Dread (2009) starring Jackson Rathbone, Hanne Steen, Laura Donnelly, Jonathan Readwin, Shaun Evans directed by Anthony DiBlasi Movie Review

Dread (2009)   3/53/53/53/53/5


Jackson Rathbone in Dread (2009)

Dreading the Twilight

For their psychology studies friends Stephen (Jackson Rathbone) and Cheryl (Hanne Steen) must pick something for there thesis which with a little nudging from a student called Quaid (Shaun Evans) decided to do "dread". Via a series of interviews they get people to talk about their deepest fears and phobias to try and work out where dread originates from. What Stephen and Cheryl don't know is that as a child Quaid witnessed his parent's brutal murder by a man with an axe and now plans to make others lead the same life filled with fear that he does by making their nightmares come true.

I have a love hate relationship with movies based off of stories by horror writer Clive Barker with the simpler the story the more I like it whilst those heavy in the supernatural don't do it for me. It is most likely why "Dread" works for me as this isn't a supernatural movie but more of a traditional psycho movie. There are still aspects of "Dread" which don't do it for me, the almost grungy styling which at times feels low budget does little for me but the basic idea is enough to sustain my interest.

Shaun Evans in Dread (2009)

Well I said that "Dread" works with us discovering that Quaid is haunted by memories of the night his parents were slaughtered and he still has visions of the killer combined with other people being killed. As such what we have is almost "Saw" like with Quaid wanting to make other suffer through their worst fears because he doesn't want to be the only one. Whilst familiar it is good although it does at times feel like it gets side tracked with subplots such as Stephen's friend Abby whose body has a huge birth mark which may be down to this originating as a short story rather than a novel.

The success of "Dread" actually comes down to the casting and whilst there will be those attracted to watch because of Jackson Rathbone who if you don't know featured in "Twilight" it is Shaun Evans who makes the movie. Evans makes Quaid this predator; a manipulator and user of people, sadistic in the way his mind works yet at the same time someone haunted by the nightmare visions which won't leave him alone, giving him a sense of insecurity.

What this all boils down to is that "Dread" is a good old fashioned, psycho horror movie with a disturbed individual using others for his sadistic plans. But whilst good it is only good and not the sort of movie which you will feel a burning desire to watch again.


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