The Campaign (2012)

The Campaign (2012)

Directed by: Jay Roach
Screenplay by: Chris Henchy and Shawn Harwell

Genre: Comedy
Running Time: 85 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Rental DVD - Family Video

May the best loser win.

[IMDb]

Comments: I honestly believe that Zach Galifianakis has the ability to be a great actor; one of those talents that transcends the comedy genre and goes on to more prominent and serious work. But I get worried when I see him in mediocre fare like Due Date, The Hangover Part II, and now, The Campaign. I don't want to see Galifianakis continue to churn out retread after retread like his co-star in the film, Will Ferrell, or even someone like Adam Sandler. Break from the mold, Zach!

I won't lie, I did find The Campaign to be pretty funny at times, but the longer the film went on the more I just wanted it to be over. Will Ferrell plays the exact same character he's played in 20 other movies, and despite the quality of supporting actors (Dan Aykroyd, John Lithgow, and Brian Cox), there's really not a lot to see here. This was another of my $1 rentals, and while I'm glad I finally got to see The Campaign, I feel like I only got $.50 worth.

Grave Encounters (2011)

Grave Encounters (2011)

Directed by: The Vicious Brothers
Screenplay by: The Vicious Brothers

Genre: Horror
Running Time: 92 Minutes
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Viewed: Netflix Watch Instantly

They were searching for proof... they found it.

[IMDb]

Comments: I've heard a few decent things about Grave Encounters in the past, and having watched shows like Ghost Hunters before, I was eager to check it out. The beginning of the film mainly riffs on what most expect those "ghost hunting" shows to be like behind the scenes: a total scam. However, things don't go exactly as planned, and the asylum the crew is investigating is indeed haunted. I'll admit, Grave Encounters had me for awhile. The film was interesting, moved at a brisk pace, and kept me interested in what was going on. Soon, however, The Vicious Brothers kept getting bigger and bigger with what was occurring, and I soon lost most of my interest. While some scenes certainly worked, a film like this really works better with less. I don't need to see a lot. Let my mind do the work. Instead, we see all this crazy shit over the course of the final act that took me out of the moment. Still, I like Grave Encounters enough to recommend a look. It's well made, even if it's a little too grandiose for its own good.

The Possession (2012)

The Possession (2012)

Directed by: Ole Bornedal
Screenplay by: Juliet Snowden and Stiles White

Genre: Horror | Thriller
Running Time: 92 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Theater

Fear the demon that doesn't fear God.

[IMDb]

Comments: When I decided I would go see The Possession this weekend, I had a fairly good idea that it wasn't going to be very good. Considering the mediocre reviews and the fact that I've seen every "bigger" possession film of the last decade or so, I pretty much was certain there would be nothing new in this film. And there wasn't. Despite this, I was entertained enough by The Possession during my two hours in the theater.

- There were two things I enjoyed about the movie. The first was some of the camerawork and stylistic choices that Ole Bornedal made. Some of the shots looked really good, and the lighting was really well done. In particular, I liked red lighting used toward the end of the film. It gave a mediocre film a bit of style and worth.

- The second thing I enjoyed was Jeffrey Dean Morgan. He's by no means the greatest actor ever, but I always like the guy. His personality is easily relatable, and I always find myself enjoying the oft-mediocre films he's in. (Morgan's also in the upcoming remake Red Dawn, so I'll probably have to go see that now too.)

- By far, the worst aspect is the shitty script. The screenplay has absolutely no flow, and the whole film constantly felt jumpy. There's no real build to the girl's possession, and then BAM! - there's some full force Exorcist shit going on. Plus Kyra Sedgewick's character is awful. She's supposed to be an overprotective and somewhat vindictive ex of Morgan. However, she ends up coming off as a complete cunt due to the writing. I not-so-secretly hoped that she would've been killed during the proceedings.

- And finally, as I realized toward the final act that this film had no hope at actually being good, I was hoping that Bornedal would take The Possession toward the ridiculous rather than the conventional (the film was produced by Sam Raimi, after all). Toward the finale, Morgan picks up a Jewish exorcist dude to rid the demon from his little girl (who the crew had so much demon make-up on that it looked like she was auditioning for one of The Crow sequels). Said exorcist was played by none other than Matisyahu, that Jewish reggae dude who had that one song back in the day. I was really hoping the two would show up to the exorcism bumping this while loading up with yamakas and getting ready to kick some demon ass. Come on, tell me that wouldn't rule.

Maniac (1980)

Maniac (1980)

Directed by: William Lustig
Screenplay by: C.A. Rosenberg and Joe Spinell

Genre: Drama | Horror | Thriller
Running Time: 87 Minutes
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Viewed: Netflix Watch Instantly

Run from this man!

[IMDb]

Comments: I started watching Maniac Sunday night but stopped after about thirty minutes or so; I just couldn't get into it. After finishing it up tonight, I'm glad I watched it, but I didn't find too much special about the film. The real star of the film is Tom Savini - not for his small role, but rather for the outstanding gore effects used in the movie. Maniac is downright brutal at times, and that was pretty damn cool. Unfortunately, the rest of the film pales in comparison. It follows co-writer/lead Joe Spinell for the entirety - there's no other character that truly gets established. And I'm sorry, but Spinell's pretty goddamn boring. And he looks way too much like Ron Jeremy. I know a ton of people love Maniac, but it just wasn't for me.

Humanoids from the Deep (1980)

Humanoids from the Deep (1980)

Directed by: Barbara Peeters
Screenplay by: William Martin

Genre: Horror | Sci-Fi
Running Time: 80 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Netflix Watch Instantly

From the caverns of the deep... it strikes!

[IMDb]

Comments: For being a bit silly and not all that good, Humanoids from the Deep wasn't a terrible watch. You know you're in for a treat when the name on the title card in the film differs from the box art, but I have to agree that Humanoids from the Deep is a much more fun name than Monster. The film itself was entertaining (although it did remind me of another Roger Corman film, Piranha, quite a bit), and the "humanoids" tearing people apart (and sexing the ladies) was enough to make me not regret wasting eighty minutes on it.

Humanoids from the Deep is another of the expiring titles, too.

Lockout (2012)

Lockout (2012)

Directed by: James Mather and Stephen St. Leger
Screenplay by: Stephen St. Leger, James Mather, and Luc Besson

Genre: Action | Thriller | Sci-Fi
Running Time: 95 Minutes (Unrated Cut)
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

Take no prisoners.

[IMDb]

Comments: In regards to Luc Besson, even his lesser films (which is a good portion of his work) are at least entertaining and a fun watch. Lockout, despite a familiar premise and little creativity outside of a jail in space, could have been so much more fun. While it's mildly entertaining, the overall missteps really drag the film down. I should be able to enjoy a movie about a guy blowing shit up in space more, dammit!

The film's first 45 minutes or so are incredibly disjointed. It feels like chunks of the movie were ripped out to shorten the runtime. Many times, I advocate for shorter films. In the case of Lockout, I could've taken a little more. Many of the characters' decisions make little sense, and all I could think about was how stupid this movie was.

Luckily, we settle in a little more toward the middle of Lockout. Maggie Grace and Guy Pearce have a pretty good chemistry together, and Pearce himself was hysterical when given the opportunity. I think that's what makes me so upset: this film could've been Pearce's Shoot 'Em Up, a complete throwaway that's nonetheless awesome as hell.

The ending is even more stupid than the first 45 minutes, and that effectively ruined the positive headway that "Saint and Mather" were making. I'm not too disappointed I picked the Blu-ray up on release week though, because it was mindless entertainment I that I could see myself revisiting again. For all others though, I think the term "rent" is most applicable.

Girls Gone Dead (2012)

Girls Gone Dead (2012)

Directed by: Michael Hoffman Jr. and Aaron T. Wells
Screenplay by: Michael Hoffman Jr. and Meghan Jones

Genre: Comedy | Horror
Running Time: 104 Minutes
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Viewed: Owned DVD

Just when you thought it was safe to go topless...

[IMDb]

Comments: Girls Gone Dead is what it is. The film throws together a nice sampling of boobage along with some decent violence and a few mildly humorous scenes for a generally entertaining movie. Outside of being 15-20 minutes too long, there's not too much to complain about in this low budget horror-comedy. The lead is played by the gorgeous Katie Peterson, who reminded me of (a younger, hotter) Tara Reid, except only with half the talent (and that's saying something). Watching Ms. Peterson attempting to "cry" was one of the best parts of the movie. She's also the only female lead not to bare the goods, which was a goddamn Greek tragedy (the rest of the cast does, so I can't complain too much). The story is slow at first, but it gradually devolves into pure comedy, and by the final act, absolutely nothing is taken seriously. While there's absolutely nothing new or original, Girls Gone Dead is fun and that's all I really hoped for.

The Living Dead Girl (1982)

The Living Dead Girl (1982)

Directed by: Jean Rollin
Screenplay by: Jean Rollin and Jacques Ralf

Genre: Horror
Running Time: 85 Minutes
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Viewed: Owned DVD

[IMDb]

Comments: I've watched a bunch of Jean Rollin's films over the past few months, and The Living Dead Girl follows a formula similar to many of his previous offerings. There's beautiful ladies, violent deaths, gorgeous cinematography... and not much else. While I've enjoyed nearly all of Rollin's films, I really don't think any of them are great. I know he has a cult following and I understand the appeal, but like The Living Dead Girl, Rollin always just leaves me a little underwhelmed.

The Three Musketeers (2011)

The Three Musketeers (2011)

Directed by: Paul W.S. Anderson
Screenplay by: Alex Litvak and Andrew Davies

Genre: Action | Adventure | Romance
Running Time: 110 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Rental DVD - Family Video

Every legend has a new beginning.

[IMDb]

Comments: Meh.

Parts of The Three Musketeers were really exciting. If I was a teenager, I think I really would've enjoyed the film. But since I'm not, I just can't help but pick out all the little things that aren't executed well, and there are few. As a whole, the movie does a bad job of combining action and comedy, and never really achieves a happy medium between the two. Because of this, many scenes seem silly and over-the-top. Plus, I really felt like they wasted too much screen time on young D'Artagnan; the other three chaps were most enjoyable. I would've loved to have seen them play much more prominent roles. Christoph Waltz is horribly out of place here as well. I honestly wouldn't mine watching the film again down the line, though. The film just feels like something I could warm to over time, given my enjoyment of the things that actually worked well. I suspect a Blu-ray purchase when The Three Musketeers hits the $5 range is a likelihood.

This is the last of the "popcorn" movies that I rented (this and Man on a Ledge were both films I wanted to see but admittedly knew they weren't going to be very good, hence why I didn't buy them). I have two dramas and shitty horror film still on tap, so we'll see how the night goes. Tomorrow looks promising on the theatrical front as well...

Man on a Ledge (2012)

Man on a Ledge (2012)

Directed by: Asger Leth
Screenplay by: Pablo F. Fenjves

Genre: Crime | Thriller
Running Time: 102 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Rental DVD - Family Video

You can only push an innocent man so far.

[IMDb]

Comments: This might have been one of the most ludicrous, over-the-top, and ridiculous movies I've ever seen. The plot (in particular the final thirty minutes or so) is so unrealistic that it's impossible to stay invested in the film. Up until that point, Man on a Ledge was rather engaging. And we'll not even talk about Sam Worthington's inability to speak without an Australian accent or Elizabeth Banks' terrible hostage negotiator (I like her as an actress, she was just horribly unconvincing here). Anyway, I'm glad this was a rental.

I'm off from work today and in my hometown (where we still have rental stores!), so I've rented a bunch of movies for my long weekend. The next day or two should be filled with a variety of movies, as that's how I generally roll. Stay tuned.

Intruder (1989)

Intruder (1989)

Directed by: Scott Spiegel
Screenplay by: Scott Spiegel

Genre: Horror | Thriller
Running Time: 88 Minutes (Director's Cut)
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

A new dimension in terror.

[IMDb]

Comments: I completely forgot to write up a quick review after checking out Scott Spiegel's Intruder. I enjoyed parts of the film, but overall I felt it was a rather mediocre '80s slasher. The violence is without a doubt the best aspect of the film. The kills are a step above the norm, and I found myself more drawn to them than the story itself. Regardless, I still think it's worth the watch, though don't be fooled by the fact Bruce Campbell is advertised as starring in the film. He appears at the end for literally one minute and has nothing to do with the main film. It'd be like listing Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright as main characters in Land of the Dead.

Lips of Blood (1975)

Lips of Blood (1975)

Directed by: Jean Rollin
Screenplay by: Jean Rollin and Jean-Loup Philippe

Genre: Horror | Mystery
Running Time: 83 Minutes
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Viewed: Netflix Watch Instantly

[IMDb]

Comments: It's a Jean Rollin kind of night. Apparently, that night not only includes some French horror, but shitty two-sentence reviews and cramming three films into an evening.

Our Idiot Brother (2011)

Our Idiot Brother (2011)

Directed by: Jesse Peretz
Screenplay by: Evgenia Peretz and David Schisgall

Genre: Comedy | Drama
Running Time: 90 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

Everybody has one.

[IMDb]

Comments: Our Idiot Brother was a tough nut to crack. Most of the film was painfully unfunny, yet I found myself engaged by Paul Rudd's character. The script was unoriginal, anticlimactic, and well, bad - but I was still curious to watch the film resolve. The ending wasn't really satisfying (and everything occurs way too fast), but I didn't have many expectations considering my thoughts on the rest of the film. Paul Rudd is definitely the best part of Our Idiot Brother, as just about every other character got on my nerves (sans T.J. Miller and Adam Scott - I love those guys). This one definitely isn't worth a watch, and I see now why there wasn't much fanfare when this premiered last year. It's not deserving of much.

Kickboxer (1989)

Kickboxer (1989)

Directed by: Mark DiSalle and David Worth
Screenplay by: Glenn A. Bruce

Genre: Action | Sport | Thriller
Running Time: 97 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

If your enemy refuses to be humbled... destroy him.

[IMDb]

Comments: Kickboxer is one of those entertaining-but-terrible films that are always fun as hell to watch yet mind-numbing if you actually think about what's going on. Bad acting, terrible cliches, and a plot lifted from a hundred films that came before it, but dammit if the film's goofiness doesn't make Kickboxer an interesting watch. And, beyond all that, the film has one of the coolest taglines of all time: If your enemy refuses to be humbled... destroy him.

A Serbian Film (2010)

A Serbian Film (2011)

Directed by: Srdjan Spasojevic
Screenplay by: Aleksandar Radivojevic and Srdjan Spasojevic

Genre: Crime | Drama | Horror | Thriller
Running Time: 102 Minutes
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

Not all films have a happy ending.

[IMDb]

Comments: When any horror/exploitation movie creates a controversy over its subject matter, I'm almost always interested. For me, the crazier the better, and A Serbian Film certainly falls under the crazy category. I'd heard what the offending scene was, but I had no idea as to its context within the film. The US Blu-ray, while more complete than many international cuts of the film, is still not the full film. Two scenes have been edited for the release (although it's easy to pick out which scenes they are), but for the most part it doesn't hinder the viewer's experience. Sure, the final scene isn't presented 100% clearly, but anyone with half a brain can figure out who's who (I'm trying to be spoiler free here). Anyway, I found A Serbian Film to be more interesting due to wondering how fucked up the next scene was going to be rather than caring about the outcome of any of the characters. It's well made and well directed, but I can't say I was completely blown away by the experience. Unfortunately, A Serbian Film feels a little more shock than substance; at times shock is all I need, but it didn't fully work for me in this case. Still, it's an interesting viewing experience, so I recommend it for that reason alone.

Also Known As: Srpski Film

The Devil Inside (2012)

The Devil Inside (2012)

Directed by: William Brent Bell
Screenplay by: William Brent Bell and Matthew Peterman

Genre: Horror | Thriller
Running Time: 87 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Theater

No soul is safe.

[IMDb]

Comments: Look, I knew The Devil Inside wasn't going to be any good. I think it had a 6% or something yesterday morning when I looked it up on Rotten Tomatoes. The film looked like it was completely unoriginal, uninspired, and made only to capitalize on the Paranormal Activity craze... yet I enjoy watching this shit, so that's why I went.

- Unoriginal? Uninspired? Made only to capitalize on the Paranormal Activity craze? Pretty much. However, I was able to enjoy myself for most of the film. I knew exactly how the plot was going to unfold (the filmmakers spell everything out for you; by making a point of talking about certain aspects, it's obvious to the viewer that those things are going to pop up later).

- The ending sufficiently pissed everyone off, myself included. Somewhat of a spoiler: It's sudden, resolves nothing, and urges you to find out more online. Yep, that's what I want to do after watching a movie. End spoiler.

- Really, there's not much more to say. I've seen movies like this a hundred times before, but luckily The Devil Inside wasn't completely terrible either. If I hadn't seen all the great movies at the theater over the last two weeks that I did, I certainly would have had a better selection. Oh well, I knew what I was getting myself into. And it turned out exactly as I expected.

Paranormal Activity 3 (2011)

Paranormal Activity 3 (2011)

Directed by: Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman
Screenplay by: Christopher B. Landon

Genre: Horror
Running Time: 85 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Theater

It runs in the family.

[IMDb]

Comments: I read about movies fairly often, so when something comes out, I tend to know a bit about it. For Paranormal Activity 3, I didn't give a shit, and just assumed it was some random ass people like Oren Peli, who made the first film. Then, as I made this post before I left for the theaters, I listed the directors. Henry Joost. Ariel Schulman. Fuck, I know these names. Let me click over to their page and... Catfish?! The guys that made Catfish (a film I did enjoy, real of fake) were hired to direct Paranormal Activity 3? That just seems so weird.

Paranormal Activity 3 was a bit of a letdown. I didn't have high expectations, but I was hoping for something entertaining (which this was, to a degree). My main issue was with how the characters behaved and acted, as on many occasions they only served to further the plot. There's a shitload a visual evidence that would have me getting the fuck out of that house midway through the film, but these characters are content to just keep on chillin'. On thing that I tried to ignore in the first two films that annoyed me here, particularly during the finale, was the main character holding the camera when his family was in danger. Seriously? PUT THE FUCKING CAMERA DOWN AND SAVE YOUR FUCKING FAMILY. I was able to make excuses early on in the series; I'm starting to run out now. Also, the idea behind the ending itself was interesting; however, the execution left me less than impressed.

Paranormal Activity 3 is another one of my great "solid rental for a rainy Friday night" movies. The premise is wearing a bit thin, but it was enjoyable enough. The "scares" are generally well done but nothing I haven't seen before. I like that the writers have kept a continuity between the films, but it's definitely getting to the point where another movie based on the same people would be really pushing the boundaries of belief (look, I realize I'm talking about Paranormal Activity 3). But for what it is, PA3 is fun and a solid rental for a rainy weekend night.

Mask Maker (2010)

Mask Maker (2010)

Directed by: Griff Furst
Screenplay by: Eric Miller and Griff Furst

Genre: Horror
Running Time: 94 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Rental DVD - Family Video

Meet your maker.

[IMDb]

Comments: I'll always grab one or two shitty horror titles when I rent a few movies, so for this weekend, it was Griff Furst's Mask Maker. The reason I picked this one over the huge stock of low-rent horror titles at Family Video was that I almost bought the film at Walmart a few weeks ago. I do that from time to time with cheap horror movies, and it's almost always a terrible idea. With Mask Maker, however, it wouldn't have been completely worthless.

Mask Maker is probably the best low budget horror film I've seen in awhile. The story is clichéd and has been done A MILLION times, but I liked the actors and thought they had great chemistry together. I also thought the dialogue was realistic, and the opening act felt like how a boyfriend and girlfriend would speak and act with each other. Essentially, it just wasn't a steaming pile of shit that was only there to set up the horror aspect. Because of this, I was interested in the characters and said clichéd story. It's amazing how writing a somewhat competent script and hiring believable actors will cause the audience to become invested in the story rather that just watching for the tits and gore (which is what I was doing originally).

Now, as the movie goes on, it does get more and more predictable, the characters start acting more stupid so they can get killed for our viewing pleasure, and I gradually lost interest in the film. I was a little disappointed with that, but overall Mask Maker far exceeded my expectations. For the $1 I spent to rent it, I felt that I got my money's worth. If you like these sort of shitty horror movies, feel free to give this one a chance.

Dream House (2011)

Dream House (2011)

Directed by: Jim Sheridan
Screenplay by: David Loucka

Genre: Drama | Mystery | Thriller
Running Time: 92 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Theater

Once upon a time, there were two little girls who lived in a house.

[IMDb]

Comments: I think I could write a book on Dream Home and what a complete waste of potential it is. Some parts of the film are engaging and I and couldn't wait to see what happened next; others are so mind-numbingly awful that I struggled to understand what the hell the people making the film were thinking.

- I think the first thing everyone should know is that Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz, and director Jim Sheridan want nothing to do with Dream House. Apparently, the production company Morgan Creek made edits to the film without Sheridan's approval. While I don't know for sure if they are the work of Morgan Creek, there's definitely some questionable edits that are blatantly obvious. There's one scene early on, when Daniel Craig sees a man outside his house. Craig chases after him and slides down a hill deep in the backwoods of his house. Somehow, he speaks directly to Weisz, who's on the house's back porch, even though we've seen Craig venture far into the woods. It's pretty noticeable. There's also some obvious overdubbing of characters in the last part of the film that only serve to provide exposition to the audience. I notice this shit all the time in TV shows, but I understand that to an extent because they're on a tight deadline. It's just really bad here.

- The first half of Dream House is fucking terrible. It was so bad that I was debating calling it the worst film I've seen this year. It's incredibly choppy, bouncing around from scene to scene without ever giving us a clear image of what we're watching onscreen, what to expect from these characters, or who they are. After awhile, the film settles in to the core of its plot, and I can see what attracted such known actors to a film like Dream House. It's a shame that Sheridan, Morgan Creek, or who-the-fuck-ever made this film couldn't come up with some kind of cohesive first act.

- Craig and Weisz sound weird with whatever accent they're trying to go for. You'll notice I said the same thing about Craig in Cowboys & Aliens. Note to filmmakers: make Craig a British import in whatever film you're making. I don't care if he's playing Hitler in a movie. He's now Hitler that emigrated from Britain.

- Naomi Watts. Yes please.

- They showed the trailer for Brett Ratner's Tower Heist before Dream House. It features a cast of some of my least favorite actors: Ben Stiller (he's made some good movies, but he really gets on my nerves), post-1990 Eddie Murphy, and Téa Leoni (to be fair, it does have Casey Affleck and Alan Alda in it). Why I am mentioning it? Because they showed the trailer... twice. Ugh.

- Speaking of trailers, a word of warning: the main plot twist that comes halfway through the film is given away in the trailer. I watch trailers often, but somehow I avoided watching the one for Dream House so I was completely in the dark. If you've avoided the trailer so far, keep doing it. It's not an Oldboy-level twist or anything and it's certainly been done before, but it's what renewed my interest in the film after that terrible first act. Had I known what was coming, I definitely wouldn't have been as interested as I was during the last parts of the film.

- Once I saw the core of what Dream House was all about, I really wanted to like this film more than I did. While it would never have been an award winner, it really had the chance to be a solid mystery film instead of the muddled mess it became. I hesitate to even suggest a rental on such a clusterfuck, but I did really like parts of the movie... so I'll leave the decision up to you.

Apollo 18 (2011)

Apollo 18 (2011)

Directed by: Gonzalo López-Gallego
Screenplay by: Brian Miller

Genre: Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller
Running Time: 88 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Theater

There's a reason we've never gone back to the moon.

[IMDb]

Comments: First, I have to give credit to the makers of Apollo 18. No matter how the film turned out, I really think this was a cool concept. I know we've seen the "found footage" film many, many times now. But I really like how Apollo 18 was done and the way the film came together (essentially the overall look and feel of the movie). Now, the story itself could certainly have used some more work. It really drags at times, and does nothing to distance itself from other films in the genre (read: all of the "scary" moments are telegraphed, and I saw the exact same camerawork in Cloverfield). I'm probably being a little generous with the rating, but like I said, I really loved the premise and presentation of Apollo 18. It's probably worth a rental down the line.