Simply Perfect

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Blistering performances.

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

Roy (Dylan McDermott) and Denise (Penelope Ann Miller) are moving their family out onto a farm. Daughter Jess (Kristen Stewart) holds the reason for the move and her not allowed to drive. The young son is unable to speak. They are growing sunflowers, but are harassed by aggressive crows. Colby Price from the bank offers 15% premium for the property but Roy refuses to sell. There is a helpful neighbor Burwell (John Corbett) and townie boy Bobby (Dustin Milligan) who is interested in Jess.This is a reasonably made horror, but the story just doesn't have enough tension. It's not scary at any point. It is a really simple haunted house story. There isn't much of a mystery. When it actually reveals something, it isn't actually interesting. There is nothing special or original in this.

Films about the supernatural are not my favourite genre of horror as they are usually extremely predictable and bland. This however for me is one of the better efforts of recent years. It's extremely well filmed and the acting was of a good standard especially from the much maligned Kristen Stewart who was excellent in this. Whilst the plot is nothing ground breaking the setting is beautiful and suitably isolated which creates a real air of tension. There are a few jump out of your seat moments but this film doesn't just rely on cheap shocks as it also tries to combine some elements of credible drama about family breakdowns. The editing is crisp so it all moves along at a pleasing pace which means you don't have time to get bored. I enjoyed this film far more than I expected given the rating of 5.3 and think it has an unfairly low rating on here. Don't expect a classic or much gore but just enjoy a well made supernatural horror.

I vaguely remember watching this movie when it first came out, but decided to give it another go today. Maybe it's because I'm older now or maybe I'm just spoiled on good movies, but quite honestly, I wasn't even able to finish this movie. It was that terrible.To put it bluntly, it was incredibly generic. The acting is hardly believable and seems very dulled down. The plot was nothing original; just your basic, mediocre ghost story that we've all seen a couple hundred times. The only positive points that I can see are the setting and the general atmosphere, due to the setting, not the acting.I wouldn't waste your time on this movie unless you're new to horror or are scared very easily. The well-traveled horror movie fan will be sorely disappointed and bored by this movie.

I saw this right now in Cinemax, five years later of the cinema screening. I saw it because the directors and screen-players were the same of The Ring, it was a bonus.The intro in black and white (a flashback of the previous owners of the house) is really good, I get stuck to my TV. Scary, well done effects, music, cinematography. So far so good.Then when the actual family moves in, well it's all the same I saw countless times in many, many, many... and I mean: many movies.The abandoned house, the new family move in it, the noises, the visions, the ghosts, are really a cliché. You can play with clichés, but put a new dress on them. Don't trace them like using onion paper.I'm not surprised the DVD is only $1.95 in amazon.com A bargain but with no salt and pepper for all horror fans like me.