One more boring horror flick.The plot just drags on and on. What more can I say. The premise for this movie has been done better in other movies. This one is somewhat predictable. I would not waste my time watching this one again. I hope this helps someone. Hollywood seems to have lost it's creativity. Too bad. There has to be better screen writers and producer's out there. Good and great actor deserve better than this garbage. Critics also need to be more critical of these low budget movies to say the least. I wonder if the movie makers ever use real people to preview these movies before they release them. Maybe a few study groups need to screen these movies. I have been watching movies for 49 years now and have seen a steady decline in the quality of the plots. Hope some imagination returns to Hollywood soon. I would like to see others review this movie and tell it like it is. Bottom line is make the buck as quickly as possible and don't worry about quality. Maybe some more book based movies would work. Or maybe quality movies are a thing of the past. I sure hope not.
14 Reviews
I've seen worse
david_r_fry25 May 2014
The best thing about this movie is I a saw it for free on Amazon Prime. A couple of the actors weren't bad until they started talking. The movie also made me think. For example, when the mother was taking a bath it made me wonder why were there candles all over the place? Why didn't the mother or father notice the daughter was dragging a dirty doll around the house? The sound was so bad I'm thinking maybe I missed something. I wonder how much it cost to make this movie and how much money Amazon paid for it. I'm retired and have plenty of time on my hands and think I could probably do a better job than the people who made this turkey.
Beware! Graphic child abuse, torture and murder
george-508-67866824 March 2014
Warning: Spoilers
I've never written a movie review before, and as this is my first at least I know enough not to re-invent the wheel, so to speak. You certainly don't need me to write the same basic review that seems very consistent going down the line.
Besides the other references to violence, I feel it's important to note that much of the violence in the movie is directed towards the children. Towards the end the whole story picks up. The tempo speeds up. It's like the movie had four cups of coffee twenty minutes ago and now, at this moment it finally kicks in. From this point on its a continual review of very graphic, hard to watch depictions of child abuse - physical, emotional and verbal. After the abuse it climaxes with child murder. Watching a battered little child be murdered by drowning in the tub, while being held under, was completely outside my scope of acceptability in any situation. No wonder the child-ghosts were sad and needy looking.
Anyway, that's my 2c, as I felt the child abuse/murder needed to be addressed. Thanx for reading. CHEERS!
Besides the other references to violence, I feel it's important to note that much of the violence in the movie is directed towards the children. Towards the end the whole story picks up. The tempo speeds up. It's like the movie had four cups of coffee twenty minutes ago and now, at this moment it finally kicks in. From this point on its a continual review of very graphic, hard to watch depictions of child abuse - physical, emotional and verbal. After the abuse it climaxes with child murder. Watching a battered little child be murdered by drowning in the tub, while being held under, was completely outside my scope of acceptability in any situation. No wonder the child-ghosts were sad and needy looking.
Anyway, that's my 2c, as I felt the child abuse/murder needed to be addressed. Thanx for reading. CHEERS!
You Have Been Warned
erinm1915 October 2011
Let me first state that I'm not overly critical about movies in general. I've never written a review on IMDb because I normally don't care enough to, but in this situation I consider it a public service to warn others about this movie. It should have come with a warning. As someone else mentioned, the parents acted like porn stars (I actually said to my friend "did we rent a porn?"), dramatic music started from the first scene. The sound and video editing was literally worse than a high school video project. The only reason I watched the whole thing was because it was like a car wreck, I needed to stare, then after a while I had invested so much time I needed to see where they were going with it. The last couple of minutes were remotely interesting, but do not make up for this mess, and I don't think most people would last long enough to see it. Low budget doesn't have to mean terrible movie, there are a lot of excellent movies put together with shoestring budgets, but there was simply no effort with this one. I too feel bad for the actors in this movie, but they should feel bad that we paid to watch this. Where do I demand a refund?
Yawn
unebaiser12 April 2017
Allow me to express,the fact that I am no movie reviewer,but this "film" leaves me no option. If you see this title, in the local grocery store snackmachine, run, don't walk, to the nearest exit. This thing is horrendous. It was like watching robots, trying to build robots.(Sorry,Will Smith) Whatever point they tried to make at the end, was completely lost on me, as I was too busy figuring out how much wood, could a woodchuck chuck...
Boring, and tedious, to the point of absurdity, I saw no link,between the first hour, and the rest of this atrocity.
My advice? Find another duck.
Boring, and tedious, to the point of absurdity, I saw no link,between the first hour, and the rest of this atrocity.
My advice? Find another duck.
It is impossible to take it seriously
eminkl19 October 2019
The synopsis on the back of the box indicates that this is just some typical film about demons that most of it is but where this movie goes from just boring and average to pure garbage is in the opening sequence when the movie looks more like a hammer horror than a bone chilling thriller. It is impossible to take it seriously, which for these types of films is usually the only redeeming quality. Add some mischievous characters and bad writing, and since Dracula 2000 you have the worst excuse for a scary film.
Sharry what were you thinking
wolffharp24 September 2020
This movie was petrifying. Not only did it cause me mental trauma, it caused me physical pain. Literally. The abrupt flashing made me experience intense eye pain throughout the entire film. And Siddhartha, WHAT HAPPENED? The music was ATROCIOUS. Siddhartha I believe you should be imprisoned for a long time. Same with you Sharry. And RYAN. ALL OF YOU SHOULD BE SENTENCED TO ETERNAL DAMNATION FOR MAKING ME ENDURE THAT! DO NOT WATCH THIS FILM UNLESS YOU NEED SOMETHING TO MOTIVATE SUICIDE.
Terrible overall but still made me sad.
imtoxic30 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The acting was horrible. Im not even sure there was any effort put into making this but I can't lie and say it didn't break my heart. I know it's only a movie but to think that children were treated so horribly seriously made me cry. It happens every day in real life and this was just a reminder.
Sincere effort shines through despite shortcomings and a lack of polish
I_Ailurophile21 September 2023
Modest, bare-faced production values immediately betray the indie, low-budget nature of the production, including the cinematography, sound design, and the fundamental image quality. The tone is mild to the point of ham-handedness, and the soft, somewhat scattered, unpracticed tenor of the direction readily shows the inexperience of filmmaker Justin Bergonzoni (it was apparently his debut in that regard, after all), just as one can readily discern from the acting that the cast had little if any experience of their own. This is hardly to outright cast aspersions on anyone involved, as I believe all were making an earnest effort despite their own limitations and those of the project at large. Be all that as it may, it's safe to say that without a major stroke of brilliance 'Ominous' will have upper limits and an uphill climb, and scarcely has the movie begun and we see the kinship it shares with the low-grade fare that has proliferated in subsequent years on streaming sites from the likes of Uncork'd Entertainment or Screenager Productions.
Yet why not? Why shouldn't folks try their hand at making pictures, if their heart is true? As an audience we easily see where there is major room for improvement, but it comes across that this can be attributed to undeveloped skills rather than no skills, or a lack of care. The presentation may be humble, but we can see the similarities it is meant to bear with bigger, more well-financed titles in the tale of a family, with strained dynamics, who try to Get Away From It All at a remote location and have experiences of a supernatural variety. It's a rough ride, but only because the feature is unpolished in every capacity. With all this firmly in mind, I think it's pretty decent! While the audio is imbalanced, I actually love Siddhartha Barnhoorn's score - not reinventing the wheel by any means, but flush with high strings and tense chords to provide atmosphere. Even with rough edges the scene writing is solid, providing foundation for exploration of the relationships between family members and the application of genre elements. The special effects may be less than seamless, but I've certainly seen much worse, sometimes in much bigger films.
Meanwhile, facets like special makeup, lighting, and yes even the cinematography are appreciable, lending to the low-key eeriness in spite of imperfections. Bergonzoni actually illustrates a swell eye for shot composition, and capabilities that just need to be cultivated to bear more fruit. No awards will be forthcoming for the screenplay, nor points awarded for originality, but the characters are sympathetic, the dialogue is suitably believable, and the story at large is ably written and enjoyable. As this fancies itself a horror flick I could do with more eventfulness and concrete plot development, for even as we approach the one-hour mark there hasn't been a substantial amount of real movement, but again, I think the issues facing 'Ominous' are its lack of experience and refinement, and not specifically any poor craftsmanship. I see the value this offers, and it's meaningfully constrained only by how little anyone involved has previously worked in the industry.
Honestly, I like this! It has flaws and shortcomings, but these are outweighed by the sincerity of the endeavor, and of the contributions from all who participated in its creation. The phrase "diamond in the rough" comes to mind; it's not a stone that is likely to turn heads even if it benefited from all the best tools of the trade, but there's no rule that says every picture needs to be a revelation. All things considered this is something likely to be enjoyed only by those who are open-minded enough to admire works that operate on this level, but in my opinion the worth in the end result speaks for itself. From the writers and director to the cast and crew, I commend everyone for the hard work they put into it, and I hope they have grown in their skills and found more success in the years since. 'Ominous' is hardly a title that demands viewership, but if one has the chance to watch, these are eighty-four minutes that are unexpectedly, gratifyingly deserving.
Yet why not? Why shouldn't folks try their hand at making pictures, if their heart is true? As an audience we easily see where there is major room for improvement, but it comes across that this can be attributed to undeveloped skills rather than no skills, or a lack of care. The presentation may be humble, but we can see the similarities it is meant to bear with bigger, more well-financed titles in the tale of a family, with strained dynamics, who try to Get Away From It All at a remote location and have experiences of a supernatural variety. It's a rough ride, but only because the feature is unpolished in every capacity. With all this firmly in mind, I think it's pretty decent! While the audio is imbalanced, I actually love Siddhartha Barnhoorn's score - not reinventing the wheel by any means, but flush with high strings and tense chords to provide atmosphere. Even with rough edges the scene writing is solid, providing foundation for exploration of the relationships between family members and the application of genre elements. The special effects may be less than seamless, but I've certainly seen much worse, sometimes in much bigger films.
Meanwhile, facets like special makeup, lighting, and yes even the cinematography are appreciable, lending to the low-key eeriness in spite of imperfections. Bergonzoni actually illustrates a swell eye for shot composition, and capabilities that just need to be cultivated to bear more fruit. No awards will be forthcoming for the screenplay, nor points awarded for originality, but the characters are sympathetic, the dialogue is suitably believable, and the story at large is ably written and enjoyable. As this fancies itself a horror flick I could do with more eventfulness and concrete plot development, for even as we approach the one-hour mark there hasn't been a substantial amount of real movement, but again, I think the issues facing 'Ominous' are its lack of experience and refinement, and not specifically any poor craftsmanship. I see the value this offers, and it's meaningfully constrained only by how little anyone involved has previously worked in the industry.
Honestly, I like this! It has flaws and shortcomings, but these are outweighed by the sincerity of the endeavor, and of the contributions from all who participated in its creation. The phrase "diamond in the rough" comes to mind; it's not a stone that is likely to turn heads even if it benefited from all the best tools of the trade, but there's no rule that says every picture needs to be a revelation. All things considered this is something likely to be enjoyed only by those who are open-minded enough to admire works that operate on this level, but in my opinion the worth in the end result speaks for itself. From the writers and director to the cast and crew, I commend everyone for the hard work they put into it, and I hope they have grown in their skills and found more success in the years since. 'Ominous' is hardly a title that demands viewership, but if one has the chance to watch, these are eighty-four minutes that are unexpectedly, gratifyingly deserving.
Not too bad for a lower budget
boudica-of-inceni21 March 2011
I have seen just about every horror movie I can get my hands on, but I would not classify this as a horror so much as a suspense/thriller. For a low budget movie, I thought it was pretty good and I think it would have been better with some money put into it. The movie is not gory, volatile or anything like that. It was subtle and not exactly straight forward and yes, the movie did drag at times, but it makes sense at the end of the movie. The sound production could have been better and a couple of the actors seemed nervous more than bad acting and there was some good acting. Some may not like it, but some may. I still think for a low budget movie, it was worth a watch. The plot is not exactly what you think it is.
The forgotten past
gpeltz29 January 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Filmed in Nevada, and released 2011, Ominous is a strange movie. Spoiler alert ahead; it was Directed by Justin Burginzoni, and Written by Sharry Flaherty and scripted by Ryan Neil MicMachim. The set up: Family Man Gavan Callahan, played by Sean Patrick Flaherty, takes his wife Christina played by Elizabeth Purdy, and their three kids; oldest neglected kid, Mitch played by Joseph Anthony Jette, Middle boy Scott played by Nick Wolf and precocious youngest daughter, Young Sarah played by Chloe Brown. Gavan wants to make amends and get the family functioning, This is how the first half of the movie unveils.
On the plus side, there is some handsome photography. Unlike a fairly common faux pas, found in many films of this genera This film is well lit. Even the night scenes allow one to see what is happening. I like when that happens. The acting by the leads, is acceptable. The family is not long in the cabin, when strange things start to occur. Each of the children experience a dark presence, that will eventually dominate the entire action. but you have to wait for that.
Dead Children matching the ages of their living counterparts, inhabit the house. We have seen many spooky dead kids on film, The Ring comes to mind. Still this film maintains a high rating on the over all, "Creep" factor. On the negative side, the score is overbearing and at times redundant. Framing the scare gags in obvious ways; building up to the crescendo, like clockwork with every "jump" scene. The ending is disturbing in many ways, first off dealing with the topic of Mothers who kill their children. A way serious topic demanding a way serious execution, not the fodder for a ghost movie. Also disturbing is my inability to tie the past events with Christina of the present. All these memories were forgotten? Not a great movie, but worth a watch.Seven out of Ten "Creepy Kids" Stars.
On the plus side, there is some handsome photography. Unlike a fairly common faux pas, found in many films of this genera This film is well lit. Even the night scenes allow one to see what is happening. I like when that happens. The acting by the leads, is acceptable. The family is not long in the cabin, when strange things start to occur. Each of the children experience a dark presence, that will eventually dominate the entire action. but you have to wait for that.
Dead Children matching the ages of their living counterparts, inhabit the house. We have seen many spooky dead kids on film, The Ring comes to mind. Still this film maintains a high rating on the over all, "Creep" factor. On the negative side, the score is overbearing and at times redundant. Framing the scare gags in obvious ways; building up to the crescendo, like clockwork with every "jump" scene. The ending is disturbing in many ways, first off dealing with the topic of Mothers who kill their children. A way serious topic demanding a way serious execution, not the fodder for a ghost movie. Also disturbing is my inability to tie the past events with Christina of the present. All these memories were forgotten? Not a great movie, but worth a watch.Seven out of Ten "Creepy Kids" Stars.
Super Low Budget and it shows
deborahjwood9 August 2011
I wish there were a zero rating - I don't know if I can get 10 lines unless I put 10 1 line synonyms for horrible, terrible, awful, waste of time and money, etc.
Choppy filming, terrible sound track, sound editing and "score", stilted acting, ZERO character development. Even as cheap B horror flicks go, this is just terrible - at least with the better B films you can laugh - this is just painful to watch.
You just have to feel sorry for the poor schleps who thought OMG I'm making a movie only to find they made a mess.
The only way editing could have salvaged this film would have been to recycle the film stock
Choppy filming, terrible sound track, sound editing and "score", stilted acting, ZERO character development. Even as cheap B horror flicks go, this is just terrible - at least with the better B films you can laugh - this is just painful to watch.
You just have to feel sorry for the poor schleps who thought OMG I'm making a movie only to find they made a mess.
The only way editing could have salvaged this film would have been to recycle the film stock
I really enjoyed this movie!
mike-516-33584 May 2016
My rating of 10 may be a bit higher than I should have rated it, but it definitely is worthy of much more than a 3.3, which is what others, giving it a much too low rating, had this rated at the time of this review. The quality of the acting, filming, music, story line and everything that makes up a movie definitely pushed this one out of the B movie category for me. Mellisa Salinas is also one very enchanting lady. She has all the qualities of my idea of the perfect wife. It has a well done ending, which ties the movie together. There are some really cheesy low budget horror flicks out there that I can't force myself to sit through. This isn't one of them! I really enjoyed the entire movie and am now madly in love with Mellisa Salinas! :)
Funny but not scary!
church_pam14 September 2011
Wow....that was AWFUL! Bad acting, lighting, the music...I only gave it one star because it was a good laugh. The two leads acted like porn stars, which would be OK if I WERE WATCHING PORN. The story (which didn't develop until the end) probably would've been OK in more capable hands, but it wasn't. There is no gore, blood, not even so much as a paper cut, so if you're looking for that, avoid this one too. We were actually hoping someone would wax one of the kids to at least keep some interest, but that doesn't happen either. Oh and the sound, you get A lot of the "horror violin" music when nothing is really happening. Everyone walks real slow, I guess to build suspense, but it actually drags the movie down. Save your money or better yet, rent a real horror film!
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