Review of My Soul to Take (2010) by Thomas P — 19 Oct 2012

Wes Craven. The name in horror. The one name in horror that is still getting his flicks in the pics, and yet with this effort, his first directing gig in about five years and his first written script in about fifteen years. It could only mean that name was going to be back with a bang. Alas he returns to stain the horror name!

I'd love to give you an idea of plot but its so thin, it's so convulsed that all I can tell you is some looney called Abel (nice name) has multiple personalities and is actually a local serial killer called 'The Ripper' (oooooo) and after a traumatic event which I won't spoil as it is actually the only descent bit of horror in the film he apparently dies ... Or did he. That same night seven kids are born... Connection maybe?

Flash forward sixteen years as only film can and we do and we discover the kids all grown up doing a yearly ritual which is just stupid and perhaps invites the Ripper back for another stab, this time the victims being the seven who were born on the night of his supposed death.

This premise alone sounded like a promising Craven film. After a small hiatus I thought this could well be his big return with a hack and slash like only Craven could deliver. What we get is a mess from a man who is clearly trying way too hard to cater for today's youth and in the process kills off any real appeal the film may have.

For some reason (and while I advice you DON'T pay good money to see this) he injects American Pie like humour throughout which falls flatter than then DoDo. Here our main character Bug places his mobile in the girls toilets to hear what they think of him, which tries to be comedic and again just doesn't cut it. My advice to Craven would be not to try and write humour you clearly have no idea about!

The main villain is never really in this enough to even be feared or scared of. It's more likely you'll be scared of the poor actin on show and the way the film is so badly paced!

The moments that DO work are great. The opening is pure Craven and some of the horror moments are wonderful. Craven careful cinematography looks good too (there has to be something good right?).

In the end it's not worth more than bargain bin price am I seriously suggest getting blotto before watching. That way you might figure the plot out. If you do let me know.