Not too bad. Lots to like. Sound track was pretty good. Forced use of sound track in places. I decided to see it because the themes appealed to me: manipulation, class, technology.
I like movies like Cry_wolf that don't mess around or drag on necessarily, but go ahead and give me some character development here or there. The movie was all business between the credit sequences. The plot was earned logically but not emotionally. They had their i's dotted and t's crossed as far as incidental dialog supporting the plot twists. But slow down and build a stronger case for why the existing group of friends want to royally yank this guy's chain. You have great material: entitled rich kids vs. troubled outsider. Cut out the friends and paste in the supporting cast from School Ties and I am hooked.
In the master manipulator sweepstakes I'll take Racehl Weiss in the shape of things rather than Lindy Booth. I have an actor friend so I feel weird criticizing performances knowing nothing of the craft, but Lindy showed glimpses of delivering the character and might have stretched more.. Her final shot was top-notch subtle!.... More please! All the elements were there for suspense. The library motion sensor lights were the best suspense device since the kid dropping fire crackers in Pulp Fiction. How come I felt no spine tingling? Note to Messers. Gordon, Tirone, and Wadlow: Rent a couple of Hitchcock films! Do I need nudity? No. Would a playful make out scene between the principals draw me closer to the characters and flavor the tension and the plot twists more? Yes it would.
If there was generally a bit more character development among the circle of friends, maybe I would have felt more involved and helped persuade me how they all got sucked in to Dodger's plot. How about give Dodger an inferior fellow manipulator for her to trounce instead of a bevy of aimless and tongue clucking nobodies. Skip the ominous janitor coverage. They referenced Scooby doo, so I think they knew how one could perceive their movie.
Oh and don't high school students ever have fun and laugh with their friends? Why not be afraid to show it more so I am that much more terrified when they are about to die.
There was good stuff here. Beef it up and you could have had an amazing thing.
Bits: I heart Gary Cole, but not so hot with the English accent, him. I just hate to see the ones I like miss the mark.
Overhead shot of the forest looked lifted from the Blair witch 2 credits. I was looking for some similar savagery of man in nature themes going on but instead I got simulated savagery of man on a campus that has a dance going on then is closed then is open.
I liked the use of cell phones and instant messaging. Technology has brought us new psychological issues that we haven't figured out how to deal with completely yet.
Notice the male lead did not make it into my comments.
Can anyone explain the relevance of Sartre reference they bludgeoned us with in the library scene? Jon Bon Jovi did a fine job.
I like movies like Cry_wolf that don't mess around or drag on necessarily, but go ahead and give me some character development here or there. The movie was all business between the credit sequences. The plot was earned logically but not emotionally. They had their i's dotted and t's crossed as far as incidental dialog supporting the plot twists. But slow down and build a stronger case for why the existing group of friends want to royally yank this guy's chain. You have great material: entitled rich kids vs. troubled outsider. Cut out the friends and paste in the supporting cast from School Ties and I am hooked.
In the master manipulator sweepstakes I'll take Racehl Weiss in the shape of things rather than Lindy Booth. I have an actor friend so I feel weird criticizing performances knowing nothing of the craft, but Lindy showed glimpses of delivering the character and might have stretched more.. Her final shot was top-notch subtle!.... More please! All the elements were there for suspense. The library motion sensor lights were the best suspense device since the kid dropping fire crackers in Pulp Fiction. How come I felt no spine tingling? Note to Messers. Gordon, Tirone, and Wadlow: Rent a couple of Hitchcock films! Do I need nudity? No. Would a playful make out scene between the principals draw me closer to the characters and flavor the tension and the plot twists more? Yes it would.
If there was generally a bit more character development among the circle of friends, maybe I would have felt more involved and helped persuade me how they all got sucked in to Dodger's plot. How about give Dodger an inferior fellow manipulator for her to trounce instead of a bevy of aimless and tongue clucking nobodies. Skip the ominous janitor coverage. They referenced Scooby doo, so I think they knew how one could perceive their movie.
Oh and don't high school students ever have fun and laugh with their friends? Why not be afraid to show it more so I am that much more terrified when they are about to die.
There was good stuff here. Beef it up and you could have had an amazing thing.
Bits: I heart Gary Cole, but not so hot with the English accent, him. I just hate to see the ones I like miss the mark.
Overhead shot of the forest looked lifted from the Blair witch 2 credits. I was looking for some similar savagery of man in nature themes going on but instead I got simulated savagery of man on a campus that has a dance going on then is closed then is open.
I liked the use of cell phones and instant messaging. Technology has brought us new psychological issues that we haven't figured out how to deal with completely yet.
Notice the male lead did not make it into my comments.
Can anyone explain the relevance of Sartre reference they bludgeoned us with in the library scene? Jon Bon Jovi did a fine job.