Midnight Movie

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"The New Face of Horror"
  • R
  • 2008
  • 1 hr 22 min
  • 5.1  (4,339)

Midnight Movie is a horror movie released in 2008, directed by Jack Messitt and starring Rebekah Brandes, Daniel Bonjour, and Greg Cirulnick. The movie is set primarily in a run-down movie theater, the Strand, where a group of people have gathered to watch a midnight screening of a movie called The Dark Beneath. At the start of the movie, a janitor at the theater finds an old canister containing the film The Dark Beneath, and he decides to run it as the midnight movie since he's already run out of other options. The film starts off innocuously enough, but as it progresses, several strange things begin to happen. The first is that the movie's villain, a Jack the Ripper-esque character called the Midnight Murderer, seems to come to life and start attacking audience members.

Meanwhile, a number of the theater's employees and patrons are dealing with their own personal problems. The main protagonist is a young woman named Bridget (played by Rebekah Brandes), who's struggling to come to terms with her own troubled past while also trying to keep her younger brother safe from their abusive father. Other notable characters include the projectionist, played by Daniel Bonjour, and Jonah (played by Greg Cirulnick), another patron at the theater who's been stalking Bridget for some time.

As the movie progresses, the line between reality and fantasy becomes increasingly blurred. It's not entirely clear whether the audience members are being attacked by the Midnight Murderer or if they're just hallucinating due to the film's sinister influence. Similarly, the characters' personal traumas and struggles start to bleed into the movie itself, with the Midnight Murderer becoming a symbol for their real-life problems.

The film's main strengths lie in its effective use of tension and atmosphere. The theater itself is a perfect setting for a horror movie, with its dimly lit corners and creaky old seats. The scenes where the characters are alone or vulnerable are particularly effective, as the camera lingers on the empty corridors and darkened projection booths.

In terms of acting, the leads all do a solid job. Rebekah Brandes in particular is impressive as Bridget, conveying a sense of damage and vulnerability that feels authentic. Some of the supporting performances are a bit hammy, but that's par for the course in a horror movie.

The movie's pacing is a bit uneven, with some stretches feeling slow and others feeling rushed. Additionally, the ending feels a bit underwhelming, particularly in light of the effective buildup that precedes it. That being said, the movie's overall mood and aesthetic are strong enough to carry it through these flaws.

Ultimately, Midnight Movie is a decent, if flawed, horror movie. Its effective use of atmosphere and tension make it worth a watch for genre fans, and Rebekah Brandes' performance elevates it somewhat. However, the movie is unlikely to be as memorable or impactful as classics like The Exorcist or Halloween, and the ending might leave some viewers feeling a bit disappointed.

Midnight Movie is a 2008 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 22 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.1.

Midnight Movie
Description
Where to Watch Midnight Movie
Midnight Movie is available to watch, stream, download and buy on demand at Amazon. Some platforms allow you to rent Midnight Movie for a limited time or purchase the movie and download it to your device.
  • Release Date
    2008
  • MPAA Rating
    R
  • Runtime
    1 hr 22 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    5.1  (4,339)