The Eclipse

Beautiful scenery. It's a slow -- but moving -- movie using ghosts as symbolism for grief and mourning. Not exactly original by any means, but done well enough. I'm giving props to the lead male actor, giving an understated but effective performance. There are a few scares in here but don't go in really expecting a horror movie because ghosts only show up a few times and the rest of it is a drama, basically.

Skromny, ale zaskakujaco niezly

What the bleep was this all about?

Takes its time getting to just about nowhere.

This is my favorite horror movie by a considerable margin. It has intelligent characters reacting believably to their situations, which is rare. It's got a fantastic cast and beautiful piano score. The pervading tone of "damn that's creepy" complements the plot - which is basically a romantic drama - really well. And nothing makes me recoil quite like the scares in The Eclipse, which take quality over quantity.

"A much duller tale than its Irish literary festival setting would suggest." - Bill Weber

McPherson's good actors remind you how stage plays generate interest solely through talk and, as The Eclipse gets further away from cinema, a bigger mystery develops: Why is McPherson's filmmaking so uncinematic?

Adding a supernatural element to a romance movie is a good idea, especially when it deals with a widower being prodded by those forces into a relationship. But adding a handful of jump scares was completely out of place.