Change Your Image
sasha-m-robinson
Reviews
The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia (2013)
About as Mediocre as the Original
The Haunting in Conneticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia (2012) It wasn't until about halfway through the film that I realized this sequel, in a bold/confusing/weird move, has absolutely nothing to do with the original, aside from the very tenuous plot connection of a family moving into a house where they experience the paranormal consequences of the actions of the previous tenants. On the one hand, not much more could likely have been milked out of the first family's story- on the other hand, we've seen sequels try to continue and up the ante on the paranormal activities of the same ghosts on different people. This was definitely a different choice- and apparently one that will be continued in the 3rd installment in the series, apparently set in New York.
In this sequel, ('inspired', 'based on', whatever, a true story) a family with a history of paranormal sensitivity moves to Georgia, followed shortly by the mother's sister, who is also prone to seeing spirits. When the two women were girls, they were often terrified by a "dark figure" only they could see and could sense was evil. Shortly after, the family's young daughter starts to have conversations with an invisible man and her mother begins to worry that her own neuroses are being visited upon her daughter. After consulting with several different types of experts, the family begins to learn the history behind their property and why their daughter might be experiencing these visitations. Partly through research and partly by accident they learn some uncomfortable truths about the violent past of the area and its inhabitants.
Things I liked: -The setting. The deep, woodsy south is always a great setting for scares! -The little girl. Her performance was the only one not utterly forgettable- not overdone, engaging, etc. -The ultimate resolution: good setup for a haunting- not incredibly original but not overly hackneyed.
Meh: -The adults. Sorry Chad. Not likable or interesting enough to root for. -Basically the whole middle. I don't even remember half of the experts or why we're supposed to care that the Mom had similar experiences as a little girl- and I'm totally confused as to how they're supposed to be related when it was a different house??
Overall, I THINK I liked it as well as or better than the original, which counts as success for a sequel, right? Or also shows that the original wasn't terrible but wasn't all that great either. I think I pretty much liked and disliked all the same components.
Like this review? Read more at romyandmichele.blogspot.com
Absentia (2011)
sincere acting and good use of limited resources make for a worthwhile effort in the indie scare genre.
Dogs as sacrifices, a hoarding insect monster, hallucinations (or hauntings) by a not-quite dead husband, a sister back from rehab with a mysterious past- this movie has so many crazy elements (both clichéd and unusual) that it had the potential to be a real mess. Instead, sincere acting and good use of limited resources make for a worthwhile effort in the indie scare genre.
As Tricia tries to move on from the death of her husband, she has to face a new challenge as her sister Callie comes to stay with her. Continually haunted by visions (or hallucinations?) of her husband's deathly pale, bruised form as she finally has him declared legally dead, Tricia tries meditation to try to calm her frayed nerves. Caught in the trappings her the traumatic end of her marriage, even her pregnancy hasn't allowed her to move on or out of the house the two of them shared. At first it seems as though Callie's influence and clear-headed insights gained from her post-rehab life may help Tricia to make the jump. Her practical advice helps Tricia choose an apartment and begin packing up.
Across the street from Tricia and Daniel's house is the entrance to a tunnel- the usual concrete-and-graffiti-style hole you might find in a number of suburban neighborhoods. Callie doesn't hesitate to go through it as a shortcut on her daily run the first morning she spends with Tricia. On her way back, she encounters a man lying on the ground in the tunnel who looks malnourished and possibly homeless- she thinks she recognizes a fellow addict, and is reluctant to brush him off completely when he pleads incoherently with her for help. She returns later that night to bring him food, a gift that sets in motion a dark and surprising series of events.
The acting in this film is subtle, the relationships between the characters both believable and engaging as new secrets and twists are revealed, and the quiet little neighborhood takes on a satisfyingly sinister cast as things start to deteriorate between the sisters and Tricia's newfound peace of mind.
Less smooth is the last 1/3 of the story- I am still in the dark about WHAT it was exactly that caused Daniel's disappearance and why his warnings to his family and the police go un-deciphered. The ending, also, left something to be desired- you can sense a theme of sacrifice tied to some kind of metaphor about Callie's drug addiction and un- tethered lifestyle, but the final scene doesn't capitalize on this at all.
Overall I enjoyed most of this film, and I especially enjoyed watching a low-budget film that the actors, producers and directors had clearly put a lot of talent and energy into.
Visit romyandmichelefreakout@blogspot.com for more horror reviews!