Evil words is quite a ride and also quite difficult to rate. The initial idea / story is both fascinating and frightening. What if someone's writing becomes reality? Even this idea is not brand new (I see a strong inspiration from 78th Richard Burton, The Medusa touch) evil words manages to find its own spin and slowly but steady builds up tension. This said, now the issues arise... in my POV the acting, sound, setting, effects are unfortunately very disappointing and drag the whole movie down. An 8 for story and a 3 for the rest ends on a 6/10. The finale is intense and not a Happy End - at all - which fits the grim initial storyline. One of the few movies I'd love to see as a remake with some A list, attention to detail and overall refined cinematography.
7 Reviews
French Canadian homage to early Cronenberg (amongst others)
burthelukyman12 October 2016
Bad reviews here just don't give this movie a chance ! It's Eric Tessier's first feature lenght film, so sure it has some beginner's mistakes (mostly continuity) but as such, it's no different and in fact VERY reminiscent of David Cronenberg's early films (SHIVERS, RABID) to which Tessier obviously pays homage and gets inspiration from (along with other horror classics already mentioned in the reviews here). So as a first effort, it's quite good and more than worth a look as an early example of Quebec's Horror renaissance of the years 2000 ( including even better titles like ST MARTYRS DES DAMNÉS/ST MARTYRS OF THE DAMNED (2005) and LES 7 JOURS DU TALION/7 DAYS (2010) which, like SUR LE SEUIL, is also inspired from a novel by Quebec's favourite horror writer Patrick Sénécal).
Good but in my opinion a little cliche.
mikescorpio138 October 2003
Warning: Spoilers
SPOILERS AHEAD
Well it`s not really spoilers but it may take interest from you the viewer.This horror thriller is well filmed.The camera work,the sound and the acting has credibility.The only bad thing i must say is about the idea-mix from other movies.Any of you who have seen such movies like Event Horizon(hell vision),In the Mouth of Madness(writer from hell),The Omen(satan`s baby),Antropophago(A.K.A. The Grim Reaper)-( the pregnant woman belly scene and the self opening belly with hands)must see the ideas that this writer take from those movies.He must be a great Sam Neill fan IMO.
As you see my english is not perfect but i hope you understand that this film is a rip-off.It`s well acted and directed but i was never surprised during the viewing.Too much predictable.Gory for nothing and shocking at some point.The church seen is terribly long for no purpose.
An overall 5.0 on 10...only for those young couple in search of a thrill.
Well it`s not really spoilers but it may take interest from you the viewer.This horror thriller is well filmed.The camera work,the sound and the acting has credibility.The only bad thing i must say is about the idea-mix from other movies.Any of you who have seen such movies like Event Horizon(hell vision),In the Mouth of Madness(writer from hell),The Omen(satan`s baby),Antropophago(A.K.A. The Grim Reaper)-( the pregnant woman belly scene and the self opening belly with hands)must see the ideas that this writer take from those movies.He must be a great Sam Neill fan IMO.
As you see my english is not perfect but i hope you understand that this film is a rip-off.It`s well acted and directed but i was never surprised during the viewing.Too much predictable.Gory for nothing and shocking at some point.The church seen is terribly long for no purpose.
An overall 5.0 on 10...only for those young couple in search of a thrill.
Outstanding thriller
Ezequiel29 October 2003
This Quebec film has all the hallmarks of an international thriller, and has a great deal of local color that gives it a touch of authenticity. Stunningly filmed and edited, it keeps you guessing until the final excruciating moments. Worth watching!
The Personification of Evil
claudio_carvalho8 December 2006
In Montreal, on the same day that a policeman shot twenty-one children, killing eleven, without any reason, the successful writer Thomas Roy (Patrick Huard) amputates his fingers and tries to commit suicide. Completely catatonic, he is treated by Dr. Paul Lacasse (Míche Côté) and his big fan, the pregnant Dr. Jeanne Marcoux (Catherine Florent) in a psychiatric hospital. When the journalist Charles Monette (Jean L' Italien), who is writing a book about Thomas, schedules a meeting with Dr. Paul, he shows pieces of newspaper showing that Thomas was present to the last thirty-seven tragedies in Canada. Dr. Paul reads the notes and decides to investigate further the life of Thomas Roy, disclosing dark secrets about his past.
The unknown "Sur le Seuil" was a great surprise and one of the scariest movies I have recently seen. The simple, impressive and credible story practically does not use special effects and is supported by a solid screenplay, associated with a sharp direction and excellent performances. I would not recommend this movie to sensitive persons since it may shock. I do not agree that this movie is a rip-off of famous movies, like "The Omen", "In the Mouth of Madness" or "Rosemary's Baby", on the contrary, the story is quite original. My vote is eight.
Title (Brazil): "Além da Fé" ("Beyond Faith")
The unknown "Sur le Seuil" was a great surprise and one of the scariest movies I have recently seen. The simple, impressive and credible story practically does not use special effects and is supported by a solid screenplay, associated with a sharp direction and excellent performances. I would not recommend this movie to sensitive persons since it may shock. I do not agree that this movie is a rip-off of famous movies, like "The Omen", "In the Mouth of Madness" or "Rosemary's Baby", on the contrary, the story is quite original. My vote is eight.
Title (Brazil): "Além da Fé" ("Beyond Faith")
Just not worth anyone's time nor money
capcanuk8 January 2007
Warning: Spoilers
This is a dreadful, derivative, shlocky pseudo-thriller, It's very poorly filmed, pretty poorly acted (although Jean L'Italien's performance really is captivating... he's probably the only actor worth watching in the film). The script is amateurish in its best moments, and I'll leave the adjectives to describe its worst moments to your vivid imaginations ... since this film maker obviously had none (imagination, that is). I guess we can't lay all the blame on Mr. Tessier, since he did adapt a novel by Québecois author Patrick Senécal. Mr. Senécal is certainly no Stephen King, despite some glaring similarities. As for the actual film-making, the camera work is shoddy, notably in an insert news report (has Mr. Tessier ever actually watched a newscast on television? his farcically inept news crew in the film is as far from reality as could be. I guess he either heartily detests Québecois news media, or just doesn't have a very high opinion of their television techniques). The actors' accents in the flashback sequences are all over the place, making his little group of priests sound more like a gang of street thugs than 1950's parish priests. And the end was being telegraphed almost from the opening sequence of the film. This really leaves very little expectation for any horror aficionados sitting through this dreadful piece of tripe. Why do Québecois film makers think that making a "Hollywood-style" film means selling out, and that to be "true to their heritage" they have to resort to amateur film-making at its worst? Well, after all this... watch à vos risques et périls.
Pale
dusan-2212 August 2009
This film has no dynamic composition to nail you to the screen. Pity, as it really has wonderful actors, some beautiful camera work. Idea is pure mediocrity and all the film could be done in 20 minutes and we wouldn't even remember what happened during the rest of the time and certainly wouldn't regret. As for the plot, I don't see it original. Evil in human form transformed into controversial social character of individual, all that has been exploated a million times especially since the early years of the 70s, and then later on we got tons of movies where "the evil" is being spread around causing disasters, while all the time being observed by skeptic representatives of modern science. 2 out of 10, if you ask me.
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