Visions

Occasionally you come across a thriller that has a run-of-the-mill sounding story line, accompanied by some surprisingly big actors in the lead roles. To me this is usually a sign that the movie is going to have a bit of an X-factor about it, often in the form of a twist. The three actors that caught my eye in this one were Isla Fisher, Jim Parsons and Eva Longoria. Nothing huge there, but for an almost unheard of horror/thriller they're still surprising to see. The first 90% of the film their presence wasn't making a lot of sense, then the final 10% began and I realised what had enticed them along. It's nothing mind-blowing or game changing, but it's more than enough to save the film from being a complete disaster. I did have to wonder though whether this is what Longoria's career has come to. She was a big star not that long ago, yet it appears since 'Deperate Housewives' came to an end her stocks have dropped and she's reduced to having nothing roles in little-known films. I kept expecting her character to get more screen time or at least have some important reason for being in the story, but sadly it never came. The reveal and the twist are what make this film, there is no doubt about that. My advice would be don't give up on this film too early, it gets better.

Everyone is so quiet and soft-spoken throughout the movie, but whenever there's a jump-scare (and there's lots of them) they are so loud they make you jump out of your seat. I couldn't watch this in the end without deafening myself and waking the neighbours because I had to turn the volume up high to hear the cast speaking and then the speakers would get blasted out by bangs and screams. I like jump scares but this was just annoying.

There have been many movies centered around a female who is experiencing paranormal events, so I really wasn't expecting much at all from this. From the trailer it looked like it would pretty much follow the normal formula for films like this, and it kind of did but it did enough new stuff that it slightly stood out from the rest of the bunch. One thing the movie really did right in my opinion was keep up a pretty fast pace, there is always something happening for the most part. Our main character is constantly encountering pretty wild events and that makes it so the movie never really got dull. The story is interesting enough, doesn't really seem like much but they do a good job of capping it off in the end. The acting was a little underwhelming considering there were a decent amount of familiar faces in the cast. Jim Parsons really phones in his performance, fortunately he isn't in very many scenes. Isla FIscher does a good job as the leading lady though and her performance was believable enough. Overall I enjoyed the film, it isn't extremely memorable but it is slightly better than your average ghost flick.

I was pleasantly surprised by this movie! For one thing, the Actors did a great job for the most part...Isla Fisher played her part very well and considering I'm used to her 'comedy' roles, it was a refreshing change to see her capabilities in a much more serious role and be able to pull it off believably. Especially as she generally plays the stereotypical ditzy type chic in most stuff I've seen her in. So, well done to her! Jim Parsons I've only seen in Big Bang Theory prior to this, so although his screen time is quite short-lived, it was also nice to see him play a serious role as well. As for the story, I myself watch a lot of movies so generally I can tell what may happen at the end, with this story, I could not see it till pretty much 10 minutes till it all came to light anyway...I spent the majority of the movie thinking the storyline was going to take us in a different direction to the one it took, so for that...kudos!! I like being surprised by movies. Don't get me wrong, this movie wasn't the best I've ever seen, there were a couple of scenes in it that irritated a little...but mostly because they were not what I would do, for e.g Isla Fisher is pregnant and seems to think she's safer riding a bicycle than driving her car...I myself am pregnant and would NEVER ride a bike as you're very unprotected and really do stand more of a chance of getting badly hurt/doing harm to the baby, than driving your car...it's just a fact...but they were obviously more trying to keep in with the storyline of her prior trauma with a car accident than with the common sense that should come with being pregnant, but it definitely deserves the 7/10 I've given it, as the things I didn't like, were just simple niggles that would come with daily realistic life! Still...would totally recommend people give it a watch :D

After a car crash where the baby of the other driver dies, Eveleigh Maddox (Isla Fisher) is declared non-guilty for the accident. One year later, her husband David Maddox (Anson Mount) invests all their savings in a vineyard and they move to start a new life in the countryside. When Eveleigh learns that she is pregnant, she stops taking her pills to protect her baby. Soon she has strange visions and daydreams in the house and David believes it is a side effect for not taking her medicine. Meanwhile Eveleigh befriends the also pregnant Sadie (Gillian Jacobs) at the gym and meets the connoisseur and critic of fine wines Helena (Joanna Cassidy). David convinces Eveleigh´s doctor Dr. Mathison (Jim Parsons) to prescribe her medicine again. But when she stops using the pills again, the visions return. What is the secret of the house and Eveleigh´s visions? "Visions" is an intriguing horror film about a woman with visions. The plot has no gore and holds the attention of the viewer. However, the lack of chemistry between the protagonists Isla Fisher and Anson Mount, and the stupid conclusion destroy the promising film. My vote is five. Title (Brazil): "A Última Premonição" ("The Last Premonition")

This horror movie is set in a winery area and the atmosphere is suitably eerie. A couple move into a winery. The wife had a car accident the year before and now is pregnant. She starts seeing visions. At first it seems like there is some Rosemary's Baby thing going on but that isn't it. Also it seems there are a lot of red herrings and cheap shock tactics but be patient it all comes together in a logical way with a very clever twist that makes you think about horror movies in a different way. Just when you think you couldn't be surprised any more. I won't say what it is. When you have A list actors doing supporting roles you know it can't be a bad movie. Jim Parsons plays a doctor. He can do more dramatic roles he is quite good with just a change of expression. Eva Longoria looks pretty - wish she acted more often. Isla Fisher mostly know for comic roles is quite good as the scared pregnant wife who thinks she is losing her mind. It's rewarding when horror movies make "horror sense" - you feel watching it was worth your time.

A loving couple moves to a small rural town after the wife is in a car crush, in order to start their life anew and await the birth of their first child. However, the pregnant wife begins experiencing visions/hallucinations, and fears their new house might be haunted with evil spirits! Sounds as corny and unoriginal as any of the hundreds of Ghost Stories out there using the same story frame, right? Well, stop right there and watch it anyway, because you're in for a treat! The story is actually original, innovative and impressively smart! The build up is immersive and suspenseful, leaving the audience on edge and constantly guessing and second guessing, while maintaining an eerie pace more suitable for Horror and less for psycho- thrillers. The characters are authentic and well thought of. I was specifically impressed with the female cast, Isla Fisher (Eveleigh), Gillian Jacobs (Sadie) and Joanna Cassidy (Helena). I also loved how the male characters were. Both Anson Mount (David) and Bryce Johnson (Ben) have a supportive role as the rock and back-up of their wives, the main characters, and they do so beautifully. Great acting and excellent direction work by Kevin Greutert. Most importantly, the twist and ending are surprising, satisfying and simply great! After so many anticlimactic endings, Visions is a shining example of how a plot twist and an ending should be. Screenwriters L.D. Guffigan and Lucas Sussman have shown us all that fine Horror writers are still out there! All in all, a fun and surprising film! Not as scary as Horror should be in my opinion, but an excellent film highly recommended!

What kind of movie you expect when the main stars are Dr. Sheldon Cooper (The Big Bang Theory), Britta Perry (Community), Gabrielle Solis (Desperate Housewives) and the real life wife of ..Borat? Maybe the National Lampoon of Horror but certainly not ...Visions! I think the producers did that on purpose. Don't forget that many good comedians have excel playing dramatic roles... Anyway to sum it up. This is a b-class (haunting style) horror movie with a decent plot, a twist, a couple of scares, yet mediocre execution... Although not laughable, the performances aren't good (maybe with the exception of Jim Parsons who is playing a medical doctor while preserving exactly the looks and way of speaking of his comedic character). The music and sound effects (a valuable tool for this particular genre) are OK, the direction could have been better but no one was expecting too much...but still is a cheap horror movie and it shows. Overall: Decent plot with the usual twist near the end but the poor execution and the bad cast choices are evident...

It tries to be mysterious, replete with Hitchcock-like old style music but mostly it ends up as a silly badly made mishmash. It's not a thriller it's not scary. It's annoying. The director relies on the most absurd jump cuts to inject 'terror' but fails miserably at that. Moreover I would like a refund from the film company since the sound editing might have broken my TV. The jump cuts are so loud and dynamic range between the whispers and muttering that make up the dialog, is so extreme that I'm pretty sure it blew one of my speakers. Yes the jump cuts are that loud and dialog is so muted you won't hear much or you will crack the paint on the walls. Anyway, the story is pretty bland, you've seen it a million times but instead of a spooky house it's a spooky vineyard and instead of weird house staff, it's menacing Mexicans that tend to the vines. The place has a past, SHE has a past...is she crazy? Is the place really haunted? What does her husband do all day? And why is Isla Fisher in every single frame in this entire movie? The grapes grow the spirits fly about, the seasons change, the music from Rear Window goes on and on. As poor Isla gets more and more pregnant perhaps she will birth Rosemary's Chardonnay? Who knows? Who cares?

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie ... With a good cast and acting, not to mention a really cool yet pretty simple story to which I found had enough creep factor to freak me out and keep me intrigued and curious throughout the movie. The eerie vineyard location and with the couple expecting their first child after a traumatic year due to an unfortunate accident give the story great legs to start with (no pun intended) so already under stress that when certain events start to unveil its easy to attribute it to all of the above... the journey the you are taken on is great for the viewer. The ending did not disappoint, as I found it to be really good and I believe any audience will be truly satisfied, as was myself! In my opinion this thriller/horror ticks all the boxes... I would most definitely recommend watching this movie if you like this genre of movie!