Out of the Shadows (2017) Reviews

• An adequate horror movie.

  S_Soma2018-06-16

  OUT OF THE SHADOWS is a reasonably competent, Australian-made horror picture. If you're a horror fan and have seen your share of horror pictures then it's unlikely that you're going to see anything new within it. Everything about it is adequate if unremarkable. Adequate acting, adequate music, adequate special-effects, adequate storyline, adequate... Many of the plot elements presented are so well-established in the genre that you might even call them "traditional". In fact, that's actually a pretty good description of the movie overall: a good traditional horror movie based on well-established horror movie traditions. Pregnant wife, unborn baby a desirable target for a well-known, ancient evil with recognizable name. Disbelieving husband that continues to disbelieve even in the face of pretty concrete evidence. Everybody thinks wife is crazy including doctors. Husband eventually comes around when proof, quite literally, hits him in the face. Authoritative church figure won't get involved because of church rules. Rebel church employee takes on the good fight. Protective supernatural character accidentally banished by rebel church employee. Forces of evil close in on now-unprotected mother and baby. Big supernatural fight ensues with everybody present. Supernatural villain throws everybody around the room being sure to bounce them off of walls. One side wins, one side loses, throw dice to pick which one. I don't know how nascent or established the Australian horror movie industry is, but OUT OF THE SHADOWS suggests good things to come. The movie is worth watching for horror fans and is much better than the usual direct-to-video junk that the industry pumps out by the metric ton. The dénouement at the end is a little weak with the rockstar-esque supernatural super villain, but still a good effort that deserves some love.

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• Do not waste your time

  yuksellica-951292018-03-05

  I never saw such a funny movie. It was very terrible.

• Great Australian scenery, good acting and a few scares

  melissahmcgrath2018-05-31

  The movie has several themes which lets it down. A bit of a thriller, bit scary, bit investigative. But its worth a watch. Good Australian cast

• Paranormal horror that entertains above its weight class

  marccerrone2018-06-20

  Director Dee McLachlan's Out of the Shadows falls into the paranormal horror drama genre and plays with the traditional ingredients necessary for creating a typical entry into this sector of horror. However, McLachlan Shadows uses some key techniques to differentiate her latest film from the rest of the paranormal segment, while retaining some roots of what makes this type of horror so popular. One of the best things about Out of the Shadows is the cast. Lead actors Kendal Rae and Blake Northfield fit into the roles of Katrina and Eric perfectly. Their performances build and bounce off one another, creating genuine on-screen chemistry, that sells the audience on their relationship. Katrina's delusion, and Eric's disbelief evolve naturally and organically, and the effect their actions have on one another doesn't feel rushed. On the production side of things, the cinematography work is beautiful. From the many shots of the Australian land scape, to unique camera angles when filming the actors and paranormal forces, it seamlessly adds an additional layer to the story. The cinematography aids in expressing the isolation and helplessness felt by Katrina as she attempts to convince Eric that she isn't crazy. The sound engineers did an excellent job creating the sounds and voice of the demons. Paired with the excellent sound work are the realistic practical and special effects, which blend well with one another and don't seem cheap or cheesy. Additionally, the sound track instills fear in the audience and heightens moments of suspense and shock. Overall, Out of the Shadows is a well-produced, entertaining paranormal horror, that punches above its budget and thoroughly entertains and captivates audiences.

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• Some Fresh Ideas Overwhelmed by an Uneven Script!

  spookyrat12018-12-04

  This Australian independent supernatural - themed film is by no means a 21st century Exorcist, but arguably deserves a little more positive attention than it's currently receiving. The cinematography throughout is of a very high standard and unlike many other contemporary films, we can clearly see what's going on. It sounds basic doesn't it. We go to see movies. The trouble is these days we frequently need to peer through the murk, masquerading as lighting to watch the action. The locations and setting for a ghost film are also unusual to say the least. We don't usually associate this genre with attractive, sub-tropical regional Australian towns. The special and sound effects are more than adequately used in a movie obviously made on a limited budget. The acting displayed by a cast of relative unknowns (to this writer anyway) is never less than competent. The main problem with the film lies within the script and the manner in which the story is constructed. None of the major characters receive any detailed backstories. How did the married couple end up in this town? Why does this town happen to have a pair of exorcists inhabiting the local church? Why should Dee, Father Joe's niece and a lay person have this background knowledge of demons and exorcisms and why should she have apparently ended up in court (offscreen) for carrying out some sort of exorcism? (BTW, the Dee character is obviously channelling the Deborah Furniss heroine from another Australian film from the 80's called Shame.) None of these issues are touched on, so we end up not caring a huge amount about the characters. The film also unashamedly and unfortunately makes use of some very common generic tropes. 1 A solitary character being haunted, who for a fair percentage of the film is labelled as "mentally unstable". 2 A resident demon who seems cut from the same cloth, as the well-known Freddie Kruger 3 A pregnant woman, whose child is sought by the forces of evil. Ho- hum! I think you get the picture. 4 Final scenes which we have all seen before in any number of possession type films and which leave the door open for a possible sequel. The climax when it arrives appears pretty rushed and abbreviated, as if the directors suddenly realised they had to wrap this movie up quickly to adhere to a 90 minute running time. It feels forced and imposed on us, rather than naturally occurring within the existing narrative. Out of the Shadows ultimately doesn't succeed, but there is some promise shown by co-directors McLachlan and Patterson, that any future collaborations may hold some interest.

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