Hauntology

I like anthologies...

I like the horror genre...

I don't expect too much from a movie, just entertain me. I don't mind if it's a little cringe, or campy, seeing the string or bad acting here or there can be fine.

This movie has the feel of a "really talented" highschool production team.

Terrible characters Terrible writing Terrible acting

The only thing this movie did incredibly well, was being predictable in every way.

There is not a single thing redeemable about this movie, it feels like a "b-side" from a low cost production TV show, like goosebumps or are you afraid of the dark.

Sorry.

I'm taking the time to write a review for this terrible movie because I feel like I need to warn others. I honestly don't understand how some viewers gave it a high score. The acting is awful at best-wooden, forced, and completely unconvincing. The story, while somewhat acceptable in the first 20 minutes, quickly falls apart due to lazy writing and a complete lack of originality. The plot unravels into a predictable mess, filled with clichés and nonsensical decisions that make it hard to stay engaged.

The dialogue is unnatural, making it even harder to take the characters seriously. There's no real depth or development, and by the halfway point, I found myself struggling to care about anything happening on screen. The pacing is all over the place, dragging in some scenes while rushing through others, making the entire experience feel disjointed.

If you value your time, I strongly recommend skipping this film. You'd be better off reclaiming those 90 minutes to watch paint dry-it would be far more entertaining and significantly less frustrating than sitting through this disaster. Save yourself the disappointment!

No pun intended - the movie consists of multiple stories being told ... to make someone think about their plan to leave ... I'll tell you stories ... and when I am done maybe you want to stay. I personally don't see it ... but then again, maybe one character loves telling stories and the other one likes listening to them.

This deals with a lot of issues ... like LGBTQ+ stuff and so much more. So obviously you cannot be too sensitive with stuff like that. You also should be aware that this has some script issues ... and acting issues ... sometimes it is cringe ... like a lot. You may feel ashamed or embarrassed ... I reckon you will be able to tell if this is for you or not .. very early on. I might have rated it higher than others ... but also lower than some who liked the themes and didn't mind the flaws ...

Hauntology is somewhat difficult to categorize. More spooky than terrifying, this anthology manages to wrap its unique narrative into consistent themes and tones. Writer-Director Parker Brennon directs all segments, weaving together a film that pays homage to several sub-genres, making Hauntology a tapestry of horror, supernatural scifi, giallo slasher, monster movie, and psychological tension across it's segments. The thread binding Hauntology's narrative together is the isolation, fear, and "otherness" experienced in queer, BIPOC, and feminine perspectives, subtly explored by Brennon and an ensemble cast that is particularly impressive for a small independent film. Those haunting elements of the film are further invoked by an intentional pace and atmospheric photography, perfectly matched by a score that manages to somehow sound both foreboding and eerily cheerful.

Don't come expecting copious jump scares or buckets of blood (although there are some of booth). Hauntology is entirely more "Let's Scare Jessica to Death" or "Carnival of Souls", than it is "Terrifier" or "Nightmare on Elm Street". What does come in abundance are easter eggs and tribute nods worthy of rewatches and Reddit boards.

Wow, wasn't expecting to watch a homegrown horror on the same day as the mega Megalopolis, so this review was supposed to be much shorter in my mind, but the similarities between the two really stood out to me, and I ended up kinda writing a two in one blended review for both haha

"Don't Dream It, Be It" - HAUNTOLOGY (2024), dir. Parker Brennon 🎩👻🌈🎩👻🌈🎩👻🌈🎩👻🌈🎩👻🎩

By happenstance, I was paid to watch a screener at home for this crowdfunded, small scale indie I had not heard of on the same day as spending money to witness Francis Ford Coppola's self financed epic, Megalopolis, up on the big screen after over a year of eager anticipation for its release being involved in the production myself. What I didn't anticipate going in though, was how I left the theater surprisingly struck by the similarities seen within the unintended double bill, despite the glaringly apparent distinctions between the two films.

READ REVIEW ON LETTERBOXD: (RollTide1931)

#hauntology #parkerbrennon #Megalopolis #francisfordcoppola.