Review of Lights Out (2016) by Johnny T — 04 Oct 2016

Lights Out ultimately can't quite justify its full-length running time and is, for the most part, unable to live up to the high bar set by its preceding short (and its own opening stretch, certainly). Predictable stuff, energized by some spiffy scare effects and actors who perform well beyond the call of fright-house duty. Having done a good job with the casting of his central trio, it's a mystery why Sandberg didn't play to his screen strengths and give Bello more to get her teeth into. Palmer, recently seen bathing in light in Terrence Malick's Knight Of Cups, is a formidable presence here, but she's crippled by a sloppy and tone-deaf script. It scores laughs when trying to be serious with emotions and psychology. Unfortunately, the film stumbles, offering too few legitimate scares and displaying an overreliance on traditional horror movie clichés. The dialogue often comes across as phony and forced, just like the obtrusive Avenged Sevenfold poster strategically plastered on Rebecca's living-room wall. Jump scares are all Sandberg seems to have in his bag of tricks, and each is clunkily executed and met with an agonizing, ear-piercing shriek. Watching Lights Out is like standing next to an idiot with an air horn, never quite knowing when it's about to blow in your ear. It's a far cry from the freaky grace of his short.

VERDICT: "Not So Hot" - [Negative Reaction] These films are truly terrible films. They are not the worst things ever made, but they are definitely awful and should not be seen by anyone. (Films that are rated 1.5 or 2 stars).