Maybe it’s my own desensitization, or maybe it’s because the films that were inspired by it are much better, but I didn’t find this film to be scary or unsettling. At all. This movie aged extremely poorly; the editing and pacing is bad, the direction is sloppy, some of the music choices are downright baffling, and the film isn’t anywhere near as violent and unnerving as its reputation has led you to believe. The characters are awful, and the acting in this is surprisingly bad. This film just feels amateurish on a technical level and I think the controversy surrounding this has completely overshadowed the fact that this isn’t even a good film. Only Wes Craven completionists need apply.
Rating: 1.5/5
Succinct Film Reviews 