Can't believe the number of contributors on this site who insist that the plot was incoherent and the ending was unbelievable.
They simply can't have been paying attention to the story as it played out.
Initially, I was guilty of writing this clever little film off too ... up till the very unexpected third act twist, which is extremely well executed (pardon the pun) down to the smallest detail. The beauty of The Super is that this twist, which I admit to not seeing coming (although there were earlier clues given upon reflection) succeeds in turning a run of the mill slasher mystery, into a neat thriller with supernatural overtones.
All the usual slasher/horror tropes are completely turned on their head. These include: 1 An unseen, rampant serial-killer in a large apartment building. 2 The building serviced by a cross - section of rather suspect staff 3 An incoming family affected by tragedy 4 The old naughty kids getting themselves into troublesome set-ups by doing the opposite of what they are instructed. 5 A very liberal sprinkling of red herrings.
To say much more would be to spoil. However just let me make a couple of pertinent points, in reply to some of the whiney critics on these pages.
Those complaining about Beverly's actions as being bizarre, haven't paid attention to her earlier back story detailed in conversations with Violet and Phil. She is clearly not the strongest, most self - directed person going around. Knowing this does make her later scenes relatively believable.
Val Kilmer! Give me a break. Most tuned in movie - goers will understand this is a guy, making a semi - acting comeback from the ravages of throat cancer. Given that, I think his filling of the role of Walter and delivery of that character's dialogue was more than adequate; especially so, when you understand the full extent of the above stated twist. Kilmer may not grace Shakespearen productions again due to his physical limitations, but I thought he was particularly well cast as the head super in this feature.
Yes, there are a number of familiar horror tropes in The Super, but they ultimately intersect in ways you might not expect; it's a rare genre film that successfully surprises its audience, but this one successfully ticks off positively against that bench mark.
They simply can't have been paying attention to the story as it played out.
Initially, I was guilty of writing this clever little film off too ... up till the very unexpected third act twist, which is extremely well executed (pardon the pun) down to the smallest detail. The beauty of The Super is that this twist, which I admit to not seeing coming (although there were earlier clues given upon reflection) succeeds in turning a run of the mill slasher mystery, into a neat thriller with supernatural overtones.
All the usual slasher/horror tropes are completely turned on their head. These include: 1 An unseen, rampant serial-killer in a large apartment building. 2 The building serviced by a cross - section of rather suspect staff 3 An incoming family affected by tragedy 4 The old naughty kids getting themselves into troublesome set-ups by doing the opposite of what they are instructed. 5 A very liberal sprinkling of red herrings.
To say much more would be to spoil. However just let me make a couple of pertinent points, in reply to some of the whiney critics on these pages.
Those complaining about Beverly's actions as being bizarre, haven't paid attention to her earlier back story detailed in conversations with Violet and Phil. She is clearly not the strongest, most self - directed person going around. Knowing this does make her later scenes relatively believable.
Val Kilmer! Give me a break. Most tuned in movie - goers will understand this is a guy, making a semi - acting comeback from the ravages of throat cancer. Given that, I think his filling of the role of Walter and delivery of that character's dialogue was more than adequate; especially so, when you understand the full extent of the above stated twist. Kilmer may not grace Shakespearen productions again due to his physical limitations, but I thought he was particularly well cast as the head super in this feature.
Yes, there are a number of familiar horror tropes in The Super, but they ultimately intersect in ways you might not expect; it's a rare genre film that successfully surprises its audience, but this one successfully ticks off positively against that bench mark.