The Caretaker

source: The Caretaker

I was ready for bad acting, bad dialogue, bad shooting... bad everything. Instead, this is a great little Ghost Story with comparisons to same-year film Sweet, Sweet Lonely Girl. Digimodern Horror at its finest.

The story is weak and never really defined, the dialogue seems to be made up as they go along the acting is incredibly bad with each movement or interaction it's obvious that they are trying to act except for Birdie but I suspect that was not acting since she spent 20 years married to Robert Blake. And if your going to have a character that is not supposed to speak English don't have her then speak English with out any hint of a Spanish accent while she is translating a letter. This was not scary at all this movie is an absolute joke from beginning to end.

I gave The Caretaker the 2 stars I did based on the eye candy (and decent acting skills) of Sean Martini. There was also a bit of so-so okay acting by Meegan Warner. So many things that happen in this movie are completely unrealistic! The parts meant to be scary or thrilling end up looking forced & goofy. Time is precious. As movie buffs, we spend enough time in the scroll zone of Netflix & other streaming services. Save your time for something better. Trust me, this movie was so horrible & to make it consistently bad, the ending was so stupid that it was comical. That's how a lot of this movie was. Some of the supposed scary parts were so cheesy, I just had to laugh.

No chills. No thrills. Bad dialogue. No plot. Mediocre acting. Characters that made no sense. No resolution. You're better off with most anything else. And no don't think it'll so bad it's good.

I did like the actors and their acting. It was quite believable in context of what was going on. I also liked their communication - which was not forcibly poor to further the plot. (poor communication being one of the main tools in most horror movies i know to actually create tension...) Sadly though - i did not care a bit for the story the movie told. It committed the sin of being "simply boring". No real twists and turns, no build up of tension, and the climax felt rather "mehh". I caught myself checking the time several times during that movie. The idea of the movie is not really new .. the execution is ... in my opinion ... textbook... sadly textbook as in "been there, done that - a hundred times..." Whats left is what can only be called mediocre.

After a long line of fired caretakers, Mallorie (Meegan Warner) ends up caring for her medicated slightly crazy Grandmother Birdie (Sondra Blake). Mallorie was raised by her grandmother, a carnival witch, and has her own issues. Mal sleeps walks in a trance-like state and calls out the name of her boyfriend August (Sean Martini). Birdie doesn't want August in the house. He violates rules. Eventually she tolerates him. Both women behave creepily. Birdie says to Mal when they first meet, "I'm going to have a guest. One of the dead kind. I am so glad you are here." The film has a fair creep factor which is end loaded.The drama builds slow establishing two complex characters. And when all else fails, add a clown. Really they did. Guide: No swearing, sex, or nudity. Couple start to get it on but is interrupted. Chanel Celaya is gosh awfully purdy.

The Caretaker was a really enjoyable horror movie that I am head over heels for. I was really creeped out by the terrifying grandmother played by Sondra Blake who refuses to take her medication and scares off all of her previous caretakers. Finally, her granddaughter, Mallorie, played by Meegan Warner, comes home to their Victorian house, that works as a perfect setting for this great horror movie. I was jumpy and watching between my fingers in fear as Mallorie slowly slips into the terrifying spirits that made her grandmother crazy as a medium in a circus. So happy I watched this movie right before Halloween because I couldn't imagine a better movie to get me in the right mood for ghosts and spirits.

What started nicely, with a good premise, an used subject but still a scary and effective one yet today, managed to reach none of its potential and simply got confused and annoying. I was intrigued indeed, perhaps I found something better and as the minutes were passing I felt more and more curious about the situation. Won't take long until you'll realize that there is no end point, no twist, no explanation, just the finishing line, leaving so many questions behind. As for the characters, if at start you got to know them, to care for some, in the end they all become a big mess of a cliché. I was happy that the movie finally ended, because it was clear I wasn't going to get what I was hoping for. Not recommended from my point of view. Completely missed opportunity here. Cheers!

I was so impressed with the character and setting driven storyline. Nowadays, there are few movies that manage to scare audiences without special effects, blood and gore; however, this film successfully kept me on the edge of my seat with incredible performances from the actors and a gripping original plot inspired by the old mansion they reside in and a family history of psychosis. Mallorie is a young woman who steps up to take care of her grandmother Birdie when all of her previous caretakers are driven away by the horrors of the old house that she lives in. Mallorie's boyfriend, August comes with her as emotional support, but also to keep an eye on her sleepwalking problem and her own fears of becoming like her grandmother. Sondra Blake does a wonderful job in playing the crazy grandmother, who carries the story forward as her psychosis becomes worse and her previous Wiccan practices are revealed as she summons the dead back to the house. Witches. Haunted houses. And a scary clown. This movie is perfect to get you in the mood for Halloween.