Z (2019) DVD

Really good movie love the plot. Would recommend to the supernatural people.

Rented this movie on a family mountain trip. Very very pillow hugging scary lol. I’m all for scary movies and that adrenaline rush but it’s a whole other rush when in a dark cabin in a very snowy mountain. Would rewatch again, maybe with a night light.

Spooky flick tells of the Parsons family, mom Beth (Keegan Connor Tracy), dad Kevin (Sean Rogerson) and young son Josh (Jett Klyne). Josh is a bit of an introvert and starts talking to an imaginary friend named “Z.” At first it seems perfectly natural, then Josh’s behavior starts to change. The boy becomes verbally crude and violent to classmates, to the point of getting indefinitely suspended from school. As his parents seek help from the family psychiatrist (Stephen McHattie), Beth starts to see things and begins to believe that Z may be more than imaginary and certainly no friend.Spooky flick is directed by Brandon Christensen from his script with Colin Minihan (Extraterrestrial, What Keeps You Alive). He directs his story well and creates a lot of spooky and disturbing scenes. It’s a familiar story, but Christensen avoids using too many of the traditional tropes and when he does, he uses them sparingly and effectively. It’s an unsettling and creepy film, especially when Josh badly hurts a friend (or does he?) and when Z starts to taunt and appear to Beth. There are some chilling moments, specifically some using an old Speak N’ Spell for example. There are some interesting twists, too, as to what this malevolent entity really wants and a startling revelation from the past, that isn’t expected. The film takes a different and disturbing direction in the last act and it is only here where it stalls a little bit. When the film makes it’s turn, while it still chills, we also start to ask where this is all going. It does answer that in the last few scenes, but for a period of time if feels like it loses some of it’s momentum before it’s unsettling climax. The film also evokes The Babadook at times, as it does share some similar themes, elements and imagery, but not enough to feel this film isn’t it’s own thing. It is. Christensen proves to be a talent to keep an eye on, as the film contains elements that might have been silly in less capable hands, such as Z’s apparent preference for 2% milk. Here it’s chilling and it works. Christensen also avoids anything too graphic and shows us only quick glimpses as to what Z really looks like, letting us use our imaginations to fill in the blanks. A solid horror flick from Brandon Christensen.The cast are really good here. Keegan Connor Tracy is a real standout as mom, Beth. She plays first a woman dismissive of her son’s imagined pal, then one who is slowly becoming concerned at her son’s behavior. This becomes fear once she starts to believe something malevolent is actually attached to her son and takes her performance in yet another direction, when revelations and reveals change the film’s gears. Great work. Sean Rogerson is good as dad, Kevin. He is more of the ‘kids will be kids’, ‘boys will be boys’ mentality and is the Scully to his wife’s Mulder. He never comes off as a jerk, on the contrary he is a loving, caring father, but one maybe too busy in his own work to really notice his son is acting so strangely. Speaking of Josh, young Jett Klyne does strong work as the Parsons’ boy. He is sympathetic and sometimes scary and the actor conveys both very well. Veteran actor Stephen McHattie (Ponypool) is effective as family psychiatrist Dr. Seager and Sara Canning is also good as Beth’s somewhat trouble sister Jenna. Tracy and Canning have good chemistry and are convincing as siblings. A good cast.Despite a bit of a dip in momentum in the last act, Z is a spooky and disturbing horror flick. It has a familiar story, but tells it well and uses the familiar traditions of such a story sparingly and to good effect. It has some surprising twists and revelations and is bold enough to take it’s story in a different direction before an unsettling and somewhat ironic finish. There is a very sold cast who perform the material well and Brandon Christensen shows he is a talent to watch. A spooky Shudder Original!-MonsterZero NJ

I was generally enjoying this movie in the beginning - typical plot mostly, nothing really out of the ordinary in terms of a creepy thriller. A few good jumps that I enjoyed in terms of the "scary" factor. Then in the middle of the film, it sorta went south and flat. I got the feeling that the writers decided halfway through to simplify the subject matter rather than try and come up with a complex way to explain the origination of "Z". It became less scary and more "is anything going to happen here?" I didn't particularly care for the ending, not to say that I need a "happy ending" type of story closure but I enjoy endings that at least give you a little more resolution than this one did. The acting overall was pretty good - relatively believable - and the cast seemed to fit in appropriately. I wouldn't watch it again, but if you are looking a movie that's has a few jumpy scares and less bloodiness it might be more up your alley. I think young teens might like this film more than I did.

Hard for me to find a movie that scares me anymore especially with elevated horror ugghhhh but this one creeper me and my daughter out sufficiently:)

This story is not for everyone. Viewer beware.

I kept putting this off, and I was pleasantly surprised when I finally watched it. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen in that (spoiler alert) I have never seen a movie where one of the characters sets up house and plays wife to a demon. It’s terrifying at times! I found myself holding my breath! This is one I will rewatch as a horror movie fan!

1) There is a pointless death during the film that would upset most parents. This is exacerbated by the following points.2) There are no police showing up to the scene of possible(and extremely likely) homicides in this movie's world. More than one, by the way. Only once a wonky psychologist who believes in demons calls them do they show up.3) There are no fire fighters in the movie's world. But there is terrible CG fire4) The parents in the movie are complete idiots. Not sure why this is required to push the plot forward for 'horror' movies with kids in them5) I really cannot stress enough how idiotic the adults are in this film. Worse than the mom in The Visit6) Random jumping to conclusions by the characters. "You're kid is nuts. And I just now remembered years of dealing with you having mental issues as a kid. The only possible conclusion is that there is a demon AND YOU HAVE TO GO SAVE YOUR KID RIGHT NOW! <two days later, same person>... "Remember, it's all in your head. It's not real"7) Acting isn't terrible, but it's along the lines of a made for TV movie8) One single scary part + a couple of useless jump scaresExample of the directing: Dude has his wife's full name on his phone. "Betty? Betty who?! Ohhhhhh. My wife, Betty. There was no last name so I got confused."