The Keeping Hours (2017) User Reviews

Touching and emotional DRAMA (not horror).

[paulclaassen · 7/10 · 25 October 2018]

Wow, this was such a beautiful film! It reminded me in a way of 'A Ghost Story' (which I also absolutely loved). The acting was very good and it is beautifully filmed. Lee Pace in particular was very good as the father, Mark. The film has so much depth and emotion, it is just a very special film. Just to be clear, this film is sometimes labelled as a horror film. It is not. This is a fantasy drama. People who has just lost a child (or someone very dear to them) might want to steer clear of the film, as they're bound to reach for the tissue box more often than not. Despite all this emotion, though, the film also has some incredibly scary moments.

I loved the way the film ended. Although we knew what was coming, it was left to our imagination. Loved it. Great twist! Sad. Very sad.

Gentle & atmospheric

[Love-Biba-Style · 7/10 · 2 August 2018]

Tender and painful, beautifully executed movie. Not a typical "horror" movie but eerie enough to keep me watching. Characters are well played, and captured that feeling we all have from time to time, that it's "hard to move on".

Weepy but not wimpy

[omendata · 7/10 · 14 March 2019]

What a fantastic film this is, it has it all for a tear-jerker.

For a start, this is not a horror film; more of a ghost story and will most likely appeal to the ladies although I have to admit I found it a superb film and even though I am a guy I did shed a few tears myself and I am most definitely not a big girls blouse but this one got me big style (so be warned guys!).

The acting is first class; the pairing of the main characters and the little boy was absolutely perfect. A sparkling script that takes us from point to point and never becomes boring or trite but just adds layer upon layer of drama to the unfolding story of love and the miracle of life, the possibility of a hereafter and forgiveness.

If you have a gentle heart and are looking for a subtle tear-jerker of a movie and especially to watch as a couple then this will not disappoint in the least.

It is hard to find words after such movie.

[arsene-lupen · 7/10 · 23 October 2018]

This is a good movie. The one of some of them. Good directing, good acting, good dialogues and good story.

Does not hurry when it does not need to be. And it does not force the emotions to the audience. Those come by thelselves.

Congratulation to all participants. Unfairly underrated.

A slow, loving ghost-story

[killercharm · 7/10 · 20 April 2020]

A slow, loving ghost-story in the vein of A Ghost Story, beautifully written and directed. Each actor brought it; that kid is so endearing, not only how he looks but how he moves, just darling. The story is about a pull, sweet and strong. It is so sweet and so strong that the two parents of the dead child gave up their real lives to give into it. That way they could live in their bubble forever. The shadow cast upon this idyll is the foreboding one gets when contemplating that things never will change; the bubble degrades if it's static forever. It might seem like what happens at the end is the sadness but actually it's the thing that made their lives vibrant. Living with the ghost of their dead son would have become toxic.

Good movie in the wrong category

[andrewrye-06535 · 7/10 · 1 December 2018]

I enjoyed this and I'm surprised I haven't heard of this before now.

First of all it is marketed wrong. It is not a horror, more a drama and the cover picture is misleading. Others have aptly told what the movie is about but there are no jump scares. The acting is good and the boy (Sander Thomas) is one to watch. I hope he doesn't turn into another Hayley Joel Osment (6th Sense). Although not original it does keep you guessing as to why the boy hasn't passed over, but you soon work it out and I was happy to enjoy the ride to the inevitable conclusion.

But and there is always a but, the pacing felt off and I was a little lost for a while as the film jumps over the boys death and restarts about 7 years after. This wasn't explained very well and it takes almost the entire film to work out what happened. This felt a little cheap as when you find out the reason it wouldn't have affected the outcome or the enjoyment. The mother went from being pissed at her ex-husband for making up the boys appearance to accepting and falling for him all over again too fast. Her current husband was never explained and her absence from the new families home including hubby and 2 girls while spending time at the old house with the ex-hubby felt shallow and lacking proper explanation but these are minor complaints and the overall story is strong enough to overlook any errors.

There are far too few quality dramas (and horrors for that matter although this is not one) and this is a nice breath of air into an overcrowded rush to market industry.

A good 7 from me.

Interesting but flat drama

[nicholls905-280-546911 · 4/10 · 17 June 2019]

I have no idea who this film was made for and judging by the release model, neither did the marketing team. Good actors find themselves trapped in a one note script and the audience will checking their phones every ten minutes. Odd film and a bizarre choice for Blumhouse. Slow and tiresome.

I will have you know,

[EmmaD33b · 10/10 · 27 August 2018]

That I only cried about 6 times while watching this movie.

All jokes aside, (I did actually, cry though.) This movie exceeded all of my expectations. 100% recommend you watch this.

Btw, to anyone interested in watching this movie, Please do ignore the negative reviews below. People tend to review a movie on how they wanted it to be, or how they wish it went, instead of reviewing the movie as it's own.

So, example, it's set as a drama/horror/romance movie, (in this case) and people are leaving bad reviews because they "wished it was a horror movie" and that they "wasted their time". Well, to this kind of people I wish to say: Maybe watch a movie that's only set as a horror movie, next time? OR, maybe go read other reviews before watching. Thanks.

Sweet PG family ghost picture

[robertemerald · 7/10 · 20 February 2020]

Whilst it is true that The Keeping Hours is not in any way scary, I still found watching it a rewarding experience. If you are a fan of the female lead in The Leftovers (2014), then this movie should find you in familiar territory. In a way, it's like a missing episode in that series. For anyone who watched it through to the end, you'll remember Carrie Coon went on a trip to a parallel universe to catch up with her missing children. We never actually saw that reunion, only heard her emotional telling of it. This movie is as if you did get to see that reunion. There is some very gentle and sensitive photography all the way through, and the actors are superb. Don't go to it if you are looking for a Friday Night spook-out. If you want an emotional family drama featuring a cute child and a relationship being gradually redeemed, well then, enjoy.

DON'T believe the fake positive reviews.

[sirscumish · 1/10 · 27 July 2018]

This is one of the most boring movies I have EVER seen. Halfway through your waiting for something scary to happen, yet it's still nothing but their child running around the house acting cute and the couple slowly starting to fall in love again, ...and I MEAN SLOWLY!. It's worst than any Lifetime movie. You will die of boredom.

Beatiful movie

[fatihkan1 · 8/10 · 5 March 2019]

I didn't expect it will turn to a drama from horror because its category was horror but this might be the best fantastic-drama movie I've ever seen in my life. it's making its way through smoothly and very gently for viewers to deliver the message. I'm really satisfied about that movie. made my day and left a permanent taste in my mind. Thanks for the feelings.

Watchable but simplistic

[fmwongmd · 6/10 · 29 September 2018]

The story is well acted and directed. The mother's fate is difficult to accept The ghost part is acceptable..

Just No

[guambrat1 · 2/10 · 10 August 2018]

The only reason I can give this two stars is that it fooled me into watching the whole thing. Nothing happens in this movie. Mysteriously a child comes back as a ghost and there are no supernatural consequences?! This movie is ridiculous.

Minus 3 Stars for NOT Being Horror.

[lizhalexander · 7/10 · 14 May 2021]

I don't know how Netflix does their decision-making, but it seems to be based on keywords rather than what a movie actually IS. Just because there's technically ghosts and mediums in a movie does NOT make it horror.

This. Is NOT. Horror. This is melodrama, and a very slow and agonizing one to watch at that.

I would even go so far as to say that this is a Therapy Movie where the writer/director is trying to work out some stuff that probably could have been done without spending millions of dollars, but what do I know? I'm not a movie-maker. :/

This was painful, but only because I seriously HATE melodrama. That's why whenever I see a horror involving a child who has died and the parent 'recovering', I rarely ever watch it, because it's a 50/50 chance it will just be slow and methodical and overly-dramatic.

As a drama, it's fine. Very sweet, several poignant vignettes of this couple and their ghost (?) son doing various stuff: Playing with trains, going to the beach, etc. The only 'horror' thing that really happens is when the windows get blown out because the kid is upset about the parents arguing. Other than that, it's not anything horror fans would want in a horror film.

I do feel like it drug some scenes on for way, way too long, however; it seemed to have a problem ending. It just...kept going. And going. Ugh, and going....

Anyroad, if you want a kind-of sweet melodrama about a couple healing through their relationship to their dead five-year-old, then I highly recommend it. If you want anything else, I'd suggest passing on it.

Don't trust fake reviews, luckluster of the year

[maxvent · 3/10 · 1 September 2018]

After seeing the trailer I thought about giving this one a chance. Couldn't be more wrong: chessy Sunday afternoon drama with every single cliché you can even imagine (like 10min watching the happy fAmily at the beach with the ding ding music). The premise is something you watched like 1000 times, all the rest is pure crap when actually NOTHING happens and suddenly THE END... And then is when you actually think about writing a review to warn everybody else, and you would thank me for saving 2 hs of your life.

Beautiful heart warming story.

[profitbuz · 9/10 · 25 July 2018]

This is certainly not a horror story, but very much a love story. I'm not usually into love stories but the ghostly element persuaded me to have a look, and I'm so glad that I did. It is beautifully filmed and produced, and the acting is great. The plot is quite original and has a simplistic appeal leading up to an unexpected twist at the end. Life goes on even after great tragedy, but still one can find beauty and love. Be prepared to shed a tear or two!

Play Misty for me.

[nogodnomasters · 4/10 · 8 September 2018]

The production is a lame ghost story. After the death of five-year-old Jacob in an auto accident, mommy and daddy separate. Jacob's ghost is in the house as daddy moves back in. Jacob is just like a real person except he can't be touched. Mommy leaves husband 2 to be with the ghost of her dead son, who seems to be very much real.

It is a feel-good ghost story. Don't fear the reaper type of thing. Not religious. I was waiting for the evil spirit to come in and enter through Jacob...

Guide: No swearing of nudity. Implied sex.

Love, Loss and Forgiveness

[crawfoc99-1 · 9/10 · 27 July 2018]

This is a lovely, thoughtful movie about love, loss and forgiveness.

Beautifully filmed in a loving, slow paced way. It's a movie you just go into with no expectations and it finds a home within you.

Characterisations are well written and Sander Thomas is such a find as Jacob. Both Lee Pace and Carrie Coon are excellent in their respective roles.

I know that this is a movie I'll watch time and again. Subtle, soft and moving.

Not a horror movie at all

[mikedegroot · 5/10 · 15 June 2019]

There is literally one jumpscare scene in the early part of the movie but that is it. The rest of the movie is a dramatic love story about a couple and the ghost of their dead kid. It is decently acted but the story itself is pretty sappy and overly dramatic. It is completely nonsensical how easily the circumstances just became "a matter of fact" and the ending is quite cheesy but it is semi-entertaining and watchable. If I knew this is what it was going to be like going into to it, I probably wouldn't have watched it, but at the same time I'm not completely disappointed that I've seen it. A very mediocre and average 5/10

Cheesy, tragic and fully depressing

[rodrigoalderete · 1/10 · 8 August 2018]

Can´t believe i watch the full movie. I admit i may be engaged for the fact that the ghost kid brought someone from the other side, but there was a few loose ends, like ¿Jacob crossed to the other side? ¿Who was the woman talking with Jacob (Elizabeth Mother?) ¿Elizabeth and Jacob will remain in the house or they just go to heaven after Jacob finally get his train? Anyway the wedding scene was beyond corny, not mention when Elizabeth dies. Just can´t bear the piano background music like a bad soap opera. The movie is tremendously sad, the romance scenes over the top and the plot failed so deep like the ocean. This was not good.

Surprising

[pityugodo2 · 10/10 · 11 October 2018]

Ok, so I just wanted to see a good horror movie and put on this. It was nothing scary, but it is a lovely and sad movie in every possible ways. The next day watched again. If you have a soul, try this. Believe me :)

Very poorly planned script.

[daneder-40496 · 2/10 · 15 January 2022]

Ok, so I get that this type of film, you have to really let your imagination stretch out. BUT, there still has to be rules, even in ghost movies. In this, there are none. First ghost boy can't leave the house, then he can. And he apparently eats?? And sleeps?? And what was with deceased 'mom' showing up for a minute? I really liked all the acting, everyone was very real and convincing in their roles. And at first I thought I would like this. But man, it really falls off a cliff with no plot-line guardrails, and became a real bore. Horrible character study too, you never really got to know them or care about them. Sorry, but it's a waste of time (and of a 6.4 grade!).

One of the most moving films I've seen in a while

[viv_viviens · 10/10 · 22 August 2018]

Definitely a hidden gem - I found very few quality reviews about this film, and yet it moved me beyond my expectation. The premise was simple: a couple lost their child, their child return to act as facilitator of their reconciliation. The superb acting, sincerity, and fluid dialogues are what carried the film through. The story and the images will stay with me for a very long time.

Trash!

[jgarcia-06270 · 1/10 · 25 July 2018]

This is my first review. I'm trying to save your time. This movie isn't horror, and it's barely drama. Romance? I mean, I guess a little. Overall, this movie is something you would see on lifetime network.

Nothing happens

[starofgod2003 · 3/10 · 27 September 2019]

You wait. And wait. There are no answers. If you're looking for a pointless drama, here it is.