Cailey Faye
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.
Rika Roshan
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.
Paul Magne Haakonsen
"The Caretaker" starts out well enough, but after a fairly interesting start, then the air seems to seep out of the creative balloon and the movie just declines downhill from there. It is as if the movie never really managed to fully manifest a firm foothold and it just slipped between the hands of director Jeff Prugh.The story is about young Mallorie (played by Meegan Warner) whom returns to her childhood home with her boyfriend in order to take care of her elderly grandmother Birdie (played by Sondra Blake) as her health is on the decline. But there are dark secrets looming over the household.For a horror / thriller movie, then "The Caretaker" was frightfully devoid of anything even remotely scary of even close to being just the least bit thrilling. For a movie in this genre, then "The Caretaker" failed to impress and will just quietly go unforgotten into the darkest recesses of the movie collection.What did stand out in the movie was the performance by Sondra Blake. She really stood out in this generic and mundane horror movie with her impressive performance.The effects in "The Caretaker" were sparse and far in between. But whatever was there was used well enough in advantage of the movie. But it was a shame that they didn't allocate a bigger budget for special effects and practical effects, because such is usually a big part of a horror movie for it to be convincing.Sad to say, but your attention will be tested throughout the course of the movie, because it is very tempting to pick up the phone for example and just check the social medias or something, because there is so little going on in the movie, that your attention will eventually start to falter and wander.As I mentioned earlier, then "The Caretaker" is not an impressive movie nor a memorable movie in the horror / thriller genre. And there are far, far better similar movies available.The movie's cover does look quite interesting, although it oversells the movie. So don't judge a movie by its cover!"The Caretaker" managed to score a mere three out of ten stars from me. And I can honestly say that the movie, should you manage to get through it to the end, does not support more than just a single viewing.
Finfrosk86
The Caretaker starts out pretty well, I think.. It looks good, doesn't look especially low budget, the acting is OK, it had an overall creepiness to it, I gave it a chance. (I have seen my fair share of small horror flicks, I usually get a feeling pretty fast) Yeah, well it starts out good, you're led to believe there is something really creepy going on, and then.. well, then almost nothing more happens. I mean, stuff does happen, the movie isn't directly boring, it's just way to tame. It's more like a drama than horror. A movie can work without the big horror scenes and jump-scares and stuff, but then it has to have everything else really locked down. And while the actors do a decent job and all, it's not enough. There are a couple of scenes that are pretty creepy, I'll give it that, but it just seems like the movie is stuck in the beginning part for the whole thing. You know, the beginning part of a horror movie where just small stuff happens.I do want to talk a little bit about Sean Martini, tho. He is the boyfriend of the main character, and he is sort of a main character himself, and I thought he was pretty good. He kind of looks like a cross between G-eazy and Jared Leto, he looks good. Skinny, but good. His acting, although not mind blowing, is pretty natural and not too acty. The girl, Meegan Warner is alright too, but I liked the guy the best. The old woman, eh, she overplays a tad, but OK.So, for pretty much the whole first half+, I was pretty entertained, but then it didn't pick up pace at all, and then when the mystery is revealed, it's just not that cool, and the ending is pretty cliché.So yeah. At first I was like: yeah, this is pretty cool, kind of creepy. But then I was like: Aaaw, come on, can something big happens soon? And just to be clear, one of the stars in this rating is for Sean Martini.