Winchester (2018)

Winchester (2018)

2018 PG-13 99 Minutes

Fantasy | Horror

Firearm heiress Sarah Winchester is convinced that she is haunted by the souls killed at the hands of the Winchester repeating rifle. After the sudden deaths of her husband and child, she throws he...

Overall Rating

5 / 10
Verdict: So-So

User Review

  • Winchester is just another supernatural borefest. Like seriously, do we need another "ghosts are haunting this mansion, and so we must appease these spirits in order to save ourselves"? This sub-genre of horror films is utterly saturated, to the point that directors and cast members just don't even try anymore. Inspired by true events (just to make it that little bit scarier...apparently), widow Sarah Winchester is constantly expanding her mansion that is filled with a labyrinth of corridors and stairs. A troubled doctor is employed to assess her mental wellbeing, but what seemed liked a psychological analysis turns into a supernatural experience. In my opinion, this is the first major disappointment of 2018. All the ingredients were there to create a thrilling horror flick that could've utilised creativity. A haunted mansion that resembles a maze. Helen Mirren. Jason Clarke, who is only getting more and more competent in his film roles. A suitable oeriod setting. Helen Mirren. Inspiration from true events. Oh, and Helen Mirren is in this. Despite the cast's best efforts, this was just boring. If this was marketed as a supernatural drama, then expectations would've been tempered. But no, The Spierig Brothers attempted a full on horror thriller and guess what? It didn't work. I'm quickly becoming disinterested in their work (especially after last year's 'Jigsaw'), the use of cheap loud jump scares were far too predictable. The execution was incredibly basic, so much so that the editing was noticeably rushed. Small little details in one scene are ridiculously perceptible in the next cut, like a hole being bigger or a door opened slightly more. The script had no life whatsoever and its preaching on gun usage grew tiresome. The costume and production design were authentic and did capture the 1906 environment. The third act was a major improvement over its first two, but it's not enough to save what should've been a better horror. Finely acted in an authentic environment albeit boringly dull and uninspiring. Mirren doesn't deserve this, and in hindsight I think she knows that too...