I thought this movie was pretty good. I'm your pretty cliche horror fan, so I like some jump scares and a spooky plot. I'm usually wary of more "subtle" artsy horror movies because I think sometimes they're overhyped and boring and I was thinking this could be one of those.
This isn't really a horror movie though, it's more of a psychological thriller in my opinion.
I liked that the movie gave you this very stereotypical idea of what the movie is going to be about early on (crazy new girlfriend tortures grieving children while dad is aloof to the whole thing) and then slowly you find out Grace is actually pretty much the only victim of this entire movie.
I like the kids being the antagonists in the movie because it felt sort of believable that kids who hated their future stepmom and don't really understand the true nature of her mental health issues could do some seriously hurtful things. I like a dark ending and honestly it felt a little justified. I'm not sure if we're supposed to feel not terribly sorry that the kids that broke a women's mind in the end pay the ultimate price? But it definitely felt like a "you reap what you sow" moment.
The cinematography is great and the acting is really great too!
There were some off things that bugged me though. The father being the biggest one. Is it really believable that a man would be a big enough fool to orchestrate some trip to lock his children in a house with this woman they literally despise by themselves? Also, he seemed to know very little about a woman he had plans to marry and leave his kids alone with. I'm supposed to believe she's never once done the creepy sleepwalking thing with him? Or that he wouldn't know she's on medication for what is obviously severe PTSD?
I'm also a bit confused about the plethora of "pranks" the kids play on her. Did they let the dog out on purpose? Because that's sick. Did Aiden make up this sheet showing they've all died before the trip? Because there was no power in the house most of the time because if so, he's probably the sickest character in the show. Also the snow angels seemed a bit impossible for two kids. I've chalked a couple of these things up to Grace's deteriorating mental state. Since the movie is mostly from her POV I suppose it's possible she imagined the snow angels as she was clearly hallucinating some of the time. The movie also is a bit too long. I find this a common issue with the more artsy horror/thriller movies.
Anyway, I say it's worth the watch. Not really scary in the traditional sense but more scary in that humans are terrible and we do awful things to each other that sometimes result in loss of life.
I'm also a bit confused about the plethora of "pranks" the kids play on her. Did they let the dog out on purpose? Because that's sick. Did Aiden make up this sheet showing they've all died before the trip? Because there was no power in the house most of the time because if so, he's probably the sickest character in the show. Also the snow angels seemed a bit impossible for two kids. I've chalked a couple of these things up to Grace's deteriorating mental state. Since the movie is mostly from her POV I suppose it's possible she imagined the snow angels as she was clearly hallucinating some of the time. The movie also is a bit too long. I find this a common issue with the more artsy horror/thriller movies.
Anyway, I say it's worth the watch. Not really scary in the traditional sense but more scary in that humans are terrible and we do awful things to each other that sometimes result in loss of life.