J.S. Cardone is at is again with the remake scripts.  Surely you guys remember the tragedy that befell Prom Night?  Well, if you are a fan of the original evil step-dad, Terry O'Quinn, and that nasty little flick, you won't find what you wish for here either.  It's not that it is particularly bad.  It's just not particularly good.  As a matter of fact, I feel it would have been more at home on the Lifetime Movie Network.  But then maybe it's the presence of Sela Ward that makes me think so.  *Thinking* Nah. 

My description will seem a little spoilier than most I do, but honestly I don't expect any real horror fans to throw down change for this and even if you do you likely know what I'm about to tell you.  Besides, they are only spoilers if they detract from the suspense and trust me, there is no danger of that here. The basic story is the same.  Dylan Walsh is the man who seems too good to be true, and that's likely because he is.  But what I find most curious about this film is how he goes from perfect in everyone's eyes to dastardly and as far as they know he hasn't done anything.  We begin with him changing his appearance and nothing seems too out of the ordinary as he goes downstairs to make some coffee and enjoy it while looking longingly out the kitchen window.  It's Christmastime and there are decorations to prove it.  But as he begins to leave, the serene turns to sinister when we spot the dead bodies of the various family members strewn about the house.  And here is where it diverges for horror fans.  There is no carnage.  Of course that's what you'd expect from a PG-13 film but it makes me sad because the beauty of the original was how vicious it was, even from the beginning.  So then we find ourselves watching as some cops (or FBI, I don't know) are piecing together the facts.  They have put together that the same man seems to be committing all these crimes.  But if you are expecting that to play a part later you are mistaken.  It's as if Cardone was tippy-typing along and completely forgot that setup by the end of the film.  We get nothing else from it.  It could have been an interesting plot point but I guess they said "who needs it?" 

beauty of the original was how vicious it was, even from the beginning.  So then we find ourselves watching as some cops (or FBI, I don't know) are piecing together the facts.  They have put together that the same man seems to be committing all these crimes.  But if you are expecting that to play a part later, you are mistaken.  It's as if Cardone was tippy-typing along and completely forgot that setup by the end of the film.  We get nothing else from it.  It could have been an interesting plot point, but I guess they said, "Who needs it?" 

The next thing we know he is in Oregon and meets Susan Harding (Ward) with her family in tow at the local supermarket.  He does a little flirty flirt and she ends up asking him to go for pizza with her and the kids.  Flash forward six months later.  Her son is returning for the Summer from military school.  So far everyone loves David (Walsh) and they think he's perfect.  She's gonna marry him.  But suddenly people start to get suspicious of him for no reason at all really.  Of course he's a bad guy but they have no reason to think so yet.  So how does someone seem "perfect" for six solid months only to suddenly seem weird?  That part I don't get.  The rest of the film plays out as you would expect except for the fact that it has all the drama and suspense of a TV movie.  There are a few jump scares here and there that only fall flat and that's about it.  What could have been a fun little flick ends up being nothing more than pedestrian. 
 

out as you would expect, except for the fact that it has all the drama and suspense of a TV movie.  There are a few jump scares here and there that only fall flat, and that's about it.  What could have been a fun little flick ends up being nothing more than pedestrian. 

The only really notable thing about Nelson McCormick's Movie of the Week is the acting.  The cast is solid, I cannot deny that much.  Dylan Walsh does a great job with what he's given.  I only wish he had more with which to work.  I'm sure he does as well.  Sela Ward, ever beautiful, is also good.  But I don't think anyone would question her abilities. She's been around a long time and she has proven herself time after time.  The other main relationship throughout the film is that of Susan's son, Michael (Penn Badgley), and his girlfriend, Kelly (Amber Heard).  Michael's attitude is a little on the annoying side at times.  I frankly don't like that he hates David out of the gate.  It doesn't make much sense and these films work better when the evil comes as a total shock.  And Amber is as cute as a kitten (no surprise there) but she always seems to have ants in her pants.  I was often distracted by her constant fidgeting and frequently wondering if she owned any clothes.  It seems the only real reason for Amber to make an appearance in the film was so that she could dance around like a child in need of Ritalin while wearing either a bikini or underwear.  I guess at least the wardrobe department got a break when it came to dressing her. 

I have been saying lately that 2009 is shaping up to be a great year for horror even with some of the uglies that have graced the screen but this is not an example of the good stuff.  It's flat, predictable and extraordinarily forgettable.  I recommend the Terry O'Quinn vehicle if you are looking for a good time.  But then I'm not thirteen. 

frequently wondering if she owned any clothes.  It seems the only real reason for Amber to make an appearance in the film was so that she could dance around like a child in need of Ritalin while wearing either a bikini or underwear.  I guess at least the wardrobe department got a break when it came to dressing her. 

I have been saying lately that 2009 is shaping up to be a great year for horror, even with some of the uglies that have graced the screen, but this is not an example of the good stuff.  It's flat, predictable and extraordinarily forgettable.  I recommend the Terry O'Quinn vehicle if you are looking for a good time.  But then I'm not thirteen.