😱 First Impressions:
I had a hankering for older horror-thriller flicks and wouldn't you guess it!? Found another one, the plot description alone ensnared me and I was wondering why nobody talked about it more. Surely, there must be a reason, so I went in moderate expectations. Fortunately I did because this film will upset your stomach as well as hit the sweet spots!
Pros:
😋 The opening of the film was perfect. The setting up of Victor's character and the exploration of his open relationship with his wife (who surprises him midway through a deadly escapade). Intense because we the audience know all too well about what is about to happen with the first onscreen character in a horror movie... But it didn't! She was only crippled- which segues quite nicely to the lawyer~
😋 The cinematography was somewhat low-budget but it was quite refreshing to see. Especially from the "dead" Victor's POV which is in line with what the audience is told about the neurotoxin used to murder him. The anticipation of when he will rise up again- course obviously he will, is exhilarating despite its predictable nature!
😋 The story is nothing original but it was the first that attempted to kill using a non-lethal poison. The oversight and lack of knowledge in the method of murder is a very human thing to do. It is exactly the repercussions from this, which is very terrifying. After all the thought alone in murdering someone is already a mental load but to have that person come back and they're unprepared? Mindblown....
Cons:
😪 The actors as a whole were not terrible, but I thought the guy portraying Victor was best. He brought out the cynical and psychopath sides very well! Also he looks very familiar, I'll do more research! The rest were just average but still belivable... just!
😪 Now characters- I don't usually point this out because some will naturally shine more than others but not in this one. Nobody (from the main cast, one of the 'good guys') was likeable or rational. Roman the lawyer keeps hiding secrets from the recently widowed (though not for long) who would have benefitted by having more time to discuss what to do next. Elizabeth on the other hand, is understandably paranoid and suspects Roman is cheating even plotting to off her next. They are all self-centered and it made me question who I should be rooting for...
😪 The ending came off pretty lazy. Which a shame because it did very well in the beginning, then a little bit after Victor is resurrected. But by the end, back to the infamous torture device- which becomes overused. Victor even says it himself, sometimes the psychology torment from threatening to use the device is sufficient to instill fear. But the film never did anything remotely as clever as that. Lawyer dies and wife finally decides to retaliate. The pregnant Catherine at the end, what even is that?
😇Verdict😈
Points for the effort behind this microbudget thriller film. The plot is one to remember and a teachable moment to everyone ;). It also brought us one of the most underrated baddies in the early 2000s. But unfortunately, the film hit its peak about 3/4 of the way through due to poor character writing and a questionable ending. Therefore it is easy to see why this film was eventually forgotten... :'(
