The Pact, the feature directing debut of Nicholas McCarthy, is a refreshing and effectively scary horror movie hybrid, a gimmick-less thriller produced in an age when gimmicks are pounding the genre to death.
McCarthy has crafted a lean, no-nonsene, low-budget indie flick. It is not comprised of phony “found footage.” It’s not shot in the first person. It’s not a reboot of a beloved franchise. It’s not in 3-D, nor would 3-D enhance any of the frights. It’s not a sequel. And, spoiler alert I suppose, it doesn’t have any vampires nor zombies.
That all said, The Pact shouldn’t be particularly praised for what it is not, but for what it is. As McCarthy proven with his previous short films, such as Chinese Box and a short version of The Pact from which the feature is derived, he is particularly good at establishing mood and atmosphere,...
McCarthy has crafted a lean, no-nonsene, low-budget indie flick. It is not comprised of phony “found footage.” It’s not shot in the first person. It’s not a reboot of a beloved franchise. It’s not in 3-D, nor would 3-D enhance any of the frights. It’s not a sequel. And, spoiler alert I suppose, it doesn’t have any vampires nor zombies.
That all said, The Pact shouldn’t be particularly praised for what it is not, but for what it is. As McCarthy proven with his previous short films, such as Chinese Box and a short version of The Pact from which the feature is derived, he is particularly good at establishing mood and atmosphere,...
- 7/20/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
All houses are haunted. Haunted by the memories of those who lived in them. Whether or not those memories can have physical manifestations is up for debate.
In Nicholas McCarthy‘s moody The Pact, Anna (Jewel Staite) and Adrian (Sam Ball) are tasked with getting their recently deceased mother’s affairs in order. Anna, the more committed of the two, desperately pours through her mom’s papers looking for proof of her estate while Adrian picks through cardboard boxes stuffed with old toys.
Neither of them had much love for their mother. They also seem fairly distant from each other, the way children from abusive homes act towards each other long after their tormenting has ended.
There’s some vague, touching nostalgia as Adrian tries to conjure up good memories around a teddy bear, but Anna is completely focused on her work, on sorting out the details so both of...
In Nicholas McCarthy‘s moody The Pact, Anna (Jewel Staite) and Adrian (Sam Ball) are tasked with getting their recently deceased mother’s affairs in order. Anna, the more committed of the two, desperately pours through her mom’s papers looking for proof of her estate while Adrian picks through cardboard boxes stuffed with old toys.
Neither of them had much love for their mother. They also seem fairly distant from each other, the way children from abusive homes act towards each other long after their tormenting has ended.
There’s some vague, touching nostalgia as Adrian tries to conjure up good memories around a teddy bear, but Anna is completely focused on her work, on sorting out the details so both of...
- 2/15/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
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