wishmaster-2

I can't understand some of the bad reviews this film got. I found it to be a very genuine, tender and moving comedy. I don't think it's just me, but you can feel all the passion and emotion Benjamin Ratner put in his story and characters. As a movie it's quite strange because it shows not "movie characters" but believable persons. I can't see the lack of believability in this movie (many reviewers wrote about that). Maybe it moves too much slowly but the last part, when Elizabeth's character is back, is quite emotional and surprisingly moving. As a director, Ratner is quite better with the actors than with the camera work. But it's nothing terribly shocking (by the way, the version I saw wasn't in widescreen as it was meant to be). The acting is great. Ratner and John Neville are capable and believable in their roles but the one I've found really impressive was Elizabeth Berkley, in one of the best and most vulnerable performances of her career. She proves here to actually be the professional artist she is, not just the girl from "Showgirls". Other cast members cast (Babz Chula, Jay Brazeau and wonderful Rebecca Harker) provides great support to the main performances. Tech credits are good (good camera work in HD, it seems film and a really nice music score). I recommend this movie to everyone. It's impressive and sincere. Two qualities that are hard to find in recent productions.

This movie is so bad.... The acting, the story, the dialogues, the special effects, the direction, the sound.... Everything in this movie is soooo bad that I LOVE it!! It's supposed to be a horror movie but it's the best and funniest comedy I ever seen!! I can't stop laughing every time I'm watching it and I'm so in love with it that I ended up buying the video! If you want to laugh for 80 minutes, watch it!! The best line?? "Spirito del Male.... TI DETESTO!" - Italian people will understand.

I recently saw this terrific short film at the San Diego Latino Film Festival and I was totally impressed by it. How many surprises a little short film like this can give? A lot, believe me! The very first scene is shocking: I won't tell what happens but it sets so well a claustrophobic atmosphere which last until the end credits. The story - set during the colonial period in Mexico - is interesting: a young nun (Claudia Soberon) is haunted by the ghost of Sor Luciana, a nun who was buried alive between the walls of the convent 100 years before. No one seems to believe her: the Mother Superior (Carol Abney) thinks she is possessed by the Devil and calls the Holy Office of Inquisition. The only salvation for the poor girl seems to be the escape from the convent...

A paragraph at the end reveals that the well-designed script by writer-director Erika Grediaga is based on several legends about the monastic life in Latin America. The way Grediaga involved those legends into a disturbing and fascinating ghost story is excellent: the scenes that involves the spirit (as the dream sequence in the outside) are terrifying and helmer Grediaga successfully handles the suspense throughout the entire story. The performances are generally good as the material: the impressive cast includes the strong performances by Claudia Soberon, Carol Abney, Dennis Deal, Katira Alvarez and Rick Simon.

The young and talented Soberon delivers a convincingly vulnerable portrayal as the nun haunted by the ghost. She gives her best to create an empathic and desperate character (she is excellent in the scene when she's crying on the bed, as she realize there's no way out).

Carol Abney as the Mother Superior has a great opportunity to show her talents: she doesn't confine her multi-faced character into the classical cliche of the evil mother superior. She gives true life to a well-conceived character with passion and energy.

Co-stars Dennis Deal, Rick Simon and Katira Alvarez haven't much screen time but they support the story with strong performances: Deal is throughly believable as Brother Matheo Bonilla, Simon offers an emotional, conflicting and moving portrayal and Alvarez is terrifying as requested. Tech credits are fine: a wonderful score, a good lensing and editing work. The make-up department did a great job with the ghost and the costume / production designers were able to put the audience into the Colonial Period. It's a must see!