THE GALLOWS

Directed by: Travis Cluff, Chris Lofing

Starring by: Reese Mishler, Pfeiffer Brown, Ryan Shoos, Cassidy Gifford

Blumhouse Production

The word “Gallows” is funny word, here in Indonesia, people used it to represent a condition which confusing or fill with uncertainty so it frustrated to someone, while on the other hand, in English, it means the tools to hung criminals which also brought some frustrating situation on both, after all who want to be hung, right? And when I saw this movie, it was very frustrating one as well, let me tell you why...

The story begun when bunch of guys take a shot of the school drama performance at Beatrice High School in 1993 which ends with disaster because of the malfunction of the set, the door beneath Charlie Grimille’s feet opens and make him hung with noose around his neck, which killed him instantly in front of the casts and audience. Its good opening, I admit it, but it missed me a little when the situation moves forward where bunch of guys from the same school represent that drama at present day.   

This movie had narrow and close range shot which using an angle of Ryan’s camera but I had to admit that this film using clever angle that used not only the camera but also other device such phone camera from the characters in it. Ryan tapes his friend, Reese who’s about to perform the same role as Charlie did before, but he found out that Reese was horrible actor so his friend would embarrassed himself if Reese continues to perform. 

So Ryan suggested to ruins the stage at night so Reese can avoid performing on stage elegantly, I think the other motive from Ryan that he want to get even with Price who humiliated Ryan in front of the crew. Cassidy, Ryan’s girlfriend, excited to hear that idea and wanted to join them.

And that was the start of their mistake, funny how all chaos started from fad, but that’s teenager, isn’t it?

Three of them entered the school hall from the back door that Ryan found stays unlock because it’s broken, and meshed up the stage, they think everything goes smoothly as their plan until they caught up by Pfeifer, who actually staying at the school that night. It really awkward coincidence, I think, and seemed impossible in real life as I knew the main actor or actress usually would be stay in their house to rest and get relax a day before the show time. 

Reese, who got crush with the girl confessed that he, and his friend, came to the place to destroy the stage but it turned up fine when they got back at the hall, the rope which taken down by Ryan still hanging on the pool while the stairs that destroyed back in normal. The fourth got panic when they realized the door locked and they were trapped in the school building and you should watch it for yourself as the ghost killed them one by one.

I like the part when Ryan meshing up Price’s locker while the locker door above his head opened by itself at the same time, I thought the ghost want to make Ryan’s head hit but when he lifted his head and closed the door of Price’s locker, it also shut. Cool! 

And it was not surprising if this character became the first victim because he’s so swank, it was him who challenging and taunting Charlie by calling that name many times, his friend tried to warned him not to call that name in vain, something that reminds us of Charlie Challenge as the spiritual game which is trendy on the internet this days and also gave warned to be careful saying that name. 

Ryan ends up with broken leg after being pushed from the ladder by unseen force when he tried to open air-conditioning duct in an attempt to get out from the building. His friends seek for medicine and left him alone on the stage and that’s when Charlie’s appearance was shown for the first time.    

The murder of Cassidy probably the best scene in this film, sitting on the floor with legs folded, it’s some pose which I want to become a cover for my book, Deathline, at first but I’m happy if this film took that pose eventually because I still think it was a cool one. And the audience on the cinema were screaming, especially the girl who sat with his boyfriend next to me, when the rope get around Cassidy’s neck and drug her out.    

I knew it was not a coincidence when the fourth trapped in that school, the ghost was targeting Reese to be killed when he heard the voice on his cell phone saying the line that he has to said on the show, “He wants me, He coming for me.” 

It simply because Reese’s father who actually played the role as the main character that to be hung in 1993, and not Charlie Grimelle who replaced him because Reese’s father got sick before the show. So it’s funny to found out that the locker where Reese’s phone got locked was in locker number 93, right?

Blumhouse did well by releasing this low budget film,which approximately cost them US$ 100,000 but get in returned US$ 13,5 Million, so that’s why horror still loved by movie marker as the genre that could bring lots of fortune with only minimum cost and not-so-famous casts which used their own name for the characters on the movie. 

I don’t gave many critics of this film because this sure is giving us another example of what called the economic value business film, but here what I want to tell you about my frustration... the script writer confuse me up about Charlie’s appearance, is he a ghost or monster?

If you want to perform Charlie as a paranormal creature, I think you making him too harsh by showing him attacked the police and performing the shadow when he’s been chasing Reese and Cassidy at the alley, man...paranormal appearance should be delicate...they don’t emerged shadow...while on the other hand if he’s a monster you shouldn’t make some appearance which allowed him to appear and vanished such way...so now you know why I got frustrated to guess what Charlie really are, right?