Reviews

Don't let the generic title disuade you; this film was amazing!

Found footage films can be tricky for a viewer. For me, I always have high hopes ...only for those hopes to be dashed after the credits begin to roll.

The Hunted (2013) is both a well-made film and effective, even though it's not wholly original.

This was a well-made film because some found footage entries seem to be grasping at straws, regarding choices. I've seen some of these films go completely black for more than a couple of minutes at a time, thinking that it will scare the viewer or (and sorry if you liked 'Willow Creek') use a device too much, like when a couple is in their tent listening to sounds outside for OVER 5 minutes. The choices that went into this movie were both smart and not over-used.

Because of the intelligence and balance of choices, The Hunted achieved it's effect in a relatively strong way. I was genuinely feeling a sense of unease by the mid-point and that sense of suspense continued to grow, right up until the chilling finale.

While the film is not wholly original(very much the same plot as The Blair Witch Project(1999)), it did very much have it's own "voice", vision, and identity. The problem with found footage films start when the people behind them refuse to acknowledge where the roots of the genre lie. By saying to the viewer: "Look, we know you've seen The Blair Witch Project, but if you give this one a shot, you might be surprised" is the kind of respect I want filmmakers to have for viewers like me.

While aptly not attempting to re-invent found footage as a genre, The Hunted was crafted with care, which gave it its strength of impact.

It's as if someone found the script for 'Zombieland' and took out all the funny parts. Granted, we must remind ourselves this is not a zombie flick, it's a virus flick. Nothing happens to the infected except for death. The only device of suspense in a virus flick is the avoidance of being infected. In that respect this film is a success. It never becomes kitsch and the breakdown of our false loyalties (this films' take home message) was well executed. But I assert that realism is not the way to go when handling a virus flick. The circumstances are depressing enough, please don't end on a existential note as well...because, ultimately, all that comes across is a one dimensional failure of a successful idea.

The cinematography's good, the acting's good, the message, again, good but the last note unfortunately comes off empty and hollow.

So I'm writing this the review on the morning after I watched 'Trick 'r Treat' and having thought about it, I really can't give this film the great review I hoped I'd be writing. Instead I'd like to call to memory a little movie that came out in the 80's called 'The Monster Squad'. Great movie right? It sure was...when I was 6. 'Trick 'r Treat' really does fall into the exact same "grey zone" if you will. Sure there's boobs, cursing, and violence but nothing overtly adult is really happening in this comic book influenced film. Over half the characters are under 16 as well. In it's defense it's beautifully shot. Any viewer can see no expense was spared to give us the writer/director's vision...and it's a really cool vision. The exact kind of vision and story I loved when I was 6 and 7. So please, if you're over at least 13 know that there won't be any scares to be had and that your love of movies such as 'Creepshow', and 'The Monster Squad' will be acknowledged.

I had a really good time seeing this in the theatre. Anyone contemplating whether or not to wait until it comes out on DVD would really miss out on a great theatrical experience. I don't go to the theatre much anymore for a number of reasons but I'm glad I made it to this.

Raimi still has it. After the less than spectacular Spiderman films...okay, I liked the first one, I thought my Evil Dead director was "leaving us" so to speak but the trailers for 'Drag Me to Hell' looked promising so I took a chance and was honestly more than pleased.

My only complaint, like many others, was the use of CGI. This is where

the the spoils of Hollywood really hurt the film but over the past 5 years I've been forgiving genuinely good movies on account of the use of CGI. It's just that Raimi has shown us he can really make stop motion animation work for his films so in a way I felt a little cheated.

Aside from the CGI 'Drag Me to Hell' has got it all and more importantly it was fun to watch. I guess the one last thing I can say is that I was really, really, really hoping it would end a certain way and as flawed as it was to make it happen, it eventually did end the way I thought it should.

Thanks Sam.

Stephen King was raised on flicks like this. -Flicks NOT films.

Movies like this and 'Jeepers Creepers' are "throwbacks" to the good 'ol day drive-in horror flicks. They are meant to be fun, cheaply made and hopefully: a few good scares.

Anyone looking for a theory on the human condition should pass on this creature feature because that's all this is... all it ever will be.

Stop trashing what has already deemed itself as trash. -Good, fun, trash!

If you enjoyed this I recommend: 'Jeepers Creepers' 'Jeepers Creepers 2' '30 Days of Night' 'Scarecrows'('88) 'They Live' 'Planet Terror' 'Death Proof' and 'Halloween III: Season of the Witch'

Kevin James is funny and so was the preview to this movie, unfortunately they put most of the funny bits in the trailer. It's a PG movie which probably should of been PG-13. -No kid would of gotten much from this and it wasn't mature enough for an adult to get anything from it either. My advice: If you really like Kevin James like I do, wait till this comes out on DVD, rent it, watch it and return it...on time. -You don't want to catch a late fee for something as disappointing as this.

Oh, and if you did see this and really liked it, I recommend 'Employee of the Month' with Dane Cook.

Just another Asian ghost story. If you've seen The Ring, Dark Water, The Grudge, etc. you've seen this already. I'm dead serious and very worried for Aja's career. I was writing him thank you notes for 'High Tension' and 'The Hills Have Eyes' but for this...for this he'll get hate mail and none of his upcoming projects look promising either.

Seriously "Hollywood", stop making the same Asian ghost stories into American remakes. They suck.

The acting was terrible in this movie and so was the dialogue. The cinematography was good but that's not good enough when the story is just recycled trash.

Anyway, just don't waste your time like I did. Thanks.

..IT'S THIS ONE! Very cool premise, right off the bat.

Has an excellent first scene, gotta give credit where credit's due.

Has solid characters and a decent enough script for a ghost story but here are the things that bothered me: Whenever the ghosts appeared, which I really liked by the way; how it was done, how it looked...the only thing was the ghost's relationship. Because of the way things went down in the first scene you'd think their dynamic would be different.

Things slowed down a little too much in the middle I felt, and the crab/spider scene was just not good. BUT then the ending is actually very good! Sure, 'The Grudge' basically told the same story with a polished lens but no samurai's and that's what I liked about this movie comparatively.

Please, someone one with a tempered style remake this movie.

Fans of 'Silent Rage' would absolutely love this movie.

as an aficianado of films like this, i feel as though it's my duty to warn those, like me, who are getting excited " by the looks of the trailer".

this movie is a waste of time. sorry. us horror fans have to wait another 10 years for something mildly unique to come out once again.

this movie was slow, sceneless -like a bunch of things meshed messily together off the top of the writer/directors head. the over use of i'm right behind you shots got old quick. LOUD NOISES!!! were overused as well.

nothing innovative, nothing special.

i'm gonna go watch the films this movie FAILed at trying to be: halloween('78), funny games('9?). I suggest you should too.

BUT if you liked that movie 'Vacancy' you'll love this.

At first I felt this movie might be a disappointment. There are so many movies out there that look good, seem to have a cool premise, actors, etc. but never deliver. This movie had all those hints of greatness but in the back of my mind, despite what I read about it on here and other discussion boards(which was all very positive) I still had my reservations. Eventually I took the plunge and let me tell you friends "the water's fine!" This was great. Ally Sheedy was great. (smartly typecast for her own personal quirkiness). I couldn't ask for a better director (whomever he is...sorry bub, I'll look you up after this.) I thought I had the killers identity figured out right off the bat but turns out I was wrong, wrong, wrong. This was such a refreshing experience in the thriller genre. I know I will continue to enjoy this movie for years to come.

I'm really surprised this has such a high rating. the only thing good thing going for this "piece" is that it had a decent budget. what a waste!

the filmmakers were smart not to release such a spawn of 'the blair witch project' until years later but one doesn't easily forget such an original film that quickly. if this had been the first i might be singing a different tune but regardless...

And so 'Godzilla' has been in hibernation for a while, it doesn't mean that we have or have we? with such a high rating on here it makes me wonder.

i resent wasting my time on this movie and if the rest of us ever wake up i'm sure you would too.