Revolver Entertainment continues on the horror front after the gleeful Irish zombie flick ‘Dead Meat’ ‘Spirit Trap’ . This is an unfrightfully dull affair, and perhaps the only reason to watch this is for those ‘Dr. Who’ fanatics who would wish to drool over the ex-songstress Billie Piper, but then again perhaps that is pushing it.
Surprise, surprise, we have a gathering of five folks at a large dilapidated mansion that has had a bloodied history. These students (and probably the oldest on campus, who surprising have not a study book or anything remotely like that between them) have been sent here to reside for the duration of their course, and what an unlikable bunch they are. Jenny (Piper) is a homely girl, still mourning the death of her Mum, and knows more than a few things mystical in nature. Neurotic Nick (Sam Troughton, son of Dr. Who Patrick) is of the clumsy but sympathetic types. Dark and mysterious Tina (played by R&B singer Alsou, a past Russian entry into the Eurovision Song Contest) gives us something pretty to look at and not much else, and then there’s coke dealing, quick tempered Tom (Luke Mably) and his sexy S&M girlfriend Adele (Emma Catherwood).
As they all start to get to know each other, Jenny starts showing off her occult knowledge, and mentions the word ‘spirit’ oh too many times. Nick puts his fingers in places he shouldn’t and an old grandfather clock, sorry that should be ‘spirit’ clock gets Nick the handyman’s attention. He even gets to find a diary stuck inside for his troubles, which was jamming up the works and you just know that is going to tell them why they are in mess they are. Once removed the clock spins into action. Hands move, and instead of getting dark and ominous, things stay brightly lit, showing all, or rather showing too much. Jenny then shouts it’s a ‘spirit’ catcher while pointing at the window, and later to our (mock) surprise announces that she has that ESP gene thing from her Mother’s side of the family. They even play with a planchete that is surprising left behind, after all, we all have one of those in our cupboards, or is that only in old mansions being used as a quick and cheap plot development in a B horror flick ?
Each character has a skeleton in the closet, but all are far too obvious. The movie itself rehashes what has been done so many times before, and many times better. Robert Wise’s ‘The Haunting’ will be spinning in its cinematic grave over this one.
With the benchmark for Brit horror set so high by directors the likes of Neil Marshall , this one just leaves you disappointed, even with the likes of the aforementioned ‘Dead Meat’ ‘Creep’
A note to parents, coming in at a certificate 15 this does have a couple of sex scenes and a few rough moments from the grisly back-story, that aside, the weekly showings of soaps like ‘Eastenders’ or ‘Coronation Street’ provide more genuine scares.
When released this one will have a batch of extras, containing a 40 minutes worth of a documentary on the making of the movie (what the other 38 minutes are about is a mystery to me at this point), 30 minutes of interviews with the cast and debut director David Smith, and ending with an obligatory Theatrical trailer. The preview disc available for review spared me those, but then again it might have been interesting to find out what attracted the cast to this project or even if a defence was offered up from Smith.
'Spirit Trap' is available for pre-order via AmazonUK , and as of yet there has been no US release date given.database .
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