Review of The Messengers (2007) by C.r. L — 16 Nov 2009

While boasting an atmospheric homage to horror films of the late 60's and early to mid 70's The Messengers has all the making of a great horror film but it lacks the soul, the acting and the true terror to really have the title of a horror/mystery thriller. But what it does do is give you a good run for your money, even though in some places it is a little cornball and preposterous.

The Messengers is an American horror film with an Asian horror style brought by the Pang brothers (Director's of the original "The EYE" and both Bangkok Dangerous.) Have the right idea and the talent to director horror but don't have the true knowledge and understanding to execute a story of this caliber. They rely too much on visual tricks and eerie music than what is actually important in horror: Good acting which can support the eerie story and plot, an actually good plot and story that has original qualities and chills. But while" The Messengers" has some of these things it still falls flat under a mediocre script and average acting form the supporting cast, while the lead Kristen Stewart holds up well under the pressure of bad direction and a poor script and comes out as a class act in this. But all in al this an average horror film, with a used premise.

Kristen Stewart does good here and gives her all but can't elevate the standard material, her performance is crucial to the film seeing as she, besides the little boy, are the only ones that have full roles in the film. Everyone else is support, but she holds this film together really nicely and is a good reason to see this. But all in all the cast doesn't do badly here it's just some of them don't try hard enough to make this a viable and truly suspenseful horror film.

The Messengers is cliché at best and a major rip off of countless other great horror films but it has one saving factor, it is entertaining and the Hong Kong horror style may please fan of foreign films of that genre. But it won't do much else for you but bore you in some places and shock you in others, but its light on the terror and that is the downfall, it doesn't deliver on the premise and falls flat when it needs to be horrifying. All in all a mildly entertaining, mediocre horror film with a good idea but nothing else. None the less "The Messengers" is passing entertainment.