Amusement (2008) Movie Review
Written By: JEH
Edited By: Grave Reviews Staff
Film Information
Director: John Simpson
Producers: Neal Edelstein, Merideth Finn, Mike Macari, Udi Nedivi
Writers: Jake Wade Wall
Date Released: January 2008 (Original Release Date), January 20, 2009 (Direct-to-Video Release)
Cast:
Keir O’Donnell as The Laugh
Katheryn Winnick as Tabitha Wright
Laura Breckenridge as Shelby Leds
Jessica Lucas as Lisa Swan
Tad Hilgenbrink as Rob Alerbe
Reid Scott as Dan
Rena Owen as Psychiatrist
Rating = 1.5/5 Graves
***May contain some spoilers***
Synopsis
Amusement (2008) follows the story of three women, Shelby Leds (Laura Breckenridge), Tabitha Wright (Katheryn Winnick), and Lisa Swan (Jessica Lucas). Shelby gets abducted by a man who lured her boyfriend (Tad Hilgenbrink) to a convoy. Then, Tabitha is attacked by a man in a clown suit while babysitting, and Lisa attempts to search for her lost best friend in an old hotel. The three women are reunited and they find out that a boy from their childhood has returned for his ultimate joke.
Gore Factor
For a slasher movie, Amusement (2008) does not have a lot of violence. When slashing and stabbing happen, they’re usually off-screen or the movie will cut to the next scene. There’s one scene of possible gore, only to be revealed as a fake. The only gory scene to watch out for is when the man gets stabbed in the face, but not much blood drips.
For animal lovers, a fair warning: there is a short scene of a live mouse being tortured.
The Grave Review
Amusement (2008) was originally slated to hit theaters in January 2008, but was pushed back to April 25 and then again to September 12. Months later, the release was pushed back once more to December 26. Finally, Warner Bros. released it direct-to-video on January 20, 2009. It makes one wonder why the movie got pushed back so many times.
Amusement (2008) isn’t amusing. There is nothing original in the film, and the chapters are copied from other materials. Shelby’s chapter is strikingly similar to the plot of Joy Ride (2001), while Tabitha’s story is a combination of Halloween (1978) and a popular urban legend. Lisa’s story is the overplayed haunted old building inhabited by a psycho killer. The climax of the film seems to be heavily inspired by Saw III (2006).
The acting is the highlight of the film. Unfortunately, the actors’ talents are wasted because they play as idiotic characters. One example is Lisa, who has a working phone but does not even think of calling the police. Instead, she goes to the place herself to investigate and calls everyone but the police. Tabitha is the strongest character out of the three, but even she is guilty of making questionable decisions. She has at least a minute of head start, but instead of running away, she hides in the worst place possible.
Everything is oddly convenient for The Laugh (Keir O’Donnell). In Shelby’s story, a creepy trucker guy just so happened to start a convoy that her boyfriend joins. A third vehicle, driven by The Laugh, follows them. The trucker guy acts as guilty as possible, even trying to run over Rob. But he’s innocent and he has nothing to do with The Laugh. How did the Laugh know about Rob’s obsession with convoys? If the trucker did not start a convoy, how will The Laugh even get to Shelby? It’s like all the characters are programmed to react unrealistically just to get the plot going.
Along with the acting, the movie has commendable cinematography and music. Unfortunately, the cheesy and illogical plot makes the movie forgettable and a waste of time.
Should you see this movie? If you are looking for a no-brainer horror movie just to pass the time, maybe. The film still has an entertainment factor and elements to appreciate. But if you want to watch a worthwhile movie, look for other titles.
For the above reasons, Grave Reviews gives Amusement (2008) one and a half graves out of five graves.
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