At the start of the movie, I wasn't expecting to enjoy myself as it appeared to be another "loner" gets bullied and fights back scenario. There's also a lot of washed-out colours in the opening sequence where we see Lincoln getting bullied. I think this would have worked a lot better had Lincoln not been the stereotypical loner-come-nerd - your typical movie bully fodder. They had a chance to address the whole bullying issue but missed a common truth, anybody can be bullied. Also, the entire scene would have been more striking if you weren't expecting it; get rid of the diffused colours for normal light. This would have also added a deeper and more prophetic character later in the film. In fact, it's the stereotypes that let this film down the most, even though they are well acted by a decent cast.
As I stated above, the director likes to use colour effects to create atmosphere, which on the most part works well, though he doesn't stick to his own formula for the whole film, which gives it a jagged feel at times. Also, some more imaginative camera shots wouldn't have gone amiss and would have helped in a couple of murder scenes, especially as the murders were carried out in a specific way.
For me, the best selling point of the film is the kills. Just for the original way they are executed. The fact that Moira has to cut herself for those slashes to appear on her victims is a magnificent idea... particularly when those cuts cause her pain. This is a woman willing to suffer in death to give death. The other good detail of the film is when Lincoln realises what's happening to his bullies and tries to stop Moira... believing she's acting on his wishes... Though it's the story's climax where writer and director, Adam Egypt Mortimer, and writer, Brian DeLeeuw, make up for not addressing bullying correctly. The scene where Moira meets her nemesis is well written and acted with feeling by Sierra McCormick. You can feel Moira's anguish, fear, anger, and hate seeping out of her dead pores.
As for the rest of the cast, they are okay, though are restricted by the writing, in general. This could have been a stronger and more relevant story had a few things been altered.
I would have to warn people, though, that the scenes of self-harm are a little hard to watch at times. So I have to give respect to the director for this. It shouldn't be an easy thing to view.
If you like vengeful ghost stories this is the film for you... or if you've been bullied it's nice to see the bullies get their comeuppance, even if it's fictional. For the gore-meisters out there it's worth a watch for the originality of the kills.
