Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Michael Allen
Director: Kevin Greutert.
Writer: Robert Ben Garant.
Cast: Sarah Snook, Joelle Carter, Mark Webber, David Andrews and Ana de la Reguera.
Jessabelle is a supernatural thriller. This title was recently released through video-on-demand, by Blumhouse Production. Lacking in any true horror, the film offers a great setting, but a mundane tone. Thrills are relegated to a few fight scenes as the protagonist does her best to uncover a long buried family secret. Her digging uncovers several tropes, with the film moving towards a predictable conclusion. Jessabelle is a very watered down thriller, which will satisfy few.
The story begins with tragedy. Jessabelle (Sarah Snook) is ready to start a family, with her boyfriend and new baby. A speeding semi, in a residential area, puts her dreams to rest, permanently. Jessabelle is forced to stay with her father, in a remote mansion. Here, she begins to see strange visions, of a woman in a wheelchair. It would seem that sibling rivalry continues into the afterlife.
The one film element this viewer enjoyed, in this title, was the setting. The film is set in Louisianna, but shot in North Carolina. Many of the bayous, swamps and fields offer lots of places to explore. Unfortunately, much of the film is set in the mansion. Though, the interiors of this primary setting also offer character. This home is rundown and dated. The furniture looks of another era. And, many of the settings appear authentic and of the American South.
The tone is less exceptional. The film begins to build tension in a few night scenes. A paranormal character moves about the house, in a wheelchair. This ghostly figure is often shown through a light curtain, in shadows. These scenes offer a few gentle scares. But, the thrills are far and few in between. Much of the film is composed of Jessabelle roaming through the mansion, or of her watching a series of videocassettes. Characters and conflicts are minimized. Later, Jessabelle teams up with a childhood friend, Preston (Mark Webber). And, they work to uncover the secrets of Jessabelle's home. The big reveal can be seen by the midpoint of the film, which reduces any further progress of tension. Many of the story elements play out predictably.
As well, much of the story is contrived. An early plot element, a car crash, is setup poorly. Do eighteen-wheel rigs really speed down urban streets? This film would say yes. But, this early hook is completely laughable. From transitions to plot devices, there is something very recognizable here. The haunted house and the secret of a troubled birth are two story elements that have been replayed in horror, or in thrillers many times before. These two plot points are not given any re-invention here. They are simply used to keep the film plodding along, at a moderate pace. There is very little to fear within this film.
Jessabelle was released with a PG-13 rating and film fans will find almost no horror here. A couple of scenes, involving burning structures, offer some disconcerting scenes. But, Jessabelle misses an opportunity to create any real surprises. Everything in the story unfolds in a fairly formulaic fashion and the climax is over too quickly. A final scene does offer some tragedy. However, a film and a story cannot rely one or two scenes alone. A true thriller offers misdirection, consistent conflict and action. Very few of these film elements can be found in this release.
Overall: 6 out of 10 (the protagonist is an interesting character and well acted, there are few characters overall, the shooting relies on one overused setting).
A trailer for the film is available here:
A Jessabelle Trailer on 28DLA
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Posted in: 2014,ghost,ghosts,haunted house,haunted house movie review,horror movie review,movie review,review,story,supernatural,supernatural thriller,synopsis
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