I have not seen the rare "cult" classic that this is a remake of but I would hazard to guess that this a pretty fair homage to that film. Honestly, it does a lot of things right and does very well on what I would imagine was a mediocre budget. The acting is solid, the story is okay (very campy at times but wasn't all good 80's horror?), the gore factor and kills are unique and fun and definitely reminiscent of the slasher era horror films. Whomever made this was definitely a fan of that age (as I am) because you can see and feel the style in it. I really don't think this will floor anyone and as hard as it tries it does stumble a lot and the pacing feels a little slow at times and you wait a long time from kill to kill even in the end during the climatic finale which was actually quite good. The use of modern technology for Patrick to communicate was a nice touch and he is definitely a worthwhile slasher considering he never leaves his bed essentially and uses his mind to kill. The direction of the film is honestly spot on from the opening scene to using the bleak asylum/hospital. There were absolutely scenes in this that would get under my skin and I absolutely recommend watching it at night in the dark to get the full effect.
Sharni Vinson actually does an excellent job as our scream queen. In fact, I would say she is near perfect in the role. That's not to say its a brilliant role but she is perfect in it. She's strong willed and screams and runs just as good as any Jamie Lee Curtis of her day. This is the second time she has impressed me in a horror film (the first being the average You're Next which she was excellent in.) She seems to just up the ante on any average horror flick she has been in so far. Let's get her into a top notch horror flick. Charles Dance was also very good (if not slightly underused) as the head doctor. He is appropriately creepy, evil and performs very well. The chemistry in the scenes between him and Vinson are very good. The supporting cast gets less and less used and they give good performances but ultimately they are fodder for Patrick but they don't get a chance to really impress. Still definitely worth mentioning Rachel Griffiths, Peta Sergeant and Martin Crewes in their respective roles. In a script that was perhaps just a little bit more polished this cast would have been considered terrific. I even have to give kudos to Jackson Gallagher who played Patrick because it can't be an easy role to be a believable killer while being completely comatose.
Director Mark Hartley has a lot of experience in documentary film making and I think is pretty much his first feature film. He absolutely deserves a chance again with a bigger budget or something of his own device because he has a distinct style and the film hits all the right notes. The climactic ending is very nearly excellent and if the film didn't stumble so much in the middle it could have been at least rated an 8. However, it can't go unnoticed that after great make up effects and gory deaths that a few of the end scenes involve some terrible and campy and unnecessary CGI. The script could have used some experience behind it to tighten up some loose ends but you know for an indie horror flick that reeks of 80's slasher homage...this would fun to watch. I haven't seen anything lately (especially in the indie horror genre) that actually succeeded on several levels. You can't go in expecting a masterpiece because its not. However, for what it is and if you watch it for fun you will find a lot of redeemable and entertaining qualities about it. I'd certainly be up for a sequel and I intend on tracking down the original too!! 7/10
Sharni Vinson actually does an excellent job as our scream queen. In fact, I would say she is near perfect in the role. That's not to say its a brilliant role but she is perfect in it. She's strong willed and screams and runs just as good as any Jamie Lee Curtis of her day. This is the second time she has impressed me in a horror film (the first being the average You're Next which she was excellent in.) She seems to just up the ante on any average horror flick she has been in so far. Let's get her into a top notch horror flick. Charles Dance was also very good (if not slightly underused) as the head doctor. He is appropriately creepy, evil and performs very well. The chemistry in the scenes between him and Vinson are very good. The supporting cast gets less and less used and they give good performances but ultimately they are fodder for Patrick but they don't get a chance to really impress. Still definitely worth mentioning Rachel Griffiths, Peta Sergeant and Martin Crewes in their respective roles. In a script that was perhaps just a little bit more polished this cast would have been considered terrific. I even have to give kudos to Jackson Gallagher who played Patrick because it can't be an easy role to be a believable killer while being completely comatose.
Director Mark Hartley has a lot of experience in documentary film making and I think is pretty much his first feature film. He absolutely deserves a chance again with a bigger budget or something of his own device because he has a distinct style and the film hits all the right notes. The climactic ending is very nearly excellent and if the film didn't stumble so much in the middle it could have been at least rated an 8. However, it can't go unnoticed that after great make up effects and gory deaths that a few of the end scenes involve some terrible and campy and unnecessary CGI. The script could have used some experience behind it to tighten up some loose ends but you know for an indie horror flick that reeks of 80's slasher homage...this would fun to watch. I haven't seen anything lately (especially in the indie horror genre) that actually succeeded on several levels. You can't go in expecting a masterpiece because its not. However, for what it is and if you watch it for fun you will find a lot of redeemable and entertaining qualities about it. I'd certainly be up for a sequel and I intend on tracking down the original too!! 7/10