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
