Review of The Gallows (2015) by Bettina M — 09 Jul 2015

Like actual high school play, relatively tolerable if audience is lenience, but honestly rather tedious and shoddy. Found footage genre has been stifled with persistent issues, and this one isn't so different. The movie focuses on the production of high school play of the same name. It is the first time after twenty years that it's been produced, since the last one ends up with actual hanging. Soon enough several teens pack their camera and cell phones then decide to prank the production.

First problem is the man behind the camera, Ryan. In some found footage films, the cameraman is usually a narrator or protagonist. Ryan is the rare few who are incredibly unlikeable and borderline aggravating. Audience literally spends the first act hearing him berate and undermine other students, even his best friend and girlfriend.

I understand the need to portray brash youthful attitude, but that doesn't mean it has to be deliberately irritating to a fault. In some scenes he chooses stupid decisions, the very opposite of logical choice of actions. Other characters are imbalanced as well. Since the movie works on a small main cast, it relies much too heavily on these young characters. Their actions and motives are seemingly glossed over and erratic most of the times.

There just isn't enough material to sustain the backstory of this play. It seems petty and rather vague to be identifiable, even the supposed entity isn't that novel, nearly looking like any other villain from slasher flick. Still, the nocturnal running and screaming must go on. For that matter, the movie actually delivers a few good build-ups.

It's nothing inventive, but the large stage and myriad of props give it some advantage. A play itself is detached from reality, so at the very least it justifies the strange fantasy horror angle and it could have worked more with it. Furthermore, the backstage and school environments are striking chilling given the right ambiance.

Despite the fine set-up, it doesn't deliver any spectacular finale, or any satisfying pay-off at all. In the end the whole thing feels like actual high school play, relatively tolerable if audience is lenience, but honestly rather tedious and shoddy. The Gallows dangles mild eerie atmosphere but eventually choke on its sloppy presentation and overly shallow delivery.