Lights Out - 2016 - Print Topic

Posted by: Dreamscale (Guest), March 21st, 2017, 10:01am

Saw this on HBO or Cinemax this last weekend.

This movie is critically liked, made a shitload of money, and has alot of talent both behind it and on the screen.  It's also one of those PG13 horror films that I oh so despise.

So, how did I like it?

I didn't like it...but while watching, I didn't really dislike it either.  The longer it went, and then when it was over, I realized it was so poorly written and conceived, and made absolutely ZERO sense.

This was based on a short that drew interest and for me, it was pretty obvious that once the interest was there, no one really cared about making a movie that made sense.

The more I think about this, the worse it gets in my mind.

Teresa Palmer is a cutie for sure and not a bad actress, but she can't carry this on her looks alone.  Maria Bello is also (or was) a real looker and a pretty good actress, but her role here is pretty redorkulous.

It's sad that this is the kind of shit Hollywood calls horror now, and it's eve sadder that audiences and critics seem to like it.

Grade - C-

Posted by: LC, March 21st, 2017, 6:10pm; Reply: 1

Agree. Too many hokey moments. And very forgettable.

The 'short' was scary and effective. Spinning it into a feature, not so effective

Teresa Palmer equipped herself well, (she's an Aussie, after all), as is James Wan (Saw) and Maria Bello is always a solid actress.

4.9 million budget, 148.9 million box office. If that's accurate I don't think there's any regrets. Horror sells.

I wonder if the writer of the 'short' got anything?

Posted by: Demento, March 22nd, 2017, 8:07pm; Reply: 2

Quoted from LC

I wonder if the writer of the 'short' got anything?

He directed the feature. Then directed the sequel to Annabelle.

He made a bunch of horror shorts, wrote and directed them over the last few year. They were on his vimeo page if I remember correctly.

Anyway, the Lights Out short had a few million views on Youtube and this guy built a Hollywood career on his 2-3 min short.

The stuff of dreams.

Posted by: LC, March 22nd, 2017, 8:32pm; Reply: 3

Ah, okay... David Sandberg directed (adapted from his 'short') & James Wan produced. Should do my research better.
The stuff of dreams indeed.

P.S. A little something from JW:

http://www.indiewire.com/2016/07/5-rules-from-james-wan-making-a-successful-horror-movie-in-2016-1201709025/