Last Kind Words

This is a well made but odd little movie. I would categorise it more as a drama with supernatural themes, than a horror movie; it is essentially a ghost story. It is not groundbreaking, or even overly original, but it is executed very well. The acting is top class throughout and the characters keep you engaged. There are some parts of it which didn't make sense, but hard to discuss here without giving any spoilers, but just to hint at things, The old Girlfriend, and the uninvestigated murder. If I'm honest, it is not at all what I was expecting. The horror/supernatural elements were minimal, but when they appeared, were dealt with quite matter-of-factly.

I do not understand the low rating. The film is enjoyable and valuable in several respects. The photo is very beautiful and the actors recite their part in proper way, through a history that goes smoothly until the end. Perhaps it is not a masterpiece of cinema, but it deserves more than 4 stars. It 'a nice love story, with a good pinch of mystery with a remarkable soundtrack. Come on! There are many other films out there that deserve 4 stars or less, yet exceeding the sufficiency according to the reviews here. Maybe nothing new or surprising, but certainly a nice movie, worth to be enjoyed. Just do not expect a horror movie that makes you scream and squirm, or a breathtaking thriller, although it has some interesting moments for those who does not disdain a chill: relax, put on the DVD, enjoy the tale and judge for yourself.

17 year old Eli, his Mom and heavy drinking bully of a father move to a Kentucky farm, owned by a friend (Brad Dourif) of the dad. Eli meets an attractive teenage girl called Amanda but is soon warned to steer clear of her because she's dangerous. Soon the worlds of the living and of the dead intertwine in Eli's simple rural life. It is a bit slow going at times, there are several gaping plot holes and some instances of awkward silences, or in other words weak acting, during characters' conversations. However the plot and characters were sufficient to hold my interest, there a few reasonable scares and I liked the setting. Bit of a sad film overall, and I mean that in a positive way. Brad Dourif has starred in some horror classics, he's also been in some stinkers but given the material he gives a decent performance here. Certainly his fans should check this movie out.

I find there are elements in this film which would strike a chord somewhere within with each viewer. The story, the scenery, the actors were all excellent. A few parts reminded me of Elvis & Annabelle, but aside from that, the films are very different. It is quite a daunting task to review this film without giving away too much (which is why I recommend viewing it!). Imagery and symbolism are well used which made the film that much more interesting and beautiful. Yes, there are some moments that may cause some to shudder or "jump", but they are few and far between. The film does well in exploring life and death and even modern history. There is a great melodic/ballad song that plays at times which also really made the film. Worth watching!

A glance at the DVD cover and blurb of "Last Kind Words" would have anyone believing they were about to watch a sort of generic teen horror movie full of gore and jump scares but that's a long way from the truth. This is a slow-burn coming of age drama and a supernatural love story. It has a haunting, almost hypnotizing southern-Gothic sensibility that's really quite beautiful.

Eli, a 17 year old boy, finds himself moving with his abusive father and meek mother to the remote farmstead of family friend Waylon - played by the ever entertaining Brad Dourif - when the father loses his job. Eli ventures into the woods that surround the farm and meets a strange, alluring young girl called Amanda. As he begins to fall for Amanda he gradually uncovers a story of past tragic events on the farmstead and a rather sad haunting in the woods that goes all the way back to the days of the Underground Railroad.

The only real downfall of this otherwise beautiful movie is a script that's a little unsure of itself and ends up feeling a tad messy and confusing in parts. The pace might bore some - it really is a slow one - but personally I think it just added to the feels. I enjoyed it a lot and for an indie, it's a very strong piece of work.