Torment (2013)

In a world of pretty forgettable horror films this is one that stood out and sustained my interest. Without spoiling the movie I want to say that it was psychological as well spooky. Good unexpected turns, characters I actually can care about and not boring forgettable ones, and a story worth telling. All of which are refreshing in the horror genre. I do wish more films was like this one.The outfits for the villains was great too and one of the reasons this film has stayed in my head long after I watched it. I never forgot this one.The scenery is good too. A house with some forest around it does well for a horror movie.

Torment may sound like another submission to the growing "torture porn" sub-genre of horror, but don't let the name fool you, this is an old-fashioned scary movie. New family comes home, only to be attacked and tormented by a cult-like psychopathic family. Think "You're Next", only without useless characters begging to be killed off. Also without the ridiculousness.The movie does a great job creating believability in everything that happens. There's almost no stupid mistakes or decisions, and the killers are just as mortal as anyone. A good deal of time is spent with them looking for the family, not just suddenly appearing behind them wherever they may be. This movie has some real suspense. They even come up with inventive ways to explain old horror movie standbys. Why won't the car start? (Spoiler) Because they took out the battery for tormenting their victims. (End spoiler).Some may complain about the lack of backstory for the killers. Personally, haven't we heard them all by now? Everything we need to know about these psychos is here, everything else is just decoration. As for the family, which features the always charming Katharine Isabelle as a new step-mom; the early scenes do a great job setting up drama efficiently. It isn't a huge thing, just a personal story that takes a turn for the wicked. Torment is a great Halloween flick.

The other reviewers give this movie some pretty low scores. Realistically it's no worse than a variety of other horror films out there. To say that it has no redeeming qualities is outright false. It's filmed well, the acting is reasonable (where it counts), and it has a certain creepiness right off.Also, it has Katherine Isabelle in it, which is the reason I watched it to begin with. OK, I confessed. Back to the review.Unfortunately, like most horror movies, the scare/creepy factor lessens considerably toward the middle of the film as things start to emerge from the dark to the light. The villains, who are clearly insane, make very little sense to begin with, and the writers should have left it at that. You can't explain insanity, and you shouldn't try.But instead the writers keep hinting that there is a method to the madness, and that the villains are up to something very specific. Crazy, yes, but specific. But there are simply too many unanswered questions, and the motivations behind the characters' actions are just convoluted at best.Essentially, every element of a reasonably good film is here except that the bad guys don't really make sense, which just kills it for me.

The Strangers is one of my favorite horror films -- unrelenting tension after the first 15 minutes or so. This film has no tension whatsoever. Just a dysfunctional family being stalked by, well, strangers. I should have gone by the low IMDb user rating and saved my money. Strictly amateur night as far as the filmmaking and way too much time is devoted to how much the kid dislikes his stepmother. A few cuts and this could have actually been a Lifetime Channel movie. Seriously. It barely earns it R rating as most of the horror scenes take place off camera. And the masked strangers are not the least bit frightening whereas they were horrifying and very mysterious in The Strangers. The creeps here wear bunny rabbit costumes, for goodness sake! Bugs Bunny cartoons deliver more thrills than this crap. Plus, you never fear the family is in any real danger from the bunnies. Avoid this one like the plague.