This is probably one of the worst films I have ever seen. The acting wasn't great to start. Both main characters seem to phone it in with their delivery and empty expressions, though they did get a lot better toward the end of the movie.
However, the characters just aren't developed very well. There's no background given for Greta other than her daughter's ex-lover, in a horrible over-acting scene, saying "that woman is ill" following a very brief story of abusive behavior towards Greta's daughter. Frances' response to the dire situation in which she finds herself don't seem to align with earlier behavior when she is brave enough to face Greta and tell her to leave. It's when she's fighting for her life that she runs out of ideas. But once she's alone, locked in a room and tied up, she manages to find the energy to thrash around?
A lot of it didn't make sense. Frances goes missing and her dad calls a private investigator instead of the police. Private Investigator finds where thrashing noise is coming from while left alone for some time. Instead of putting a move on because it COULD BE the missing girl you're searching for behind this wall...no, no. Let's take our time and get killed instead. Frances had one moment of redemption and finds herself a chance to escape. But instead of breaking a window and escaping through the main house, she goes DOWN INTO THE BASEMENT and tries to break a narrow window through which she will never fit. Finds a bodybag and stares at it. (GASP! What could be in a bodybag filled with what appears to be something shaped like a human?!)
I can go on and on. Really, I added these spoilers to hopefully save you from a horrendous movie night. Watch something else.
However, the characters just aren't developed very well. There's no background given for Greta other than her daughter's ex-lover, in a horrible over-acting scene, saying "that woman is ill" following a very brief story of abusive behavior towards Greta's daughter. Frances' response to the dire situation in which she finds herself don't seem to align with earlier behavior when she is brave enough to face Greta and tell her to leave. It's when she's fighting for her life that she runs out of ideas. But once she's alone, locked in a room and tied up, she manages to find the energy to thrash around?
A lot of it didn't make sense. Frances goes missing and her dad calls a private investigator instead of the police. Private Investigator finds where thrashing noise is coming from while left alone for some time. Instead of putting a move on because it COULD BE the missing girl you're searching for behind this wall...no, no. Let's take our time and get killed instead. Frances had one moment of redemption and finds herself a chance to escape. But instead of breaking a window and escaping through the main house, she goes DOWN INTO THE BASEMENT and tries to break a narrow window through which she will never fit. Finds a bodybag and stares at it. (GASP! What could be in a bodybag filled with what appears to be something shaped like a human?!)
I can go on and on. Really, I added these spoilers to hopefully save you from a horrendous movie night. Watch something else.