CHERNOBYL DIARIES
An extreme vacation turns terrifying when a group of friends visit the Chernobyl disaster site, and learn that some nightmares never die. Conceived and produced by Paranormal Activity's Oren Peli, Chernobyl Diaries gets underway as six thrill-seeking tourists hire a fearless tour guide, and travel to the abandoned Russian city of Pripyat. Back when the Chernobyl nuclear reactor was up and running, Pripyat was the place the workers called home. But 25 years after one of the worst power-plant accidents in history, the city serves as an eerily silent testament to the dangers of nuclear power. Later, after getting unexpectedly stranded in Pripyat, the tourists and their guide realize they are being hunted. Now the harder they try to flee, the faster their numbers dwindle until only a few are left standing. Only then will the unspeakable terror that stalks these deserted streets finally emerge from the shadows to launch one last relentless, terrifying attack. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Director: Brad Parker
Cast: Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, Jesse McCartney, Nathan Phillips, Jonathan Sadowski, Milos Timotijevic
Release Date: May 25, 2012
Rated R for some Bloody Images, Pervasive Language and Violence
Runtime: 1 hr. 26 min.
Genres: Horror, Suspense/Thriller
Review:
The Chernobyl Diaries provides some creepy atmosphere especially during the earlier portions of the film. First time director Brad Parker does a decent job of building up his film and providing some solid, if uninventive, scares. There aren’t many surprises to the whole thing except that it’s not a found footage style film, not that it wouldn’t be easy to confuse it with those kinds of films since the shaky cam effect is in full effect. The plot, co written and produced by Oren Peli, feels like a mash up of Hostel and The Hills Have Eyes. Most of the tropes from the stupid American tourist getting into trouble they can’t handle work their way through the film. The characters are fairly bland and clichéd with some becoming much more grating than others. They are picked off in short order so you don’t have to deal with most of them for very long and you get to enjoy some decent scares.
C
I'm a fan of Found Footage stuff and I'll definitely check it out, though my expectations are very low. I mean hey, script writer Shane Van Dyke was the director of Titanic II & Paranormal Entity... :-)
ReplyDeleteIts watchable stuff but kind of lazy storywise.
Deletesurprise! I enjoyed it way more than I expected! :-o
DeleteI do agree with you about the setting, it's nice and spooky.
Deleteoh dear...this doesn't sound worth my time...even though the trailer is pretty decent.
ReplyDeleteI don't think you'd be missing out on much by skipping it to be honest.
DeleteI have to admit being lured by the commericals. Thanks for the review. I'll wait for cable.
ReplyDeleteYou weren't the only one man, it's a decent cable flick.
DeleteI've never heard of this one before - it hasn't made its way over here yet.
ReplyDeleteThe Hostel/Hills of Eyes comparisons probably means I wont see it although I do like found footage!
Will be keeping an eye for the trailer though!
If you have absolutly nothing else to watch, give it a whirl. The Hostel comparision is more in regards to the setting and stupid Americans getting into trouble in Europe.
DeleteI watched it and I think I we pretty much have the same view of the film. It was fairly decent in parts but nothing new - the jumps were there but I certainly didn't feel the need to sleep with the light on!
ReplyDeleteThe characters were very stupid in this film. During one particular moment of stupidity Kara and I agreed there and then that if ever we find ourselves in that situation we have leave to ditch one another!
I actually rather enjoyed the set up but then when the mutants came out and stupid people starting doing lots of stupid things, it became a tad less serious.
DeleteEvery man and woman for themselves!!