Broken Ghost

This movie didn't keep me engaged. It was too cerebral. I lost interest about 30 minutes into the movie and found myself checking my emails and shopping on websites. I even checked to see how much time was left to watch this movie. I didn't get the ending. A guy who gets shot, all of sudden is strong enough to ride a motorcycle ?? Huh??? Too many loose ends. I don't know, maybe if there was some sort of closure? Or explanation to what happened to the previous family that lived there? Or, if the family, somehow found each other again in reconciliation, understanding? This us prime example of why writers need to see their stories through the audience's eyes...

Initially, the main characters are unsympathetic, but not uninteresting. Some clever misdirection and character development push the story forward. Familiar themes manipulated in novel ways keep some shopworn tropes from feeling stale. I thought the acting was solid and the dialogue, too. Some aspects of the plot seem underfed and I think the story might have benefited from more exposition. The scripted scares were not abrupt jolts (at least for me),more subtle and cumulative. The denouement was a little disappointing, but made more sense than the noisy, heavy-handed Grand Guignol utilized in other examples of the genre. I'd recommend this movie without hesitation.

My main point of contention is that it doesn't make much sense in the end. All the plot lines cross at some point, but then they continue past each other to become a frayed end of their own. So if you are expecting something that makes sense, don't watch this film. Cinematography is excellent, and the acting decent. Characters seem to be random in their motivations, and they are given some back story that helps us to understand partially why they are the way they are. But overall, I was left uncertain about anything that happened prior, so their characters seem to act out of selfish motivations only. Too bad, as while I enjoyed the watching of the film, the emptiness of it became too much to tolerate to actually enjoy the film.

Hats off to Abe Pogos and Catherine Hill for the screenplay and story. I liked the slower unfolding and revelation of the essential elements. Plus, I like that we have to wait for some answers, like in real life. The film, to me, has an easy feel and beat to it, like a heart. Regular most of the time, some blips and surprises. Early on, we learn one of the characters is different. Interesting. Already I'm hooked and invested. The level of intensity in performances was equal and solid across the entire cast, and seamlessly natural. Thank you, Richard Gray and anyone else who was part of casting. Finally, a fantastic job by Melissa Ferreira, and her assistant Yvonne Reddy on hair and make up. Even in the close ups later in the film, every detail looked right. All in all, a quiet, interesting, story that touches on some current issues but isn't about them. This is a film about people, produced and acted by people who obviously cared about the project. Nothing pushed, understated, yet I was screaming on the inside for more. I was totally invested in these people, and in the attention paid to the details of everything, no matter how small. I was just there. That rarely happens to me. I write, so I saw the ending coming. Loved it. Perfect. Hence the ten. On this one, writing nudged it up there.

90 minutes of my life that I can't get back. Makes no sense. There are stories in this movie that don't get explained. No background on any of the people involved. Far fetched scenario and the ending leaves you empty.

I tried to like this movie but it wasn't any good the best part was the last five seconds

And poignant. beautiful setting, well filmed, great acting. and there are no loose ends; it all comes together during the conclusion. loved the rich setting, sweeping epic music and cinematography. moved along at a good pace -- not too rushed, not too slow. held my attention; love that the actors were fully 100% committed to this project -- artistic justice. SPOILERS -- one event haunts each family member in differing ways and causes them to relocate, change their identity and live isolated one from another. yet as they suffer in their own pain they are still compassionate toward each other and relatable to the audience. you care about them. they're human and as such imperfectly so. they've experienced pain, suffering and public humiliation. in this house they are offered ways to face this, to transmute their victimhood and reclaim their lives through two vehicles: 1) the paintings on the wall and 2) an interloper who seems to understand more about their private hells and is more effective intervening to help Grace --- by protecting her in one scene and literally saving her life in another --- than even her own parents. in the end each character will decide how/if they will confront their suffering, rise above it or be broken by it, and move on from it or be paralyzed by it. the last scene shows them living out the decisions each has made: coexisting side-by-side yet in very different realities. the film defies categorizing and i think the title might attract a viewer looking for something different. but it's a lovely delivery of realism with a sprinkling of magic and wonder. and so well done. 8/10

A home where an artist had a murder-suicide, is bought by an artist who also has a wife and daughter. The place was visited by some Black Dawn bikers who never came out alive. Will (Nick Farnell) surfs * which seems to have affected his husbandly duties. Sam (Scottie Thompson) is the frustrated wife who bought and runs the local drug store. Their daughter Grace (Autry Haydon-Wilson) has issues. Bad eyesight is one issue, but there is something from her past that remains a mystery to us for no particular reason until an hour into the film. The house is believed to be haunted. Items are being moved around and the TV turns on by itself and surfs *. Will looks like he could be the offspring of Michael Berryman with his shaved head. The film included a lot of drama (chick horror) but things come together at the end in a foreboding fashion. Guide: F-word, sex, nudity (Scottie Thompson, Autry Haydon-Wilson? + flasher)

At first glance, it's definitely not clear what's going on in this movie. We watched it twice and it becomes much clearer the second time around but you have to pay close attention to the drawings. The plot is layered and you have to watch til the end. Well done movie, but not for those who are looking for a simple story. It's mind bending.

Bad dialogue, nonsensical direction. No twist ending like some reviewers say, just a bad ending.