Fearhouse
(aka Fear House 2007/Life Size DVD)
Picture: C Sound: C+ Extras: C- Feature: C-
Is it The Shining, Texas Chain Saw Massacre or just desperation that has so many
would-be filmmakers (even when they use video, usually very badly) think that
if they set their film somewhere and say it is scary and haunted, that we will
believe them? After a few dozen duds
with this set up, writer/director Michael P. Morris’ Fearhouse (2007) is the kind of project that proves this story is
wearing thin and is boring.
When a
writer is found in a big house disoriented and mess-up by a group of friends,
they think it is just mental stress, but they soon discover the place is
haunted. How come this never happens at
malls, fast food restaurants or corporate headquarters? Anyhow, though this does no become torture
porn, it does become boring and despite some Phantasm-like potential, has nowhere new to go. The only fear here is of falling asleep.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 is soft throughout and obviously shot on video
that may not even be High Definition.
They try to do some style with it, but it is not very compelling to
watch. The Dolby Digital 5.1 is better
than the Dolby 2.0, but both show their low budget recording origins and are
not too impressive. Extras include outtakes,
rehearsals, trailer and an audio commentary.
- Nicholas Sheffo
