Kristen Stewart stars alongside Dylan McDermott, Penelope Ann Miller and John Corbett in the latest film from Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert’s Ghost House Pictures. The film centers on the Solomon family who relocate to North Dakota from Chicago after a family trauma which has left their infant son Ben mute and their teenaged daughter Jess messed up. Not long after the Solomon’s arrive, Jess and Ben begin to witness terrifying incidents in their home in which the ghosts of the previous occupants (whom we see murdered in the film’s prologue) appear to attack them. With Jess’ parents refusing to believe and unable to trust her, she takes matters into her own hands.
The film starts off well enough (although I don’t know why they cast actress Jodelle Ferland in the role of a little boy) but is ultimately transparent to the point that I guessed the entire plot by the midway mark.
The film looks good, and as is always the case with Ghost House Pictures films, has had a ton of work done in the sound department, but it really offers nothing new at all. I couldn’t help wondering why The Pang Brothers would have chosen such an unremarkable film as their first English language feature, and I also couldn’t stop thinking about Cold Creek Manor which is really similar and also stars Kristen Stewart.
OVERALL SUMMARY
The Messengers is a decent slow burner and nothing more. It’s an enjoyable afternoon at the cinema at best. Watch out for the cool little Evil Dead homage when Ben sees something spooky down the hallway.
