Autumn time is considered the traditional period for the rental of the most impressive horror movies. In 2017, cinematic interest in extraordinary entertainment called “quest” was added to this familiar norm.
In the light of fashion trends
The idea of solving puzzles in an isolated room does not shine with innovation, but this autumn the film distribution was crammed with the misadventures of a group of unfortunate people trapped in life-threatening traps. First, Peter Dewkes presented his variation of the quest, after all the “charms” he decided to demonstrate Will Wernick in his film “Claustrophobia” (2017). The debut director in the first minutes of the timing of his own project managed to create a thick atmosphere of expectation and anticipation of something terribly gloomy. The notes of hopelessness accompanied by musical accompaniment and the kaleidoscope of landscapes of the modern metropolis clearly attract the viewer's attention. Reviews of the film "Claustrophobia" are rather contradictory, the rating of the picture IMDb: 4.20.
Plot plot
At the center of the story, a key character is Tyler, a thirty-year-old successful man. Among his achievements are prestigious work, a chic car and a company of friends with whom you will not get bored. Nevertheless, the routine sticks to the main character, so in honor of his birthday, girlfriend Kristen decides on a kind of gift. And now the whole company sets off in search of thrills to complete the quest with the intriguing eloquent title “Claustrophobia”. The mysterious atmosphere immediately captivates Tyler and his friends, but soon they realize that the wrong answers turn into a real threat to their lives. As a result, the fun turns into a real struggle for survival. Under the threat of death, the participants reveal the darkest traits of character. Such an idea of the author was realized in the movie “Claustrophobia” by the actors: I. Williams, A. Stevenson, E. Hauer, D. Johnson and others.
According to the familiar pattern
Almost all reviews of the film "Claustrophobia" published by critics emphasize that a group of people enclosed in a room is a familiar and often used technique for a horror movie genre. And the solution to puzzles leading to salvation or death is also a popular cliche, for example, it is used in the horror epic “Saw”. But in films about quests there is still an undoubted advantage. The fact is that this entertainment has become part of the current mass culture. Many representatives of modern youth are familiar with him firsthand. "Mysterious rooms" are not only in overpopulated megacities, but also in provincial towns. This allows the viewer to feel the characters, get closer to them. Many reviewers focus on this advantage of the film Claustrophobia (2017). Indeed, before the viewer on the screen, they are not conquerors of distant planets, not inhabitants of an old mansion and who have not survived in the zombie apocalypse. Heroes are young guys who decided to have fun no more original than peers-spectators.
Advantages and disadvantages
This "trick" in the work of Will Wernick works. At least at the beginning of the development of the plot of Claustrophobia. The beginning of the game captivates both the characters and the audience, the puzzles do not cause any particular difficulties, the beholder, having appreciated the accumulation of newspapers, televisions and wall clocks, begins to feel the urge to prompt the characters. But from about the middle of the tape, the situation is changing radically. According to the representatives of the skeptical audience, stated in the reviews of the film "Claustrophobia", the second half of the horror is an awkward sight, cutting the eye with many inconsistencies. Fans of the genre are surprised by the frankly stupid actions of key characters, their annoying fuss and the meaningless deliberate meaningfulness of the narrative.
Plot problems
According to experts of the cinema, the narration of the tape has many problems. The creators do not talk about the motivation of a mysterious villain who turned a room with riddles into deadly traps. Was it a maniac, or a sadist, or a fierce avenger? By what parameters does he select potential victims? Why are some letting go? There is no interpretation of the actions of “voice-overs”. But in the horror there are a lot of branches that do not have a semantic load or significant isolation.
The story begins with the episode of the death of another victim, but afterwards does not return to it. During gatherings in the restaurant, the key character demonstrates good behavior and deduction, but forgets about his abilities during the quest. Several significant accents in the picture are put on a drunken girlfriend, squeamishness on the verge of fear of homeless people, on a fanatical love of football, but everything goes nowhere.
During the initial credits, the viewer has the opportunity to hear a record of the torture of the previous participant in the quest, guessing riddles, but by this moment the plot does not return, this method of “leaving the room” is not used. All these and many other flaws are described by viewers in reviews of the film Claustrophobia.
Oiled Finale
Author's attempts to revive the action with adultery, sex scenes, family quarrels are futile. All this arises from nowhere and goes nowhere. Performers do not have time to reveal the characteristics of their heroes. Therefore, the final metamorphosis of Tyler looks too artificial. It is easier for the beholder to believe that the hero has gone insane, looking at terrible skillful traps. And I don’t want to talk about the climax of a telephone conversation with the "Designer", meaningless and ridiculous. It seems that in this scene of "Claustrophobia" the actors simply read out a text in which the words were selected in a random order.
Horror horror
The genre of the film "Claustrophobia" is designated as a thriller with elements of horror. But with this component tape is also not particularly lucky. The narrative is not particularly scary, and the only horrificly bloody scene is devoid of common sense. Involuntary observers and victims show miracles of acting mediocrity. Because of this, viewing is not carried away, the characters do not cause sympathy. Horror movie buffs may have a strong desire to leave the cinema while watching.