This week's horror movie showcase: Grave Encounters

GRAVE ENCOUNTERS: 2011: --: HRR:  Filmed in the mockumentary style, Grave Encounters is extremely entertaining and has some truly original scares.  It’s another “found footage” style movie ala Blair Witch Project, but ropes you in with great development, foreshadowing and build-up.

At points, you actually think that this is a documentary or reality show gone wrong because the actors aren’t well known, which caused Apartment 143 to lose some credibility because you could recognize some of the actors, especially “Spanish” from Old School.  In addition, there are points where it’s just plain creepy and convincing at the same time.  The initial backdrop of the movie helped create a type of believable fantasy.  You know it’s a movie but you still “Trick” yourself into believing it because it’s intriguing.

What I really liked about this movie was that it moved very smoothly and didn’t cause any periods of boredom.  I genuinely was entertained the whole time.  This movie met with some mixed reviews and didn’t light up the box office, but in terms of cult following, it’s very popular.  I blame the mixed results on the fact that there were many others filmed like this, and Blair Witch probably cleaned house.

I will say however, that this movie is in many of the top horror movie lists and that’s because it does scare you.  Not just with the “loud to quiet” segments, or the “look what’s behind this door” parts, it had some great crescendo scares that start out innocuously, then terrify you.  Stand out parts are when the “mentalist” gets hung and then thrown, when the girl is in the corner, when Preston finds the doctors’ den and sees the operation and finally when the hands come out of the ceiling.

Another great part was when they found mental institution bands on their wrists and when they couldn’t get out.  Great movie, watch it with someone you want to get to know better, because there will be parts when you want to hide or close your eyes.  This makes it a great movie to watch with that special someone who “likes horror movies but can’t watch them alone!”:::84%