Ringu, meet Countdown.
Countdown, meet Ringu.
The difference between these two movies is pretty much night and day, but that doesn't mean Countdown wasn't pretty decent. This is basically a more modern "upgrade" of Ringu and brought into the cell phone universe.
This is yet another film where the trailers make it much better than what it actually is, but of course, you never know till you watch it.
The writing wasn't too bad, the scares for the most part are of the PG-13 variety but there were a few tense moments scattered throughout and the characters do have their moments but most are generally likeable. The creep of a doctor side story was too "#metoo" though and I feel like it could have done without that.
The story was a bit too predictable and it was full of the usual tropes (people seeing dead family members yet STILL doing what they want them to do). This is actually pretty lazy writing as it's unoriginal but it wasn't a killer for me and even though it gets a bit tiresome seeing the same things happen I guess it's to be expected these days.
There was some decent comic relief moments brought to us by cell phone shop manager Derek, and demonology expert Father John, but while relatively funny, these moments made this "horror" film less horrific as it was too frequent. I guess that's what happens when you make a "horror" a PG-13 and try to make more money by bringing it to a wider audience.
It's not all doom and gloom though and there is the occasional creepy moment (the feet suddenly turning backwards was a really nice touch), but it's just a pity they were only occasional.
Countdown is pretty much your typical popcorn horror flick but I don't regret giving it a go because it genuinely did seem like a good horror. Alas, it wasn't to be but it's definitely not the worst film I've seen.
Countdown, meet Ringu.
The difference between these two movies is pretty much night and day, but that doesn't mean Countdown wasn't pretty decent. This is basically a more modern "upgrade" of Ringu and brought into the cell phone universe.
This is yet another film where the trailers make it much better than what it actually is, but of course, you never know till you watch it.
The writing wasn't too bad, the scares for the most part are of the PG-13 variety but there were a few tense moments scattered throughout and the characters do have their moments but most are generally likeable. The creep of a doctor side story was too "#metoo" though and I feel like it could have done without that.
The story was a bit too predictable and it was full of the usual tropes (people seeing dead family members yet STILL doing what they want them to do). This is actually pretty lazy writing as it's unoriginal but it wasn't a killer for me and even though it gets a bit tiresome seeing the same things happen I guess it's to be expected these days.
There was some decent comic relief moments brought to us by cell phone shop manager Derek, and demonology expert Father John, but while relatively funny, these moments made this "horror" film less horrific as it was too frequent. I guess that's what happens when you make a "horror" a PG-13 and try to make more money by bringing it to a wider audience.
It's not all doom and gloom though and there is the occasional creepy moment (the feet suddenly turning backwards was a really nice touch), but it's just a pity they were only occasional.
Countdown is pretty much your typical popcorn horror flick but I don't regret giving it a go because it genuinely did seem like a good horror. Alas, it wasn't to be but it's definitely not the worst film I've seen.