Story: 0.75/2 - Direction & Pace 1.25 & 1.25/4 - Performances: 1.25/2 - Entertainment: 0.75/2
Total - 5.00/2.
Well, dear cinephiles, 'Terror Trips' takes us on a ride that, much like my last attempt at assembling IKEA furniture, starts with great promise and ends in mild confusion.
The premise, oh, the premise! One could imagine the potential being as boundless as a teenager's appetite for pizza. Trips to horror movie locations sound like the perfect recipe for a horror buff. What horror fiend wouldn't want to visit the town from Friday the 13th? It's like a horror-themed vacation with a side of nostalgia. Sadly, the glimpse of that iconic town is shorter than my New Year's resolutions list, and before you can say 'Bloody Mary,' we're thrust into mediocrity.
Now, the trip advisors stumble upon a rare cult gem, 'The Black Vulga.' - a film within a film - and suddenly, we're exploring the notion that movies mirror reality. It's an intriguing concept that hooked me like a fish on a philosophical line. But, alas, what could've been a decent horror flick metamorphoses into an action suspense flick that's about as thrilling as waiting for your toast to pop. The picture promised thrills and excitement. Sadly, it's like expecting a rollercoaster as the big ride at the amusement park and finding out it's the kiddie train.
Credit where credit's due; they did opt for a bleak, naturalistic ending. I appreciate the commitment, but it's like applauding a magician for pulling a rabbit out of a hat when you were expecting a Bengal tiger.
Now, the creative direction and pace - well, it's a mishmash that had me thinking of a grab bag at a carnival where you're not sure what you'll receive. There's an amateurish touch, as though they genuinely thought allowing the neighbour's geeky kid to be the cameraperson was a grand idea. While attempts at various tempos to establish atmosphere are evident, it's like a musician with multiple instruments trying to find the right tune but missing the mark.
The talented cast, however, stands out like a lighthouse in a raging sea of impenetrable fog: They're the movie's saving grace, carefully steering the helpless ship through the raging storm of mediocrity. Admittedly, there are odd moments when a few performers appear as enthusiastic as a miserable cat at a water aerobics class, but their collective effort deserves generous applause.
Ultimately, 'Terror Trips' is a passable escape for an hour and a half, but only if your watch list strikingly resembles the Sahara - barren and requiring cinematic hydration. Here's to hoping the sequel secures its footing and conveys us on a journey more thrilling than a bungee jump off a cliff - 'Terror Trips 2: Electric Boogaloo,' anyone?
Total - 5.00/2.
Well, dear cinephiles, 'Terror Trips' takes us on a ride that, much like my last attempt at assembling IKEA furniture, starts with great promise and ends in mild confusion.
The premise, oh, the premise! One could imagine the potential being as boundless as a teenager's appetite for pizza. Trips to horror movie locations sound like the perfect recipe for a horror buff. What horror fiend wouldn't want to visit the town from Friday the 13th? It's like a horror-themed vacation with a side of nostalgia. Sadly, the glimpse of that iconic town is shorter than my New Year's resolutions list, and before you can say 'Bloody Mary,' we're thrust into mediocrity.
Now, the trip advisors stumble upon a rare cult gem, 'The Black Vulga.' - a film within a film - and suddenly, we're exploring the notion that movies mirror reality. It's an intriguing concept that hooked me like a fish on a philosophical line. But, alas, what could've been a decent horror flick metamorphoses into an action suspense flick that's about as thrilling as waiting for your toast to pop. The picture promised thrills and excitement. Sadly, it's like expecting a rollercoaster as the big ride at the amusement park and finding out it's the kiddie train.
Credit where credit's due; they did opt for a bleak, naturalistic ending. I appreciate the commitment, but it's like applauding a magician for pulling a rabbit out of a hat when you were expecting a Bengal tiger.
Now, the creative direction and pace - well, it's a mishmash that had me thinking of a grab bag at a carnival where you're not sure what you'll receive. There's an amateurish touch, as though they genuinely thought allowing the neighbour's geeky kid to be the cameraperson was a grand idea. While attempts at various tempos to establish atmosphere are evident, it's like a musician with multiple instruments trying to find the right tune but missing the mark.
The talented cast, however, stands out like a lighthouse in a raging sea of impenetrable fog: They're the movie's saving grace, carefully steering the helpless ship through the raging storm of mediocrity. Admittedly, there are odd moments when a few performers appear as enthusiastic as a miserable cat at a water aerobics class, but their collective effort deserves generous applause.
Ultimately, 'Terror Trips' is a passable escape for an hour and a half, but only if your watch list strikingly resembles the Sahara - barren and requiring cinematic hydration. Here's to hoping the sequel secures its footing and conveys us on a journey more thrilling than a bungee jump off a cliff - 'Terror Trips 2: Electric Boogaloo,' anyone?