Review of Chernobyl Diaries (2012) by Erik J — 30 Dec 2012

There's something undoubtedly terrifying and spooky about disasters - particularly something like Chernobyl. Ukraine and several other parts of Europe have been dealing with its aftermath for years, and the end isn't in sight. That's why a horror like Chernobyl Diaries might be compelling over other movie choices - there's a very real element of fear underlying it. It some respects the movie did do that some justice, but overall, it was a weak entry.

A group of Americans traveling through Europe decide to stay in Kiev, where group member Chris (Jesse McCartney), his girlfriend Natalie (Olivia Taylor Dudley) and their friend Amanda (Devin Kelley) meet up with Chris's expatriot brother, Paul (Jonathan Sadowski). Paul, wanting to show the group a good time, talks them into visiting Prypiat, the town where the workers at Chernobyl and their family lived prior to the accident. Since the meltdown, the town has been completely abandoned and a popular spot for "extreme tourism." Paul enlists the aid of somewhat illicit tour guide Yuri (Dimitri Diatchenko), who illegally brings the group plus two other tourists (Nathan Phillips and Ingrid Bolso Berdal) to Prypiat. Here, we gain some history on the accident and the group explores until that afternoon when their vehicle suddenly doesn't work and the horror begins.

Chernobyl Diaries works effortlessly on its atmosphere. The Prypiat displayed here is completely unsettling - think 28 Days Later emptiness but after 20 years of abandonment. You can't trust that anything is safe - from the roaming dogs to the floor boards under your feet. The characters even note that there is a potentially dangerous amount of radiation in the background. The remoteness of it further drives the atmosphere - it's scary, you're alone and help is far-flung at best.

Yet, for those great scenes and shots, there's just not a lot of genuine scares. When things get going, there are many great atmospheric moments, but the scares are physical and simple. The dark is the primary driver of fear toward the end - the fact that the city is abandoned is secondary. The plot becomes essentially like any other gory, scream in the dark flick after that.

There was a lot made when this movie first came out about it being connected to Oren Peli, the director behind Paranormal Activity. True, it does deliver some scares and was probably another marvel considering it's low budget. But the story can't carry through alone on its premise and setting and ultimately, I lost interest before the fur even started to fly (though I did watch it to completion).