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It has been nearly a month since I offered to help write in the blog here at Top Horror Movies Club. I said I would try and pubish a post at least once a week, and so far I have been able to do just that. Lucky for me, over the last month I have been in a serious movie watching mood. Things have slowed a little in the last week, mostly thanks to college, but I am still in a movie watch mode. Two weeks ago I went to go see My Bloody Valentine 3-D with a group of friends. One of those friends has been my movie buddy of late. Every film I have gone to this year in the theater, she has gone with me. Since neither of us wanted to go see the new Underworld film, we made plans to see The Uninvited (2009). Sunday seems to be a good day to go see a movie. Not a whole lot to do on campus, and nothing on TV. Getting there a little late, since I walk slower than usual right now, we didn’t miss anything outside of a trailer or two.
The Uninvited starts with Anna (Emily Browning) telling us about a dream she has been having. It begins at a party where her boyfriend, Matt (Jesse Moss), brings up sex by saying he has a condom. Anna is not too happy about this, and decides to leave the party. She goes off into the woods, where she discovers three garbage bags. Something in one of the bags starts to move, and then a body falls out! Anna is upset, but looks at the body. When she does, the head turns, with a nice bone snapping sound effect. We see that the body is a girl, and she says something to Anna, before Anna takes off. From there the dream changes to a house, where Anna finds her mother (Maya Massar) alone. We discover later that Anna’s mother was very sick before she passed away. Anna goes to the house to find someone to help her, but the house explodes. We find out that Anna is not only telling us about this dream, but also telling her doctor (Dean Paul Gibson). Anna is currently in a mental hospital, trying to cope with the fire that killed her mother. The doctor suggests that it is time for Anna go home though, and finish what she started.
From here we meet her dad (David Strathairn), her sister (Arielle Kebbel), and Rachael (Elizabeth Banks). We learn that Rachel is dad’s newish girlfriend, whom of course the girls don’t like at all. There is a slight twist to all of this, in that Rachel was brought in to help with their sick mother. So I can fully see why the girls don’t like her at all. On top of everything else, Anna is seeing ghosts. Sometimes she will see the girl from the garbage bag, at times with two boys as well, and she also sees her mother. Anna gets to see Matt again, who hints at knowing something about the fire. When Matt turns up dead, and Anna’s mother points her finger at Rachel, could all this add up to mean that Rachel is killing everyone?
I found out something about The Uninvited, when I got back home from watching it. The Uninvited is a remake of a Korean movie called A Tale Of Two Sisters. This is a movie that I have heard about, but have not yet watched. I found it in my Netflix queue, and bumped it up. Thanks to The Univited, I’m really looking forward to seeing it now. Something good does come from remakes! The plot kept me into the movie, along with the interaction between Arielle Kebbel and Emily Browning. I even gave up on my popcorn at times, as I was trying to think things through. It was a very interesting plot to me, but it did slip just a little in giving itself away. There was one scene that made me question things, so when things were revealed, I wasn’t completely surprised. Speaking of the ending, I’m sad to say it is the type of ending I know some people throw their hands up at, and declare the film a waste of time. Luckily for me, I have never felt that way towards these types of endings. I do think they might be getting over used though.
Not a lot of effects in this movie. The mom appears extra crispy at times, and bones get twisted in ways they aren’t meant to. Those were the main effects, with some smaller ones thrown in. All looked good, even if they were filmed a little too dark at times. I have to say though, that I really enjoyed the acting in this one. I liked Emily Browning in the lead role, but it was Arielle Kebbel that stole my attention. This is the third horror movie she has been in now. She has also been in The Grudge 2 and Reeker. With each film she impresses me more every time. I didn’t really care for David Strathairn. There were times I thought he did a good job, and other times I felt his acting was rather questionable.
The Uninvited has gotten me excited about watching the original film now. I’m looking forward to seeing what the differences are in the films, and their stories. As much as I loved this film, the one thing that bugged the hell out of me, is that they never gave us the sisters ages. If they did, I completely missed it, but I don’t think they did. It isn’t actually an important detail, I would just liked to have known. I was thinking that Anna was in her late teens, until she was standing next to her sister. Then I started to think that she was in her early to middle teens. It just bugged me is all. The reason I liked the ending so well, and other endings like this one, is because it makes me rethink the movie. That is never a bad thing to me. Be sure to catch this one, it is very worth it.
4 out of 5 Evil stepmothers are just…evil!
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Oh wow Miss Heather. I am glad to see that you were able to make it to the movies as planned sweet lady. I am even more glad to see that you enjoyed this one as much as you did too (grinning). I had made plans to go watch this one today too, but those just did not work out as I had hoped.
But I am going to do things like you - just in reverse, lol. I have A TALE OF TWO SISTERS in my dvd collection, having burned it from the Asian Extremes showings on one of my cable channels. So I am going to pop it in tonight, and give it another watch. I only remember parts of it to be candid, so watching it again will be interesting. Then if things work out finally, tomorrow I will watch this one on the big screen.
I will not spoil things by talking about how they compare, but I do look forward to being able to discuss the two, when you do your review for A TALE OF TWO SISTERS (smiling). In some ways, maybe it will work out better for me, as I can watch the original first, then see the remake on the wide screen. Especially since reading the close-captioned dialogue will not be required at the big screen version, hehehe.
I also think you are being just a bit too modest again too Miss Heather. Of course I have noticed you suffer that issue quiet a bit too. You said they slipped up and allowed you to figure things out. I would think a more correct statement would be that a sharp, true horror fan, noted something they gave as a clue, but clearly not a give-away, and picked up on it. So well done pretty lady. Since it is probably easier for a fan to give you the credit you deserve, I really don’t mind filling that role when I can Miss Heather (grinning).
But I have to admit, you really have me pumped up about watching this one now. If my favorite sick puppette enjoyed it this much, than I feel fairly confident I will enjoy it too. We do really seem to enjoy many of the same things in our horrors. So it is like a trusted friend has said - go on, you will have a blast with this one (smiling).
Hopefully my plans will work out tomorrow, and I will actually be able to post more comments after seeing it. But one way or another, I will watch it this week for sure sweet lady. I am glad that your knee did not cause you a problem too maam. I do remember when I had made plans, but then realized my knee was not very happy about what I wanted to do. Times like that, I just had to take a rain check. So I am really glad that has not proven to be a real issue for you yet - at least that you have admitted anyway. Another great review Miss Heather, and just more motivation for me to hit the big screen again too. Thanks for both pretty lady (smiling, tips my hat).
Well maam, the movie gods were kind to me today, I am very happy to say. Not only did I finally get to watch this one Miss Heather, but I decided to re-watch MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3D first. I remembered to take my 3D glasses from the first watch, and was very happy when they handed me another pair, hermetically sealed in plastic, hehehe. So now I have a pair of them, but before anyone asks, I already have special plans for the glasses still sealed in plastic (grinning).
I have to admit that your incredible review had me really pumped up about seeing THE UNINVITED Miss Heather. I was also able to cheat a bit, and watched A TALE OF TWO SISTERS before sitting down in front of the big screen. I was afraid I might have to make like a grizzly during the movie too, but I did not have to. Glad for that too, lmao. Since it was rated PG-13, there were far more teens and I suspect even a few pre-teens than I was expecting. Before the previews started, but while they were showing fillers, several of them were laughing and talking loudly, and even three playing tag, running around the aisles.
But I remembered to get a set of headsets, and since they knew I would be watching two movies back to back, they put in fresh batteries and gave me the needed codes to tune in for each movie. As the previews started, I put the headphones on, and turned the volume up high. I never heard anyone talking after that, nor did I have to move a leg out into the aisle to “stretch” as anyone tried to run past me (grinning, wiping the blood off my sharpened knife, hehehe).
As I said Miss Heather, your review had me really pumped about watching this one. All I can say maam, is once again, you did not let me down in the least, you incredible sick puppette you (grinning, clapping, then moving into a standing ovation for the fabulous, flippered femme fatale). I really don’t want to say much, for fear I will let the wrong thing slip and spoil anything for someone who decides to give this one a watch.
But I do understand your question/issue over the ages of the two sisters. Again, not wanting to spoil anything, even for you sweet lady, if it bothered you in this one, then be prepared to be bothered again in A TALE OF TWO SISTERS, as they leave it up in the air too. I am looking forward to reading that review, and seeing how you compare to the movies too maam.
Until you do that, that is about all I really want to say openly, for fear I will let the wrong comment slip through. So if you want to discuss things more now, well sweet lady, you know how to find me maam (smiling).
For any of your other fans who feel they see things much the same as you, in what works for them in horror movies, I can only second your suggestion to give THE UNINVITED a watch while it is still running locally for them. Or at least queue it up in NF once it shows up there. Personally, I would be kicking myself if I had waited on NF to be candid. The effects and the audio just would not work as well for me on even a large screen TV. So when you get the chance, please give us your thoughts on A TALE OF TWO SISTERS, and I am really looking forward to reading your reaction and comparison of the two movies Miss Heather (smiling, tips my hat).
Sounds eerie enough to do well without effects. I am not getting much watching in lately and am adding this one to my 2watch list as well.