Scarecrow-88
An independent movie studio connected to an old house with a history of violence is tormented by the vengeful ghoul that insists her home is not bulldozed over by other potential buyers. The head honcho of the studio (Billy Zane, who mostly looks bored and disinterested, with less-than-subtle hints of sarcasm in his performance towards the project he's stuck in) plans to finish his latest project then sell off the house with plans to move to a brand new studio but when the ghost of bad little girl Carly starts raising a violent, psychopathic ruckus, he might just have to consider. Zane's cast and crew will also be under siege and terror, attempting to escape but unable to do so, some meeting horrific ends, others trying to "negotiate" their way out of the place to safe freedom. Decent cast (the aforementioned Zane, Lacey Chabert, Matt Dallas, and Danielle Harris) is really trapped in a bad horror movie with variable special effects (primarily laughable) and some okay dark humor. The film can't escape a putrid low budget, and the cast running around a studio attempting to find safe haven from a ghoul (that pales in comparison to the Japanese Onyro ghouls so popular about ten years ago) that isn't all that scary doesn't help. There are some eerie dolls in a room, a nasty bit of business involving a mirror slashing (the ghoul can "manipulate" people into harming / killing themselves), and Zane trying to talk the ghoul into leaving them alone has a bit of funny to it. Harris is too good to be stuck in parts which do nothing with her and too often these days she is
this film especially wastes her talents. Chabert keeps on a serious face as does Dallas (as the put-upon rookie, placed with doing multiple duties due to the crew losing their head editor (B-movie vet, Richard Tyson) in the opening sequence), her lover, but the plot is anything but worthy of a straight performance
the content and effects accompanying it leave much to be desired. This is fit for syfy and that is not a compliment. I think Zane knows what kind of crap this is and his performance doesn't hide that fact. Carly's mother's back story is even linked to Charles Manson! Christine Bentley services the film as some nice eye candy in scantily clad outfits (she *almost* gets nude for a shower sequence) as Zane's "star" and Allyn Carrell is the creepy old lady with a story to tell and secrets to unveil. One truly funny and odd scene has Carrell just appearing and walking throughout the studio as Zane (and his kooky crew member Johnny (Adam Whittington, a very realistic loser)) is bewildered at how to get her to leave. The back story involving Jeanie and Carly's reasons for acting out are particularly weak but the film probably couldn't have made it out successfully regardless. Lynn Andrews III is the token black character (he is over the audio/sound department of the studio)who actually makes it out alive, but not without a few bumps and bruises.
Pressparr88
This is a bizarrely mismarketed low budget gem I had the pleasure of watching recently. The cast is well rounded (Zane,Chabert, and the lovely Danielle Harris), save for Matt Dallas who while easy on the eyes won't win any awards for this role. The principal location for the majority of the film does start to suffocate the film a little bit, and some of the usual low budget horror film setbacks are there as well, but that is to be expected.The plot is threaded in a bit harshly, and some of the effects are a bit stale, but the film is nothing less than entertaining, which is what it sets out to be. The film is more of a comedy with horror tendencies. It is not the type of film where you are on the edge of your seat with surprise, but more of a film that you can just sit back and enjoy. Don't let negative reviews keep you away, I was glad I didn't!
Annie Wilkes
I'm not sure which film my fellow reviewers were watching, but anyone who can give this atrocity anything more than one star should be forever banned from calling themselves a horror fan. The fact that Billy Zane and Danielle Harris (who has starred in some pretty good horror films- Urban Legend for example ) star in this film made me think that it might be slightly watchable. Sadly that just not the case.Diabolical acting, ridiculous storyline and the fact that it looked like it had been filmed on someone's camera phone, means that this is basically 90 minutes of your life that you will never get back.Avoid it like the plague. Find yourself a patch of wet paint, and watch it dry.
bardiaamirlak
I was pleasantly surprised when I watched a screening of this movie .Although not a 100 million dollar Hollywood budget the special effects are done very well . Alin Bijan is a brilliant director and has made this movie into a fun but yet extremely scary one . What makes it more scary is that its based on true story of the studio at goodnight lane and its shot in the same studio ! Billy Zane does a great job as well . Lacey Chabert is adorable and does a good job as well It can definitely compete with the really scary movies such as paranormal activity, the ring , etc but yet fun and has funny scenes that are awesome. I can say by the near end of the movie I was hearing screams and the girls sitting beside me jumping off their seats