm. It's not nearly as toxic as its reputation and it's never boring.

It's inevitable with some veteran filmmakers that they'll have their share of hits and misses. Chalk this one up as a miss for horror master Wes Craven; while it's not without some good moments and assets, there's a decided lack of suspense, a poor script (surprising, coming from Craven), mostly inane characters, failed attempts at humour, and a lame killer.Too bad, because the set-up had some potential: a psychopath (Raul Esparza) with multiple personalities is caught by the cops, but in a ridiculous series of events, ends up vanishing, never to be seen again. On this same night, seven babies are born in the local hospital. Cut to 16 years later, and these now teen aged kids begin to be stalked and slaughtered by some unknown entity. Could it be the killer from long ago?Dialogue and situations are often too silly to be believed, including a scene with two students staging a dramatic presentation on condors for their biology class. The movie is much too chaotic to start with, with things happening much too quickly; there's no sense of a build. While it can't be said that there's no atmosphere at all (those shots of the bridge are pretty damn spooky), Craven fails to make this derivative material scary in any way. Much too much about the film is utterly generic.The young cast does what it can with their roles. Max Thieriot is our oddly named, sensitive hero "Bug", a dude who takes a hell of a lot of punishment before the film is over. John Magaro is his good buddy Alex. Nick Lashaway plays the obligatory bullying jock Brandon. Zena Grey has a more interesting part than the rest of them as the serious minded, religious Penelope. Emily Meade plays a bitchy character absurdly dubbed "Fang". Veterans in the cast include Jessica Hecht as May, Harris Yulin as Dr. Blake, and Dennis Boutsikaris as the principal.One definitely expects more from a filmmaker of Cravens' caliber. Hell, even "The Hills Have Eyes Part II" was more amusing than this. It doesn't come recommended, but completists may still want to see it for curiosity's sake.Three out of 10.