The Piper (2023) Poster

(II) (2023)

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4/10
Nothing special.
Patient44421 January 2024
Well, The Piper wanted to be a good movie, with its own plot and development, reaching to a nice climax and delivering all that it could.

Sadly it came off as boring and unsatisfactoring, it did try, but never quite delivered a punch. A few swings, some effort, sweat, simply put - unoriginal.

A movie like so many others before it, with a mytical creature, some supernatural elements and that is all. The creature itself makes very few appearences and it's not because it wanted to have that Jaws effect, but because the script didn't know what to do with it. Perhaps it relied on its third act, which does deliver a little but too little too late.

All in all, not a movie I'd recommend, I think it could and should have been better.

Cheers!
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5/10
A nice try...
paul_haakonsen22 January 2024
Now, I sat down to watch the 2023 horror movie "The Piper" solely because it was a horror movie that I hadn't already seen, much less actually being familiar with.

But what a surprise I was in for here, I didn't know that the movie was starring Julian Sands. So when he showed up on the screen, imagine my surprise to see my favorite actor popping up on the screen unbeknownst to me. And with "The Piper" being one of the last movies that he worked on before his disappearance and death, that just makes sitting through this 2023 movie from writer and director Erlingur Thoroddsen all the more special.

The narrative in the movie was okay. I mean, it wasn't a particularly overly scary storyline. But writer Erlingur Thoroddsen put together a fairly entertaining script for the movie, based on the classic tale "The Flautist of Hamelin", but of course in an updated and modern setting. The ending of the movie was, somewhat anti-climatic and felt rather rushed, and that sort of took away from the overall impression of "The Piper".

I wasn't familiar with the cast ensemble, aside from Julian Sands, but I will say that they had an interesting and talented cast ensemble for the various roles and characters in the movie. I had not stumbled upon Charlotte Hope before this movie, but she certainly carried the movie quite nicely with her performance.

Visually then "The Piper" was okay. It was not a movie that relied heavily on an abundance of special effects, which in itself was a good thing. But the special effects that were utilized in the movie worked out well enough, and certainly brought flavor to the overall impression of the movie. However, personally I wished that the Piper creature would have been given more on-screen time, because it was just a shame that it was hardly in the movie. But of course that is a matter of preference, whether or not you want an abundance of screen time for a creature in a movie or not; needless to say that I do enjoy that.

The music throughout the course of the movie was good. And the concerto music that the movie revolved around certainly was haunting and memorable.

I found that "The Piper" was a good attempt at recreating a take on the classic tale, however, the movie ended up being somewhat bland and rather forgettable.

My rating of "The Piper" lands on a five out of ten stars.
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4/10
Uninspired and very lacking in genuine scares
Terrorbit29 February 2024
An uninspired horror film and the last screen appearance of the late Julian Sands, that explores the concept of music as a tool of evil through a reinterpretation of the popular story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. Unfortunately, it lacks the suspense or imagination necessary to overcome its outdated visual style -unequivocally inspired by the typical mannerisms of 1990s Italian horror- and an alarming lack of effective scares. Furthermore, the Pied Piper's main appearance comes too late and is poorly justified. The most notable aspect, however, is Christopher Young's eerie and omnipresent score.
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3/10
A harmony of obscured ambitions
gsilecchia20 April 2024
This film promises an intriguing blend of horror and music but fails to strike the right chords to create a memorable melody. Directed by Erlingur Thoroddsen, this adaptation of the German legend of the Pied Piper of Hamelin gets lost in predictable passages and clichés, missing the opportunity to build true tension and emotional engagement. At the heart of the story is Melanie, a young composer played by Charlotte Hope, who strives to fulfil her dream in the orchestral world while worrying about her deaf daughter, Zoe. However, when Melanie stumbles upon a mysterious score from a deceased colleague, a chain of dark events unfolds, jeopardising not only her career but also her daughter's life. One of the main challenges of the film is its predictability. From the opening scenes, the direction in which the plot is heading becomes apparent, depriving audiences of the suspense and unexpected twists that characterise great horror works. The dynamics of the characters, though well-performed by actors like Julian Sands and Charlotte Hope, fail to lift the film from its conventional plotlines. Moreover, despite the title suggesting a strong connection between music and horror, this synergy is not fully utilised. While Christopher Young's soundtrack is well-executed and contributes to creating a tense atmosphere, the deep and sinister link between music and evil that could have elevated the film to new heights of terror is missing. Another critical point is the lack of development of the proposed themes. Although the concept of using music as a vehicle for forbidden ideas is intriguing, the film fails to fully explore this possibility, limiting itself to superficial hints that are never fully realised. However, not all is lost in "The Piper". Some visual sequences are well-crafted, with cinematography that creates a dark and unsettling atmosphere. In particular, the design of the Piper himself is fairly successful, although his on-screen moments are too limited to fully appreciate the impact. "The Piper" is a film that promises much but delivers little. While it has some positive elements, such as the performances of the actors and the visual atmosphere, it fails to overcome its fundamental flaws: a predictable plot, underdeveloped characters, and a superficial use of the proposed themes. For more discerning horror enthusiasts, it may be a disappointment.
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3/10
Failed, unscary and superfluous horror attempt
johannes2000-123 April 2024
Someone must have thought it a brilliantly original horror-concept: an evil-infested deadly classical concerto. Seriously?? Yes, seriously! As anyone could have guessed beforehand, the idea totally fell flat. To begin with: classical music and horror-movies do not mix well together, each having very different aficionados. To make the pivotal demonic tune sound like an almost angelically innocent ditty didn't really help to evoke the intended creepy apprehension. And after hearing that same little tune for the 67'th time you just want to smother your soundbar!

Most disappointing of all was the bad writing: what a silly, uninspired and chaotic story this is! Apart from Julian Sands, who gave his usual professional performance (this by the way being one of his last pictures), the rest of the small cast didn't really seemed to believe in the project themselves, everyone acts so lackluster and contrived. The final scene presents the usual cliché (the evil hasn't ended...) and thus fits the rest perfectly. In short: a failed, unscary and not even slightly entertaining attempt at making an original (wannabe) horror flick.
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4/10
Piper" with a rating of 4/10
puretopten3 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Review of Piper

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Write a long review and conclusion as not recommended movie 4/10. Movie name "piper" Searching for: piper movie review

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Here is a possible review and conclusion for the movie "Piper" with a rating of 4/10:

Piper is a 2023 horror film directed by John Carpenter and starring Jamie Lee Curtis as Zoe, a single mother who moves to a remote farmhouse with her young son. The film is loosely based on the Pied Piper of Hamelin legend, and features a mysterious creature that lures children away with its music.

The film starts off promisingly, with a creepy atmosphere and some effective jump scares. The cinematography and the score are well-done, and Curtis delivers a solid performance as the protective mother. However, the film soon falls apart due to a weak script, poor character development, and a lack of logic. The film tries to explore themes of motherhood, trauma, and trust, but fails to do so in a meaningful or coherent way. The film also suffers from a lack of originality, as it borrows heavily from other horror films such as The Babadook, The Conjuring, and Sinister.

The film's biggest flaw is the creature itself, which is never fully explained or shown. The film relies too much on sound effects and cheap CGI to create tension, but the result is more laughable than scary. The film also fails to establish the rules and motivations of the creature, making it seem arbitrary and inconsistent. The film's climax is disappointing and anticlimactic, as Zoe and her son face off against the creature in a predictable and clichéd way. The film ends with a twist that is supposed to be shocking, but is actually predictable and nonsensical.

Piper is a film that had potential, but wasted it with poor execution. The film is neither scary nor engaging, and fails to deliver on its premise. The film is a disappointment for horror fans and for fans of John Carpenter, who has done much better work in the past. Piper is a film that is not worth watching, and deserves a rating of 4/10.
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3/10
Not convinced
baunacholi-861595 May 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Taking Lore as inspiration is a common tool in creating movies esp in the mystery genre. Unfortunately it ends here most of the time with the innovative aspects. The curse of the piper is not really that much different in m my pov. Too many cliches ruin any originality. Flickering light bulbs, things covered in bed sheets, cars which don't start, kids seeing dark entities and not to forget the obligatory dream sequences - leave alone jumping to conclusions which solve any problem in a heartbeat .... U get the point. I clearly missed suspense and a stronger story / plot the rich Hamelin heritage could have easily provided.
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7/10
Solid supernatural horror
kastrino21 February 2024
I didn't think too much about watching this one especially after I saw the late great Julian Sands name on the poster. It is a classic horror story with a twist and a few Lovecraftian overtones that will please the fans of the king of cosmic horror. The movie starts at a steady pace by laying down the story and various players, quite atmospheric at times and tries to keep the mystery in check for as long as possible. After a while, the plot becomes apparent but this does not hurt the pace and there are a few surprises in store. The ending was a bit too "happy" and convenient for its own good, but overall this was a good movie that tries to honor older horror movies while keeping in touch with the present. Not a masterpiece but a solid effort that makes up an entertaining watch for horror fans.
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8/10
A solid, tension filled horror possible spoilers.
mychakk27 October 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Just saw it during a Halloween marathon at a local cinema in my country. A solid, tension filled horror. There are long passages of raising tension. A few scar jumps, if you like those, and the even a few gruesome scenes for slasher lovers (not me), but they are scary in a disgusting way.

The storyline doesn't drag necessarily, although it becomes predictable, especially the finale. And speaking about the finale, it was kinda weird, kind of discordant (oh, irony) in the way it was shot. But the characters and actors are engaging enough. Although the main character could have realised that she's gonna need her flute. Honestly, that was one moment I went almost out loud *finally!*.

All in all, quite a good movie, probably will revisit it again.

But, the best part is ...the music :) The main tune stays with you even after the movie ends. Hope that's not ominous or anything ;) (also waiting for the OST to be available on Spotify *fingers crossed*).
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6/10
The music...
catasanchez-1626721 March 2024
While watching this live I have to admit the storyline was okay, and the actors did the best they could with what they had been given, nothing really special story wise.

Now the music is a completely different thing. If you love music or feel very enchanted by it and you can be inspired by it, then this is the movie for you.

Honestly there was not a moment in this movie that I was no terrified by the beautiful but heartbeat accelerating music.

I was constantly watching over my shoulder trying to see if the piper was there.

The music will bring you into a beautifully constructed scene of terrifying wait, as if something was really going to happen anytime.

The main melody is in every part of the movie and it leads up until the final scene.

I recommend if you are very moved by music.
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