The Unseen (I) (2023) User Reviews

Bad Acting And Poor Decisions Plague A Promising Concept.

[meddlecore · 3/10 · 14 August 2023]

While the idea behind this low budget horror-thriller certainly is intriguing.

The execution is really quite bad.

As the acting- including from Breaking Bad star RJ Mitte- is particularly dreadful.

With a poorly constructed plot.

And writing that is mediocre at best.

The whole thing comes off as a film school project.

Which is a shame.

Because, given a bigger budget, and some more seasoned direction...it could have had potential.

The main problem I had with it all...is the dubious psychology around which the entire story is based.

It's never fully explained.

While the paranormal aspect of it is incredibly confusing.

On top of this, the sequences flashing back to highschool either needed to be redone...or scrapped altogether.

Because they just don't work.

It's just not believable watching these mid 30's actors pawn themselves off as teenagers.

With the act Mitte's character has repressed making literally no sense whatsoever.

Which kind of ruins everything.

Because, while they do adequately explain it via several twists.

The fact he wouldn't have gone to the police about it just isn't plausible.

So, using it as the crux of the storyline was an incredibly poor decision, in my opinion.

As it squanders what little the film had going for it.

Which wasn't much to begin with.

You can tell they thought they were being clever with the multi-twist ending.

But it's hard not be upset by it's fatal flaw.

Because it was totally possible to rework the entire plot, around the ending, so as to completely avoid these complications.

Making it all feel a bit lazy...or, at the very least, forced.

Because...while you might not see the ending coming.

It's just not a rewarding experience.

And felt like they drew the conclusion out a bit long for what it was.

When they could have ended on a high note.

But it is what it is.

3 out of 10.

This never stood a chance...

[paul_haakonsen · 2/10 · 27 July 2023]

I had never even heard about this 2023 thriller from writer Jennifer A. Goodman and director Vincent Shade prior to stumbling upon it by random chance. However, I will say that the movie's cover definitely was sufficient enough to grab my attention.

However, "The Unseen" turned out to be a rather monotonous, bland and actually rather pointless thriller. Writer Jennifer A. Goodman just failed to concoct anything even remotely thrilling, much less actually interesting or entertaining. Yet, I still managed to sit through all 100 minutes of the movie, hoping that the movie would eventually pick up in pace, or that actor RJ Mitte would be given something more worthwhile in terms of script and character to bring to the screen. That just never happened.

The acting performances in "The Unseen" were adequate, despite the fact that the actors and actresses virtually had nothing to work with from writer Jennifer A. Goodman.

For a thriller then director Vincent Shade swung and missed. The movie was ultimately very bland and devoid of any interesting flavors of any kind. And this is not a movie that I will recommend for thriller fans to rush out and get to watch. Nor is it a movie that I will ever pick up and watch a second time.

Funny how the movie's title actually is a premonition of what will happen to the movie itself.

My rating of "The Unseen" lands on a two out of ten stars. It just simply wasn't worth the 100 minutes.

The Truth is Complicated

[nogodnomasters · 4/10 · 30 July 2023]

Tommy Olsen (RJ Mitte) attends law school in the Chicago area. His dad is Dan Olsen (William Mark McCullough) a highly respected attorney. Dad has anger management issues. He drinks and is abusive. Tommy has a "cripple" issue and still talks out of one side of his mouth. Out of no where Olivia (Kimberly Michelle Vaughn) gives Tommy the card for the "Jude & Teel" law agency. This was not on his dad's radar for Tommy. His boss Kristen Jude (Candice Rose) assigns Tommy to cold cases and is overly interested in a hit-and-run case that was unsolved. Tommy has nightmares and sees things.

PLOT SPOILER: Note that the killer's has a large ring on the right hand seen in the death of the cop. Tommy does not wear a ring. This is a supernatural mystery that has poor plot construction. It is not a bad story, it was just poorly told. This is an issue with the director and script writer.

Guide: f-word. No sex or nudity.

Wooooooooooow

[washingtonkatana · 1/10 · 30 July 2023]

What an absolute load of tosh. Wasted 1 hour and 45mins of my life. I have no other purpose in life but to buy this dvd just to ooooff it over the neighbours fence. I have given 1 star for one reason.. and one reason only. I particularly enjoyed the scene where the main character (mitti) can't remember his name... power walks past a lady who is holding 1000 pieces of paper. She twists and throws the paper in the air like a ballerina at a wedding whilst letting out a high pitched scream 10 minutes after he walks past her. Safe to say I'm more than disappointed with this film which il never be able to unsee......

I WISH I COULD "UNSEE" THIS TRAINWRECK

[beverlyashley · 1/10 · 31 July 2023]

I had high hopes for this after seeing that RJ Mitte was attached to it. I've always been a fan of his since Breaking Bad and was hoping this film would be something worthwhile. Sadly, I was massively letdown.

The performances were bland and at times forced but bad writing certainly doesn't help. The actors can only salvage so much from this train wreck of a movie. The writing is so boring and atrocious - the writer should take classes on how to better explore plot elements and subtext more effectively. The dad's performance is one note as well as the mom and sister.

The cinematography is student film level, the directing lacks any sense of focus or coherence, and the special effects are laughable.

All in all, just avoid this film if you can. It's not worth paying one penny to watch it.

A whole lot of nothing, that takes too long.

[psutate · 2/10 · 8 August 2023]

Let's start with the obvious...this is a lower budget movie with some good aspects and some aspects.

The good: The title kind of sums it up! It should be "Unseen"! My honest feedback is RJ Mitte is okey. Rebekah Kennedy is pretty good. I guess the other good thing is there are a bunch of people that rated the movie a 9 or 10 (but my assumption is they are relatives, friends or cast members...or, they have never actually seen a movie!)

The bad: It is very slow and at 100 minutes it constantly drags. I'm thinking the Producer/Writer was involved in the editing and refused to cut scenes.

A lot of the acting and directing is a big swing and a miss. Anytime the writer is also one of the stars of the film you should skip it...this obviously applies here. Jennifer A. Goodman failed as both a writer and actress with a flat, uninspired script and performance.

The concept of the film is coherent, but the execution and script don't seem to match the idea. There are no real thrills or scares, just a few overly obvious hallucinations.

Overall, it isn't a good movie. Not even a little good. I would skip this one and go find something else to watch.

Don't believe the 8-10 star reviews

[The_Swedish_Reviewer · 1/10 · 30 July 2023]

This is a terribly bad movie but as you can see, there are many very good reviews. Unfortunately, they are all fake. Most likely they are created by the crew or other people connected to this project. Use your own judgement and do not trust these stupid reviews. At best this movie deserves 2 stars.

This is a terribly bad movie but as you can see, there are many very good reviews. Unfortunately, they are all fake. Most likely they are created by the crew or other people connected to this project. Use your own judgement and do not trust these stupid reviews. At best this movie deserves 2 stars.

"The Unseen" Fails to Live Up to Expectations

[annproduction · 1/10 · 5 July 2023]

As an avid moviegoer, I had high hopes for "The Unseen," from reading reviews on here. Unfortunately, my anticipation quickly turned into disappointment and confusion as I endured what can only be described as a mishandled and poorly executed cinematic endeavor.

From the opening scene, it became painfully evident that "The Unseen" lacked any coherent plot or direction. The story stumbled aimlessly from one disjointed sequence to another, leaving me wondering who wrote this? Any attempt at crafting a mysterious and thought-provoking narrative fell flat.

The characters in "The Unseen" were equally underwhelming. The actors performances were hindered by weak dialogue and underdeveloped personalities. It felt as if the actors were struggling to breathe life into poorly written and uninteresting roles, resulting in unconvincing and uninspiring performances that failed to evoke any emotional connection.

Perhaps the most glaring flaw of "The Unseen" was its blatant disregard for basic storytelling principles. Scene transitions were lacked coherence. It felt as if the film was edited by someone with no understanding of pacing or continuity, resulting in a haphazard mess that was difficult to follow and immensely frustrating to watch.

Furthermore, the cinematography and visual effects in "The Unseen" were subpar at best. The film relied heavily on clichéd jump scares and predictable horror tropes, failing to offer anything fresh or innovative. The few attempts at creating suspense were hampered by laughable special effects and lackluster camera work, further detracting from any potential enjoyment the movie could have offered.

Ultimately, "The Unseen" falls short on every level. The film's lack of a coherent plot, underdeveloped characters, and poor execution make it a frustrating and forgettable experience.

Save your time and money. Skip "The Unseen" altogether.

Don't waste your time watching!

[Ellie2109 · 1/10 · 15 July 2023]

The Unseen is quite literally the worst movie I've ever seen. I was excited to watch since RJ Mitte is the star, but was immediately let down. RJ did the best he could with the horrible script he was given. Other than RJ and Candice Rose, the acting was atrocious. The writer also claims this movie was edited by the same person that edited Donnie Darko, but his name is no where to be found in the credits. Instead of wasting your time watching this film, I suggest watching Fish Jelly Film Reviews video on YouTube! It's only 26 minutes long and explains the whole film! It's extremely accurate unlike some of the reviews on here.

GARBAGE

[dougr-87945 · 1/10 · 31 July 2023]

I wish I could give this film 0 stars, but at least a few performances salvage an otherwise horrible viewing experience. RJ Mitte does his best to navigate this contrived story and my favorite supporting character would be the one played by Candice Rose.

The plot is unambiguous and dull, most likely due to poor writing and execution. If you gave any money to the production of this steaming pile of trash, you should promptly ask for a refund.

The highlight for me was the dude enjoying his doughnuts. Those doughnuts didn't look that tasty, but he sold me on them. Well done sir.

Save yourself some time and money and avoid this cinematic astroid at all costs.

Really cool horror drama!

[erin-90344 · 10/10 · 30 June 2023]

Really cool, film and different than what I've seen in the past. I really liked the family dynamic and the drama surrounding all of the characters. I wish there was a little bit more blood, but I really thought it was cool, the psychological thrillers and the experimental drama that took place among all the characters. I was cool to see the mystery throughout with the resolve at the end. Really awesome seeing my boy RJ in another movie that emphasizes horror and not just the son like he is in Breaking Bad. The father seemed intense and that he needed some therapy, but everything was explained at the end. Awesome movie totally recommend!

Not your average horror

[Emytay007 · 7/10 · 10 July 2023]

I've been a horror buff since as long as I can remember. Its always appreciated when the writer/director cross drama and horror. The plot of "The Unseen" was pleasantly complicated and whatever it lacked in script it made up for with the acting and unspoken drama. The characterization done by the actors themselves was refreshing and although the narrative itself struggled at times, the actors pulled it together nicely. I also seriously appreciate a good plot twist and this film definitely delivered. The family dynamic was intriguing and well executed. I appreciated the super natural elements and the fact that they didn't have to use gore to make it interesting. Ghostly has always been my favorite. The foreshadowing was excellently executed and the passion the actors put into the film was palpable. Well done.

Could have been great

[dfredrick-59345 · 2/10 · 1 August 2023]

Could have been a great film, but falls short on many fronts. The cast actually consists of some pretty good actors that have established careers, but sadly the breadcrumb plot elements and shoddy story telling give them little room to shine.

There is a fine line between providing necessary plot elements and mystery, but this film falls falls right in the middle, and as a result becomes a mundane muddled mess. I ended up becoming disinterested in what was at stake and stopped caring about what happened to any of the characters.

I don't know why this is under the horror genre as most of the jump scares are laughable. I give it 2/10 stars only because I can appreciate the actors trying their best.

Feels like a student from film academy made this. Crippled dude is best actor

[The_Melancholic_Alcoholic · 4/10 · 31 July 2023]

So, I got this one, purely for the poster and the title. But right away I realized this was a low budget, no production value kinda movie. Don't get me wrong, the acting is good to middling, the story is ... half good, the direction is shoddy. In general, this movies exumes low production values, but there is some budget, the exterior scenes e.g. In the restaurant and the class room are pretty okay.

It took some time to get used to an actor with a speech impediment, but once you do, you see that he is the best actor of them all. A lot feels 2nd rate, like the protagonists sisters, they weren't exactly "aesthetically pleasing", but the acting was okay. Except for the Dad, who does a lot of Incoherent yelling and screaming, everyone acting is within parameters.

It's a weird movie and the story feels plot-holish. What is weird is why the ghost would wait this long to do it's business??? Why not do what you wanna do anyways???

4 oth 10 The Melancholic Alcoholic.

I smell a rat, probably two rats . . .

[dcarlson-79611 · 5/10 · 19 August 2023]

This thread of reviews is suspicious on both end of the spectrum. The early review are too good, some are almost certainly from cast, crew, friends, etc. But the reviews at the end are too similar. I thinks all of the one- and two-star reviews are a hit job on the film, and against the director and writer in particular.

I'm old, I've been around the block, and have seen many films and have dealt with many people in the Industry. This smells like a coordinated effort to ridicule people. Most of the bad ones say the same thing about the same people in virtually the same way. And some of the bad reviews --- ESPECIALLY --- take pains to complain about the good reviews. They talk about other reviews. Something is amiss. What a great industry to work in, eh?

I haven't seen this film, can't recommend it. I can't wave you off it it either. I'll update once I've seen it. But if you are interested in the movie, see it. If not, don't. But something is rotten in Denmark when it comes to some of these reviews, of that I'm sure.

Jennifer A Goodman way too old to play the daughter

[gibsoaj-55066 · 1/10 · 10 March 2024]

Jennifer A Goodman is way too old to play the daughter. I thought she was the mom or an aunt. She looks at least 45. The parents look younger. Crazy casting! Even if you are the writer/ producer at least write an appropriate role for yourself If you want to be in the movie. It throws it off for me. Like what age is she trying to pretend to be ? 42? Lol. Overall,Hard to follow movie. I give it 1 star out of 5. RJ did a good job. Good to see people with disabilities in acting roles. He was in breaking bad and I loved that show. So that's why I decided to give it a try. Not very well written or cast.

Confusing and boring

[zuzu84 · 4/10 · 12 December 2023]

Not sure what happened in this movie. I mean literally; it was confusing. I hoped the end would explain everything but nope. Why was Olivia in the basement? Didn't the kids even have an inkling about the abusive dad? Why did the therapist get so scared? I'm not sure getting answers to these questions would have really mattered but they could have at least tried.

I like the lead actor (from Breaking Bad) but he deserves much better parts. To be fair, the actors didn't have a lot to work with. Writing was bad. Effects were bad. Plot was bad. Only reason it got 4 stars was because I actually finished it.

Just no

[mjbla-87528 · 1/10 · 20 January 2024]

The funny thing is I watched this movie twice it sucked so bad. I wanted to make sure I seen what I had seent! R. J. Mitre and them faces was just no no no! I think they were trying to portray him to be cripple or something but he wasn't consistent. It's kinda satirical to me lol so worth the watch if you don't take it too seriously.

I think the storyline was good just acted out poorly lol. I'm one for a good low budget movie and this is the one. That's if you can get through R. J. Making all those faces. My kids said it's a fun bag kinda movie something to laugh at!

Also hope you have some popcorn because it takes 2 hours to get to the point.

Nice Horror Movie

[jordynb-56901 · 5/10 · 15 January 2024]

I saw this movie a little bit ago and I wanted to share some of my insight and thoughts to the mix.

Firstly, Tommy going into law school is very inspiring and fights the exclusivity social narratives. The camera movements were nice and make the scene feel alive paired with the effects when Tommy is having those episodes add to the suspense of the film. I appreciated the sound design and the usage of the lighting and shadows to amplify the suspense and horror of the movie

While the movie did a lot of things right, I feel as though maybe the genre wasn't the best fit. I think I would be more invested into the storyline if it were a drama. Overall, for their first feature length production, it can only go up from here!!

Good fun for the Summer

[shagee7977 · 10/10 · 2 July 2023]

"The Unseen, directed by Vincent Shade, offers a supernatural horror experience that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. RJ Mitte delivers a compelling performance as Tommy Olson, a law student haunted by dark forces. Kudos to Jennifer A. Goodman for her remarkable work as the writer, star, and producer of the movie.

The film lays out Tommy's struggle with his past and the pressure of living up to his father's legacy. RJ Mitte's portrayal of Tommy's emotional turmoil is captivating, and viewers can't help but sympathize with his character. The chemistry between Tommy and Olivia, played by Kimberly Michelle Vaughn, adds a touch of romance amidst the chaos.

I found the clever twist about Tommy's scary blackouts and the string of murders kept me guessing till the end.

Overall, "The Unseen" really displays Vincent Shade's promising directorial debut and provides a chilling supernatural horror experience. RJ Mitte's performance, supported by Jennifer A. Goodman's multifaceted involvement, adds depth to the film. Great chemistry, direction and a solid story made this movie standout from a slew of the same type of movies popping out so frequently.

Fun horror watch!

[movienerd123 · 6/10 · 15 January 2024]

As a horror fan, I really enjoyed the horror aspects and makeup in The Unseen. I love seeing Chicago portrayed in the film, such as the scene with the Goodman Theatre in the background. The concept of seeing things that aren't really there is executed well between the editing and cinematography; as a viewer it was hard to know what was real at times. RJ Mitte was a great addition to the film, as well. However, I think the film could benefit from a stronger focus on genre and really lean into that aspect.

Additionally, I appreciate the inclusion and representation of characters with disabilities that aren't often depicted in films.

I don't get it - THIS MOVIE WAS REALLY GOOD

[qb-94675 · 8/10 · 8 December 2023]

I feel like a score of 3 is a SERIOUS injustice. The acting was decent. The dialogue was realistic - acting was quite good. The cinematography was great. The effects - well done and on-point.

The plot reveals were well-timed and unfolded well.

I was never bored. The pacing was right because I never said its too slow and I never felt like they ruined any of the unfolding of the mystery.

If you have any curiousity about this film- I'd give you a nudge to watch it. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am truly baffled as to the negative reviews???

From start to finish- a good watch. The plot is solid and engrossing.

Read this...and watch the movie!

[SeanSmithStudios · 10/10 · 1 July 2023]

I have to say that when I saw the poster for this movie I was instantly intrigued, it's already my genre of film but the overall design elements were crafted perfectly. Once I started watching I was glued to the screen until the very end. It gave me chills...the plot twisted in ways I didn't expect and brought out a sense of horror-filled curiosity in me.

We're in a world where everyone is trying to make a horror film and few are actually making it a multilayered and multidimensional. The Unseen, however, does that seamlessly. It's hard to explain how a film makes you feel when it triggers so many emotions but all I can say is, go watch and you'll understand, just keep in mind this is not shy to show you what horror can be. I hate reviews that give true plots away so I will keep to that honor and just insist you experience the film yourself.

Go watch it, share it with your friends! The cast was top notch and the director knew what they wanted to see and together with the DP brought it to life. It's insane, it's thought-provoking, it's horrifying. Above it all though, it's damn good!

Fun flick with an awesome a-ha moment at the end.

[caseybrockway · 10/10 · 27 July 2023]

I had the opportunity to see this at its official premiere in Chicago and what an experience it was. The story reels you along not knowing what to make of what's happening until it all ties itself together at end.

It was fun to see so many of my Chicago actor colleagues on the screen doing their thing so wonderfully as well as the films lead, RJ Mitte. You can tell he's grown tremendously as an actor since his days working with Vince Gilligan.

Can't leave out the captivating cinematography, writing and direction by Chicago's own Lakefront Pictures.

If you like creepy supernatural thrillers, this film is for you.

A MUST WATCH!

[auroranic · 10/10 · 2 July 2023]

I loved this movie inside and out. The actors portray their characters with passion and it's obvious a lot of thought went into the production. Tommy (played by RJ Mitte) has an interesting backstory which develops the plot thoroughly.

The plot twists had me on the edge of my seat, just when I thought I had it figured out, my mind was taken in a whole other direction. All the actors did a good job, tackling their characters in unique ways.

I have to say, my favorite part of the whole movie was Kali (played by Ava Bianchi), she stole my attention in every scene she was a part of. I can't wait to see what she does next! Would love to see a sequel following her character and the older sister as well.