Dreadout logo
The only downside of DreadOut is that it doesn’t bother explaining the mythology. These transitions feel cinematic, though, as opposed to an homage to DreadOut‘s original medium. The scenes involving the phones and social media live-streaming are genuinely immersive, and during those moments, the film feels akin to being thrust into the environment of a survival-horror game. The film complements a traditional third-person set-up with firsthand found-footage elements, which works to great effect. Stamboel is conscious of that here, and he finds a happy medium. Of course, as is the case with all video game movies, there’s a need to channel the spirit of the source material while also providing a cinematic experience that works for all members of the audience.
Dreadout logo movie#
The ghouls are also heavily steeped in folklore, which gives them a cultural identity that’s more fascinating than your average video game movie monster. Some demons we meet are visually reminiscent of the Evil Dead movies, but monster fans will rejoice in the diverse roster of monstrosities on display. Maybe that doesn’t mean much to you because you can’t think of any that are considered good, but if you’re among the niche crowd that appreciates the eerie awesomeness of Silent Hill, you’re in for a treat here.ĭreadOut manages to thread enough of a story together between monster showdowns to keep it prodding along admirably, but the real stars of this show are the forces of evil. Personally, I think plenty of them are entertaining and I’d rank this one up there with the strongest efforts out there. Fortunately, said creatures are terrified of the light from cell phone flashes.Įnjoyment of DreadOut will mostly depend on your tolerance of video game adaptations. With the portal open, she’s determined to trap our protagonists in the spooky plane with the creatures that dwell there. The main antagonist is the Red Kabaya Lady ( Rima Melati Adams), the ruler of the other realm who doesn’t take too kindly to people visiting or trying to escape. Naturally, it’s up to her to save the day and close the gateway the hellish dimension before the proverbial chocolate hotdog hits the fan. At first, they try to con viewers with fake ghostly sightings, but their meddling with the unknown eventually opens a portal to a terrifying realm populated with demons.Īs it turns out, Linda is able to read ancient demonic texts and ward off her supernatural foes with the flash on her cell phone. But his ability to captivate a fun horror set-piece remains intact, and he hasn’t completely abandoned his established sensibilities to appease the mainstream.īased on the video game of the same same, DreadOut follows Linda ( Caitlin Halderman) and her friends as they investigate a haunted apartment with the aim of capturing supernatural activity to boost their social media profiles. DreadOut is just more of a general audience-pleaser compared to Stamboel’s other work. That’s not to say it’s a bad movie, though - far from it, actually. They’re pretty awesome.ĭreadOut is his first solo project since taking a temporary break from partner-in-crime Timo Tjahjanto, and it sees him treading familiar ground, albeit minus the ferocious punch of his previous films. From Macabre to Killers to Headshot, he’s shown a knack for making movies that boast plenty of arterial spray and sinister thrills.
As one half of Indonesian directing duo the Mo Brothers, Kimo Stamboel is known for unleashing gruesome horror, action, and thriller flicks on midnight crowds.