Review of Maintenance (2007) by Joe A — 02 Jan 2011

Maintenance is a shot on digital video horror that is made by people who.

Obviously watch a lot of horror movies, but only know what makes them work on the surface(odd camera angles,moody lighting). Tale of a slum lord who hires a psychotic maintenance man for his tenement looks like a horror but, lacks what makes a horror movie work. Basic story is fine but, we never get to know or care about the characters. Most are just there to be victims. Also, there are too far many obvious problems.The tenement has labyrinth-like halls yet we are told more then once,there are only 4 tenents, who almost all seem to be attractive young women. And there are more then 4 people so someone can't count. The director has no idea of how to show the passing of time as the movie seems to take place in one day,yet we are told days have past and dead characters have been missing for a week. Since there are only 4 people, doesn't heroine Stephanie notice she's alone in the building as Paul kills off the other tenants? And the detective loking for one of the missing tenants also seems oblivious to the fact that his witnesses are vanishing too. And why, after evading and escaping Paul numerous times during the overlong chase/climax, does Stephanie never just leave the building? Ending has an amusing twist but, too little too late. I always champion the independant filmmaker but, their movies may be a different story.