Usually these TV movies are pretty lame. I was surprised to find myself thoroughly interested in this one from the first scene. The first hour is quite good, filled with spooky innuendo and little clues as to what these kindly old folks are really up to. You know there's something not quite right about them, but what is it?
After the first hour, the story drags a little bit because they just keep heaping more and more of the same clues on the watcher, but it never gets bad enough to ruin the movie. The final twenty minutes or so has one or two cliched camera tricks and plot devices but that can be excused in a made-for-TV movie.
There are no really big surprises in this movie. The viewer has a fair idea of what's really going down pretty early in the movie, but it's fun to watch it all unfold. The cast (especially the old folks) do a great job with their roles and it's interesting to see Hal Linden playing such a two-faced shady character.
All in all, I give this movie a 7/10. The first hour is the best part because of the creepy atmosphere but it's worth watching to the end if you don't want to watch another lame game show or Friends re-run.
After the first hour, the story drags a little bit because they just keep heaping more and more of the same clues on the watcher, but it never gets bad enough to ruin the movie. The final twenty minutes or so has one or two cliched camera tricks and plot devices but that can be excused in a made-for-TV movie.
There are no really big surprises in this movie. The viewer has a fair idea of what's really going down pretty early in the movie, but it's fun to watch it all unfold. The cast (especially the old folks) do a great job with their roles and it's interesting to see Hal Linden playing such a two-faced shady character.
All in all, I give this movie a 7/10. The first hour is the best part because of the creepy atmosphere but it's worth watching to the end if you don't want to watch another lame game show or Friends re-run.