The Taking

I was expecting hell on earth. I was waiting for the worst piece of cinema ever. I expected junk. And that was not it. It's existential story telling and is more about interpretation than vapid force feeding of the plot. So obviously some might despise because they're not familiar. Although experimental filmmaking is definitely not everyones style of story telling, I can still name a few horror films that were worse: "House of Wax", "Boogeyman", "Alone in the Dark", "The Devil Inside", "Texas 3D", "Ice Cream Man", "Troll 2", "Human Centipede", "Paranormal Activity 2 and 3 and 4 and 5", "Nightmare on Elm Street Remake", "Fear Dot Com", "When a Stranger Calls Remake", "Black Christmas Remake", "Killer Klowns from Outer Space", "Wicker Man Remake", and all of Rob Zombie's films - none of which cost less to make than "The Taking" Don't get me wrong, there is still a large part of "The Taking" that is difficult to sit through, irritating to listen to and hilarious at points that leaves it far behind experimental films such as "Eraserhead", "Naked Lunch", "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" and "The Pillow Book"but the filmmakers have taken a leap in a different direction compared to many larger budget horror films on offer. And for that reason I am eager to see where they go next. The fat naked man was great... the thud of that fall was hilarious - oh, its after 10min, you didn't see it? Shame, it was the best part of it all. True horror fans might want to watch this, I mean we love "Army of Darkness", we do, but its far from stellar story telling, so why not give the avant-garde, indie horror filmmakers a chance? Because it sucks nonetheless, but I'll watch it again over "House of Wax"

I've seen a lot of movies in my time - a lot of fantastic movies and a lot of 'B' movies, and a lot of 'Cult Classics'... this is not one of those, by ANY stretch of the imagination! In fact, I think this may be the worlds first 'Z' rated movie, it's that bad! I only managed to sit through the first 15 minutes, and that was a struggle! All the time being very thankful that this was a very cheap rental, so I didn't have to worry about a lot of money wasted on this trash! TERRIBLE cinematography, TERRIBLE acting (what there was of it during those 15 minutes), TERRIBLE sound quality. In fact, the sound was pretty much over-driven for much of the time I watched this, doing nothing more than giving me a splitting headache. Seriously, take my word for it, or read a few more reviews about this.... movie (I have a hard time calling it that to be honest), save your money, save your valuable time. It is NOT worth it, at all!

OK, so I've pretty much read all your posts aka reviews in regards to the average 10 to 15 minutes you invested in this movie. Yes I said movie. I feel a lot of you that may have crapped on the first 10-15 minutes are either impatient, or are some fan of the commercialized genre of HORROR, where the black guy always die...lol. I have to say, I pushed through the first 10-15 minutes, because I was just flat out confused. I later come to realize that, there is something here. I made it through the whole 77 minutes of this film. Not upset, nor satisfied. I was walking down the middle road with this one. Bad acting from 80% of the cast, so thank GOD, they didn't have much dialogue to add to the horrible acting. Some scenes were actually done pretty well. Some not so much. The Harbinger (old lady) looked to much like a Star Wars character I will not mention here...but you get the drift. But it added the darkness that needed to fit in the story line of this film. Good vs Evil....and how we live our lives of sin, day after day. When we think to ourselves at times....that another life can be spared in revenge of one being taken out of your life, by death or infidelity. The backdrop Sun under the trees was a little confusing within a good vs evil storyline like this, only because, the Sun is suppose to represent GOD in good, not in Evil. Sometimes the blood looked good, sometimes it didn't. The screaming was needed in parts, but could've been left out in others, many others. lol....I'm writing this at 5AM, so please forgive my sporadic rants and praises. I just watched something very taxing on the brain. If you're in film school, this film is probably something to watch as it has some good moments in film trickery....if you're the normal Joe or JADE...lol....this absolutely will take some strength to get through. There isn't any dolls on tricycles asking if you want to play a game....no men in hockey masks....no haunted houses killing families...just some unique thinking individuals trying something new in a genre that has been the forefront of cinematic innovation. Just my 2 cents...take it or leave it...middle road guys, middle road.

I only managed about 10 mins then had to switch it off, its all flashing imagery, strange symbolism and weird sound effects. IMHO 77 minutes is far too long to endure it all, perhaps it would of been more bearable if it was a short Film. This won't go down well, with your average Horror audience and unless your a film student, critic or well into art house, this probably will annoy the hell out of you with all the sound effects and flashing imagery, and will go straight over the head of most Horror fans. So if you are into horror don't look at its rating and think that you might enjoy this, do yourself a favour, save your money and go and rent something that you will actually enjoy. I give it 1 out of 10 and that's only because i cant give it a zero. When i wrote this its rating was a lot higher, i think about 6.5.

I never had the need to make and account and submit a review until today. I am amazed on what a train wreck I just witnessed. These two have destroyed... no... TAKEN not only my day but countless others. You will not be forgiven. This was such an absolute failure. I forced myself to watch it all the way through and now I have paid the the ultimate price.. and that price was to be part of the few that watched it all the way through. Chinese Cringe - look it up... AVOID THIS. I REALLY MEAN IT.

We only managed to sit through the first 11 minutes before calling it a day. I think we did pretty well considering. The cinematography and soundtrack were repetitive and disjointed. It looked like they only had one camera to shoot with and so every scene (within the first 11 minutes) was chopped together with the same imagery and sound effects. It was funny the first 2 or three times, we even joked "I bet they show the sky again" but they kept on doing it! The result wasn't eerie or sinister but it did give my wife and I a headache. I don't feel its fair to comment on the acting as I only watched 11 minutes of the movie and didn't see any. As for the reviewers that gave this such an astounding review. Well done! You got me! (for 11 minutes anyway). For everyone else - AVOID AVOID AVOID!

If you enjoy watching a lot of shots of the sun partially hidden by trees over and over this movie is for you! Lots and lots of the same shot repeating over and over. There is no dramatic structure at all to this film. The filmmakers (if you can call them that) sprinkle in some actors running through the woods screaming, running into houses screaming, and driving their cars screaming. Yes this movie has a lot of sporadic yelling, dissolves, freeze frames, and I do not have a clue what it is all about. It's got some really weird sound design, I think the sound editor fell in love with a 'pitch control' plug in. I usually don't care for films that drive the narrative through dialogue, but the complete lack of narrative structure here is ridiculous. Visually it's a complete mess. The films of Stan Brackhage and Matthew Barney are more comprehensible. It's just a film with a bunch of actors covered in fake blood walking around the woods or bound to a tree, and did I say lots and lots of freeze frames, dissolves and the same shot of the sun hidden partially by trees? They also slapped in a disembodied voice saying 'Carl' over and over for good measure. In stead of Horror it should have been categorized as just plain Horrible.

The two first troll reviews made my day seriously. This movie is not even worth downloading or watching stream, just burn all the original copies of it and throw the ashes in a pit in the middle of a desert. Stop making movies like this, thank you, just by watching the trailer i knew this movie would be a joke filmed with a potato and carrots actors. Wasted 9 minutes of my life on this majestic blaspheme to the art of cinematography. Reported. Seriously, i can't even breath anymore, this is too funny, reading the two first comments bellow make this while thing a pure joke, i really hope for them these are troll comments and not member of the production of this Potato movie trying to make it look good even if they won't food anyone. Certainly not IMDb community. :') Garlic Bread -laugh-

The Taking has a logline of - Two strangers must discover a way to escape a sinister family who wishes to sacrifice their souls to an evil presence. Reading this you would imagine a fairly standard run-of-the- mill horror film, but that is probably as far from the truth as possible. The film centres on Carl (John Halas) who is trying to find his fiancé and best friend after they have had an affair. But Carl ends up being taken prisoner by a strange family in a remote farmhouse. Carl attempts to escape but is recaptured and is tied to a tree and told he will be sacrificed in three days time and his soul taken. He is then joined by Jade who has experienced a similar capture and is tied to the next tree, she is coming to terms with the death of her young daughter just 42 days previous. Carl starts to come to the realization that the reason they are there is more to do with the harbouring of revenge on those who have wronged them and they are trapped in something far worse than a remote farmhouse and their very souls are at risk. They are both forced to face their own demons in a series of horrific visions and encounters. Well that is the basic premise and synopsis and I am keeping it vague as not to give any spoilers as The Taking is one of the most intense and exciting film experiences I have had in years. You have beautiful bright colours , really sharp blood reds mixed with the gentle greens and earthy browns from the wooded surroundings. It is visually stunning and the swift camera work , often oblique angles and lightening fast editing makes this just a joy to watch. Then mix in the absolute star of the show , the sound. There is no real score here , what you have is an all out attack of your senses. The sound is entrancing , it will be silent then leaves gently blow leading to a barbaric cacophony . You have almost audio explosions that mirror the increasing visual stimulus. The audial and visual mix is joyful, simply wonderful. It is not so much a story but more an experience , from the start The Taking wraps it's dirty little fingers around your neck and starts to squeeze , it increases its grip throughout the film until 76 minutes later it releases and you are left to think what the hell just happened? Well in my opinion what just happened was a serious assault on my senses which left me feeling almost bereft but hugely fulfilled, I felt like I had almost lived the entire film and that is something BAPartists should be roundly applauded for. I cannot praise this film enough , the acting is fantastic with John Halas totally nailing it. There are parts of the film where *The God* speaks and the words are subtitled on the screen as the voice is a huge distortion of sound , the distortion is reminiscent of the band Sunn O))) , and anyone who has seen them live will know what I mean. The distortion fits so well and is very unnerving yet subtly beautiful at times. I must say that when viewing this I had to go and get my *good* headphones , as the TV was not doing justice to the insane audio. I really hope at screenings and festivals that this carries across as well as it should. For me this film is best watched alone in a darkened room with headphones cranked up and just go for it! The Taking was shot on the Canon 5D Mark II in Northern Virginia right outside of Washington DC on a budget of $13k . BAParts have really done something special here, years of planning and entirely self funded and I am privileged to have seen this so early on and to have been given the opportunity to review it. What Cezil and Lydelle have created here is stunning and huge praise to them for having the balls to buck the norm and just go for it. For a first feature this is far from a safe venture, in fact it is a statement of intent from BAPartists and a big middle finger to the boring and predictable filmmakers out there. This is a massive recommend , part horror , part art-house and fantastic 9.5/10 .

Trailer—The Taking