Paralyzed by fear from shocking visions, a woman's torment worsens as she discovers her waking dreams are terrifying realities.
Director: James Wan
Cast: Annabelle Wallis, Maddie Hasson, George Young, and Michole Briana White
Release Date:
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and action, and language
Runtime: 1h 50min
Review:
James Wan's return to the horror genre is a film destined to divide audiences. Wan delves deep into cult horror history to deliver a film that so niche that I'm genuinely surprised it was greenlit. Needless to say the film is made for a specific audience who will appreciate how the look and dialogue are inspired by Italian Giallo horror classics like Suspiria and Deep Red. It makes for a visually striking film especially in its first two acts where it plays more like a gory murder mystery than a horror film. Those looking for more traditional scares will be left wanting since the film uses atmosphere more than cheap jump scares. Annabelle Wallis leads the film with a performance that echoes Barbara Steele in Mario Bava's Black Sunday. It's a fascinating which makes her the most interesting person on screen throughout. The film's third act's reveal will ultimately be what divides audiences. While everything that preceded it was inspired by Italian horror masters, its final act is clearly pulling from cult horror film from the 80s that lived on the bottom shelves of video stores. Regardless of whether the turn works or not you have to respect Wan for swinging for the fences and embracing what made him love the horror genre.
B
