Okay, I’ll admit it. This film scared the shit out of me! I’ve seen all the horror classics like Exorcist, Friday The 13th, Omen, etc but this film carries an undefinable sense of foreboding that gets into your system and triggers a chill... deep down inside.
I won’t spoil things by revealing any of the plot, but I will refer to odd bits and pieces while trying to explain what was so scary about the movie. To a large extent, I think it was the build-up... not knowing whether it was an occult thing or simple murder out and out. Then again, the build-up of the sense of mystery in terms of the out-of-focus faces in the photographs... the story of the little girl being told in disjointed fragments... and the frequent change of pace. Sometimes the movie seems to slow down and then, before you can prepare yourself - Bang! It races again.
So what was so scary? I keep coming back to that point because I still can’t put my finger on it. I think it was the meshing of real life with the horror elements - there’s nothing in the movie that couldn’t actually happen to you. Now, there’s a scary thought.
Then, of course, there are the visual effects that make you jump out of your skin - the faces of the dead (My God! How did the make-up guys come up with that?), the grainy footage of the silent film and its horrifying contents, not to forget the very special hairstyle of the little girl (not so "little" in the final sequence).
As you’ve probably guessed, I’m trying not to give things away - that would spoil the movie for you. So those who have not seen this movie, will not really know what I’m talking about. I suppose this review is, strangely, more for those who have actually seen the movie.
For those who haven’t, I will say only this: if you are a horror movie buff, do not miss this film. And do try and see it on the big screen. Even with a hall full of people, you can’t shake off what this film does to you... on the inside. Be warned!