Thehibikiew Not even bad in a good way

CrawlerChunky In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

Motompa Go in cold, and you're likely to emerge with your blood boiling. This has to be seen to be believed.

Scarlet The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Nigel P This is the story of Andy (Charlie Tahan), a young man confined to a wheelchair and apparently getting weaker. It is also the story of his weak-willed father Richard (Michael Shannon), and Maryann (Natasha Calis), the new neighbour about Andy's age. Reeling from the loss of her parents (she lives with her grandparents), she makes a friend in Andy. This is also the story of Andy's horrendous mother Katherine (Samantha Morton), ostensibly over-protective of her dying son but far, far more than that.Maryann is unresponsive and ungrateful to her grandparents (Leslie Lyles and Peter Fonda), so it is easy for them to believe it when Katherine suggests, with a smile, the girl may have behavioural problems. Her friendship with the lad is a heartfelt one, marred only by the mischief all children are guilty of. Certainly it is undeserving of Katherine's wrath. It's during such a mishap that Maryann, hiding in the basement, discovers a dark secret.This increasingly disturbing story is expertly directed by John McNaughton, who handles the onslaught of revelations and horror in spellbinding fashion. Initial cruelty is revealed to mask a far more sombre situation. Not entirely unlike Kathy Bates from 'Misery (1990)', Morton gives Katherine a measured stillness, a dangerous sense of calm (often with her trademark tiny smile), so that when her anger does erupt, it is extraordinary. This is an engrossing, quite disturbing production, with terrific acting, especially from the juveniles.

boy13 The concept of the movie is really good and not a cliché. It keeps us guessing whats happening. However, the movie is really slow and fails to create a grip expected from a mystery thriller movie. No significant events happen till two third of the movie. A couple is keeping a kid to harvest his organs for their son. In end, there are few twists and turns. The acting is good but the movie lacks pace. I had to watch it with an increased speed to finish it.

Lugodoc This is not a horror film but a gripping thriller with horrific aspects powered by two actors both of whom do intense better than anyone, Michael Shannon and Samantha Morton. Morton is particularly good, terrifyingly on the edge of becoming completely unhinged most of the time, although seemingly tiny next to Shannon. The two child actors also deliver convincing performances, Natasha Calis and Charlie Tahan (Gotham's young Scarecrow). Their relationship drives the plot and works well.It starts off slow then gradually builds up its tension and shocks without resorting to improbable melodrama. A very good film.

Leofwine_draca CAN'T COME OUT TO PLAY - originally titled THE HARVEST - is a great example of movie mis-selling. Looking at the DVD box you'd be forgiven for thinking that this was a supernatural horror either about psychopaths, devil worship, or an evil entity residing inside a family home. In reality it's about none of those things, rather this is a psychological thriller about a couple of maladjusted parents and the disabled and lonely son they care for.The film is directed by John McNaughton, who made the infamous HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER back in the 1980s. That was an example of edgy, independent film-making, whereas CAN'T COME OUT TO PLAY is strictly by-the-numbers Hollywood fare. I was mainly interested in watching it because Michael Shannon plays the father, although he doesn't have very much to do here other than play the usual kooky character and he's a bit more restrained than usual. By contrast, I wish Samantha Morton had been more restrained; her character is larger than life here and her acting suffers for it.The film is quite slow paced although the child angle of the story is refreshing and reminded me of THE SECRET GARDEN, of all things, at some points. Sadly it gets less and less believable as it goes on, closing with one of those ridiculously contrived and clichéd climaxes that Hollywood knows and loves. It's a sour end for a film which occasionally promises much but delivers nothing out of the ordinary.