User Reviews

When the husband came back to the house with the head wound I knew something was up with him since the attack happened off camera. What I found too hard to buy was the extreme lengths the husband went through after a 20+ year marriage. You'd think he'd try to convert her to 50's compliant wife years ago when he married her young.

And speaking of young, she looks a good decade or more older than him, and she's also having a side affair with a good looking 30 something boy toy....please lol! I don't like ragging on actress's looks, but she was terribly miscast because she just didn't look like the type a young 30 something stud would go nuts over.

The final scene where both were so easily bent on killing each other was hard to swallow. I could buy this happening to a couple in a young and new marriage, but not between two people who've raised children and been together for decades. If hubby really wanted a 50's style compliant wife, why didn't he just marry that in the first place?!

The wacky end scene where they're both trying to kill each other kind of reminded me of The War of the Roses, but that couple hated each others guts from the start whereas this couple wasn't shown to hate each other early in the film. They raised a family together for over 20 years, so it's not believable that either of these people would so quickly want to kill each other.

I'll still give it 5 stars for the good build up, but unfortunately the whole story implodes about midway through and becomes almost farcical in the end where they're trying to kill each other. I agree with another reviewer who noticed that the ear device was shown to be taken out of the husband's ear, yet when wifey presses the button, he goes bonkers from the sound like it's still in there when it was already shown sitting on the kitchen counter lol. Someone goofed in the editing room. It's still a decent watch overall.

Greetings again from the darkness. Co-directors Travis Cluff and Chris Lofing previously collaborated on the horror film, THE GALLOWS (2015), and this time they are working from a script by Jill Awbrey, who also stars. It's Ms. Awbrey's first feature film as a writer or actor. Most people agree that marriage can be challenging, but this one introduces thrills and chills into a relationship that's already navigating in choppy waters.

Writer Awbrey (a Julie Harris lookalike) plays Emma Barrett, who we see in an early flashback as a young woman trapped in a car with two men. We don't see it, but we know what's about to happen against her will. Today's Emma is then seen again in the backseat ... as her Uber driver (Rez Kempton) asks inappropriate questions, and comes across more than a bit creepy as he notes the remoteness of her drop-off and pressures her for a bonus tip. These two scenes remind us of how women must always have their defense mechanism on high alert around men.

Emma and her husband Henry (Bart Johnson, HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL) have set up a rendezvous to see if they can rekindle what's waning between them after 9 years of marriage. We get an aerial view of the ultra-modern and ultra-smart house stuck in a cornfield miles from civilization. The terror and mystery begin the next morning when Emma and Henry wake up in different clothes and with missing phones. A "voice" tells them that the secrets of their marriage are no longer secret, and they must "obey". If not, the implanted sensor behind their ear will act as a shock collar, causing extreme discomfort and pain. Emma and Henry both experience this the hard way.

The film appears to be a VRBO home invasion movie wrapped in the contemporary issue of surveillance and security. However, that's only part of the story. The "voice" is pushing the couple into a 1950's version of THE STEPFORD WIVES, replete with veggies in the fridge, modest wardrobes in the closet, and an apron for Emma. She is being coerced into acting like a submissive wife, as if anyone today still fantasizes about a 1950's marriage. It's disturbing to watch as Emma and Henry try to find a way to escape, while not triggering another jolt of pain, and complying with commands from the voice (who seems to be Jigsaw from the SAW series transformed into a marriage counselor).

The objective here seems to be as satire and commentary on male privilege in a male-dominated society ... one where women always carry a bit of fear, despite being so much stronger and forceful than what we saw in 1950's TV series. That traditional marital structure no longer exists, but when combined with a luxurious smart house, does make for an interesting premise in the horror-thriller genre. When save-the-marriage transitions to survival mode on top of fear of being watched and manipulated, the terror is palpable. The only frustration is that so much more could have been done, over and above the twist. Despite the lags, the film does provide 'talking points'.

In theaters and On Demand April 9, 2021.

I like these kind of thrillers, so wanted to give it a try. Knowing the main actress was the writer, was also interested to see how this would go. Happy to say, I was pleasantly surprised. Provides good suspense and interest, even knowing what kind of movie it was. Overall captures the feel women can have with the Uber driver questions, etc; it's timely with some of these messages/ideals. The twist was good, the very ending with Uber driver added balance on how men were portrayed. Overall, good flick for what it was. It moved at a good pace, felt shorter than it actually was. Sure some areas could have been polished more, but overall was decent. Recommend giving it a watch.

I saw "Held", starring Jill Awbrey-in her theatrical debut; Bart Johnson-Little Women_2018, the High School Musical movies; Rez Kempton-The Mummy_2017, The Hidden Persuaders and Travis Cluff-Prey, the Gallows movies.

This is a tricky one to talk about without giving too much away-it's better if you don't know too many details-but I liked it more than I thought I would. Jill and Bart are a married couple that are going away to a secluded house for the weekend to work on their marriage. They have been going through a rough patch. In fact, Jill and Bart arrive at the house separately-Rez plays an Uber driver that takes Jill to the house. It's not long before Jill and Bart realize that they are not alone in the house. In fact, they are locked in. A mysterious voice, Travis, starts telling them that they need to do certain things and if they obey, they will be able to leave. But, if they refuse, there will be consequences. Of course, they refuse. But then they realize that they may not have a choice-they get tortured when they are bad-and decide to obey, or at least until they can figure a way out. FYI: Jill wrote the script and it's directed by Travis-the Voice.

It's not rated but it contains violence and language and has a running time of 1 hour & 34 minutes.

I liked it and would buy it on DVD.

I mean I get what they where trying to do but literally. As soon as the supposedly first attack on her happened, it was easy to see it's either the husband or someone the husband is working. Movies like this tend to be repetitive & easy to figure out. The 2nd & 3rd act was just somewhat bland for me.

She has a victimized past, so when her husband uses a horrible technique to reclaim their marriage...things go terribly wrong in their high security getaway home.

The whole movie was literally very good but seriously what did they do in the selection of heroin. Literally,Mrs Barett was just looking like a 65 years old lady in the whole movie instead of a girl. It just ruined the whole movie. In any way I couldn't consider her as the wife of that young descent guy(BARRET). And for movie,yep it was really good ,I really loved it accept the end,because Emma was wrong because she cheated her husband,and on other hand Barret just wanted to keep them together,so he just never deserved to die. If in place of him Emma died then it would have been more better.

I started watching this movie not knowing what to expect. As the movie started I thought Joe was gonna be a problem. As it turns out he was not. It was fun to watch it all unfold. I was not expecting the twist when she found that hidden living room behind the closet. It was pretty realistic in the sense that I could see somebody with such extreme views trying to pull off such things. I really liked the concept. The SAW inspiration showed but that's ok. The incomplete ending was really my only complaint. I don't like not knowing what happens after.

Emma (Jill Awbrey ) and Henry (Bart Johnson ) Barrett are on a getaway weekend to repair their marriage at a remote house with the security of Fort Knox. We have a glimpse of a teen Emma being raped, I believe. While at the home they become trapped inside with devices implanted in them to assure obedience. Things turn ugly and then the twist at the end.

I did like the twist, however you can keep the rest of the movie. Could have used a better sound track. Dialogue was plain. I don't think either actor was into the film. Where is Kidman and Pitt?

Guide: No real sex or nudity. No swearing that I recall.