Five stereotypical hard-partying teens get together at a secluded house, mostly just farting around until Shane (Guy Wilson) comes up with the idea to act out a Pagan ritual he's read about online: "The Midnight Game". It involves 22 knocks on the door, drops of each persons' blood, a circle of salt, and lit candles, and its rules must be followed to the letter. Otherwise, terror awaits, based on the group members' individual fears.
The teens find that surviving the night is easy enough. The terror actually begins next day, starting with erratic behavior and culminating in various nightmarish hallucinations.
"The Midnight Game" is noteworthy for co-story author / director A. D. Calvo's attempt to go for the "slow burn", parceling out its horrors carefully. While it can be amusing to watch the teens become increasingly on edge, and start sniping at each other, Calvo's film *promises* big horrors but delivers very little. Ultimately, the film is disappointing. A shame, really, as the young cast do what they can with roles that are not exactly fleshed out to any great degree. For this viewer, Valentina de Angelis ('As the World Turns') is a standout as Jenna; veteran actor Robert Romanus ("Fast Times at Ridgemont High") comes in for a quick cameo right at the end.
Everything here is pretty average: the script, the characters, the (repetitive) score, the cinematography, etc. There's really not much to recommend "The Midnight Game".
Inspired by supposedly true events.
Four out of 10.
The teens find that surviving the night is easy enough. The terror actually begins next day, starting with erratic behavior and culminating in various nightmarish hallucinations.
"The Midnight Game" is noteworthy for co-story author / director A. D. Calvo's attempt to go for the "slow burn", parceling out its horrors carefully. While it can be amusing to watch the teens become increasingly on edge, and start sniping at each other, Calvo's film *promises* big horrors but delivers very little. Ultimately, the film is disappointing. A shame, really, as the young cast do what they can with roles that are not exactly fleshed out to any great degree. For this viewer, Valentina de Angelis ('As the World Turns') is a standout as Jenna; veteran actor Robert Romanus ("Fast Times at Ridgemont High") comes in for a quick cameo right at the end.
Everything here is pretty average: the script, the characters, the (repetitive) score, the cinematography, etc. There's really not much to recommend "The Midnight Game".
Inspired by supposedly true events.
Four out of 10.