The Gallows (2015)

The Gallows (2015)

2015 R 87 Minutes

Horror | Thriller

20 years after a horrific accident during a small town school play, students at the school resurrect the failed show in a misguided attempt to honor the anniversary of the tragedy - but soon discov...

Overall Rating

2 / 10
Verdict: Awful

User Review

  • The Gallows kept hanging around for nothing and had me wanting to use a noose. Was the production budget dangling on a string of rope or something? Because this was cheaper than a school theatre production! The inexpensive and simple conception of "found footage" films has resulted in many horror films tackling a variety of different ghouls who adore scaring the "bajeezus" out of youths and depicting pitch black environments. Sprawling woodlands, claustrophobic catacombs and even an abandoned mental institution.

    Well, what's the scariest place for students? High school, obviously! Shame the film was tamer than an amateur reenactment of Shakespeare's 'Taming of the Shrew'. A small cluster of students break into school one night to wreck a stage production of 'The Gallows', a play to which an understudy was accidentally killed years before.

    Firstly, let me address the face-palming stupidity that exists in this snooze-fest. Why would a school actively agree to create another production of a play to which an actual death occurred? There would be an uprising from parents! Especially those that were actually in the original production. Also, why would any student (although let's be honest, these actors look far too old) break into school in the middle of night? Their motives were flimsy to say the least, and it was bound to be a predictable recipe for disaster. The characters themselves were one-dimensional, emotionless and, particularly the main camera holder, irritating beyond belief. Seriously, the immature humour and childish antics were enough to get that moron a year's worth of detention. Shut the eff up and get hanging!

    The atmosphere was hugely lacking due to the vast amount of "found footage" clichés which inadvertently failed to create any scares. Characters will stand in the middle of the camera if something happens and the typical bass kicks in to inform you that "horror" is coming. A few slow moving background shots enable one or two chills to invade your body, but no where near enough. Oh, and the ending? What even! The Gallows should be sent to the gallows immediately.