This is one of the better Nicholas Cage movies to come along in a while. Unfortunately that seems to be where most of their budget went.
There's good world-building, in the near-aftermath of some sort of apocalypse, and a nice build-up of suspense regarding the nature and threat of the monsters. The script was very good, with a mostly sensible plot compelling the characters and events to the eventual conclusion. The acting was excellent from everyone, including the charmingly annoying teenagers.
But the camera work was simply awful. It was all shaky cam, which is sometimes used to make things look more real or intense, but wasn't needed or helpful here. The monster effects vacillated between a mixture of original, fascinating, and terrifying ... and low-budget hokeyness, most of which was obscured by darkness.
I'd absolutely love to see those monsters in good lighting and with better special effects.
There's good world-building, in the near-aftermath of some sort of apocalypse, and a nice build-up of suspense regarding the nature and threat of the monsters. The script was very good, with a mostly sensible plot compelling the characters and events to the eventual conclusion. The acting was excellent from everyone, including the charmingly annoying teenagers.
But the camera work was simply awful. It was all shaky cam, which is sometimes used to make things look more real or intense, but wasn't needed or helpful here. The monster effects vacillated between a mixture of original, fascinating, and terrifying ... and low-budget hokeyness, most of which was obscured by darkness.
I'd absolutely love to see those monsters in good lighting and with better special effects.
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