The Girl in the Photographs

source: The Girl in the Photographs

Big names like Wes Craven and Kal Penn can get away with anything. If those two names were not attached to this project, it would be largely unknown. Either that or the smaller names that took their places would have realized they had to actually work at making a film worth watching. There are precisely two main characters who I can bring myself to care about. Most of the acting is probably not bad, but the terrible acting (I'm looking at you, Kal Penn) makes it hard to notice anyone else's passable acting. I guess I'd summarize by saying that there's really no point watching this movie unless you just want to say you saw it.

Yesterday (August 5 2016), I finally got to see the movie, " The Girl In The Photographs", which was the final movie of Late Legend, Mr. Wes Craven who was the Executive Producer. It was supposed to be released on August 4th, but they changed the schedule for it. I've been running around like a mad dog to cinemas everywhere, as the websites of the cinemas showed that it was playing, but it ended up being canceled. I even made calls to the theaters more than 20 times, I think, and they never even bothered to answer, as I didn't have a vehicle, and was traveling on trains and walking up and down. And I thought to myself, I am not gonna let anything stop me from showing honor to Mr. Craven, Then, finally, I found a place that had only two shows, and I went for the earliest, which was 7pm. The movie was directed by Nick Simon, and features Claudia Lee (Kickass 2 2013), Kal Penn (Harold and Kumar film series, The Namesake 2006), Kenny Wormald, Toby Hemingway, Luke Baines, Miranda Rae Mayo, Corey Schmitt, Mitch Pileggi (Wes Craven's Shocker 1989, The X- Files TV series), and one of my top favorite scream queens, Katharine Isabelle ( Ginger Snaps film series, The Soska Sisters' American Mary 2012). I loved it, and couldn't even blink for a second. It has suspenseful jump shock scenes that remind me of Wes Craven's signature in films. It's extremely and brutally violent - not for the faint of heart, with a mixture of sick psycho-maniacal slasher sequences. Plus, there's some really good comedy. It all adds up to being one hard-pumping, extremely powerful, violent slasher, fun thriller flick, which would be guaranteed to put a smile on the face of the late Master of Horror, Wes Craven. This movie received negative reviews, but I've never cared about bad reviews from critics. They just don't understand the powerful art of this film. While the end credits were rolling, people started to get out, but not me, I always sit through the credits, whether in a cinema or at home, to see who I know that was involved in the film. After the end credits, I stood up in the empty theater for that peaceful moment, and gave a huge, massive salute towards the big screen, for this was the last film to involve Wes Craven. He was the very first horror director I knew and followed when I was a kid, he will truly be missed. This movie is a tribute, a dedication to Mr. Craven, and I want to thank director Nick Simon and the entire cast and crew for this feature, for showing honor to the Master up in Heaven. God bless you all!!!

So insanely boring and filled with unlikable , unrealistic characters it's maddening. every time Kal Penn opens his characters mouth something embarrassing happens . It's almost like it was written by an alien trying to figure out how humans act . Was this meant to be a horror movie or spoof ? I'm honestly baffled and desperately seeking for something good to like . I've sat through "the amazing bulk" and "the night of the bloody apes " and find those to at least be watchable in an ironic way ... I'm struggling here .

And to think that this was the last film that Wes Craven had any involvement in before his untimely death just adds to the all around naffness of the finished product. A killer sends a young woman photographs of his victims, which draws the attention of an arrogant celebrity photographer. The shutterbug and his entourage then head to the woman's small town to get closer to the mayhem...... The film awkwardly mixes humour with some really ropey horror and dialogue, and after an initially impressive opening which isn't unlike that opening scene in the wonderful 'Scream', it just goes downhill rapidly, despite some potential in a couple of characters. I'm really hoping that Cravens involvement was that of just the masked predators whom appear in windows and behind people, because these really are unnerving scenes, and if the film was focused more on them, rather than Kla Penn and his abhorrent entourage, it could have been something. Penn gets top billing in this, and on the one sheet, his name is above the title, just like Schwarzeneggars was back in the day. I mean really? apart from playing Kumar, and having a non speaking role in that awful Bryan Singer Superman film, what has he done? So apart from a couple of unnerving scenes, it's a failure on every level, it provides us with no tension, no reason for what the protagonists/antagonists are doing, and we are treated to some silly Scooby Doo ending. Don't bother.

The trailer looked good. The premise was interesting. The actual film itself...well...I just kept hoping for it to end or at least provide SOME sort of creepy factors. This movie may work for some but true Horror and Thriller fans will be disappointed. If you can get past the obnoxious and facetious character of one of the main actors well you're definitely more patient and forgiving than me. He was absolutely AWFUL. Condescending...and much more. Horribly written character. In addition I was very discouraged by the police and how they handled certain situations. Finally this movie may as well be re-named "Masked Stabbers" trying in some way to perhaps be like Scream (but failing miserably). I am not sure how this film garnered 5/10...definitely beyond me. Pass.

The final "picture" was soooo brilliant that it did add to this very strange movie and yes Kal Penn irritated me at first until MAJOR SPOILER STOP READING IF YOU Haven't SEEN OR WANT TO SEE he got killed and then I blurted out "hey he was my favorite character " so to some extent I must have liked whatever Slam on a Hollywood type photographer he was doing ; now to dissect it would kill the movie; there are too many loose ends we don't know why the killer is a killer or even get any Inkling Of his background etc. BUT the movie as a whole wasn't bad; it definitely has some redemption and the last picture was one of them. I'd recommend waiting for it to come out in video however.

It's a nice little nod to Wes Craven, the film's Executive Producer, who died with this being his final film. It probability could have been a better movie if Craven was not suffering from Brian cancer during his involvement, yet it's still not the worse way to end a legacy. I thought Kal Penn was actually pretty funny as an eccentric artist who goes back to his small town after hearing about a string of murders in which the killer would take pictures of his victims. Inspired to copy the murder pics for an Ad campaign, he meets Colleen, the murderer's muse, and convinces her to become his muse, which the murderer does not like. It lies somewhere between The Last House on the Left and Scream in the story format, not as good as either, but you can see the total potential for it being that kind of innovative horror film. I will say that I love some of the kills that where done in this movie. Very old school violent with very little animated blood. I like the bluntness of it, it's been a while since a movie gave me that. As a Horror fan I feel that The Girl in the Photographs is worth taking a look at.

If you are bored to death and you have no slightest idea what to do with yourself, then you could maybe consider watching this movie. Actually... no. Better observe your walls, there must be some interesting bug stains or something. I mean... something this much useless and unprovoked is rare to find... 3/10 ...and even that much only because there are some cute girls in it.

I'm so disappointed,the killer's charter is very weak and boring.Classic psycho obsessed guy.Little action,and a pale plot with no intention of going somewhere.Everything is already seen and done. Where is the police,media?In over of ten days there is no sign of the investigation.It seems like no one is missing not even one of ten people. Does they parents report them for missing?In a small town of 10.000 people where everybody knows everybody.For me it was just a big waste of time.Left me with nothing but a shorter day.Only thing good about this movie was the music,except that nothing.I don't recommender watching this movie even if it was the only thing on earth to watch.