The Attic
(2006/Allumination DVD)
Picture:
C Sound: C+ Extras: C- Feature: C-
Mary
Lambert is a Music Video director who is best-known for her work with Madonna
and Cyndi Lauper, but she has struck out into feature films a few times and for
some reason, wants to make thrillers.
Except for the first Pet Sematary,
a small hit at best, the results have been more like elongated experiments than
actual films of substance. The Attic (2006) is the latest example,
about a young lady who moves to a remote old Victorian house with her family,
suddenly haunted by an evil twin.
I guess
city life scares such demons.
That is
just the beginning of the clichés, though the funny thing is that Lambert is
trying to do an Asian Horror film without admitting it and focus on the female
point of view. However, the latter tact
does not do anything to improve the obvious and predictable. In addition, the shaky camera work and
editing are surprisingly silly and substandard as if she were directing Marilyn
Manson.
John
Savage appears in a key supporting role, but this starts bad and just gets
worse and worse. Only for the very, very
curious.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is loaded with motion blur, is softer
than expected and has color and depth issues throughout. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo is plagued with
problematic location recording and some forward sound that is a little sloppy,
especially for someone associated with music.
There are no surrounds either.
Extras include trailers for this and four other Allumination Horror
releases. Oh, and the fancy “haunted”
menus are silly too.
- Nicholas Sheffo
