Solstice (2007/Genius/Weinstein DVD)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: C-     Feature: C-

 

 

Daniel Myrick, who destroyed independent Horror Cinema as we know it with the all-time hack job The Blair Witch Project is back to ruin it again with the silly, dumb, repetitious, boring, unsuspenseful and unnecessary Solstice.  There is something in the atmosphere that kills, but it is not a good script or good director.

 

Another ghost is loose, one that likes turning car radios and headlights on and off.  Maybe he wants his money back from Blair Witch.  Shawn Ashmore (X-Men) and R. Lee Ermey (Full Metal Jacket) are among the wasted cast, but saddest of all is that this feels like Blair Witch with its hokey ghost tale again preceding the murders.  Even the loud sound jolts got boring quickly.  Like a baked potato you don’t want to eat, put a fork in it.  It’s done!

 

The anamorphically enhanced 2.35 X 1 image is softer than expected, with some gutted color and hardly any shaky camera work.  Unfortunately, by keeping the camera still, Myrick shows how bad he really is now that he has to take his time and pretend to do something.  Yawn!  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo is too forward, a tad harsh and a flat mix to be sure.  The only extra is the unintentionally funny Myrick commentary where he decides to share his “expertise” with the audience.

 

Now, will the sun just set on his career?

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo