SYNOPSIS:
As a woman struggles to come to grips with her past in the wake of her mother’s death, an unsettling presence emerges in her childhood home.
REVIEW:
I was starting to wonder if I’d ever find another scary movie as effective as “Insidious“. It was my recent viewing of “The Pact“, that this need became true. Highly impressive, “The Pact” is easily the scariest movie I’ve seen this year. (though in all respect, the effective cinema verite films of last year were also quite edgy)
This was a case where I didn’t “begin” really knowing what kind of film it was. I suppose I was guessing some kind of devil-deal movie, but really it’s much simpler than that. “The Pact” is a ghost film. Or at least it begins that way.
Actress Caity Lotz plays the role of Annie. If she reminds you of someone you “might” have seen before, then look no further than the recent MTV series “Death Valley“, where she played the ass-kicking rookie cop.
When Annie receives a call from her older sister played by Agnes Bruckner (character name uncredited at this time), she is informed that their mother has passed and that she is needed to attend the funeral. Her history of drug abuse is brought under fire, though it’s when she mysteriously goes missing shortly after that Annie decides to make the trip and check out things for herself. It doesn’t take long before lights begin to flicker, and strange shapes move in the darkness. Annie is pulled up into the air and shot across the room sending her into a panic distraught from the supernatural ordeal. This is only the beginning of some pretty high energy poltergeist activity. It’s pretty apparent that its either mom or someone close to her, though “what” this spirit wants is unclear.
The first part of the film plays on this “ghost story aspect” with clues leading to answers of a much darker story underway. Annie who can’t seem to find her sister “also” ends up losing her cousin who disappears from the house after a sleep over.
Actor Casper Van Dien comes to Annie’s aid as she becomes under investigation for the disappearances. The 2 of them investigate the house further and discover a secret room hidden behind the staircase wallpaper. While the room is empty, it’s a step closer to the clues needed to put the pieces together. Annie calls in the help of spiritual medium Stevie (Haley Hudson) who is instantly affected by the spirit that roams the house. The is encounter adds a few of the movies eeriest moments really sending the chills for more creepy encounters. Stevie who is affected by the incident pretty hard herself later offers some advice to Annie in communicating with the spirited directly (yep those damn Ouija boards). We also begin to get a glimpse into the 2 sisters life growing up with mom (though I didnt find it a big plot point)
More chills come in the form of eerie photographs and clues leading to a bigger reveal about what the title of this film refers to (nope no “devil” stuff here). I don’t want to spoil the fun, so I’ll leave it at “The Pact” really holding its own in proving it can cater to the mystery-thriller audience with ease. A nice kudos on the writing here.
I must say that the IFC has got their hand on the pulse of what really works for horror fans. The last film I remember seeing from them was the by-far excellent “Grave Encounters“. With “The Pact” delivering its scare factor with equal intensity….well I would have to say…stay tuned to “anything” that comes with their seal of approval on it.
Director / writer Nicholas McCarthy has not only impressed me with his story and film, but as a director he seems to really know “what” shots get under the skin of his audience. Those long hallway frames, those fixations on dark closets that tell you that something diabolical awaits, those unnerving moments holding on a instance that drips with tension….these are the elements of a great horror film. If you thought this year’s “The Innkeepers” was edgy, then your gonna want to spend a quite night with this.
In closing it always puts a smile on my face to discover a new gem among the stacks of uninspiring garbage these days. “The Pact” is just the film for a edgy night of horror and suspense.
The Pact (2012)
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The actress play both the sisters. They’re twins.
Thats bullcrap, the actress does not play both sisters…faaaar from it The sister Nicole is played by Agness Bruckner.
Thanx for clarifying – that’s what I thought as well
This movie was an actual movie to look forward to. I can’t wait to see the writer, producer, and director has in store next. On behalf of all horror fanatics as myself, thank you for making a good film with actors we can appreciate.:-)
By the way i’m watching it again as I type.lol
I’m sorry u guys but for me this film sucked , it didn’t explain if her mom was raped by her brother that’s why they had the same color eyes because he was her father…..or why the ghost threw her around the room and tryed to drag her into the closet if the ghost just wanted her to know that the killer was in the house….yeah it had a few bits where you jump otherwise all in all for me this film was pretty crappy
if u guys thought this and the innkeepers where edgy scary films u guys need to open ur eyes and higher ur standards abit …..
I liked the scenes with the hallway and the shots of the door but this film was a real disappointment I spent hours downloading this in hd and if i had payed to watch it at the pictures I would have been very very disappointed if i wanted to watch people living in the walls I would have watched the borrowers
sorry, gonna have to totally disagree with ya on that 1. some of the clues are not always meant to be explained in every detail. thats the great thing about films that let the viewers figure a few things from engagement.
As for fright factor, the 2 films named have a great use of tension thats rather seen anymore in modern films
I think, that ghost ( blond woman who was killed by that psycho man and who helped her ) was Annie’s mother, because she had cross that belonged to that woman and the woman that she considered to be her mother never really loved her. And that psycho was for sure her father.
This film was not scary! I am normally a wimp at the cinema, and I was actually laughing at this film! Predictable plot twist for me. Not jumpy, predictable ‘scary moments’. No one explained. Seemed to be made in a hurry, because for me its good to have the audience consider aspects of the film, but not have to create their own back story of the characters based on poor scripting. Had the build up to be a good film, but was disappointing.
Also I did not find Insidious scary, again typical ‘scary moments’, with obvious twists (husband). Did not jump once. Poor. Really disappointing because again it had all the build up and a good plot.
I’m sorry to hear
I didn’t get it..