Review of Dread (2009) by Tom M — 08 May 2011

One of the most unsettling, nasty, twisted, yet brilliantly handled psychological horror films i've seen in recent years. The story follows a group of grad students conducting a 'fear test'. They record people speaking infront of a camera, revealing their worst, most hidden momments of fear. Lead by the 'deeply' disturbed Quaid, the project takes a turn for the worst as Quaid reveals; "It was never about a project.".

From the mind of fantastic horror writer Clive Barker, who has produced classics such as Hellraiser and Candyman, Dread is a completely twisted, yet impressively intelligent movie. Many people will write it off to be a dumb teen slasher flick, or a copy-cat of the Saw films; but this movie is definetly not either of those. Whilst bringing blood and gore by the bucket load (it does so very nicely, spacing it out so it never becomes a guts-fest), it also brings wonderful performances, and as I have already said, impressive intelligence. Director Anthony DiBlasi takes care with his characters, making them fully formed people and not just cardboard cut-outs.

The final 40 minutes are absolutely intense, providing some of the most horrible things caught on film in a while. I had to fast-forward one scene due to the graphic violence, intensity, and even emotional impact it posessed. Dread is definetly not for the fainthearted or easily offended, but to a serious movie-goer, it's one that needs to be watched, and one that won't be forgotten.