Lovely Molly

Look the movie is creepy and got me suspended for a long time. It was successful in creating suspense and intensity but in my opinion fails to deliver a message or an ending.

There is a moment towards the end where Molly goes out to hug "someone" I am not gonna say it so I wont spoil it for you but I keep wondering what on earth did they think when they were making this scene! Another part that I will vaguely criticize is the struggle-less death that happened in the movie. It just doesn't make any sense.

Overall, I gave the movie 6 stars because it was exciting and creepy but I was pretty disappointed with the end and how things developed eventually.

LOVELY MOLLY is a BLAIR WITCH follow-up from director Eduardo Sanchez. In it, a newly wed couple movie back to the childhood home of the wife, only for her to start experiencing flashbacks and hallucinations as dark secrets from her past are dug back up again.

This is a slow burning, atmospheric horror film that unfortunately misses the mark too often for me. It doesn't help that the characters, particularly the protagonist, are too unlikeable for me to enjoy the movie. Everything about this is greyed out and downbeat, and the segments filmed found footage style are intrusive; with found footage it's all or nothing. The opening scene with the burglar alarm going off is the only one which is truly menacing.

The whole mysterious "secrets from the past" aspect of the storyline is an all-too-familiar one from a lot of modern horror movies and there's just too little incident here to attract my attention. Even worse, some of the stylistic choices are annoying in the extreme, such as the constant tinnitus-inducing ringing on the soundtrack. I appreciate what Sanchez was trying to do here but for me, it's a failure.

Obviously the title is not meant literally. You also shouldn't be surprised if you start thinking this is another found footage movie. The movie was made by one of thinking heads behind "Blair Witch Project". But don't worry (or be happy?), this is not one of those movies. It actually is one of the regular horror movies.

The horror itself isn't that bad, though you will know where this is heading. The "twist" is a bit of a downer, almost bringing the whole thing down. On the other hand, some people might think this is funny. But what really was unnecessary was the ending. Just when you thought it should be over ... Cliché right around the corner

I rarely criticise a movie for its technical choices rather than its script or character development. However, this instance stands out, as I find it necessary to commend the storyline for addressing some sensitive (and significant) subject matters but cannot and will not extend the same degree of appreciation to its execution on the broader level.

The mixed style, continuously oscillating between found footage and conventional cinematography was frustrating. A more decisive approach in selecting one particular style would have benefited the script I reckon.

Regarding the narrative, I was captivated by how it gradually builds tension while delving into darker themes. The darkness is pursued, not rushed into and it embraces it completely as we reach conclusion.

Incorporation of psychological trauma with a suggested entity of malevolence was a genuinely ingenious idea that could have yielded a superior outcome had it not been executed in such a technically as well as tonally convoluted way.

Before I finish I must specifically mention the performance of Gretchen Lodge in the lead role. She delivered an outstanding portrayal of a woman showing scars of past trauma and slowly descending into madness, which was quite impressive for a film of this scope and ambition.

The janitor Molly (Gretchen Lodge) marries the truck driver Tim (Johnny Lewis) and they move to the house of her deceased parents. Tim needs to drive and leaves Molly alone in the house. Soon Molly is haunted by her past and by her abusive father and she sees him in the house. Molly uses drugs again and records everything with her camera, expecting to prove that she is not crazy. Meanwhile, her sister Hannah (Alexandra Holden), Tim and his friend, Pastor Bobby (Field Blauvelt) try to help her, but Molly becomes dangerous and violent.

"Lovely Molly" is an ambiguous horror movie where it is not clear whether Molly is possessed by the evil spirit of her abusive father or whether she is mentally ill, after an incident with Tim and a neighbor a couple of days after her birthday. This is basically the debut of the unknown Gretchen Lodge and she delivers a top-notch performance. The screenplay is a little messy and the director fails in the conclusion, and maybe this is the reason of the bad reviews in IMDb. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Adorável Molly" ("Lovely Molly")