Highly Overrated But Still Good

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

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

And it's not for the plot, special effects, terror, surprises and most of the actors. The father was just plain bad and his kid even worse. Another reviewer wrote he wished the kid was behind it all and I confess I wish that were so. He was so annoying he spoiled what would have been a passable film. So why bother? The headliner, Katharine Isabelle. I suspect the producers and director had her in mind when they decided to waste funds on this little yarn that's been done so many times before you pretty much know what's coming next. She is becoming my favorite modern scream queen. If not for her talent I frankly wouldn't have bothered but with her in it I might just give it another try and skip the scenes with the father and his kid. And to top it all off she kicks ass. A survivor through and through. Anyway you've been warned.

Corey (Robin Dunne) and his new wife Sarah (Katharine Isabelle) move into a fairly isolated house, with Corey's son Liam. Sadly, little Liam (Peter DaCunha) resents Sarah because he misses his mother, which is understandable. However, as is so very often the case, scenes with a minor acting in a brattish and petulant fashion immediately causes audience rankles to rise. Corey's endeavours to 'understand' the child make me wish he'd just wallop the little sod and cause me to become irritated by his ineffectuality ("Promise me you'll give her a chance, boss," he implores more than once). From the very beginnings of 'Torment' I find this a big hurdle to overcome.One night, after hearing some noises around the house, they find Liam is missing. Instead of celebrating, they call the police. Thus begins another in the sub-genre known as 'home invasion', where the calm and comfort of home is forcibly interrupted by some nightmarish killer or other. As a sub-genre, its immediate limitations mean any film to fall under this category is virtually guaranteed to be surprise-free.This doesn't mean such projects cannot succeed as horror films if they are well done. And thankfully when the often silent invaders strike, dressed in tatty animal head-pieces things liven up. For even though their features are masked, they are more interesting than the remaining two bastions of 'family'.As the opening quote indicates ("When one has not had a good father, one must create one" – Nietzsche), it is the concept of 'family' that tries to propel this story. Just as Sarah is given the thrilling prospect of adding further children to Corey's litter, the barely-glimpsed mutants are looking for their own 'new' mothers and fathers to add to their clan. That such a perfunctory thriller results from this, should we then be heart-warmed when, (spoiler) after Corey has been killed and Sarah has been repeatedly beaten, munchkin Liam finally 'forgives' his new mother and decides she isn't so bad after all? Personally, I would have been more satisfied if the little twerp had somehow been behind the horrific events.

Suspense becomes horror. Cory Morgan(Robin Dunne)takes the family to the Morgan country home for a peaceful vacation and a chance for his 7 year old son Liam(Peter DaCunha) to bond with his new step-mom Sarah(Katharine Isabelle). The isolated and idyllic location will quickly become a home to store nightmares. The family realizes that someone has been using the house. As they ponder this situation, the unthinkable happens. Liam has disappeared into the woods. Get ready for the holiday from hell! The unwanted house guests reveals themselves as sadistic heathens and the Morgan's will have to fight for their sanity and their lives.Sadistic terror, graphic violence and some sexual situations will more than earn an R rating. Also in the cast of this Canadian fright flick: Stephen McHattie, Amy Forsyth, Noah Danby, Bill Colgate, Inessa Frantowski and Adrienne Wilson.

I have seen a lot of negative reviews about this movie. I will say this, take it upon yourself to actually watch the film and take it all in.I will say this. This movie IS YOUR TYPICAL HOME INVASION MOVIE. Nothing special about it that stands out. EXCEPT FOR THE KILLERS, and i'll get to that.It starts out with trying to get you to enjoy the characters and try to attach yourselves to them. You see a dysfunctional family trying to make it work. You grow to think the son is a little "A" hole. Which is the directors intention. As the saying goes: "If you dislike a character because of their role and how they act with the intentions of being that person, then the actor did his job". The acting was nothing less of great. Katherine Isabelle did a fantastic job. Her role was believable. Believable to the extent of, people can do the dumbest things in horror movies. And not to mention in real life. Usually the first thing that comes to mind when people are watching horror movies: "Why didn't you do that. Oh my god you are so stupid". I am an active duty soldier that has been through "stress training". When you are stressed, it is not easy at all to think and act normal.Back to my point. She did a fantastic job and shows that she cares for her step son no matter what.Now on to the killers. The killers were very creepy. The masks did not make them creepy. It was their movements. Especially the pig. The pig seemed like the old Michael Myers in Halloween. The creepy walk. The slow walk that no matter how slow he walked, he would get to you no matter what. Its the "Run as fast as you want walk. I'll take my time and enjoy the moment". The pig also had the head tilt down as well. Kind of like it was "admiring" its work. Proud to be a serial killer and look what i just did. Anybody can carry a gun and run. It seems to be much scarier to run as fast as you want and the killer is still behind you walking slow like you are not going to be able to run away.There are some down falls to this movie. Don't expect a twist at the end. Well its a very small one, but if you pay attention to all of the movie 60% of people will be able to guess it.The movie leaves you with questions unanswered and it can be frustrating. However, it is worth a watch. Just don't expect it to be a very good horror movie. Its okay and could have been executed a bit differently.