The Reckoning (2002) User Reviews

Very short horror type story.

[poolandrews · 5/10 · 19 January 2006]

The Reckoning starts in a restaurant where Rachel & her boyfriend David are enjoying a meal, enjoying it that is until they have a row & Rachel storms out. Outside David saves Rachel from being hit by a car but at the expense of his own life. Ridden with guilt Rachel visits a medium to contact David's spirit, this is where it becomes strange as some sort of Vampire turns up & changes the past as back at the restaurant the argument still takes place & Rachel storms out but David's credit card is refused which leaves him stuck behind for a crucial few minutes as Rachel is hit by the car this time around.

This British production was written, produced & directed by Chris Barfoot & makes little sense & has very little time to either as it only lasts for a mere 15 or so minutes. It's not a bad watch as it won't take too much of your life up & is well made, has a fairly good wraparound climax & passes the time harmlessly enough. There are one or two nice shots especially when the Vampire thing in the church type setting complete with shafts of blue light & candles flickering. There is no gore or violence. I'm not too sure what else I can say about it expect that it apparently cost £60,000 & I wouldn't be surprised if it had lottery funding. There isn't much else I can say, if you can find a copy for free then give it a go, it's only 15 minutes after all...

Looks promising but all to prove.

[it001k0306 · 29 September 2005]

This appeared on UK satellite presented by Richard Jobson who interviewed the film's makers and promised that the film was "a cracker" that boded well for the return of UK films of the Gothic Horror persuasion. How I want to agree, but I can't, not 100%, anyway. On the plus side, this is well filmed, looks good technically (at least for a low-budget independent short) and even manages to exude a creepy atmosphere at times. However, the story of fate that is promised is so basic as to not be worth the journey. A man dies or a woman dies. if the wrong one dies then Fate comes to even the balance. It's an idea, not a story. What's more, it is an idea that has been essayed on film and television many times, often really successfully. Therefore, The Reckoning only succeeds as an example of film making potential and fails as a film, short or not. Well done everybody involved, you all deserve a shot a full length features. As for horror film viewers, don't watch this and expect a satisfying story.