Bagman: Espíritu Del Mal

I can understand the criticism, it's not the most original storyline ever, but I did find it to be actually somewhat refreshing. It's not one of those horrors where nobody believes the person, this happens to everyone and they do actually try to avoid it - police take it seriously, family gets on board to help, etc.

I think people are just so busy looking for the next "new" thing, the next unpredictable twist, but don't give any credit to an old fashioned story of lore. I enjoyed it, I didn't get bored and try something else, so I would say it's worth a shot. Plus, Sam Claflin is awesome and his acting is just as good as it always is.

Often writers resort to making characters very stupid and/or suddenly behave uncharacteristically dumb just to drive the plot forward or to force a sequence together, instead of rebuilding or abandoning the idea. "Bagman" is one of those scripts that should've been thrown away early on, but instead they forced through with stupidity. The backbone of the entire movie if made of irrational stupidity. It wouldn't be a movie without it.

I will not list all the times the parents behaved irrational and dumb, but let's say; if you're a normal sane human being with a child who were in danger of being abducted, you would keep it at an arms length 24/7. But no no no. Not these parents. They make sure to always put their kid in danger, giving it away to others and pretty much always make sure to keep it far out of reach and out of sight - just to make this movie possible.

The Bagman had an intriguing premise but left a lot of questions unanswered, especially when it came to the characters' decisions. One of the most perplexing choices was leaving the child alone while all the horror unfolded. It felt illogical, given that the adults were clearly aware of the danger and opted to sleep together for safety. Why would they separate the most vulnerable person? This inconsistency really pulled me out of the experience and made it hard to connect with the characters' survival instincts.

That said, the movie did have its moments. The atmosphere was chilling, and there were a few genuinely unsettling scenes that kept me on edge. However, it often felt like the pacing was off, with long stretches of buildup that didn't always pay off.

Despite these issues, I'm actually interested in the sequel. The film has laid down some groundwork that could go in a great direction. If the sequel addresses the characters' decisions better and tightens up the storytelling, it could deliver on the promise that the first film hinted at. There's potential here, and I'm curious to see how it develops.

This is just like all the other films with the same boogeyman premise. This "Pied Piper" uses a bag. That is pretty much all.

And because of the narrative skipping around the way it does, this is not only boring - it gets really confusing. So they couldn't even copy the formula in a productive way.

The effects are kinda meh. I guess there was music too. But it was probably some cliched horror music library of tiresomeness.

Oh and that dreadfully atrocious, terribly deplorable, shamefully abysmal, horrendously annoying, abominably appalling, stratospherically ear-piercing wooden deal that the kid treasures. Yeah, no.

This movie just wasn't my bag, man.

"Bagman" (2024) is a horror film that explores the terror of a family haunted by a malevolent entity. While it delivers some effective scares and a chilling atmosphere, the film ultimately falters due to predictable plot points and a lack of originality.

The movie effectively uses sound design, lighting, and a secluded setting to create a sense of dread and unease. The jump scares, though frequent, are well-timed and genuinely startling. The performances, particularly from leads Sam Claflin and Antonia Thomas, are commendable, conveying the characters' fear and vulnerability convincingly.

However, "Bagman" suffers from a reliance on familiar horror tropes. The plot follows a predictable pattern, with the family members making questionable decisions that escalate the danger. The antagonist, while visually unsettling, lacks a compelling backstory or motivation, reducing it to a generic force of evil.

Furthermore, the pacing feels uneven. Some scenes drag, while others feel rushed, disrupting the flow of the narrative. The film also fails to delve deeper into the psychological impact of the terror on the family, focusing primarily on the physical threats.

Despite its shortcomings, "Bagman" offers a decent dose of jump scares and a chilling atmosphere for horror enthusiasts. However, those seeking originality or a more nuanced exploration of fear may find it underwhelming.