Genre: Thriller/Horror
Release Date: 09 December 2010
Distributor: Relativity Media, Universal Pictures (under United International Picture)
Running Time: 107 minutes
Directors: Wes Craven
Producers: Wes Craven, Iya Labunka, Anthony Katagas
Writers: Wes Craven
Casts: Max Thieriot, John Magaro, Emily Meade, Nick Lashaway, Denzel Whitaker, Shareeka Epps, Paulina Olszyinski, Raúl Esparza
Plot: Wes Craven (A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Hills Have Eyes, Scream series) brings audiences his latest suspense thriller with My Soul to Take. In the sleepy town of Riverton, legend tells of a serial killer who swore he would return to murder the seven children born the night he died. Now, 16 years later, people are disappearing again. Has the psychopath been reincarnated as one of the seven teens, or did he survive the night he was left for dead? Only one of the kids knows the answer. Adam "Bug" Heller (Max Thieriot) was supposed to die on the bloody night his father went insane. Unaware of his dad's terrifying crimes, he has been plagued by nightmares since he was a baby. But if Bug hopes to save his friends from the monster that's returned, he must face an evil that won't rest…until it finishes the job it began the day he was born.
THE VERDICT
My Soul To Take marks a return of Wes Craven into the double duty of directing and writing. This time, the 71-year-old maestro of pure horror has chalked up a new movie entry into his long spanning filmmaking career that includes The Hills Have Eye, The Last House On The Left and A Nightmare on Elm Street. The new entry takes audience back into the horrors and thrills, based upon an urban legend left behind by the mystery serial killer that was believed to be possessed by multiple souls, thus portraying different personalities. We know who Wes Craevn is but the question is will he returns to the familiar zone again? Here is an early verdict, not impressive at all!
(PLOT SPOILERS BEGIN) My Soul To Take sets in a sleepy town of Riverton, Massachusetts where the legend has that a serial killer will return to kill the seven children born on the night he was supposed to die. 16 years ago, the serial killer known as Alex Plankov was caught by the police. He was supposed to be killed in an ambulance crash after a standout with the police. Although everyone survives the crash, Alex manages to escape. The Ripper eventually managed to set out his seven souls scattered into the bodies of the seven newbowns that night.
For years, the youth of Riverton maintain a tradition called "Ripper Night" on the night the serial killer supposedly killed. The seven infants who were born that night were known as "Riverton Seven". The group has a special ritual in the woods to keep the ripper away. This time, it is Bug's turn to perform the ritual. However, he fails to vanquish the replica of the ripper as the police arrive. That night, the old souls are back and one by one of the "Riverton Seven" was killed in a gruesome way. Bug will have to do all he can to stop the abomination. (PLOT SPOILERS END)
The new Wes Craven's movie does not serve to the right expectation as we hope for. Wes Craven is a household name when it comes to horror movie. Unfortunately, the movie takes things too serious about itself and abandoning the real horror for nothing but a wild and goofy storyline. The opening fifteen minutes where the backbone story of Alex Plankov, is told with a reminescent storytelling method from the 80's horror. The antagonist is usually undead, sadisticly in love with blood and there will be revenge afterward. It comes pretty cliche but I love those feels from the 80's horror. Raul Esparza's performance as the multiple personalities serial killer, Alex Plankov was detailed and engaging.
However, the real deal stops there. The epilogue is a bit rush and does not give a clear indication on where the story would lead to. In the end the movie stays rather formulaic and confusing. The remainder of the movie is totally a joke. The movie failed to distinguish itself whether it wants to be a creepy horror or just some teenagers been obsessed about the Ripper and ended up cracking some jokes before they died. I was lost when the movie claimed that this is a horror, but I chuckled out on several scenes because the comedic feeling overwhelmed the whole mood of the movie.
Besides that, the movie is lengthy in talks and again, always creating confusions after confusions. The dialogues are repetitive, ridiculous and lack of focus. The movie also invites you to a game of guessing - by naming who is the one with the killer's soul embedded within. It ends up been predictable and from the beginning you can roughly guess that there will be two persons in suspicious behind the Ripper's cloth. Indeed, I was correct.
In the end, My Soul To Take may not be the best, but rather sits prettily as the worst in Wes Craven's movies. It lacks the genuine thrills and horrors, unlike Red Eye or the original The Hills Have Eyes. It lacks of consistency, rather been too predictable and creates too much diversions and twists that one can hardly follows. Fortunately, satire movie-goers would not mind watching this.
THE RATING
Story: 1.5 stars
Casts: 2.5 stars
Cinematography: 3.0 stars
Effects: 2.5 stars
OVERALL : 2.0 stars
GREEN-TEA-O-METER: 8.7
MY SOUL TO TAKE will be reaping your souls beginning tomorrow.