Adopting Terror

The idea of this film was incredible, the execution lacked though. Still enjoyed it but the ending needed more structure. The character development lacked a little also.

Screenplay: 3/10 Awkward. The writer just felt lost and unsure of himself. It's one of those things where he seems capable, but botched it anyway. So many things could have caused this, right down to him just being a lousy writer.

Casting: 0/10 Absolutely nothing redeeming about the casting. Zero chemistry, and actors that look far too uniformly plastic. 1 or 2 model-looking actors is fine, but when everyone looks cut out of a magazine, there's absolutely nothing to relate to. Let's not mention that the pairing of actors for the couple was a joke.

Cinematography: 3/10 Very by-the-books shots and zero creativity. So much opportunity here to create some redeeming quality by having some stylish framing, but nope. Nada. Nothing. 3 points for "just doing your job".

Grading: 6/10 Made this a category simply because this was the one thing I thought was decent in this film. The colors had a very natural feel and didn't come across as overly-stylized, which many good movies seem to over-do. But still, points are lost, because the colors did tend to beg for something more. What we get is something a bit too vibrant and "normal", like the way you'd grade a comedy film.

Directing: 1/10 Director, you alone could have saved so much of everything else's inadequacies. You were there, every step of the way, approving what was going on and guiding it along. What are you doing?! 1 point for getting the gig.

Sound: 6/10 Again, just "doing your job". The mix is good and well, but nothing really stuck out. Nothing was particularly bad though.

Music: 5/10 Starts off far too melodically heavy, easily to the point of feeling corny and forced. Later on, the composer seems to realize he should tone it down a bit. But the early portions of the film, especially, are a mess. That's significant, because this is when you're making your first impressions.

Now, I don't know who really had the biggest hand in making this suck so much. Was it an issue with producers? Did you guys know this wasn't good at all, but just wanted to "make a movie"? Or did you really think this was good in some way?

And who thought it was a good idea to give the biological father that stupid look with his hair combed back?

Blah.

One of those movies that is neither good or bad but just below average. Adopting Terror does have some things going for it, the best aspect being the menacing performance of Brendan Fehr, an achievement for someone who doesn't have a huge amount to work with. The first 15 minutes or so are unsettling too, the baby is adorable and the locations show effort and a sense of atmosphere. The production values and supporting cast generally are very competent but they are never more than that, they're never cheap or bad but just without distinction throughout. Unfortunately the leads don't carry Adopting Terror well at all. Sean Astin has a flat character to begin with and he brings very little emotion in terms of acting which only accentuates that fact, instead it is a very stiff and lifeless performance. Samaire Armstrong's acting is a mix of overwrought overacting and disinterested mumbling, one of those vulnerable-meaning performances that doesn't strike the right chord in the least bit. The chemistry between Astin and Armstrong never convinces either. The music is far too heavy-sounding and too much of a dirge in terms of tempo, it does tone down a little later on but it's never memorable and it happens too late really. The script is also uncomfortably clunky and ham-fisted, delivered also with very little urgency and it never does find the right tone. The story is the chief factor in where Adopting Terror falls down, the ending is one that doesn't surprise in the least bit, the movie is often very dully paced especially in the middle and this is one thriller with very little if any suspense or thrills and instead reeks of predictability. If there were any scares intended at all they were very tame, and the more melodramatic elements didn't seem to be taken that seriously, it's all underwritten and overacted that any melodrama comes across as more cheesy than poignant. The characters are not developed and not easy to invest in, Fehr's character was the most rootable and that wasn't even the intention, that actually shows how flatly realised Astin and Armstrong's characters are. Overall, Adopting Terror starts well and has good locations, an adorable baby and one very good performance but the lead performances, music, script and story are really lacking. And the production values and supporting cast fall into the camp of never being amateurish but never standout-worthy either. 4/10 Bethany Cox

In order for me to really like a movie (or a book), I have to care about the characters. I want to empathize with them. In this case, I didn't, and ended up liking the bad boy more than the two "good guys" (who are, together, perhaps the most boringly flat couple I have ever seen.) The plot was so predictable, I knew what the supposed twist was going to be as soon as I saw her walk onto the screen. The only part I really enjoyed was watching the sexy villain stalk everyone and look menacing. He can come stalk me, if he likes.

The wife, Cheryl, was a vapid character, and the actress who played her should learn not to overact. And Sam Gamgee. Well...never mind. It was just poor casting all around, except for the lovely bad boy, who didn't really have to say anything anyway.

I gave it 3 stars, just because of him. If you have nothing, I mean nothing, else to do on a Sunday evening, perhaps watch this. You will be missing nothing if you pass it by.

Adopting Terror, deserves so much more credit than it deserves, under one million dollars, I was expecting a terrible film, but instead I got a decent film with great use of locations in it. The plot is about a married couple adopt a baby (that was taken from her biological father) but suffer the consequences of the father being around for too long. It's a predictable film, because it's been done a million times, but their was a great effort put into the production. If you're a fan of B movies, I suggest this may be the one for you. I overall give it a 7/10, The Asylum have been surprising me a lot lately, it does show they truly do have some talent after-all. -Trent Browning