Rent The Haunting of Mary (2014)

A little dull - The Haunting of Mary review by NP

Mary Kaylee Bryant goes missing at her family’s lake house. When she returns, the 15 year old has been relieved of much of her soul. To mark the difference between the depressed Mary and the earlier, perkier model, we are treated, in flashback, to moments of family life that are so coated in sugar, things threaten to become hyperglycaemic.

Mum has the lion’s share of exposition and turns into a wise-crackin’ ass kicker at the end, dad keeps telling the police they either ‘need to send some people round’, and when they arrive, that they ‘need to leave.’

My favourite character is May’s younger sister Sophia, largely because of Anne Bex‘s unaffected performance.

A horror for youngsters or possibly teenage girls is no bad thing. I certainly wouldn’t be arrogant enough to decry this film for not catering for a beleaguered old horror git like myself. Roles are played broadly, which was probably deemed necessary to convey large amounts of often heavy-handed dialogue. If this was intended for youngsters, then I honestly think they would find the vast amount of the running time rather dull. My score is 5 out of 10.