The James Logan Courier

By Michelle Morimoto and Bobbi Maas, Courier Staff Writers

Note: Free tickets to a preview of The Messengers were provided to The Courier by radio station Wild 94.9 in exchange for promotional considerations.

The Messengers is a clichéd horror flick that steals concepts from other films and rearranges them to make a “new” film. The affects were impressive at times but cheesy in others and the film lacked continuity. The Messengers was good for a few laughs but it was devoid of substance.

The film begins with a vivid flashback. The black and white murder scene leaves the audience with a faceless villain. It then fast-forwards to the present to a family of four moving into a dilapidated farmhouse, escaping from their past in the city. Due to prior hardships the relationship between Jessica, the main character, and her parents is forced. Eventually the spooks begin to harass her and her little brother. Her parents believe it to be a ploy to gain their attention and to convince them to move to back to the city.

The film focusses on her struggle to alert her family of the danger in the house and of protecting Her brother.

The special affects throughout the film are more reminiscent of Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion, rather then a big budget horror flick. The actors and actresses are unconvincing in their roles and the script is simplistic and predictable. With better acting and more time the Messengers could have possibly passed as an acceptable film. Quite frankly we're glad that we did not have to pay to see it.