Something
Wicked
(2014/Arc DVD)
Picture:
B- Sound: B- Extras: D Film: C-
A
Tale of Evil Deeds and Doomed Love
Brittany
Murphy's final film, Something
Wicked,
is a bit of a mess. It aims to be a high stakes supernatural
thriller and instead becomes predictable fair. It may seem a little
surprising that the film is just now being released, as it was filmed
in 2009 and has been on the shelf until now. However, for being
produced for a lean three million, the film manages to have some
interesting production design and some creepy moments, but not enough
to make it a cult classic.
Something
Wicked
stars Shantel Van Santen, John Robinson, Julian Morris, James Patrick
Stuart, Robert Blanche and Angelique Perrin and is directed by Darin
Scott.
Christine,
a virgin bride-to-be (VanSanten) and her fiance James (Robinson) have
a promising future ahead of them. Christine has just been accepted
to Oregon University and is excited both about the prospect of her
education, but also the chance to start a family of own. However, an
unexpected and gruesome car crash leaves both of her parents dead and
Christine is wrought with grief.
As
her wedding day approaches, the terror only get worse as she tries to
convince others that she is being stalked. Susan, her psychiatrist,
(Murphy) feels that Christine is displaying signs of PTSD as dark
secrets from the past slowly emerge. The film starts and ends
strong, but with a second act that is painfully dull. It also claims
to be based on a true story, which seems a little unlikely but we can
believe.
The
presentation on the disc is fine for DVD with a standard definition
transfer and a lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 track. Special features
include trailers for RPG,
Zarra's Law, The Barber,
and Something
Wicked,
though only Something
Wicked's
trailer will be available from the main menu.
All
in all, it's sad that such a talented actress as Brittany Murphy went
out on a low note with this, but it could have been worse.
-
James Harland Lockhart V
www.facebook.com/jhl5films
