Vinyan – Quick Review

April 2, 2009 · 4 comments

It started out so nicely…

I was looking forward to checking this out after watching the trailer. The quote from Variety comparing this to Apocolypse Now also gave me a little push. When I got the DVD and read the excerpt on the back that sounds straight out Ju-on, I was like ‘Ju-on set in the Jungle? Heck yes.’ After having watched it, I can safely say that this is nothing close to Apocolypse or Ju-on.

The intro was crazy and I was pretty psyched to see what the filmmakers from Calvaire had in store. As I struggled through the long drawn out shots that are supposed to be creating “atmosphere”, I was still impressed by the locale and the use of locals as actors. As things painstakingly inch there way towards progression, however, there are just too many elements that worked against the film. My number one gripe with any movie in any genre is when writers force characters into situations by having them make stupid decisions. This couple is, apparently, wealthy enough to make sizable donations, along with their wealthy elite neighbors, to try to save area’s of Thailand that are on the brink of death. So, they are obviously intelligent enough to be that wealthy, yet dumb enough to make some of the ridiculous decisions that lead them into trouble.

Every once in awhile a movie that blends genre’s gets lumped into the horror genre because its easier to market that way. While there are some aspects that could be perceived as horror, such as some of the minimal surrealism, or the minimal (yet disturbing) violence, I would have to categorize this as a dramatic thriller, if that. To sum the movie up, its a slow paced story set in a foreign jungle with exotic cinematography and good production quality where the main characters make dumb decisions. There, I said it. If thats your thing, jump right in.

- Wes Fierce

Official HFM Rating:

(Read more about the rating system)

Video Clips

4 Responses to “Vinyan – Quick Review”

BB Says:
April 14th, 2009 at 6:10 am
Hmm – I watched the trailer (on this site incidently) and thought it looked quite promising, but it seemed to me to have something in common with the old classic ‘Don’t look now’ about it. Mind you, I did actually watch the trailer without sound ….

ARGH! Is there scientific evidence that people should make stooopid decision in films – maybe the same evidence that supports the female participants to have to scream a lot and be f*ckingly hysterical most of the time! Makes ME want to scream ….

sorry, rant over – and completely non-related!
BB Says:
April 14th, 2009 at 6:11 am
Actually, it mostly makes me want to punch them in the face!
Wes Fierce Says:
April 14th, 2009 at 5:30 pm

bad writers forcing characters to make bad decisions = the majority of horror movies (unfortunately.) Vinyan actually skates a very thin line between not being a horror movie though I saw a quote from somebody saying that its an artsy drama, lol.

also, believe it or not, im not a big fan of Dont Look Now, even if it is the original “Sixth Sense”. Im sure it was pretty mindblowing when it was first released. Its still better than Vinyan though…
BB Says:
April 15th, 2009 at 3:56 am
I believe you, not really my favourite either – it was a bit on the slow side, however, the finale does make me jump everytime (about every 4 years or so). But I do put that down to the fact the ‘little person’s’ got a face like a slapped arse and scares the daylight out of me!!!

I think a lot of films don’t really count as horror – Irreversible certainly doesn’t come under horror in my book either! Definition of horror needs a lot more OTT (as opposed to pseudo-realistic) violence/gore and scary/creepy things! Well, that’s just my opinion, of course.