Review - Those Who Walk Away (2022)

Directed by: Robert Rippberger

Starring: Booboo Stewart, Scarlett Sperduto, Nils Allen Stewart

Go Horror Rating: C

It seems I might be in the minority when I say the movie had me in the first bit, and lost traction closing out. I didn't mind the long-take dialogue and even though the conversation and script felt medium-well as opposed to medium-rare, the characters and small-town charm appealed to me. Max (Stewart) and Avery (Sperduto) had flow and I really liked their interactions. It almost felt like a found-footage movie and even though predictable, I found enjoyment waiting for the 'how' as far as what was coming next. Where the movie starts to crumble is when we get to the 'haunted house' that for some reason still has connected utilities. The rubbish on the walls and general decay of the house didn't increase the scariness of the adventure, it more or less made me feel like they were just at a drug dealer's place. Kudos for trying to create a new monster and a relatively unique idea surrounding it. I can't help but feel, though, that the insertion of Rudy (JonSteele), the tactics and process of the monster, and the awkward as hell way that Avery and her brother just sort of lurk and hang around the house was mundane and weak. We get an end result that suffices so at least the movie climbs back onto it's feet to conclude.