Last Kind Words (2012) User Reviews

Very Beautiful Photography, But Never Quite Hits the Mark

[gavin6942 · 5/10 · 16 May 2013]

Eli (Spencer Daniels) and his father move to the farm of childhood friend Waylon (Brad Dourif). Eli is seemingly all alone, at least until he meets Amanda -- who is not all that she appears to be.

The biggest complaint I have on this title is the cover art on the DVD. While the poster is beautiful, for whatever reason the cover is instead a cheap image of a woman who looks like she is being kidnapped and tortured. Yet, despite the cover, this is not a horror film or anything involving torture. It is a sort of love story.

Not that horror fans will not enjoy it -- cult favorite Brad Dourif has a sizable role, and there are a few skeletons and some blood, so they might get that sinister grin at the corners of their lips. I entered into it expecting a horror film -- and while that was not what I saw, it is still a solid film.

The photography is excellent, and the story is for the most part your standard boy meets girl tale. There are some twists, and some interesting family tension. There is drama, there is mystery... I did not care for the actress playing Amanda (her voice seemed too childish), but overall everyone had that "everyman" quality that I feel is important in crafting an empathetic story.

I cannot get into it much more without spoilers, and I refuse to spoiler this film. Despite my rather low rating, it is not a bad film and worth checking out. I just wish they had used a different cover.

A different haunting indeed...

[paul_haakonsen · 6/10 · 28 July 2013]

"Last Kind Words" is a very unlikely and different movie about a haunting. And it was a nice change of scenery to have a story dealing with a haunting in this manner, instead of it being all CGI effects and attempts to scare the audience.

The story in "Last Kind Words" is about a family that moves out to work on Mr. Waylon's (played by Brad Dourif) estate. While roaming the lands, Eli (played by Spencer Daniels), come to meet the young and reclusive girl Amanda (played by Alexia Fast). As their friendship grows, Eli stumbles upon the secret that Amanda is carrying about.

The movie was really well carried by the performances put on by Alexia Fast, Brad Dourif and Spencer Daniels.

As a movie without a myriad of CGI effects and in-your-face-effects, then "Last Kind Words" managed to tell a good story with only a handful of effects and make-up.

And story-wise, then director Kevin Barker managed to put together an enjoyable and entertaining movie, as well as contributing something new to the ghost / haunting genre.

However, the movie doesn't really have enough value to support a second watching. You watch the movie once, and then never return to it. But still, it was an entertaining movie.

Rural, teenage love story with a supernatural base. Not bad.

[Stevieboy666 · 5/10 · 11 August 2020]

17 year old Eli, his Mom and heavy drinking bully of a father move to a Kentucky farm, owned by a friend (Brad Dourif) of the dad. Eli meets an attractive teenage girl called Amanda but is soon warned to steer clear of her because she's dangerous. Soon the worlds of the living and of the dead intertwine in Eli's simple rural life. It is a bit slow going at times, there are several gaping plot holes and some instances of awkward silences, or in other words weak acting, during characters' conversations. However the plot and characters were sufficient to hold my interest, there a few reasonable scares and I liked the setting. Bit of a sad film overall, and I mean that in a positive way. Brad Dourif has starred in some horror classics, he's also been in some stinkers but given the material he gives a decent performance here. Certainly his fans should check this movie out.

Dreary drama

[nightroses · 3/10 · 2 September 2020]

Okay this has to be the most depressing film I've ever seen. The story itself is tragic, but filled with annoying and grim music scores. The scenery is nice, and the film was trying to be scary but didn't work. It was a ghost love story but it took extremely ages to explain the background. The characters were unlikable, especially "pa" who is abusive to his son. The mother is a wet blanket.The only nice character was the dog! At least nothing bad happened to him.

A much underrated film

[locharrow · 3 October 2014]

This film deserves a much higher score than it has. It a well acted, beautifully shot film with great atmosphere and a slightly different storyline. It is not a run of the mill gorefest and if you like severed limbs with buckets of blood and a boringly predictable soundtrack then look elsewhere. The publicity picture that goes with this film is totally misleading but I can understand that as this film is quite hard to categorise, watch this film and see what you think. OK, from here onwards is just padding as it seems one needs ten lines of text to get a review published. Why is this I wonder? There is only a small cast but each actor performs flawlessly ( is that how flawlessly is spelt? ) and the location and sets are wonderful shot in the early fall I suspect as the foliage is taking on lovely autumnal hues. Jeez I am really beginning to struggle for words now, all I wanted to do was write a couple of lines in praise of this underrated film and I end up having to wear my fingers to stumps trying to get to the magical ten lines, ahh it seems we are have achieved the rquired number of words so goodbye and happy viewing.

A 5? Not even close

[keigirl-704-22540 · 2/10 · 5 March 2014]

This movie was a waste of my time and left me with a headache after watching it on Netflix. I would have given it a 1 if this movie wasn't old. I miss the horror movies from back when like The original Exorcist. I see why not many people even cared to rate this movie. And the ones that voted higher than a two need their eyes checked. A waste of production money. I will watch most horror movies even if their on the low-b side but this mess I will never watch again. I could have used that time resting my eyes. Somewhere in the beginning the screenwriter gave up. Trust me, my little review if far more better than watching this movie.

Enjoyable tale.

[MrAlfa · 7/10 · 14 June 2013]

I do not understand the low rating. The film is enjoyable and valuable in several respects. The photo is very beautiful and the actors recite their part in proper way, through a history that goes smoothly until the end. Perhaps it is not a masterpiece of cinema, but it deserves more than 4 stars. It 'a nice love story, with a good pinch of mystery with a remarkable soundtrack. Come on! There are many other films out there that deserve 4 stars or less, yet exceeding the sufficiency according to the reviews here. Maybe nothing new or surprising, but certainly a nice movie, worth to be enjoyed. Just do not expect a horror movie that makes you scream and squirm, or a breathtaking thriller, although it has some interesting moments for those who does not disdain a chill: relax, put on the DVD, enjoy the tale and judge for yourself.

Think Romeo and Juliet if Shakespeare was a redneck Crypt Keeper

[dcreeves · 5/10 · 26 May 2014]

Well, I just finished this movie. It's interesting but my Summary pretty much says it all. I put off watching it because I thought it had Stephen Dorff (the hot one) and not Brad Dourif (voice of Chuckie). I think you have to be from the south and/or understand a southern mentality to kind of appreciate the disturbing mental drain that is played out in the movie. There is a great deal about the plot that is very messy and oddly placed. I mean honestly it reminds me of the old series Tales from the Crypt. It isn't really SCARY as I thought it would be. It's more drawn out and disturbing more so than anything else. It was shocking to think that the soft male lead is that long-haired pot smoker in the TV series Mom. Wow he went from twink to stud! You probably should skip this movie unless you are looking for a take on a ghost story meets Romeo and Juliet meets some strange bits of supernatural incest. It would have been better if they had cut out most of the actors/scenes and spent more time building Amanda's back story.

A Beautifully Haunting Drama

[MissOceanB · 7/10 · 28 June 2013]

I find there are elements in this film which would strike a chord somewhere within with each viewer. The story, the scenery, the actors were all excellent. A few parts reminded me of Elvis & Annabelle, but aside from that, the films are very different. It is quite a daunting task to review this film without giving away too much (which is why I recommend viewing it!). Imagery and symbolism are well used which made the film that much more interesting and beautiful. Yes, there are some moments that may cause some to shudder or "jump", but they are few and far between. The film does well in exploring life and death and even modern history. There is a great melodic/ballad song that plays at times which also really made the film. Worth watching!

UNFORGIVABLE SIN

[nogodnomasters · 5/10 · 3 September 2018]

This is an oddball ghost story, one that is neither scary or overly entertaining. The film opens with a scene of a boy shooting his father because of what appears to be a ghost. We then flash forward. Eli (Spencer Daniels) is a teen. When his abusive Pa (Clay Wilcox) loses his job at the factory he moves to the farm of his childhood friend Waylon (Brad Dourif) which is apparently in Kentucky. Here Eli meets Amanda (Alexia Fast) who we become immediately suspect. Eli is also visited by his girlfriend Katie (Sarah Steele) while developing feelings for Amanda.

What we don't know is how the opening scene relates to the current situation. In fact I guessed wrong and was confused for much of the film which unravels itself slowly like a good mystery. It is perhaps my own fault as I was expecting a horror story from the cover and not a mystery/drama.

The acting was good. The plot was acceptable. The construction of the tale and lack of character build-up needed work.

Parental Guide: No f-bombs, sex, or nudity. Skinny dipping scene with PG arm placement

Refreashingly good

[OldSchool_Cinephile · 10/10 · 22 July 2013]

At first I thought the movie seemed silly, but it quickly proved otherwise. It is a very haunting love story. Very well done. Alexia Fast has a great handle on the accent. The progression is slow. It isn't chock full of action, but it doesn't need to be. It's a walk through the supernatural, not running from explosions and jumping through glass. It's nothing like the Blair witch clones or the paranormal activity clones. It's no slasher.

I won't go into any details, but I was pleased to see a film that was more haunting, less gore and fright. This film is actually believable, akin to many family or campfire tales of the past. It's a wonderful expression of how history can haunt a land. I'm from Kentucky, and stories like this are spot-on. It is really difficult to discuss without completely spoiling the plot. Excellent watch. I will no doubt recommend to friends and family, and certainly watch again.

Supernatural love story, beautifully shot but a bit of a messy script

[The_Dead_See · 7/10 · 31 August 2013]

A glance at the DVD cover and blurb of "Last Kind Words" would have anyone believing they were about to watch a sort of generic teen horror movie full of gore and jump scares but that's a long way from the truth. This is a slow-burn coming of age drama and a supernatural love story. It has a haunting, almost hypnotizing southern-Gothic sensibility that's really quite beautiful.

Eli, a 17 year old boy, finds himself moving with his abusive father and meek mother to the remote farmstead of family friend Waylon - played by the ever entertaining Brad Dourif - when the father loses his job. Eli ventures into the woods that surround the farm and meets a strange, alluring young girl called Amanda. As he begins to fall for Amanda he gradually uncovers a story of past tragic events on the farmstead and a rather sad haunting in the woods that goes all the way back to the days of the Underground Railroad.

The only real downfall of this otherwise beautiful movie is a script that's a little unsure of itself and ends up feeling a tad messy and confusing in parts. The pace might bore some - it really is a slow one - but personally I think it just added to the feels. I enjoyed it a lot and for an indie, it's a very strong piece of work.

B-Horror

[kosmasp · 5/10 · 3 July 2017]

Some might argue it being C or D Horror I reckon. But it does have Chucky in it (not the doll itself, but the actor lending the voice to the doll) and Brad Dourif actually takes his role seriously. I was wondering when I saw him, if he would just phone it in or go for it. It's the latter and he doesn't have that much to work with.

Still this Horror movie with a lot of fantasy and I guess a bit of folklore if you want to call it that, has some charm to it. It does a couple of things right and they tried framing and editing it and generally making it look like a lot more expensive than it had to spend. So if you have a heart for small budget movies, this may be something for you

.A movie worth a look.

[peterp-450-298716 · 4/10 · 7 May 2014]

Well, this movie won't make you feel very cheerful. Rather depressed, yes. However, the movie poster gives a distorted impression. You actually expect still a bit of a creepy movie. The girl looks ill-treated and tortured in this picture ... in the end it's just a love story, interwoven with a crime in the past with restless souls as a result. Eli met such a restless soul in the guise of Amanda (handsome appearance I must admit) and unravels bit by bit the whole story. And indeed, the end does not cheer you up.

Brad Dourif as Waylon, the owner, I found exquisite. The somewhat unworldly strange fellow, balancing between kindness / anxiety and hostility in a teeny weeny bit insane trait.

For me, Spencer Daniels played the hardest part ... As far as I know, I've never seen a movie where someone had to look so sad and dull the whole movie.

However, it's a movie that is worth a look. And that because of the beautiful scenery and the haunting music.

More reviews at http://opinion-as-a-moviefreak.blogspot.be/

Drama Not Horror

[Foutainoflife · 5/10 · 16 July 2018]

While some of the issues explored in this have elements that can cause cringing, I don't consider this a horror movie. This is more of a drama with some paranormal and uncomfortable aspects. It's not a bad movie. I just didn't get the "horror" I thought I was going to see.

Wonder how the audience watched this movie on theater by paying their money. Wasted.....

[thilagaraj-96121 · 1/10 · 5 September 2020]

Should I call this a Horror movie?? Main lead Eli is a pure looser which makes the movie much boring and Amanda is ghost girl who is just waiting for her get out pass. Director tried too hard to make a love moment between them which is absolute freak show and unbelievable.

At least katie character was good. Time god. She escaped from this Eli looser.

Zero thrilling, Zero suspense, Zero Plot.

Ultra boring.

Don't wander in the woods.

[michaelRokeefe · 7/10 · 17 June 2014]

I wouldn't call this horror; but a supernatural love story. Mid-teen Eli(Spenser Daniels)moves to a neglected farm in Kentucky with his folks, Bud(Clay Wilcox)and Ida(Marianne Hagan). Work is hard to find, but his Uncle(Brad Dounif)has a closed down pig farm that needs to be turned into workable farmland. Eli is warned to not go past the fence that separates the property from the backwoods. Why work, when your disenchanted life already sucks? Eli is drawn to the forest, where he encounters Amanda(Alexia Fast), a mesmerizing young woman who appears at the edge of the woods. She even warns him not to jump the fence and enter the woods. A romance blossoms and one sleepless night, the 17 year old Eli succumbs to temptation and enters the forbidden forest and discovers its secrets. Decaying bodies swinging from the trees; and this is just a taste of nightmares to come.

Actually filmed in Kentucky; a rather slow story line with very little special effects. Don't expect to be scared or shocked; but there is enough mystery to sustain the who, what and why. The supporting cast features: Sarah Steele, Rich Williams and Darrell P. Miller.

Not One for the Gore and Slasher Fans

[fatfil-414-451797 · 5/10 · 27 May 2023]

This is a well made but odd little movie. I would categorise it more as a drama with supernatural themes, than a horror movie; it is essentially a ghost story. It is not groundbreaking, or even overly original, but it is executed very well. The acting is top class throughout and the characters keep you engaged. There are some parts of it which didn't make sense, but hard to discuss here without giving any spoilers, but just to hint at things, The old Girlfriend, and the uninvestigated murder. If I'm honest, it is not at all what I was expecting. The horror/supernatural elements were minimal, but when they appeared, were dealt with quite matter-of-factly.

Sorry if this isn't a horror movie that you're expected

[brendyriansyah · 7/10 · 2 May 2016]

it's not a horror movie (or maybe typical horror movies), i don't know where to categorize this film but it's surprising me that this movie is enjoyable. the stories are great, and i understand if somebody give this movie a low rating. Because if you're expecting a scary or bloody horror movie this isn't the right movie for you, but if you're watch it without expecting something scary and go with the flow of this movie it's enjoyable and unique. gives you a depressed and calm atmosphere than a scary atmosphere. The cover and the tags are made me expecting something scary of this film but it's not. One useful tip for watching this movie are don't think the movie as horror movie, but more something like drama or romance movie with supernatural elements

Atmospheric Southern Gothic

[timothymayer · 8/10 · 14 August 2013]

First-time filmmaker Kevin Barker has managed to create an atmospheric ghost story with Last Kind Words (2012). The title, taken from an old folk song, where the "Kind" refers to something taken "in kind". It's not a bad little movie, just confusing as to the plot. You can tell Barker had all the right influences in his direction and loved the place where he was filming. However, the plot has trouble hanging together and key points are whisked out of thin air. Still, a good little film. Right now it's streaming on Netflix. There's even a dedicated Facebook page for it. The movie begins with Eli (Spencer Daniels) moving to rural Kentucky with his parents. You never know why they've decided to leave "the city" and return to the farm life, other than there's some mention of Eli's dad Bud having lost his job at a factory. They move into a mobile home on the land of Waylon (Brad Dourf), who lives in a picture-perfect big house. Eli instantly meets the mysterious red-haired Amanda (Alexia Fast) the moment he tries to take an apple from a tree. Bud, who proves to be an abusive father, scolds him for grabbing the apple, but Eli doesn't tell his father about Amanda. When Eli asks Waylon about Amanda, the older man warns him to stay away from her, claiming she's dangerous.

Much of the film consists of Eli wandering around the farm. You rarely see anything else, save the occasion trip to the store. While the land is beautifully photographed, the actor playing Eli just doesn't generate enough presence to make these scenes memorable. The actress playing Amanda, however, lights up the screen every time she steps into the frame. She has the right amount of ethereal personality to create a supernatural effect.

The other actors are all capable veterans. Brad Dourf, a character actor who sold the character of Piter De Vries in Dune, is amazing as Waylon. The man simply cannot give a bad performance. His name is in front and is the reason I watched Last Kind Words in the first place. I'd like to see more of Sarah Steele in the future; her brief appearances as Eli's city girl friend are memorable.

There's plenty of scares. All of which involve bodies hanging from a tree. The opening sequence involving a hunting tragedy is creepy and mysterious. You have to wait to the end of the movie to have it resolved. It's not the most satisfying of explanations, but works within the context of the film.

Much better than I expected.

[celr · 9/10 · 25 July 2013]

I came on this by accident and was pleasantly surprised. I think it's a really excellent film, a "southern Gothic ghost story" for which the word 'haunting' seems just right to describe the mood it evoked in me when I saw it. I think it's the sort of film that not everybody will 'get'. It's about a young man who has to choose between life and death. It's subtle and literary with echoes of a half-remembered past. The story is poetic and unique, not at all like the usual haunted house tale, but more like a piece of folklore. It's a bit scary, but not that scary. It doesn't aim to frighten but stir something deeper in the audience. It has more to do with a meditation of life and love and death and the passage of time. This film uses music to great effect. I even had to look up some of the songs on iTunes. You might not like as much as I did, and I'm sorry about that, but it really got to me.

"Last Kind Words" combines a coming-of-age tale with the thrills and chills of an old-fashioned Southern Gothic ghost story

[ersinkdotcom · 8/10 · 11 July 2013]

Image Entertainment always gives independent filmmakers an outlet to get their projects out to the masses. Many of these movies fall into the extremely competitive genre of horror and suffer from collapsing into the realm of cliché. "Last Kind Words" is one of the rare exceptions to this unfortunate trend.

17-year-old Eli (Spencer Daniels) and his family move to the Kentucky backwoods after the father (Clay Wilcox) loses his job. He decides to work on the secluded farm of a childhood friend and recluse (Brad Dourif). Upon exploring the woods near his new home, he meets a girl named Amanda (Alexia Fast) and feels an instant connection to her. His journeys also expose him to a dark secret the dead want restitution for from beyond the grave.

It's always a treat when you put in a movie expecting nothing more than a one-dimensional horror yarn but you get so much more. Looking at the cover of "Last Kind Words," you'd think it was just another typical angry ghost flick. Instead, Director / Screenwriter Kevin Barker and Storywriter Amy Riherd Miller fashioned a touching feature that takes a coming-of-age tale and gives it more depth by combining it with an old- fashioned Southern Gothic ghost story. It keeps the viewer's interest and slowly leads them to the answers to their own queries without losing any potency along the way.

The acting in independent or low-budget films can be questionable at times. That's not the case with "Last Kind Words." You can tell every actor in the movie was dedicated to the film and put their best foot forward. Brad Dourif completely embraces his role as the enigmatic hermit and landowner. Spencer Daniels commands every scene he's in. You can see the emotional depth he invested in the role in his eyes. Alexia Fast is passionate as the character of the mysterious and tragic Amanda.

I have a hard time using the term "horror movie" to describe "Last Kind Words." There's so much more to it than the usual jump scares we're used to getting these days. While the film does provide adequate thrills and chills, they're accompanied and spread throughout a grievous tale of isolationism, selfishness, loss, and the quest for closure.

A few kind words about Last Kind Words.

[Hendrixreligion6 · 8/10 · 29 July 2013]

I loved this movie and that is more than I can say for 99% of the horror/supernatural movies I have seen on Netflix. Last Kind Words is the kind of movie that leaves you feeling a little dead inside when it's over(pun intended) but in a way that is both stunning and haunting. The story is simple yet effective and allows this movie to entertain and scare without having to be cliché, overly gory, or loaded with special effects. I went into this movie expecting very little and got way more than I bargained for. I will not sit here and tell you this is the best movie I have ever seen or even that of its genre but I can tell you if you watch this movie you will not be disappointed.

Much better if seen as a story

[dngynbdy · 9/10 · 13 January 2014]

I don't understand the negative reviews and saw this movie. True, it's slow but it weaves a good Southern story. I think people are upset that it wasn't a typical slasher flick where a clueless girl gets chased by a madman with a huge ax and gets chopped up. In other words, people are too preconditioned to demand blood and gore in a movie to call it "horror." I totally disagree. The Blair Witch Project had very little actual blood and it creeped me out. So did The Ring. It cost me two nights of sleep! A teen moves to a farm with his parents and is harshly warned to never go into the woods. Of course, his curiosity overwhelms him. He meets a beautiful girl and wants to know more about her but that's all I can really say. I can add that he's not sure if she's real or not and he stumbles across an old scandal that shakes up everyone around him. Will please those who like slow, suspenseful dramas. The photography is also gorgeous and really lends a spooky feel to the movie.

Very Well Done

[jaezelaya · 8/10 · 23 July 2013]

Last Kind Words is not your typical horror movie, that should be said up front. It is more suspenseful, more on the side of a mystery as the viewer tries to put the pieces together. There is no gore that you would find in a typical horror movie like Saw or Vile, but it draws you in nonetheless. Eli (Spencer Daniels) is a quiet, lonely type of boy who moves with his family to a very remote part of the woods. His father is a mean drunk who still finds time to pray and tell his son that he's going to burn in hell and his mother runs when there is conflict in the house. Eli meets Amanda (Alexia Fast) while walking and they strike up a friendship. It becomes clear that Amanda isn't your normal neighbor.

Last Kind Words can get a bit slow at times, you wonder who certain people are and how they fit into the story, but the movie is still compelling. Finding out how the characters are connected, knowing the secrets, the history, wondering how everything will play out, the viewer does want to know more. You feel sorry for a lot of the characters, I thought Brad Dourif's character, Waylon, was beautifully acted in regards to a misguided man acting out in a warped sense of love. Last Kind Words does something that a lot of horror movies miss, it actually answers questions and fills in the holes. A viewer doesn't have to do too much guessing to understand the plot which I appreciate. I recommend Last Kind Words for those looking for a wonderfully done movie with a great plot and great acting, for those not looking for the blood and screams, but still looking to be on the edge of their seat.