This is equal parts Drama and Horror.
The Beginning seems kind of slow and tedious, but if you're patient and in the right mood, then you settle in. Durand plays the Sheriff with deep emotional background, although it can seem a little heavy at first. And his deputy is a good balance of a lighter character with an Outside-Of-Town perspective. And the Monster is all in the build-up.
In some ways, this movie starts with the usual horror formula...except it's not a screamer/splatter. The Townspeople aren't a forgettable list of cardboard a-holes just lining up to be dragged off. It's ordinary people coming to realize that something dangerous has moved in with them...and now they're scared...and as a viewer, I found myself scared for them.
This ain't a blockbuster movie...but I rate it above the generic B-Grade cable fare because when you parse the plot, there's a lot of common sense logic involved in the sheriff and the town trying to figure out what's happening. And the acting is solid and believable all around.
This one is best for classic After-12 Midnight viewing on a Saturday night. Even better if it's raining or snowing outside.
The Beginning seems kind of slow and tedious, but if you're patient and in the right mood, then you settle in. Durand plays the Sheriff with deep emotional background, although it can seem a little heavy at first. And his deputy is a good balance of a lighter character with an Outside-Of-Town perspective. And the Monster is all in the build-up.
In some ways, this movie starts with the usual horror formula...except it's not a screamer/splatter. The Townspeople aren't a forgettable list of cardboard a-holes just lining up to be dragged off. It's ordinary people coming to realize that something dangerous has moved in with them...and now they're scared...and as a viewer, I found myself scared for them.
This ain't a blockbuster movie...but I rate it above the generic B-Grade cable fare because when you parse the plot, there's a lot of common sense logic involved in the sheriff and the town trying to figure out what's happening. And the acting is solid and believable all around.
This one is best for classic After-12 Midnight viewing on a Saturday night. Even better if it's raining or snowing outside.