Cleveronix
A different way of telling a story
Beystiman
It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.
Lucia Ayala
It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.
Claudio Carvalho
Many years ago, in Spruce Lake, a defiant farmer drowns when he refuses to leave his lands and a dam is built to flood and create a lake. In the present days, while traveling with the stripper Lucky (Nadine Riess) for an important meeting with the banker Jerry Gold (John Probandt) and the wealthy landlord Janet Sands (Cheri Larrocque), the unscrupulous Senator Wells (Bobb Hoplins) runs out of gas and the couple is stranded in the Bed & Breakfast owned by Bing (Tommy Strong). Meanwhile, Janet and Jerry are unable to cross a bridge over a flooded river and are advised to spend the night in the same B&B. Together, they are invited to have a dinner in a nearby tavern by the hillbillies Junior (Robert Spediacci) and his sister Caro (Erika Hopkins) where there is a fight of three hunters and one of them is killed. Senator Wells is running the election to the White House and afraid of a scandal, he proposes the men to hide the body in the beginning of a tragic night.I am a fan of horror genre and I bought this DVD based exclusively in its wonderful cover of the Brazilian edition (called "Damned Mansion") and the summary that the story would be based on revengeful spirits in a haunted house. However, I found a screenplay with the most inconsistent and incoherent situations; awful characters and terrible acting, mostly of them by actors and actress with the last name Hopkins (Bobb, Chet, Tommy, Erica – these amateurish guys should have sold or distributed this DVD for their families and friends instead). Last but not the least, the lighting is also very poor and there is no ghost. Ernest Borgnine, in the end of career, has a minor and also very bad acting and reading of the introduction. My vote is three.Title (Brazil): "Mansão Maldita" ("Damned Mansion")
SpudgunJams
It was a mistake for me to rent this movie...I was tempted to take it back within the first 10 minutes but thought I would persevere and see just how bad it could become. It is not even laughably bad, just a severe waste of time to watch. To observe paint drying would have a higher humour factor and be a lot more interesting. Even if there is not another single film in the whole of the shop that you haven't seen a hundred times before rent something else. I cannot stress enough this film is not worth looking at and should be avoided at all costs, find something better to do like make your own film using modeling clay and pipe cleaners and an old cine camera-the results would be better than this dire film.
movie008phd
A friend stopped by over the weekend with a DVD of this movie. Wow, what a little gem! During the unraveling of this taut thriller, I suspected everyone of the superb cast only to be proved wrong again and again. And for once it was so satisfying to have a surprise ending that tied everything together. And believably! The plot revolves around REAL people, not some ghoulish trickery out of left field that doesn't add up. The fact that it's based on a true story and was shot on the exact Vermont location makes it all the more eerie. It's been awhile since a movie has kept me on a roller-coaster ride from beginning to end. Maybe it was the three beautiful girls!
swampqb
This is a smartly written picture with strong performances from the entire cast, especially Academy Award winner Ernest Borgnine. Not for those viewers seeking simple-minded plots driven by special effects and silly gimmicks. This is high end, thought provoking material in the vein of "Clue" and "Identity." Every time you think you know the killer, you realize you don't! The snowy location sets the mood for a stormy night of thrills and chills. The music soundtrack is also fabulous, making the eerie old Vermont mansion come alive. The ruthless greed of the three perpetrators makes for delicious villains. I just loved every minute of it and highly recommend it.
