Dread

source: Dread

After watching the new Barker it came clear tome that he is much better than King. Rougher and realistic. It was late afternoon last week when I had to hide for the rain, where else could I go then a DVD shop, hahaha. My girlfriend was hiding in a bookshop so I could take my time, glad I did. Fangoria December will give a highlight of the new Barker and the DVD release (in the US) is scheduled for January 2010. Was I lucky that I went for the 3 DVD's for 25 euro's, guess what, Dread was included. Weird. So I bought it and watched it. Oh yes, I know, the movie will be watched for the performance of Jackson Rathbone, known for his role in the overrated Twilight. What the hell is it with Twilight, it sucks, no blood no nothing, just a love story, better watch Underworld, same story but mucho grandé. What can I say about Dread, it surely isn't that gory as Midnight Meat Train, and it isn't another Book of Blood. This is real horror, and again were MMT had a strong effect with the reflection in blood, as did BOB with the girls face ripped off, this one has it with the camera supplied on the axe. You really see it going into the flesh. It's bloody and sometimes gory. There is humiliation of the weird, a lot of frontal nudity. Everything is included. It starts pretty slow but glides into the real stuff. As did Drag Me To Hell to have some scary moments, but failed, this doesn't fail. Anyway, it's a typical Barker story, go watch it

"Dread" is a work that will remain in your mind for some time after watching the movie. The movie will make you feel sick in your stomach, just like "Saw" and "Hostel", but what separates "Dread" from other movies in the same genre is the level of intellectual incorporated into this movie. Yes, I am talking about intellectual that is very sick, but again, there is no limit to humans intellectual. Cast wise, I don't know anyone. I have no idea whether they are small timers or novice at all, but all of them did a very good job. I have seen low budget independent movies starring actors who don't even know the basics of acting, just pretty faces. But "Dread" steers itself clear by its cast, which does a very good job. The best thing(or rather, sick thing) about this movie is that even though it lacks the blood, gore and violence of "Saw" or "Hostel" or "Texas Chainsaw", you still feel sick by the events in the movie. Cause, "Dread" showcase human's limit, when faced with the thing they most fear, in a very naturalistic way. The dark setting throughout the movie greatly adds to the overall sordid atmosphere. Overall, watch this movie. But one thing, it's not for faint hearted. Even though it's not a horror movie with creepy creatures and gore, it will disgust you for sure. My Verdict: 7/10

The film starts fairly slow but that's not a problem as I expected some character and plot development before the film moves into stories of dread and perhaps some creepy twists and turns, as they begin to get out of their depth. Far from it though. Apart from the character Quaid, all the others seemed like vague cardboard cut-outs, one dimensional and dumb, designed for the mad protagonist to easily manipulate. The story, while seemingly building up to something possibly original (for today) and maybe something smart and engaging - although you're always aware that this might not happen but there are indications of hope - then descends into the usual saw-esqu torture * flick. The events and people are often contrived, people behaving unnaturally or occurrences exaggerated. There are also other incongruities I found but which I can't mention without creating spoilers. There are a lot of unanswered questions, and not because it's complex but because there are simply plenty of holes in the proceedings. Altogether, the above simply made it annoyingly contrived rather than entertaining or thrilling; it's not half as clever as it thinks or wants to be, or in fact could have been.

If this is any indication of the way the fourth After Dark Horrorfest is going to go, then it would be a good job to skip the whole thing. I am not particularly positive but this may be the absolute first time I have ever given a film the lowest grade possible on IMDb. Avoid paying for this film. If you feel you have to see it, find some way to do it for free. There is really no saving grace for this movie. It starts off very slow. It comes up with an interesting concept. It executes that concept extremely poorly. It ends stupidly. The idea of doing a study about fear in the way Kinsey studied sex is actually an interesting concept. However, it isn't interesting the way this movie decides to go about it. The interviews the characters do for the movie are boring and give nothing more to the movie. The relationships seem forced between the characters, as well. There is no reason to think Stephen and Quaid would be friends and there is less reason to think they would remain friends with the awkward way their friendship progresses. Stephen and Cheryl (I hope I am spelling her name right but I don't care enough to check) have a romance which actually surprises me when it comes to light because there was no indication that it was going to develop. Quaid falling off the deep end is not a shock. In fact, when it happens, the viewer will welcome it because the movie is so abysmally boring up until it happens. However, after it happens, it doesn't get better. "Dread" ends up being yet another film where nothing good comes out of it. The ending is pretty sick (including Cheryl in both rooms she gets trapped in) and depressing. Not to mention, it's not particularly realistic either. If Cheryl had been gone for so long, their would be people looking for her and they would definitely have gone to the house of someone she recently was making a film with. It's sad when you hope a movie that takes itself seriously ends with the original ax murderer coming back and taking everyone out. But, the people in this movie are just confused or stupid. "Dread" was a total waste of time and money and so far the worst of the After Dark Horror Fest movies I have seen from all four years.

A chance meeting between smart, sensitive Stephen Grace (Jackson Rathbone) and charming, mysterious Quaid (Shaun Evans) results in a college project to study the intimate fears which people have. With the help of fellow student Abby (Hanne Steen), the advert is placed and the camera begins to roll on a series of interviews as the trio start to document their findings. However, each of the three has their own fears to deal with, not least of all Quaid whose childhood is stained by a terrible trauma... Having never read the original short story by Clive Barker ("Hellraiser", "Lord Of Illusions") that "Dread" is based upon, i wasn't certain what to expect from this movie. Last year we were given the impressive (and criminally overlooked) "Midnight Meat Train" also based upon a Clive Barker story, and "Dread" continues the trend of incredible horror movies adapted from his work. "Dread" takes its time setting up its premise but i hesitate to call it slow-moving. Every scene is important to the story, and the chemistry between the three leads ensures that you keep watching. There is a real tension in "Dread" as Quaid's behaviour becomes more erratic whilst his obsession with the project starts to grow to dangerous levels. By the point at which the taped confessions are no longer enough for him, the audience has spent enough time with the characters to feel uncomfortable at what might occur next. It's rare to find a horror movie where you feel genuinely sorry for the victims. It's also good to see a movie about students which appears to be set in the real world rather than a stylised Hollywood version of it; these are multi-dimensional young adults rather than catalogue models reciting hip dialogue to one another. The cast is excellent without a bad performance to be found. Evans impresses as a character who is capable of moving from charming to dangerous without blinking, but the stand-out would have to be Laura Donelly who plays a girl with a gigantic birthmark covering one side of her body. Although initially brimming with confidence, her heartbreaking vulnerability gradually rises to the surface and you can't help but emphasise with her. Jonathon Readwin is also fantastic in a smaller role as one of the trio's interviewees. Don't be fooled into thinking that "Dread" will be your average teen-stalker horror movie. Sure, there is blood and death but this a more cerebral effort than usual; a bone-chilling descent into madness and obsession with a careful and deliberate pace. There are no sudden scares to be found here; only a creeping sense of foreboding and a third act that will stay with you long after the credits have finished rolling. Make no mistake; the final scenes in this movie are ruthless and nasty, but they are also very well-written. "Dread" is a solid effort. If you are a serious horror fan, this is certainly worth your time.

I for one, came to see this as a horror movie yet what i got was a B-rated very standard horror like movie which i feel sad about spending around 2 hours of my life. You will immediately understand the concept in 10 minutes, and the rest 1 hour and something will be waiting for it to happen. Even the sheer straight-line story of Saw 6 is better and this movie lacks the gore. The book may be an interesting read while traveling on a bus back home but then again you can't throw away the movie aside because its bad. You have to sit through whole of it. I have registered just for this movie and my first review is for preventing people who are not dragged on by a friend/relative from watching this movie. Move along folks, nothing to see here.

The outcast cinema student Stephen Grace (Jackson Rathbone) does not drive cars due to the trauma of losing his brother in a car accident. When he meets the lonely Quaid (Shaun Evans), who has dreadful nightmares and daydreams with the death of his parents that were slaughtered by a unknown man with his father's ax when he was a six year-old boy, they befriend each other and Quaid proposes a research about the innermost fear that each individual has. Stephen sees the chance of developing an original thesis for the college and invites his friend Cheryl Fromm (Hanne Steen) to work with them in the interview and in the edition. Among the interviewees, Stephen talks to his colleague Abby (Laura Donnelly) that works with him in the library and has a great complex due to the large mole she has in her face and body. When the work is almost ready, Quaid has an outburst against one interviewee that is providing fake information and destroys the camera and edition equipment; however, he sends one copy to the college and Stephen succeeds in his project. Then the disturbed Quaid meets Stephen again and the student sees that his friend is actually beginning his personal fear research driving people to the edge. "Dread" is a gruesome horror movie surprisingly great, with an excellent development of the four lead characters – Stephen, Quaid, Cheryl and Abby. The beginning is disclosed in slow pace and the last part is horrific; I almost vomited with the scene of Cherryl and the rotten steak. My only remark in this story is the complete absence of police after the disappearance of people and discovery of the harmed teenagers. The unexpected gloomy conclusion is one of the best I have recently seen in a horror movie. My vote is seven. Title (Brazil): "Lentes do Mal" ("Lens of the Evil")

I'm going to start off this review by saying that you should see this movie right away because it will not disappoint you and that this movie is just not given a lot of credit. Really people? A 5.6? This movie deserves at least a 7 hands down and I will tell you why. First of the acting was surprising good and since I've only ever watched Jackson Rathbone in the two Twilight, where he doesn't talk barely at all, I was really excited to see this guy as a man actor in a movie with more than 2 lines of dialogue. Let me tell you folks he did not fail to amaze me with his acting ability. I thought at the beginning I would only be seeing an alone, depressing/laughable, personality, but throughout the movie he grew into a serious role that helped carry the movie further. I do not think there is a point of summarizing this movie because that's what the internet, and of the back of the movie case, is for but basically it's a school project based on people's worst fears and the **** hits the fan in the middle of the film, which is good. It's quite original and the cinematography and editing is definitely something I admire, especially since I go to school for this stuff. All I can say is that you should see this film once you get the chance and you most will definitely appreciate it because it is most likely one of the best horror movies I have ever watched.

Based on the Clive Barker short story, Dread, which made its world premiere at the 2009 edition of Montreal's Fantasia film festival, is remarkable on two fronts: Barker's striking departure from his traditional macabre story lines, and Anthony DiBlasi's impressive directorial debut. The story unfolds with two college students, Steve (Twilight's Jackson Rathbone) and Quaid (Shaun Evans), agreeing to work together to create a documentary of people's innermost fears. The two put out a call for candidates and document their interviews on video. An expert manipulator, Quaid is able to coax these troubled souls into revealing their innermost demons; deeply personal revelations they would otherwise never dream of discussing in public, much less on camera. Meanwhile Quaid harbors deep seated psychological scars of his own, having been a childhood survivor of the brutal home invasion axe slaying of his parents at the hands of a mysterious psycho. Espousing the belief that by confronting one's ultimate fear an individual will either overcome their phobia or be consumed by it, Quaid convinces the more demure Steve, and friends Cheryl and Abby to participate in the study. Unknown to everyone involved, however, is Quaid's desire to take things to the next level, progressing beyond mere interviews to the actual physical and psychological nightmare of tackling their fears head on. DiBlasi displays a remarkably talented hand at spinning a yarn that incorporates introspective, character-driven drama and some spectacularly jolting and emotionally moving sequences. While deviating out of necessity from the plot structure of Barker's original story, which didn't provide much "meat" for a feature length film, Barker equally deserves kudos for providing DiBlasi with a twisted tale that is firmly rooted in the real world, where human cruelty is infinitely more tangible and terrifying than anything the supernatural can invoke. Led by Rathbone and Evans, the young cast turns in uniformly strong, nuanced and intensely emotional performances not typically found in this genre. Among the standouts is Hanne Steen, who plays Cheryl, a friend infatuated with Steve who bears the curse of a disfiguring skin pigmentation that covers a third of her face and body. Steen deftly manages to convey her character's sensitivity and long held pain in a manner that the viewer can readily attune to, earmarking her as a future talent to watch. As debuts go DiBlasi's Dread is as solid, slick, engaging and thought provoking as it is terrifying, making this a must see, not merely for fans of the genre, but anyone with untold skeletons in their closet.