sadmansakibayon

As a fan of both vampire films and Bram Stoker's novel Dracula, I was really looking forward to this long anticipated adaptation. One of the most impressive aspects of the film is the attention to detail, all of the wardrobes, props and even the dialect spoken in the film feels extremely accurate to the time period. To top it off, the filmmakers even built an entire ship as the full set to enhance the authenticity of the film. "The Last Voyage of the Demeter" did a great job creating a chilling atmosphere with an impending sense of dread, never knowing when Dracula was going to appear.

The pacing unfortunately was a bit sporadic for me, the movie is definitely more of a slow burn but there seemed to be too many lulls which interrupted the flow of the film. I think the nearly two hour runtime was a bit too much and it could have been shortened for better continuity. The moments of action were exciting as well as entertaining, but they were few and far between. Additionally, there are a couple moments of race baiting politics in the film which was disappointing and didn't have any relevance to the story. Unless it's part of the storyline, there is no need for politics in horror.

Entertaining entry into the vampire subgenre, it definitely could have been better but I've seen a lot worse.

While the overall atmosphere here wasn't horrible, it's not great. There is some semblance of darkness or a presence just out of reach. That's where it ends, missing the point and it's lacking thereof exacerbated by poor acting and writing...... I just couldn't get behind this. Not that it's a played out story, which it is; but it's not that. It's just not done well. You don't need to convince me of the validity of the plot. Some added twists and darker storylines would have been an improvement, although how much is debatable.

Overall, I wasn't impressed with this one. The production was great. Cinematography was strong as well. However the dull story and lackluster acting really took their toll on this one. It just lacked the guts and depth needed to create an immersive story with a plot you can get behind. For some it may work; sometimes I end up liking films with bad acting and a weak plot because other aspects pick it up. I just didn't see those extra boosts here. Some may, not me.

Horror films shot in the woods have always been one of my favourite settings, I find the vast stretches of wilderness brings about a mysterious yet ominous atmosphere where anything can happen. "Cub" is no exception here, as we follow the young cub scout troop as they set up camp in a pocket of woods that the locals absolutely refuse to enter.

I'm going to be vague here as "Cub" is quite an extraordinary story that doesn't always play into the common horror tropes and actually explores the consequences of bullying and the issues that arise from dysfunctional families. There are numerous surprises throughout the film and a great twist ending that you won't see coming. Besides the scenic Belgian landscapes the film is beautifully shot and contains an eerie score courtesy of composer Steve Moore.

"Cub" is an interesting film as it starts out as a kind of a introduction horror movie for young fans of the genre but then transitions into a pretty violent and graphic horror film. It has a fairly large kill count with a few deaths occurring off screen but also several of them that are savage and gory. The practical makeup effects are quite impressive and very realistic. Unfortunately there is a death scene involving a dog that is very violent and I understand it's part of the character development in this particular instance, but this is one of my biggest pet peeves in horror films.

Refreshing and unique horror film that's not without its problems, but the positives vastly outweigh any negatives. Recommended.