Umma has an interesting plot and a nice cast...it really should of been a decent horror flick...but sadly, it wasn't.
My biggest gripe is the darkness. I understand it's a 'horror'...and I kinda like how the filmmakers introduced the 'scared of electricity' element, which gives them a reason to not have lights on...but holy mackerel, there are parts where the screen is near pitch black! I mean 'so dark that you can barely see what's going on'. What's the point? It really spoils a film when you don't even know what you're looking at. I turned all the picture parameters up by 20...and still could barely see anything. So this meant some parts of the film are a mystery to me, due to not being able to see what was going on. If it wasn't for the sound, I could of sworn my TV was switched off! Fail!
Besides the darkness issue, the film is slow and repetitive. You'll probably struggle to give it your full attention from start to end.
Like some other reviewers have said, it's more of a drama, than a horror. That's a pet peeve of mine - films that use the term 'horror' to boost numbers. They should realise that this has a negative effect...because when horror lovers, watch a 'horror' film, but don't get horror, it p*sses us off!
Also, there's a 'girl wants to go to college' subplot...it's so rushed and frantic, that it barely makes any difference to anything.
I think the same cast and the same storyline has the potential to be an epic horror film, just with a different director. This almost looked like a made for TV joint.
My biggest gripe is the darkness. I understand it's a 'horror'...and I kinda like how the filmmakers introduced the 'scared of electricity' element, which gives them a reason to not have lights on...but holy mackerel, there are parts where the screen is near pitch black! I mean 'so dark that you can barely see what's going on'. What's the point? It really spoils a film when you don't even know what you're looking at. I turned all the picture parameters up by 20...and still could barely see anything. So this meant some parts of the film are a mystery to me, due to not being able to see what was going on. If it wasn't for the sound, I could of sworn my TV was switched off! Fail!
Besides the darkness issue, the film is slow and repetitive. You'll probably struggle to give it your full attention from start to end.
Like some other reviewers have said, it's more of a drama, than a horror. That's a pet peeve of mine - films that use the term 'horror' to boost numbers. They should realise that this has a negative effect...because when horror lovers, watch a 'horror' film, but don't get horror, it p*sses us off!
Also, there's a 'girl wants to go to college' subplot...it's so rushed and frantic, that it barely makes any difference to anything.
I think the same cast and the same storyline has the potential to be an epic horror film, just with a different director. This almost looked like a made for TV joint.