How to Save Us (2015)

I must admit, I don't know whether to hate anyone who had something to do with the film more than I hate myself for suffering through to the end when I could have hit fast forward. The movie follows a customary bad, boring move pattern: tidbit to keep you interested, 15 minutes of utter boredom. A couple of brothers (one of whom lost an eye, even though it does not play into the plot) wandering through a Tasmania that is quarantined in a way that does not stop people from entering or leaving, and playing a game of tag. We learn clever "rules" about the electric, infrared, ghosts like "they can't see you if you burn corpses and spread the ashes on your face or clothes," and "since they are electric they cannot be created or destroyed." Then we build up to the climactic finish where everything is explained...what, what? It isn't explained? But I thought it had something to do with child abuse...or viruses...or pathways from another dimension...or...forget it. And the movie.

This was surprisingly interesting and entertaining. The landscapes are beautiful and the CGI is effective: the scenes with the ghost are pretty creepy and work really well. I really felt the tension in some of these scenes, and I also thought that some shots were very clever.I also loved the way the story is told, the way it went back and forth between the two brothers by showing them visiting the same places, and Sam leaving his notebooks behind with instructions and notes.The (few) actors in it are also good, not only for a low budget, indie movie but in general.I thought the idea was very original and different and, even if the ending is a bit anti- climatic, I loved the fact that I didn't know what to expect most of the time. i liked it and would definitely recommend it!

What's with the high scores/user reviews this movie is getting on IMDb? Are they from members of the movie's cast and crew or something? Make no mistake, "How to Save Us" is a tedious, overlong movie that moves so slowly it's almost unwatchable.About 90% of it consists of two men in camping gear that walk.Walk. A. Lot.Lot's and lot's of walking. Quite often however, "How to Save Us" shakes things up by having the constant walking become... slow, cautious walking. To drag out this finger drumming-fest of a movie even further. I understand "cautious" scenes are meant build up tension, but there's got to be some kind of point or payoff, guys. The white, swirly CGI effect you've put in with iMovie or Windows Movie Maker that *sometimes* shows up doesn't exactly fit the bill.Very disappointing, especially given these high IMDb scores. I guess no system (especially an Internet scoring system) is ever perfect.Avoid.

The ad campaign for "It Follows" sold us on the fact that it was the so-called best indie film of 2015. I hate to rain on the campaign of the billion dollar Weinstein Company, but you have not seen How to Save Us. Shot for less than 20k, the new film by Jason Trost is something to really brag about. The premise may sound like a done to death very formulaic disaster film but the results is anything but. You have a brother named Brian who is traveling thru a plagued wasteland to find his brother Sam. How to Save Us takes that plot and gives us a twist that goes into both the supernatural and emotional. Brian seems to be one of the very few people left after this mass annihilation by plague. He knows his brother Sam is somewhere in Tasmania which is now being taken over by some kind of ghosts. Now before you start thinking hokey sheets or some done to death Poltergeist, these ghosts are a little bit different than what you would expect which leads to the horror element of the film. We learn early in the film that you have to hide from them like put human ashes on you so the spirits cannot find you or smell you. The spirits have this ability to change them that really adds to the creepy factor.The most effective is when they take over the radio and warn Brian constantly about Tasmania, or try to manipulate him by giving him voices of his family. The last twenty minutes of this film throws us a huge curve ball that shows a very emotional finale that people will really get freaked out by and also feel for our main character and know why it was so important for him to take this journey to find Sam. Trost showcased his love of trying to change the formula of the normal with All Superheroes Must Die which to me was a very fun film and very underrated. How To Save Us is an early favorite for Film of the Year not only because it changed the normal but also for the simple fact from script to characters to how this film plays out, it is just simply brilliant. In the summer of all the giants, this small indie film is simply one of the best films you will see this summer. I will also say, this is an early contender for film of the year. What a brave statement, Jason Trost has arrived. I am simply blown away and I feel all of you who read this will be as well. Seek this film out immediately. How to Save Us is going to rock your world.