Review: Rites of Spring (2011)

A group of kidnappers abduct the daughter of a wealthy socialite and hide out in an abandoned school in the middle of the woods. But feelings of guilt soon overtake the kidnappers, dividing the group and putting their entire plan in jeopardy.

• Starring: Anessa Ramsey, Katherine Randolph, AJ Bowen

• Directed by: Padraig Reynolds

• Runtime: 1 hour 21 minutes

The film opens in a similar vein to movies such as Texas Chainsaw Massacre, with some title cards informing us that back in 1984, several teenagers vanished without a trace. No bodies were ever found. However, no sooner had these unexplained disappearances begun, than they stopped. Until the following year, when the cycle started again. This pattern of disappearances has continued for 24 years.

It takes at least 15-20 minutes before anything interesting to happens.

Rites of Spring is a strange film, almost two different movies playing at once that then come together at the end.

In one plot two girls are kidnapped in the parking lot of a bar by unknown assailants. They are taken to a barn in the middle of nowhere and strung up, tortured, and drained of blood for a sacrifice to a local deity that comes out in the spring. One escapes, crosses paths with a group of kidnappers right in the middle of a ransom plot gone wrong.

The other plot is about the group of kidnappers who abduct the daughter of a wealthy socialite and hide out in an abandoned school in the middle of the woods. The evening doesn't go as planned and their poorly chosen hideout becomes a hunting ground for a mysterious creature that requires springtime ritualistic sacrifices.

A “B” Slasher film yet looks way better than expected.

kidnapping & torture, kidnapping & revenge, a monster, blood, and a little nudity.

Good suspense and overall a great film. Also there's a scene after the credits.

 If you are a horror fan and looking for a slasher/monster hybrid, Rites of Spring is well worth a watch.

 4.5 out of 5 stars

Review: Orphan (2009)

Rated R for disturbing violent content, some sexuality and language.

Orphan is directed by Jaume Collet-Serra,(House of Wax) from a screenplay by David Leslie Johnson and a story by Alex Mace.

The film stars Vera Farmiga (The Departed), Peter Sarsgaard (Flightplan), Isabelle Fuhrman (Hounddog), CCH Pounder (TV’s The Shield), Jimmy Bennett (Star Trek), and new comer Aryana Engineer

Joel Silver, Susan Downey, Jennifer Davisson Killoran and Leonardo DiCaprio produced the film, with Steve Richards, Don Carmody and Michael Ireland serving as executive producers. Richard Mirisch, David Barrett and Erik Olsen co-produced.

On with the review.

Young married couple Kate (Vera Farmiga) and John (Peter Sarsgaard) are devastated at the tragic loss of their unborn child, a loss that has taken a toll on both their marriage and Kate's fragile psyche.

When the couple decides to adopt another child they find themselves drawn to Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman),

Almost as soon as they welcome the little girl into their home an alarming series of events begins to unfold, leading Kate to believe that there's something wrong with Esther - this seemingly angelic little girl is not what she appears to be. Concerned for the safety of her family, Kate tries to get John and others to see past Esther's sweet face. But her warnings go unheard.

 

It was very intense and it keeps you on the edge of your seat. This movie kicks ass. It has a great plot, with secrets that you'll never guess. 

Esther is 9, and is adopted by Jon and Kate, who just lost a child. Once she starts to move in things basically go downhill from there.

 

The performances I enjoyed the most in this movie were from Aryana Engineer and Isabelle Fuhrman. (the two youngest people in the movie)

Aryana and Isabelle are very cute and they are both talented. I can't believe it, but they truly are amazingly professional for their age. I am impressed by their acting. Both of the girls WILL be VERY famous by the time they are adults.

Orphan opens with one of those truly mortifying scenes that can actually go beyond typical horror into something else, that visceral terror that comes with a catastrophic event. This being the death of a baby, as Kate is about to give birth, sees blood under her gown while waiting in the hospital, and is told her child has died before even giving birth. Then it gets more and more disturbing: her husband John is filming this devastating scene with his camcorder, and he presents the dead baby to her as she's sobbing in tears. The whole scene was very fast paced and twisted.

Then the rest of the plot unfolds but it becomes more predictable, While early on we get a scene with Kate and her little girl Max and how she reads to her at night even though she's deaf.

Overall, I enjoyed Orphan and think it is one of the better horror films I have seen in a few months. It doesn't take itself too seriously, and while it may offer your standard scary movie clichés, the film takes the genre into a new level with certain scenes in it guaranteed to offer some shock value. I loved the much hyped twist in the movie because it is over the top, just like the rest of the film. If you want reality, I would suggest either not seeing this movie, or to stop taking scary movies so serious. 

Body Count: 2.5 almost 3

I’ll give this one 4.5 out of 5 stars

                                            

Did you see this movie? Leave a comment.