Written by: Anthony Shaffer (screenplay)
Directed by: Robin Hardy
Starring: Edward Woodward, Christopher Lee, Diane Cilento
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
A cop goes to a Scottish town looking for a missing girl, and finds a cult.
Verdict
I expected a horror movie and got more of a thriller with musical tendencies. The ending really makes this, but it doesn't quite overcome the rest of the movie. It's an attempt at a thriller that misses the mark with a twist that almost makes up for it.
It depends.
Review
Sergeant Howie visits a small Scottish town trying to track down a missing girl but no one is helpful. As far as the town is concerned the girl never existed.
It becomes clear the town is a cult with frog based cures and mass orgies. Howie, being a good Christian, is incredulous that this town worships pagan gods.
It's a strange town, but the movie doesn't do the best job of capturing the creepy feeling. This should feel like an episode of The X-files, but it doesn't.
I was surprised that not one but two musical moments are packed into the beginning of this movie. It's not quite a horror, and the musical segments seem out of place.
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| This is when it gets exciting. Light that fire. |
What makes this movie is the ending, when the rug is pulled out from under Howie and he lands sprawled on the ground face first, figuratively. The mystery is larger than I imagined, and the twist is a horrifically good bit of story telling. This almost makes the movie worth a watch. I just wish the tension and mood had lived up to the conclusion. The atmosphere just isn't there.
Howie should have seen the red flags. His response just never feels real. You can argue that Howie assumed being a cop was all the authority he needed. He certainly thought that, but it can't save him.
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