By Melissa Antoinette Garza
When the movie first began, I thought I had seen it before. There was a early 80s movie I saw a few years ago, where a witch came floating in a genuinely scary moment. After about 45 minutes, I was fairly certain this was a different film. Still, I was far from disappointed.
The movie opens when a family moves into a haunted house that is directly next door to a strange scary old woman who foretells the demise that is sure to come. Soon, the crazy lady doesn’t seem so insane as strange and unusual events occur, including one daughter swimming in the lake and feeling as though she is being pulled under. After, we see that a dismembered hand is attached to her leg. Things get worse and unlike a lot of haunted house films, the residents don’t seem to be complete doubters. They don’t make excuses for what has happened and begin researching the history of the house with an open mind.
In 1692, a witch who seemingly was possessed by a demon (as her voice changes) was drowned in a lake behind the home. She swore vengeance on their descendants and delivers.
We learn that a group had moved in prior to the family we’re watching and they were all killed.
Soon, the witch comes back in a large black ghostly figure with a blue almost-skeletal hand. Surprisingly, the kids are not off limits and are actually some of the best kills.
The devolving of the family and especially how the patriarch crumbles under pressure is a fascinating watch. It reminded me of a mix of the original THE AMITYVILLE HORROR or its prequel.
This was truly a great movie. There were a few genuine shockers, the ending is fantastic and the overall premise though done many times, was done very well.
Scared Stiff Rating: 6/10
AND FOR THE HORROR FAN THAT HAS SEEN EVERYTHING, PICK THESE UP FOR A BLOODY GOOD CHRISTMAS
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