Review of From Within (2008) by Brian S — 12 Feb 2011

A solid horror flick that sets witches in a small fundamentalist Christian town. When the witch is burned for a crime she's thought to commit, her sons seek revenge by unleashing a spirit that curses the town with a rash of suicides. Handicapped a bit IMO by a couple of terminally emo characters and one scene that doesn't make much sense, From Within otherwise delivers. Although not the most original film, owing in equal parts to Gothic horror a la Hammer and to vengeful ghost cinema (particularly The Grudge), it's nevertheless enjoyable, well-acted and engrossing, even when it's poking the finger of a rather heavy hand into the eye of religious fundamentalism and self-delusion.

Light on gore and special effects, and sex is completely absent. This would probably have been a PG-13 film if not for some violence (mild by horror movie standards), language and smoking. Don't let that put you off, though. Horror veterans will probably see the ending coming (don't shut it off before the credits have rolled!), but that doesn't make it one bit less fun. Everyone gets what they deserve eventually.

Worth a watch if you're not offended by a story that paints the blindly faithful in a very, very negative picture. If it does, maybe it's even MORE worth a watch... but make a video of your reactions and put it on YouTube for the rest of us to enjoy!