Video Review:
Written Review:
Director: Iain Softley
Production Company: Universal Studios presents a Shadowcatcher Entertainment/Double Feature Films Production
Distribution Company: Universal Studios Home Entertainment/NBC Universal
Genre: Drama/Mystery, Horror, Suspense/Thriller
Series: Standalone
MPAA: PG-13
Release Date: August 12, 2005 (US)
Running Time: 1 hour 44 minutes
MSRP: RENT $3.99, BUY $14.99 HD or $9.99 SD
Trailer/Video: Click Here
Purchase Site: Click Here
Reviewed by: Karen “Neckromance” St. Claire
Final Score: 5 moons (out of 5)
Caroline Ellis (played by Kate Hudson) stars as a fed up hospice caregiver who leaves her nursing home job to start employment in a private estate and discovers it’s mysterious past linked to Hoodoo which lurks rampantly in the haunted estate.
Content
Explore this chilling tales of Hoodoo in the swamplands. Located in Louisiana Plantation country, strange happenings takes place in the haunted bayous of the Deep South as the new caregiver finds a mysterious dusty room in the attic filled with grimoires and artifacts. A ‘Conjure of Sacrifice’ , the ultimate Hoodoo undertaking, begins to work it’s mysterious magic.
Presentation
Presented in an a genuine Cajun country setting, the authenticity of the presentation is superb. Anyone familiar with Louisiana lifestyle of this genre will find it fascinating. The bonafide bayou culture featured in this movie, takes you on a journey as if you were actually there.
Audience Fit
The Goth Community interested in magic, Hoodoo, ghosts, hidden knowledge, sigils, Robert Johnson Blues, botanica supplies, and the mysterious Louisiana bayou country will most likely love this movie. It is full of haunted history and ancestral folklore left behind from another era in time.
Closing Thoughts
This is one of my all time favorite movies. Spending much time in New Orleans and the plantations, I have found a deep resonance in the way this movie vibes true to its nature. Everything from the creepy remote gas station out in the middle of nowhere, to bypassing a young caregiver and elderly lady walking alongside the road with an umbrella, seem so real. The official soundtrack is remarkably well rooted to feature true insights into the ambiance of traditional Louisiana life which includes live jazz, recorded blues, and a rare incantation conjure found on vinyl. They remove the mirrors in the estate lending to the traditional jazz funeral ritual of the south. I have a tangible copy and it contains some cool bonus footage as well including Kate Hudson’s Ghost Story, Exploring Hoodoo/Voodoo, and Blues in the Bayou, as well Behind the Scenes footage. In closing, I highly recommend that you add this to your playlist!
Content: 5.0 Moons (out of 5)
Presentation: 5.0 Moons (out of 5)
Audience Fit: 5.0 Moons (out of 5)
Final Score (not an average): 5.0 Moons (out of 5)
