How many of you enjoy watching any of those ghost-hunting reality shows? How many of you would like to punch that faux-hawk dueche-bag host in the face?
Whether you’re a fan of those shows or not, Grave Encounters takes everything you like or dislike about these programs and turns them on their head.
The location is set in Collingwood Psychiatric Hospital, where unexplained phenomena have been going on for years. The Grave Encounters crew will be spending the night, “locked down”, during “dead time”, to capture the super natural haunting with all the latest in ghost-hunting gear. Sound familiar?
As the first act unfolds it is as if we are watching an episode of Ghost Hunters. We get an awesome opening credit sequence, which made me giggle. The spoof was spot-on. Followed by interviews with the caretaker who tells the horrid back-story of the notorious hospital. Setting the mood for what should be a really creepy night. As the night falls, with the equipment in place and the team locked in, they go about getting the footage they need, not expecting to get much if anything. However, it isn’t long before we catch a glimpse of what is to come.
The second act builds in tension when Matt, the tech, goes missing. While the crew work together to find him, we get the first really good HOLY CRAP moment. Frightened, the team runs (there is a lot of running and a lot of shaky cam) and as they run, they quickly realize that the spirits have turned the hospital into a virtual labyrinth of hallways and rooms. Their only means of escape has vanished. The Grave Encounters crew has finally got what they asked for and they don’t like it. Slowly they begin to turn on each other, hoping their way is the way out.
In the final act, it seems all is lost. Lance, the host, is on the edge of insanity and his hope for escape is dwindling. From the darkness, a door appears and behind this door is Lance’s freedom. But it may not be the freedom he is looking for.
Overall there were some good scares I didn’t see coming. I even jumped a couple times. There was almost no gore. That was refreshing. The only thing that bothered me was the pacing. At times it seemed a bit off. I found that I was waiting for something to happen. Luckily, I didn’t have to wait long. Once I let my guard down, BAM, the film brought me right back in.
I think what is most likeable about the film is that it stayed true to the formula of the ghost-hunting shows. The actors must have done their research because they were pretty much right on. And that made it all the more believable. Grave Encounters gives you all the stuff you want to see in those reality shows but never do. For me it all worked.
Grave Encounters
Written, Directed and Edited by The Vicious Brothers
Starring Sean Rogerson, Juan Riedinger, Ashleigh Gryzko & Mackenzie Gray
*If you have never seen any of the ghost hunting shows here’s a few:
Ghost Hunters (SyFy) Paranormal State (A&E) Ghost Adventures (Travel)
cannot wait to see this!