Occurrence at Mills Creek (2020) Poster

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6/10
Solid but flawed old-school genre effort
kannibalcorpsegrinder16 September 2020
Following the death of her sister, a young woman is soon driven to the breaking point by a series of ensuing travesties that are said to be a result of a family curse that everyone around her seems to suffer from, forcing her into a race to find out the cause before she is involved in its history.

This was a pretty enjoyable and creepy effort. Much like the short film it's based on, this one gets a lot of mileage out of its creepy first half that has a lot to like. The way it manages to get the relationship down with the sisters in the backstory flashbacks showing them together regardless of how tragic or important the event was creates a rather intriguing setup early on here. Giving enough of an impression as to why the death would've haunted her as much as it does as well as setting up the later involving her being driven over the edge of her mental state, this character-driven part of the film is quite impressive and eerie which makes for a fun time here. There are a few problems with the film. The most obvious issue is the dreary and lagging pace that keeps this one feeling incredibly boring for major sections of the running time. Focusing on her series of memories and personal reflections, not only from the death of the dad and the childhood memories as well as her studies in school or hanging out with her friend tend to hold the film down to a crawl as barely anything happens that can remotely be called a genre effort. It's trying without much going on as the lack of supernatural activity or scares causes the laid-back tone to stand out a bit more. The last issue for some in this one is more than likely the passive manner of the ghosts that pop up throughout here. Given that they're much of a presence only through her deteriorating mental state and serve as companions for her to drive that point home, their lack of menacing appearance or behavior might be seen as a hindrance in that they don't do anything. They never seem to get involved in any of the few horrific actions presented here and are not part of the actual horror elements that arise since it's all brought about by human forces, leaving them to be completely harmless as a result. These factors tend to drag this one down slightly.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language and Violence.
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6/10
Interesting!
BandSAboutMovies15 October 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Back on November 22, 2019, we told you about the short version of this film. Now, the full film is ready for release and we got a chance to see it. It's the tale of a young woman dealing with the death of her sister, which opens herself up to see that her family has always been cursed and that if she does nothing to stop it, it will take her soon enough.

Written, directed, edited and cinematographed - that's not a word, sorry - by Altoona, PA's Don Swanson (who also made A Wish for Giants that we reviewed here), this movie took more than two years to complete. It stars Betsy Lynn George, who famously danced in the David Fincher directed music video for Billy Idol's "Cradle of Love," and Lynda Marnoni from Romero's Season of the Witch and The Crazies. George's daughter Ava Psoras is also in this movie as the lead, Clara.

Faced with the loss of her sister Cassandra and mother - as well as a father that was never there for her youth - Clara is trying to stay alive and get past her suicidal past.

This has a great look - closer to the 70's atmospheric horror that we love more than current direct-to-streaming titles - and has an interesting take on family dynamics and dealing with loss in relation to horror. It's slow-moving, so if you're expecting an action-oriented film, this isn't it. But that's fine - it takes it's time to get where it needs to go, but for his experience, Swanson puts together a fine piece of work.
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6/10
As dark as the night's skies
Stanlee10712 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This is so morbid & depressing film. After her sister's death this girl delves into the darkness from which she cannot escape. It is not an easy watch but one that demands the viewer to be on the edge of the seat until the big reveal.
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1/10
Nope!
burdababe8 March 2021
This movie is slow and meaningless! Don't waste your time! It leaves you very unsatisfied!
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1/10
Just Don't
juliehffmn11 April 2021
This movie sucks. I can't believe I wasted 20 minutes of my life on this.
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2/10
You're Not Ready, Child!! You're Not!!!!
wandernn1-81-68327419 January 2021
I just didn't get it. Was not entertained. Thought it was a confusing, boring, boggling mess. This one should have stayed buried. 2/10
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Just the right amount of horror.
jades_215 December 2020
This is not one of those cheesy horror films. This sucks you right in and keeps you on your toes wanting to know what's going to happen next.
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9/10
Haunting visuals
jsnyderl18 December 2020
Competently shot and well directed indie film. You can tell this was done from a seasoned filmmaker. Type of film that that makes you appreciate indie filmmakers.
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2/10
Pathetic
Tashev_Undead5 December 2020
I've never seen more boring and rough movie. The cinematography and the acting are poor, the story is good, but full of lyrical deviations. The effects are lame and didn't create the fear and the atmosphere they're supposed to. The whole idea is not bad, but maybe the budget was low or idk.
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8/10
Hooked me and held me
directortim20124 December 2020
A really good combo horror and thriller. Very involving. And for a low budget feature, so well made and acted. Really naturalistic. Just a very solid and enjoyable film from beginning to end!
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10/10
Keeps you hooked!
crissmannoah5 December 2020
No spoilers, but the movie keeps you hooked from the beginning and keeps that momentum the rest of the way through.
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7/10
Dark secrets
mitch-5095519 December 2020
A young woman struggles to come to terms with her own past. But finds her sanity overwhelmed by the past of her family. Attempting to exorcise her own self-destructive feelings, she uncovers family secrets and tragedies which promise to offer explanation but turn instead into part of her inescapable and nightmarish reality
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8/10
Family Horror!
againstthenight18 December 2020
Some of the best horror films are family films -- no exception here! This setting and tone were killer... very David Lynch. Solid scares - great performances. Really sticks with you!
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8/10
Excellent film about past trauma
schrades2221 December 2020
There are several ways to interpret the narrative of Occurrence at Mills Creek. The lead actress is terrific and there are some nice eerie moments. I don't want to spoil too much so please check it out and enjoy!!
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8/10
Enjoyable horror/thriller from start to finish.
jimborussell5 December 2020
An edge of your seat suspenseful horror/thriller that will keep you engaged throughout. I recommend.
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6/10
Well Executed Script
awilliamsmedia24 December 2020
Good indie film with an obviously experienced team behind it. I wish that storywise there was a bit more clarity, and I do wish it leaned into the supernatural a bit more but for the budget, I can understand the balance that was struck. I do also wish the curse was mentioned a bit more and a bit earlier, so that we could understand it's importance to the story, because it does amount to a great deal of stress the protagonist goes through.
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8/10
edge of your seat
mich1elle7 December 2020
This well written, well acted movie will keep you on the edge of your seat. I highly recommend this movie, very entertaining.
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9/10
Nice blend of suspense and horror. Good watch.
williamgway6 December 2020
Good film. A nice blend of horror but with a great amount of suspense. Kept me guessing until the end. It is well scripted and acted. A nice tour of the human mind. It exceed my expectations and I recommend.
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8/10
A haunting legacy worth the price of admission
jo-1426513 December 2020
This film puts you in a hypnotic trance with its slow pace and excellent sound design. The cursed legacy of a family in small town America lingers on. This ghost story suspense brings to the surface a new reality when death strikes this misfit family. Well Written / Directed and beautifully crafted. Definitely worth the price of admission.
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7/10
Indie Thriller Fun
fayk-738774 February 2021
As a self proclaimed indie thriller/horror nerd I thoroughly enjoyed this film. It does a great job of keeping you on the edge of your seat and confused but at the same time engaged. It is a fine line to watch however Occurrence at Mills Creek does a phenomenal job! Would highly recommend this film.
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8/10
Unique Spin on a Classic Tale
briandilorenzofilm10 December 2020
Don Johnson's "Occurrence at Mill Creek" delivers some solid chills and moments of creeping dread, in a tale of family curses and haunted pasts. I enjoyed the more surreal moments - without revealing too much here - such as an unexpected moment of terror in a therapist's office, a dance with the dead in a moody bar (very "Twin Peaks"), and a blood-soaked finale where the protagonist Clara (Ava Psoras) comes to terms with a terrible family secret. I had some trouble fitting all the pieces together, but it was overall a unique and chill-inducing experience, with some genuine moments of terror. It's also worth mentioning here the title "Occurrence at Mill Creek" playing homage to the infamous "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge", which if you've seen the former, you know...things aren't always as they seem.
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8/10
Not your usual horror!
AvaCincotti10 December 2020
With the budget of an indie film and the visual and pace of an artsy film, this drama/horror explores the darkness of a young woman who lost everyone in her family. The writer/director does a good job make you wondering what the hell is going on. If you like unpredictable and dark, this is a movie for you.
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8/10
Grief can be supernatural
srt-24514 December 2020
Trauma and grief are complicated and tumultuous feelings, enough to unravel the world around you and make you question reality. The director and writer use many interesting cinematic techniques to explore how these strong emotions can change the world and the mind of a person. The film delves deep into the psychology of the main character, and we see the erosion of reality through her eyes. If you like exploring the depths of the human mind, you will find some thought provoking moments to hold onto in this film.
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10/10
Atmospheric, mysterious and Intriguing
CEEarl19 December 2020
I wasn't sure what to expect from the trailer but I knew I enjoyed the other short films by the same filmmaker so I was looking forward to it.

What I got from a full length film was a feature that was atmospheric, mysterious and intriguing with great performances and an interesting well thought out story. I also really liked the way the film was shot. Great job to everyone involved.
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9/10
Just loved it!!
craigahrens6 December 2020
This is such a good film! I enjoyed it from beginning to end! A terrific horror/thriller film for sure!! Really good acting and storyline! I thought the director did a wonderful job with the pacing. I never mentally drifted off. I was engaged right out of the gate. Bravo all, so well done! A big thumbs up from me on this one!!
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