By Melissa Antoinette Garza
This is one of those times, I hadn’t heard of the film prior to watching it. I love movies about cults so this seemed right up my alley. I watched the trailer and recognized some of the actors. The movie was shot in MA and I live there so with local pride and everything, I figured I’d give it a shot.
The film follows Rachel (Ali Faulkner), who goes to a small western MA town to research an infection caused by ergot poisoning. The side-effects include shakes, delusions, hallucinations and even death. Ergot poisoning is what many people believe caused those accused of being witches to act so erratically. To examine the premise that Salem Witch Trials could’ve been avoided if not for Ergot poisoning is a strong enough to build a film on. Sadly, the movie doesn’t really delve as far as one would like.
Rachel meets with Paul (Richard Riehle) who tells her to be suspect of everyone. She’s told that people don’t like to talk about Ergot poisoning or the secret graveyards dedicated to the victims. She goes to the graveyard and notices that those poisoned seem to have a few things in common. The breakouts happen in different years, but the deaths all occur in October; and those infected at the same time, show the same date of death.
Soon, she begins to see people in black robes. Two men she doesn’t know start to chase her. Even her roommate Greg (Johnathan Bennett) begins to act suspiciously. Rachel and Greg develop a romantic relationship, but it doesn’t stop the nagging feeling that he is up to something and may be connected to the two men who are following her.
It’s odd. I’ve seen very positive movie reviews for this and very negative, but none in-between. Still, that’s where I fit.
It could have been much better. The conclusion isn’t shocking or fulfilling and there were other avenues the movie could’ve taken that would have had more of an impact.
Though only filmed a few years ago, this plays out like a LIFETIME movie from the early 00s attempting to mimic an M. Night Shyamalan flick. It’s watchable. The acting isn’t dreadful, but I’d suggest saving your money and waiting for this to be offered free.
Scared Stiff Rating: 5/10
