Soul Survivors

I sure wish this movie was a dream, so I wouldn't have wasted 90 minutes of my life. It is way too confusing for the viewer. And I didn't like how it was edited together. The story, what you could make of it, was way too choppy. I guess part of the problem was I thought this was a scary movie with ghosts or something. But, it is supposed to be more suspenseful than scary. And last, I got to say this had the stupidest scene with 2 girls in the shower. What was the point of that?

FINAL VERDICT: I guess they were trying to make a 6th sense type film, but missed the mark. It'll hurt your head trying to keep up with what is going on since it jumps around so much, so don't waste your time with this one.

Soul survivors, like a few other supernatural movies that have come out recently, leave the viewer wondering what is really happening. This one I think it slightly better done than the others since the ending is less predictable and more fulfilling.

Melissa Sagemiller did quite a good job playing Cassie, the movie's lead. An emotional wreck after a car accident, she is convinced that people are trying to kill her, but for some reason no one else ever sees the assailants or even seems to believe her. Melissa's portrayal is quite convincing, and I feel never goes off the deep end like in too many horror movies.

The supporting cast did a rather decent job. Wes Bentley plays the creepy former boyfriend. And comes across as a creepy former boyfriend. Basically the same as in American Beauty, but with a movie sinister edge. Eliza Dushka, the best friend, does a good job as well, although her work is a little over the top. Luke Wilson is excellent and convincing in his role as a priest.

Overall the movie was quite enjoyable. The tension was rather unrelenting, but actually used to pretty good effect. The biggest flaw is that the ending (the part after the surprise twist) was rather too saccharine but that is only a couple of minutes. Another slight problem is the beginning takes a little too long to develop. The middle of the movie is pretty solid however. It may seem a little disjointed, but it works and makes sense for the movie as a whole.

Four hot college friends drive off for a night of partying at an abandoned church. Cassie (Melissa Sagemiller) and Sean (Casey Affleck) are getting more serious. They and their friends, Matt (Wes Bentley) and Annabel (Eliza Dushku), leave the party. Another car blocks the road causing a deadly crash. Sean is killed. Cassie is haunted by guilt but darker forces are closing in.

These are hot young people. There is a spooky atmosphere. It's hinting at something dark. It is set up for a solid if somewhat derivative horror. It's no sin to be unoriginal. It is however a sin to reveal that the movie's middle means nothing. In the end, there is no point to half of this movie. It's a campfire ghost story that pulls its punch at the last minute. It suggests something sinister with the people in the other car but they end with nothingness. It's disappointing.

This movie is highly UNDERrated....why? It has teen stars and was therefore promoted to a teen audience that was expecting another "Scream" or "I Know What You Did.." movie. This was one of the biggest studio marketing mistakes ever because this movie is WAY TOO DEEP for a teen audience. The symbolism and theology coupled with a complex storyline was geared for adult moviegoers in the fashion of "Memento" or "The Sixth Sense". No, this movie doesn't compare to either of those, but in no way is this movie as bad as the young reviewers will have you believe. Some moron studio exec thought they could make more money by taking the movie down to a PG13 rating and selling it to teenagers. Those teenagers were overwhelmed by this flick and weren't expecting a thoughtful suspense movie, they wanted another "Jason" thrasher gorefest, which this isn't. So they trashed it because they don't GET it. The editing could have been better and the very final scene stinks, but overall this is a well filmed, slightly erotic, captivating film that will make you think. 7 stars out of 10.

I thought this movie was actually pretty good. It was just enough to keep you wondering, but not desperately trying to be scary. I didn't think it was all too scary, but still worth watching. The one thing you must know if you see this movie is it's more of a psychological thriller than a "scary" movie. It'll make it seem better if you know what you are going to see than just guessing that it's a scary movie. Overall I thought it was ok, but kind of confusing. Some of my friends hated it, but only because they didn't understand it. With a strong plot and a talented cast, I say this movie is worth looking at.