This little-known addition to the over-saturated horror>possession genre was a bit better than some more well-known films of its kind. It distinguishes itself from the pack. The CGi was surprisingly good and the scares are more than just jumps. I think that what's missing here is more chilling elements that could have been woven into the environment or into the story itself. I found our protagonist to be more sympathetic than the ones seen in most of these films. He's a well-behaved, kind teen with respectable aspirations yet doesn't come off at all creepy. He discovers a sealed box hidden within his grandmother's armoire, opens it, and learns a lesson that all thriller and horror fans know: leave mysterious boxes closed! Within it is a cross pendant that belonged to the late grandfather that his parents wished their son would have never met.
** Spoilers Begin ** Our protagonist is primarily fending off the terrifying spirit which seeks to possess him rather than the other characters attempting to rescue him. It's those who are close to him that are attacked by the entity rather than him directly. The entity haunts him at night and he leads and fairly undisturbed, normal teen life during the day until one day things inexplicably turn ugly. The change in the boy is sudden and dramatic. As an audience, we're as perplexed as those characters close to him must be. The boy's obsession with the cross pendant and with the grandfather that he can't remember is central to the haunting. The boy's faith and spirituality make him tasty prey to the spirit poised to possess him. These strengths of character also prove to be his greatest defense. ** Spoilers End **
Curiously, this film won several awards. It's made curious because it's not a great masterpiece nor particularly outstanding in any way. It is worthwhile watching if it's a slow night or you're great fan of this film genre.
** Spoilers Begin ** Our protagonist is primarily fending off the terrifying spirit which seeks to possess him rather than the other characters attempting to rescue him. It's those who are close to him that are attacked by the entity rather than him directly. The entity haunts him at night and he leads and fairly undisturbed, normal teen life during the day until one day things inexplicably turn ugly. The change in the boy is sudden and dramatic. As an audience, we're as perplexed as those characters close to him must be. The boy's obsession with the cross pendant and with the grandfather that he can't remember is central to the haunting. The boy's faith and spirituality make him tasty prey to the spirit poised to possess him. These strengths of character also prove to be his greatest defense. ** Spoilers End **
Curiously, this film won several awards. It's made curious because it's not a great masterpiece nor particularly outstanding in any way. It is worthwhile watching if it's a slow night or you're great fan of this film genre.