Less The Village and more the village idiot, this period horror flick scares itself stupid within the first five minutes and never regains its composure. Based on a real-life ghost story that occurred in 19th-century Tennessee, it stars Donald Sutherland and Sissy Spacek as good pilgrims John and Lucy Bell, whose daughter Betsy (Rachel Hurd-Wood) is the target of a vengeful ghost. Cue lots of writhing about on beds, exploding feather pillows (!) and an (un)Steadicam operated by someone with the shakes. Director Courtney Solomon – previously in the dock for feckless fantasy flop Dungeons& Dragons – proves equally hopeless with horror, delivering so many shocks within shocks that the movie shortcircuits itself in a brain-frying burst of epileptic editing. Some small consolation can be found in the disc’s generous extras: deleted scenes, alternate endings and an interview with Solomon and Spacek. Proof that every turkey deserves a good stuffing.
DVD Extras:
Extended/deleted scenes, Alternative endings, Interview with director Courtney Solomon and Sissey Spacek, Gag reel.
