The Lazarus Effect Review
RYAN: As if you couldn’t tell by the movie poster, this is a horror film and I’m actually pleasantly surprised by it because normally these movies are cheesy and not scary or smart. this is by no means the best scary movie but it’s better than the average horror movie that comes out.
KIM: We’ve seen many horror movies together that we hoped would be scary – they’re made to be scary and they just suck. This one, however, has some moments. You know something’s going to happen and it’s a bit to do with music and editing, but I turned away from the screen a couple times in anticipation of jumping out of my seat.
RYAN: There are definitely lazy moments here – in horror filmmaking – where they manipulate the audience into jumping because of things popping out with strategic editing. But it didn’t bother me as much in this movie because the script is good. There’s tension and release.
KIM: The lights go off a lot.
RYAN: Right. Overall it’s not a terrifying movie or one that will give you nightmares. It’s more creepy and unfolds in a tense way. There’s a supernatural aspect to it. It’s like a new spin on Frankenstein. One of my favorite rings about it is something that I love in any movie and that’s the debate between science and spirituality. I love faith versus fact – both sides are fascinating. This movie doesn’t provide answers but has theories.
KIM: I’m not as inspired by that theme but I know you appreciate that. I didn’t know too much about this going in which I found helpful because I didn’t have any expectations. The story does build very naturally and I liked the plot progression. And the cast is good. Olivia Wilde – I like.
RYAN: I normally dislike her but really loved her in this film. I think she turned me around on her finally. And Mark Duplass is good too. They’re believable as a couple.
KIM: And Evan Peters from TV’s American Horror Story is in it. I met him at a comic con last year. He’s very nice.
RYAN: I love him on that show and it was fun seeing him in this.
KIM: He was also in the most recent X-Men movie. And who was the girl in this?
RYAN: Sarah Bolger. I know her as Princess Aurora on TV’s Once Upon a Time.
KIM: I loved her.
RYAN: Yeah I liked her too. She sells being scared really well and as the audience, you sort of identify with her the most, going in.
KIM: Yeah you do. I was terrified for her. She made me feel it. So many of the other horror movies are foolish.
RYAN: I like that this wasn’t all found footage or shaky cam. It’s very sparingly done here.
KIM: I agree.
RYAN: I like scary movies. There’s no regrets with this one. And it’s only 82 minutes so it’s certainly not wasted time.
Nathan March 3, 2015
When’s the last time any of us were actually SCARED from a movie? I think (unfortunately) those days are done and “scary” movies will just keep floating in the realm of suspenseful, creepy or gory to varying degrees. Hopefully I’m wrong and we all all one day in the future see a movie that makes us hide under the covers in bed with a flash light 🙂