The Holding (2011)

So much average

A Masterpiece!

The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

I don't tend to review many films here at IMDb, because I run my own review site, Apocalypse Later. However I felt I should chime in on this one as none of the other reviewers seem to have got the point of this film and I didn't want potential viewers to be put off by their comments.Yes, there are similarities to The Stepfather. Certain scenes are overt homages to it. No, it's not a rip-off or a remake or anything similar.This is a feminist take on that whole genre of horror movies. The strong characters are the women, all of them. The men are only physically strong, but otherwise weak. That the 'stepfather' character gets ludicrous towards the end isn't weak writing. It's making a point. The only man in the picture with any strength is the one who's too old to do much that's physical.There's also a blurring of the roles of 'killer' and 'victim'. Traditionally, Aden would be just the killer, but it's shown that he's a victim too, not to elicit any sympathy from us but to highlight that his failings are because he's not strong enough to be anything else. He can't break the cycle. Traditionally, Cassie would be the victim but she's anything but here. Even when she's playing that role for necessity's sake, she's the strong one in the scene. She just can't match Aden physically so she doesn't try.I'd really like to see what female horror fans have to say about this film, especially those who have been subjected to abuse and found a way out. I'm male, but it seems to me that this would be an empowering film for abused women, far beyond its value as a horror/thriller that doesn't follow convention. I've seen it twice and felt that it played even better the second time through as I picked up on certain details that I'd missed first time round.

What starts as a pretty strong thriller descends into an odd (and sadly) bad mix of clichés. Notice who is still standing at the end and who isn't. See a pattern there? I wouldn't have, because I didn't really bother to think about the movie, but another viewer pointed that out to the director. She said it was a coincidence, but I seriously doubt that it was.Don't get me wrong, there have been movies going the opposite way than this (didn't like that either), but that's not what appalled me. The fact that you get a soap opera, dripping with melodrama in a bad way, that may have gore as a redeeming factor (for some) does make this a difficult watch. It's a shame, that the mood set at the beginning gets undermined by that.

This is a solid little indi film about a family who are terrorised by a nutter out in the countryside. That is pretty much it.The acting, camera work and set is very good considering the tight budget. There isn't much substance to the movie and the plot gets a bit frayed (it seems bodies pile up unnoticed in the countryside quite easily) but it is tense in places and although annoying you do engage with the central characters.The film is not terrifying there is no gratuitous gore or nudity -must admit we were a little disappointed on that point as Kierston Wareing oozes sex appeal.Don't expect too much from this and you won't get let down. I enjoyed it but I wouldn't recommend selling the farm to watch it.

For all those Terry O'Quinn junkies, who fondly remember The Stepfather, there's another clone of that venerable "family in peril" thriller. Again, a messed-up guy with a dark past suddenly ingratiates himself into the lives of a struggling family. Appearing too good to be true, the eldest daughter remains skeptical, not trusting him or his motives, despite the rest of the family's wholehearted acceptance. It plays out exactly the same as The Stepfather, though with somewhat less tension. It's not much of a spoiler to say that bodies start piling up rather quickly.It's not a bad movie, but it's a complete rehash. I chose to be a bit generous with my rating, since I thought the film was fairly well done, even if the story is a complete and utter ripoff of a cult classic. It's an inoffensive way to pass the time, and I'm sure there are plenty of people who've never seen The Stepfather -- to them, the plot will probably seem fresh and exciting. I'd recommend that they check out the original 1987 classic, though. Terry O'Quinn was amazing.