To me a 5 or below means get up and walk away; a 7 or above means grab a chair and stick around. A 6 means watch it if you don't have anything better to do. This was a 6.
First the good: the scenery. The not so good: The movie came off as a TV movie. I thought the acting of both Berenger and Hershey was flat. The opportunity was there for both, but there wasn't any zest. I attribute this mostly to the pedestrian writing. In addition, Berenger's presentation was very average. He exhibited a single vocal tonation--a medium holler. As the movie went on it got worse, not better. This was uncalled for since the plot became kind of interesting, and he should have too. Sure he was supposed to be the taciturn mountain man, but all in all, he came off as very one dimensional. Hershey was only mildly better. I really wanted to like her, but her character never came to life either. And between them, there should have been a smoldering heat, but I thought the matches were too damp to light the fire.
The plot was curiously predictable assemblage of several set pieces. However, I admit it did make me want to see how it ended. The first part was the socially exiled mountain man called in to help the cops solve a crime. I am a sucker for that one--though predictable. Then it turns into an interesting spin on the monster investigation. I am a sucker for that one, too--though predictable. Then it turns into the attack against the innocents. I don't usually go for that one, especially when the attacker is even more irrationally motivated than usual, as was the case here. The it finishes with the heroes go happily into the night. I can take or leave that one.
I wanted to like this movie, and I can see why most of the reviewers here fell for it: it had all the elements present. It just fell a little short. Watch it, only if you have the time.
BTW: I thought the voice over was the astronaut from Northern Exposure, not Wilford Brimley.
First the good: the scenery. The not so good: The movie came off as a TV movie. I thought the acting of both Berenger and Hershey was flat. The opportunity was there for both, but there wasn't any zest. I attribute this mostly to the pedestrian writing. In addition, Berenger's presentation was very average. He exhibited a single vocal tonation--a medium holler. As the movie went on it got worse, not better. This was uncalled for since the plot became kind of interesting, and he should have too. Sure he was supposed to be the taciturn mountain man, but all in all, he came off as very one dimensional. Hershey was only mildly better. I really wanted to like her, but her character never came to life either. And between them, there should have been a smoldering heat, but I thought the matches were too damp to light the fire.
The plot was curiously predictable assemblage of several set pieces. However, I admit it did make me want to see how it ended. The first part was the socially exiled mountain man called in to help the cops solve a crime. I am a sucker for that one--though predictable. Then it turns into an interesting spin on the monster investigation. I am a sucker for that one, too--though predictable. Then it turns into the attack against the innocents. I don't usually go for that one, especially when the attacker is even more irrationally motivated than usual, as was the case here. The it finishes with the heroes go happily into the night. I can take or leave that one.
I wanted to like this movie, and I can see why most of the reviewers here fell for it: it had all the elements present. It just fell a little short. Watch it, only if you have the time.
BTW: I thought the voice over was the astronaut from Northern Exposure, not Wilford Brimley.