The tyranist's thoughts
I'm not really sure how I came to rent this one. I started out the movie thinking that it would be most like Leprechaun in the Hood but was pleasantly surprised when it was a lot closer to Candyman. Lucky me.
So there's a bad house in a bad neighborhood that has a bad reputation, but a couple of kids from a better neighborhood are going to change all that. They buy the house with the intent of turning it into a club. Of course, the house has a past. And it's hungry for human flesh.
It's too bad they worked really hard to sell this as a Snoop Dogg vehicle because it is a much better movie than that. I'm not really part of that demographic and probably never was, but I do happen to own a creepy old house and that is where this one is truly effective. In fact, when I was locking up the house for the night and turning the lights of behind me, I moved a little faster than normal.
The script is good and surprisingly accessible. The acting was decent. I really liked Pam Grier (as always) and the kids were all pretty good too. The effects are much more gory than I expected and other than some blood that is unnaturally coloured , very effective. I haven't awarded an excessive gore Skull in a long time, but this one clearly deserved it.
So who should see this movie? Well, that's still kind of tough. I think that if you enjoyed Candyman you might like this one. It isn't on the same level (or even close really) but it is in that vein. On the other hand, maybe you are in the demographic that would rush out to see a Snoop Dogg vehicle, in which case you probably don't need my urging to see it.