Watch Eloise

Eloise is a 2016 horror/thriller movie directed by Robert Legato and starring Chace Crawford, Eliza Dushku, Brandon T. Jackson and P.J. Byrne. It was released in theaters in February 2017, and it portrays the story of four friends who venture into an abandoned mental hospital to find a death certificate that will allow Jacob Martin, the main character, to claim his inheritance.

The movie introduces us to Jacob Martin, a young man who lost his father and who needs to prove that he is his only surviving relative in order to claim his father's inheritance. However, the only way for him to do that is by finding the death certificate of his grandfather, who died in the infamous Eloise mental institution. Facing pressure from his sister to resolve the matter, Jacob decides to enlist the help of his estranged friend Dell, an ex-con who owes him a favor, and Eloise's patient Pia Carter, who claims that she knows the hospital well and can help them sneak in.

As they enter the dark and creepy hospital, the friends encounter several strange and frightening occurrences that suggest that the abandoned institution is not as deserted as they had initially assumed. As they make their way through different floors and wards, they find themselves facing disturbing images and supernatural activity that only increase their fear and desperation. Moreover, they come to realize that the hospital holds much darker secrets than they could have ever anticipated, and that their visit may be far more dangerous than they could have predicted.

One of the main elements that make Eloise stand out as a horror/thriller movie is its setting. The film takes place in the Eloise hospital, an actual psychiatric institution located in Michigan that operated from 1839 to 1984, when it was shut down for financial reasons. The hospital was notorious for its harsh treatments, poor living conditions, and high mortality rates, which have given rise to many legends and rumors about the place. By using Eloise as its setting, the movie creates a genuinely eerie atmosphere that perfectly serves its horror theme, and the dilapidated and claustrophobic hospital lends itself well to the tension-building devices that the director employs.

Another aspect that helps Eloise to achieve its creepy atmosphere is its soundtrack. The movie's score, composed by Ronen Landa, combines dissonant and atonal sounds with subtle melodies that enhance the tension and unease of the scenes. Additionally, the use of unsettling soundscapes and sound effects such as creaking doors, footsteps, and whispers is another element that contributes to the spooky and immersive vibe of the movie. These audiovisual elements are a great testament to the attention to detail that the filmmakers put into making Eloise a convincing horror experience.

Another feature of Eloise that stands out is the cast's performances. Chace Crawford's portrayal of Jacob Martin is convincing, and his character's motivations are easy to understand. Jacob is a character who has gone through some significant struggles in his life, including the death of his father and the estrangement from his sister, and Crawford's acting communicates these emotions effectively. Eliza Dushku's portrayal of Pia Carter is also impressive and adds a layer of intrigue to the story. Pia is a patient who claims to know the hospital well, and her motivations and backstory develop over the course of the film in a way that is both believable and engaging. Brandon T. Jackson and P.J. Byrne's performances as Dell and Scott respectively provide some welcome comic relief and balance out the film's darker elements.

Overall, Eloise is an excellent horror movie that delivers on eerie and creepy elements, engaging performances, and a genuinely scary atmosphere. The movie's setting in the Eloise asylum, coupled with its score, sound design, and cinematography, are all outstanding and serve to create a genuinely unsettling experience. The performances of the cast are engaging, and the twists and turns of the plot keep the audience on edge. Eloise is a movie that is sure to satisfy any horror fan, and that establishes Robert Legato as a promising horror movie director.

Eloise is a 2017 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 29 minutes. It has received poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.6 and a MetaScore of 15.