There are a Few Haunter(s) in Vincenzo Natali's Latest: A Movie Review

*full disclosure: a Blu-ray screener of this film was provided by IFC Films.

Director: Vincenzo Natali.

Writer: Brian King.

Cast: Abigail Breslin, Stephen McHattie, David Hewlett and Peter Outerbridge.

Haunter is a film from American director Vincenzo Natali (Splice) and writer Brian King (Night Train). Natali has created a few standout films in his career, including 1997's chilling Cube. His latest is a haunted house thriller, which offers a few surprises in its short runtime. Very mysterious, Haunter brings an intriguing protagonist into this puzzling film. This title, from IFC Films, is one of the better horror features to release so far this year.

The film begins and ends with Lisa (Abigail Breslin). She comes out of the Matrix (1999) of her life, after noticing how her life keeps repeating. Events start to change when she expresses the repetition to her family. More characters, also trapped in some sort of limbo, find that their reality is a mere fantasy. And, a serial killer, called the Pale Man (Stephen McHattie), is introduced late in the picture to offer some compelling conflict. Is Lisa up to the challenge?

Fear the basement.

Lisa is an interesting character and protagonist. Shes deals with her awakening in a believable fashion (with shock). Initially, she is scared of her shadow. But, Lisa develops a tolerance to the nuances in her life and she proactively searches for answers to her new life. This development and curiousity is shown brilliantly through actress Abigail Breslin's performance. Breslin offers a range of emotions, which is necessary for this round and active character.

At the heart of Lisa's self-discovery is a complex mystery. Doors appear behind washers, or shadows pursue Lisa's movements. But, who is this shadowy person and what is behind the door? These mysteries are eventually answered. Readers would be better served to discover the answers to these puzzles on their own. However, the villain in this feature is on an equal footing with the protagonist. Both are immaterial and the conflict is resolved not through physical confrontations, but through misdirection and intelligence. Viewers will need to use their own intelligence to unravel this mystery before the credits roll.

Haunter is an excellent mystery. The production values are high. The camera work is often on the mark and settings, while few, offer enough horror to hold the attention. Some settings are dark and full of the macabre, which helps heighten the thrills. The story is the most curious element of the film. King's script offers several layers and multiple timelines. Realities are often skewed throughout the picture, with one character taking over the life of another. This wide range of settings and character abilities kept this viewer watching with interest late into the picture. The finale felt a little flat, but all other film elements were delivered with competence.

Fans of mystery would be served to seek this film out. Haunter has recently released on home video formats as of Feb. 11th, 2014 and this title is full of surprises and intrigue. The performances are all well done. While settings can become repetitive, there are several visual clues here, which will help viewers piece together the film's story. And, the practice of piecing the film together is the best element of Haunter and a reason for a second viewing.

Overall: 7.5 out of 10 (good performances, a great script, a few unpredictable bits, the climax is too short).

A trailer for Haunter is here:

The Official Haunter Trailer on 28DLA


Subscribe to 28 Days Later: An Analysis Email Subscription

Posted in: 2014,haunted house,haunted house movie review,ifc films,movie,movie review,review,stephen mchattie,story,synopsis