raoulpeltier Reviews

Haunter (2013)

A ghost story with a twist

[6/10 · 9 July 2013]

Haunter is a ghost story with a twist. The film is based on the interesting concept of a family who lives the same day all over again. This idea is cleverly used in the first part of the movie and efficiently captivates the audience within the first few minutes, The problem is that it quickly gets repetitive. The film has a complex and interesting plot, but is too long to remain truly interesting. Despite a great try for being different from all the other ghost films, Haunter fails at his most important task, being scary. There are a few jumpy scenes, but nothing that should get you hiding under your seat.

In the end, Haunter is another ghost story...not a bad one. Those who enjoy the ghost genre should really check it out. The presence of Abigail Breslin (Zombieland, Little Miss Sunshine) is interesting, but I found the mum and the dad to be the true great actors in that film (the dad played in Saw VI and Silent Hill Revelations 3D). Considering that the director, Vincenzo Natali, is the one responsible for both Cube and Splice, two awesome horror/sci-fi flicks, I think this one is a little bit disappointing.

You're Next (2011)

Innovative and gore-filled gem

[9/10 · 8 July 2013]

"You're Next" is a home invasion/survival film in the vein of "Funny Games", "The Strangers" or again "The Last House on the Left". As in the latter cited, you'll find here the usual bunch of people being assaulted by strangers in a remote house. In that "You're Next" brings no novelty, bu does a great job at delivering the great tension and suspense associated with this specific genre of horror. Where the film truly excels, is that it adds some really clever elements of crime and comedy to the genre, making it really unique. The film does a fantastic job at giving you true/false hints about who could be involved in the invasion; and you really spend an hour wondering if it's true and who could it be, just like in these great Italian giallo. Second, the film, which starts on a serious tone, gradually and subtly incorporates comedy elements in it. Towards the end it is hilarious, but never overrated or absurd, keeping the film on the horror track at all time. There is also great deal of gore in the film, and gore-hounds will find their lot of brutal kills. The main actress, and the character she plays, also needs to be mentioned for she is, at the image of the movie, a real bad-ass! You're Next is both true to the genre and innovative. The balance between horror, crime and comedy is perfect. A great surprise and amongst the best 2013's film so far.