We Need to Do Something

Went in not knowing anything (I didn't even see a trailer) and it was a refreshing surprise. Good entertaining horror

This movie at least has a premise that's different from the norm. It happens mostly really in one room but it manages to at least mostly hold your interest with the super weird events that transpire. Still, it's just way too weird for me and the actions of the characters are equally strange, so you don't really care for any of them. Especially not the super psychotic dad or the creepy boy who wants to hear the story of his birth and his mothers' pregnancy all over again. Yikesss.

A family trapped in a room while there are monsters out there is always an interesting premise. But here there is a chasm between the premise and execution of the idea.

[insert "I wouldn't mind being locked in a bathroom with Vinessa Shaw and/or Sierra McCormick!" joke here]

This is a singular accomplishment of horror film-making. Something of a companion to A Dark Song and the original Cabin Fever. To have a script that is essentially a black comedy transfigured into something offensively horrific, to so thoroughly muddle a viewer's reaction between laughter, revulsion, anger, and pathos requires a Kubrickian directorial guidance and a stellar cast of actors. And holy hell is this it. A dazzling rampage through high art symbolism and gore horror pulp.

watchable

Putting aside the absolutely horrendous writing: There are movies with a lower budget than this which do a massively better job turning their limitations into strengths. This one somehow looks even cheaper than it is. The special effects are laugh-out-loud crappy.

With a great premise, this little low-budget-one-location-horror-flick does a pretty commendable job. The tension is well done and the few holy shit moments work. "I am a good boy" killed me.