Personally, I thought the actors were spot on. The child was amazing (I always cringe when a small child is in a film). I have no idea how they got the child to act. It's VERY slow, but, it did keep me interested. I would consider this more of an Art House film. I gave it a 6. Would have given this a higher rating, the slowness brought it down.
15 Reviews
Sloooooooow
mikedegroot26 July 2018
I wasn't expecting too much and that is exactly what I got. Very slow, dull, and virtually no real scares or excitement. There are a few good shots and some decent acting but the story really drags it down and is really something better suited for a short story at best. Very artsy yet it lacks real nuance. Your time would be much better spent watching something else.
Ugh, what a waste of time
deadgirlsamara19 September 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I should've listened to the other reviewers. This movie has no discernible plot, they try to add on at the end, but it fails miserably. We got it right off that everyone is dead and unlikable. No sympathetic characters. Right off you find the protagonist is someone you just can't care about. And that kid, what an annoyance. It is boredom then at the end when they introduce what they think is plot but just more crap. Total crapfest. Don't say you weren't warned
Don't waste your time
jinx_pisces2 September 2018
One of the worst pieces of garbage I've seen all year
alexunderwood-277192 November 2019
This movie is a shining example of someone who had a very specific vision for their film, so they just did whatever they wanted and it didn't end up coming together in any meaningful way. In an attempt to be deep and symbolic the movie is instead pretentious and a waste of time. The story is nonsensical and confusing until a character just explains it at the end. It's manages to be obtuse and hard to follow without actually being intriguing or leaving much up to interpretation.
It's shot like absolute garbage, mostly using a lot of ugly close ups and handheld shots that have no sense of framing for the scene. Occasionally the movie has weird interludes where the aspect ratio changes to basically portrait view for seemingly no reason. There are some interesting visuals involving paintings made by the main character, but they don't end up having any real significance other than looking cool.
Every performance is laughably bad; the lead especially seems incredibly bored every time that the scene is supposed to be suspenseful or scary.
Probably most damning, it just isn't scary in any way. Nothing that happens to the main character and her son is really that threatening or disturbing in any way. There are a litany of cliches and played out set ups that never go anywhere. For a movie that's paced like a slug on wet concrete it doesn't create any sense of suspense whatsoever.
In total, it's stupid, it's boring, it's ugly, it's poorly acted, and it has nothing to offer on a story level. Skip it.
The haunting confluence of metanarrative and transient space
Sankari_Suomi25 March 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This unusual art house collaboration between Canadian production company Cut Off Tail and Germany's Deutsche Telefunken features a lead actor who was still a toddler at the time of filming (and coincidentally, the director's own son).
Beth is sad because Pete has died. She retreats to Gramma's house at the beach, which she intend to sell. At the beach she meets Joseph, who expresses an interest in Lowen. Beth is unnerved.
Strange noises wake Beth in the night. She investigates but finds nothing. Lowan plays with his truck. Joseph walks on the beach. Beth is distracted.
Sam meets Beth at the beach. Lowen likes her. Beth is pleased.
Lowen looks through a window and sees the Other People walking on the beach. He calls out to them, but they cannot hear him. Beth is busy with her marbling.
Lowen plays with Sam. Sam tells Beth there are people in the area who 'don't want to stay dead.' The strange noises at night are getting worse. Beth is concerned.
Joseph clashes with the Other People. Sam comes to visit. Beth leaves her house in the middle of the night, and does not return.
Lowen is alone. Sam knocks on the window, but cannot see or hear him. Joseph breaks into the house, but Lowen escapes.
The Other People find Lowen on the beach, and carry him into the sea. Beth is still missing.
Sam and Lowen find Beth on the beach, unconscious but alive. Beth returns to the house, and recuperates on a couch. Lowen brushes her hair.
Beth has a dream about Pete. Joseph visits, and explains that he has lived many lives. He says Beth must give him Lowen because he needs a 'vessel' in order to 'return.'
Beth observes that Joseph has begun to mutate. She attacks him with her marbling comb. Joseph collapses to the floor with the marbling comb stuck in his head.
Beth enjoys a brief moment of triumph. Joseph gets up and attacks her with the marbling comb. Beth fights back, and smashes his face into a bloody pulp. Joseph stays down, but it's not clear if he's dead.
Lowen is at the beach with Beth. The Other People have arrived, and this time Gramma is with them. Beth picks up Lowen and walks into the water, where they both drown.
I rate The Crescent at 23.31 on the Haglee Scale, which works out as a refreshing 7/10 on IMDB.
Beth is sad because Pete has died. She retreats to Gramma's house at the beach, which she intend to sell. At the beach she meets Joseph, who expresses an interest in Lowen. Beth is unnerved.
Strange noises wake Beth in the night. She investigates but finds nothing. Lowan plays with his truck. Joseph walks on the beach. Beth is distracted.
Sam meets Beth at the beach. Lowen likes her. Beth is pleased.
Lowen looks through a window and sees the Other People walking on the beach. He calls out to them, but they cannot hear him. Beth is busy with her marbling.
Lowen plays with Sam. Sam tells Beth there are people in the area who 'don't want to stay dead.' The strange noises at night are getting worse. Beth is concerned.
Joseph clashes with the Other People. Sam comes to visit. Beth leaves her house in the middle of the night, and does not return.
Lowen is alone. Sam knocks on the window, but cannot see or hear him. Joseph breaks into the house, but Lowen escapes.
The Other People find Lowen on the beach, and carry him into the sea. Beth is still missing.
Sam and Lowen find Beth on the beach, unconscious but alive. Beth returns to the house, and recuperates on a couch. Lowen brushes her hair.
Beth has a dream about Pete. Joseph visits, and explains that he has lived many lives. He says Beth must give him Lowen because he needs a 'vessel' in order to 'return.'
Beth observes that Joseph has begun to mutate. She attacks him with her marbling comb. Joseph collapses to the floor with the marbling comb stuck in his head.
Beth enjoys a brief moment of triumph. Joseph gets up and attacks her with the marbling comb. Beth fights back, and smashes his face into a bloody pulp. Joseph stays down, but it's not clear if he's dead.
Lowen is at the beach with Beth. The Other People have arrived, and this time Gramma is with them. Beth picks up Lowen and walks into the water, where they both drown.
I rate The Crescent at 23.31 on the Haglee Scale, which works out as a refreshing 7/10 on IMDB.
A few good visuals, terrible story and acting
TereCastelloMagallanes5 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Beth, a widow, takes her toddler to her mother's house to spend some time far away near the sea. A strange man appears and frightens Beth. Later, the widow , who seems depressed and lifeless will have to deal with unwanted guests who seem to be coming at night to sound the doorbell.
First of all, the movie is not that scary at all. The characters, situations, etc, do not leave you with any feeling at all. I get that Beth is depressed for her loss, but her acting makes the movie slow and dull. The kid is a good actor thought.
Second, although the visuals of the paint combinations on water are interesting, there is not much else that could get my attention. The variation in format for the flashbacks are unnecessary in my opinion.
Third, the movie feels way too slow, the acting is not that great and the situations are not believable.
And last, the story in general is terrible, it doesn't build up correctly to justify the plot twist in the end.
Not impressed really but you can give it a try if you have the time.
The baby has more lines than anyone else
jessunami6 October 2023
I repeat. . . The baby speaks more than everyone else. Just think about that for a second. Think about a very young child you know, and just imagine a movie where they are the protagonist amongst mostly adults. The baby is very articulate. . . For a baby. So don't expect any soliloquys, but 10/10 acting for a baby. Beyond that, I had trouble staying connected to whatever was happening in the movie. I just have more questions now, and don't know or care enough to watch the movie again - to confirm if it was an actual loose end or if it was explained. I would ask the questions now, but they might be considered spoilers. And perhaps this may be the warning someone needs, but won't read if it has spoilers.
Slow burn, but if you can get past that it's really good.
icocleric21 September 2023
It's a slow burn for sure, it takes a while for things to start getting weird, and creepy, but once they do it gets good fast. It took a little while for me to see the twist coming, which I really liked. It doesn't come out of no where either, there's small hints. I really liked the story, and thought the slow pace at the beginning paid off in the end.
Because damn, it got REALLY creepy.
The son in the story is very young, which adds to the creepy when things set it. And I liked how they managed to keep him chatty through the story, that must have been difficult with such a young child. I really thought it was a good film if you can get past how slow it is at the beginning.
Because damn, it got REALLY creepy.
The son in the story is very young, which adds to the creepy when things set it. And I liked how they managed to keep him chatty through the story, that must have been difficult with such a young child. I really thought it was a good film if you can get past how slow it is at the beginning.
I just didn't understand it.
paigeturner3320 October 2021
First off this movie is very slow moving but I stuck with it because I read reviews.
If you are wondering if you should watch this movie do not make your decision based on my review. I just didn't understand it.
Have to say the acting from the little boy just amazes me. He did things that no normal two year can do.
I.
If you are wondering if you should watch this movie do not make your decision based on my review. I just didn't understand it.
Have to say the acting from the little boy just amazes me. He did things that no normal two year can do.
I.
Scary with a Twist
carrworks17 October 2017
I recently watched The Crescent at the Vancouver Film Festival and I loved it.
The Crescent is visually stunning and tells a story that can scare someone of any age.
I don't want to give anything away but all of the little things make sense at the end and it is truly a glorious experience.
Well done!
The Crescent is visually stunning and tells a story that can scare someone of any age.
I don't want to give anything away but all of the little things make sense at the end and it is truly a glorious experience.
Well done!
I just thought this was a delightful journey into what is called Indie!
juanmuscle12 August 2018
I was hooked from the start, the single mom and her little kid, (How they made that lil' kid do so much, say so much, run around, and hide from monsters and ghosts and evil Pet Semetary cats and on and on... ) Spectacular!
It starts right with an anti-climax , in the mothers attempts at trying to rebuild her life and just be a mom to that poor child we are intermittently interlarded with dash of melancholia here and a little bits of fear here.
I was pleasently surprised, to me, it seems like there perhaps is way more to the tale, yet the narrative is so artsy , due to the fact that the mother is constantly painting in the abstract and so it the narrative touches on that as she tries to figure out what is going on, it will give you a start here and there, but at the end even after the crisis moment, we are left with a sense that something good came out of all this , do we need to understand every single second of it, I don't know, I mean the tale at some point spills into the other regions, other realms man has posed questions and inquired since time immemorial, this was just a nice artistic tale that took us there, yes though beware of really spooky creepy middle-aged men with really nice silver locks! That's one thing I learnt from this movie! lol...
It starts right with an anti-climax , in the mothers attempts at trying to rebuild her life and just be a mom to that poor child we are intermittently interlarded with dash of melancholia here and a little bits of fear here.
I was pleasently surprised, to me, it seems like there perhaps is way more to the tale, yet the narrative is so artsy , due to the fact that the mother is constantly painting in the abstract and so it the narrative touches on that as she tries to figure out what is going on, it will give you a start here and there, but at the end even after the crisis moment, we are left with a sense that something good came out of all this , do we need to understand every single second of it, I don't know, I mean the tale at some point spills into the other regions, other realms man has posed questions and inquired since time immemorial, this was just a nice artistic tale that took us there, yes though beware of really spooky creepy middle-aged men with really nice silver locks! That's one thing I learnt from this movie! lol...
Slow, creepy, and mysterious
th3rtythr336 September 2018
Lynchian in it's essence, The Crescent is not what you'd expect from a horror film. It's an emotional rollercoaster, and the more you invest emotionally in the characters, the more suspense and psychological thrills you'll draw from it. If you are expecting cheap scares and instant gratification, you won't find them here. If you're looking for a unique and mature mystery with supernatural implications, you'll get exactly what you wished for.
Beautiful but slow
SSK903017 June 2019
Beth has lost her husband and takes their toddler Lowen to their beach house to heal. While there, she is frightened by an elderly neighbor who has taken an interest in her son. The movie is trippy and beautiful and slow but it does what The Babadook didn't - make you care for Beth and her son Lowen. As slow as it was, I was so terrified and uncomfortable for Lowen I almost had to stop watching. The toddler was amazingly cute and so good I wondered if he was older but small for his age. There were hints at the movie ending but for the most part it managed to maintain the mystery until the very end at which point everything makes sense.
Just finished and I am in AWE
bluesbaby-902702 October 2023
Warning: Spoilers
First thing I have to say is that I have been in both near death, loss of consciousness, and traumatic/dangerous situations...
The way the director depicts that feeling with the expanding marble paints is absolutely amazing.
In those moments, it has felt like my body expands somehow and also melts into whatever surface is underneath me. I have never seen a film portray the bodily sensation in those moments in an accurate way before.
It was incredible...I got goose bumps
Then the way that voices, sound, etc start to feel when you are unconscious, losing consciousness, regaining consciousness is so well done.
When she and Lewan are unaware of their circumstances, they are experiencing a very life like setting, clean & organized home, normal motor functions.
Then as they begin to crack through, the house is messier & lots of crunching noises, they can not do what they are trying to, etc
It is so real. I wonder if the director or writer have experienced a coma, unconsciousness or near death situations because the portrayal is honestly so close and accurate that it's haunting, and like de ja vu
It is shocking to see so many bad reviews. This film was amazing.
There was not a moment that lost my attention. It was also impressive how well the baby actor playing the child could dominate the screen time and plot.
Even the dialogue of him searching for his mom was so spot on. She had called him "hon" when she was scared & concerned for him. So when he is searching for her, he is saying hon. That is so true to life with the way kids that age mimic adults.
I hope my rating brings up the stars in the review score. I am shocked by the negative ones.
Such a unique idea, so well executed. And to represent the space between lost consciousness & reality with all the senses like that was something i have never experienced before.
I immediately looked up who the director was and plan to watch more of his films tonight.
The way the director depicts that feeling with the expanding marble paints is absolutely amazing.
In those moments, it has felt like my body expands somehow and also melts into whatever surface is underneath me. I have never seen a film portray the bodily sensation in those moments in an accurate way before.
It was incredible...I got goose bumps
Then the way that voices, sound, etc start to feel when you are unconscious, losing consciousness, regaining consciousness is so well done.
When she and Lewan are unaware of their circumstances, they are experiencing a very life like setting, clean & organized home, normal motor functions.
Then as they begin to crack through, the house is messier & lots of crunching noises, they can not do what they are trying to, etc
It is so real. I wonder if the director or writer have experienced a coma, unconsciousness or near death situations because the portrayal is honestly so close and accurate that it's haunting, and like de ja vu
It is shocking to see so many bad reviews. This film was amazing.
There was not a moment that lost my attention. It was also impressive how well the baby actor playing the child could dominate the screen time and plot.
Even the dialogue of him searching for his mom was so spot on. She had called him "hon" when she was scared & concerned for him. So when he is searching for her, he is saying hon. That is so true to life with the way kids that age mimic adults.
I hope my rating brings up the stars in the review score. I am shocked by the negative ones.
Such a unique idea, so well executed. And to represent the space between lost consciousness & reality with all the senses like that was something i have never experienced before.
I immediately looked up who the director was and plan to watch more of his films tonight.
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