The Axe Murders of Villisca (2016) Reviews

• typical teen horror

  trashgang2017-02-07

  This horror is based on the actual axe murders that took place in 1912 and were never solved. So it all looked promising but in stead of becoming a slasher flick this turns into a paranormal flick. Is it that bad, well, it all moves away from the actual story and not having any gore or bloody moments this flick fails to deliver. Before the horror comes in it's all about teens and their love problems and once in the house having a tour it all takes too long before things go wrong. half way the flick they do enter the house again, at night and then it all starts, but it was a bit too late. The last minutes do deliver the goods but still it's clearly made to have teens watching it. The axe killing people is all done off-camera. The possession entering the visitors is done with, sigh, black eye lenses. Nothing looks scary and the voice being deformed by processors in editing is another big failure. Of course teens watching this will love the way it was done. But for a real buff it's all to low to really stick in your mind. Gore 0/5 Nudity 0/5 Effects 1/5 Story 2/5 Comedy 0/5

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• A fresh new horror story

  bearfaceproductions2017-02-04

  At first sight of the trailer, one might think that this is another clichè horror film. That's what I had thought, until I actually saw it. The clichè of exploring a haunted house and finding something that surprises the characters, but this is actually justified with the great story development. When the characters: Caleb, Dennis and Jess, are introduced we quickly relate to them and are drawn in with their appealing and realistic personalities. Each of their story is developed nicely throughout the entire film, which is something I don't frequently see and am glad this film did. The actors portraying these characters do a solid job. Every piece of acting feels real and convincing. And aside from them every other secondary character, is played greatly as well. The script itself goes at a great pace for the first two-thirds of the film. We are immersed into a compelling dark atmosphere of suspense. Slowly the story takes a turn for the intriguing as it starts to develop nicely. My only problem with the film was the final thirds of the film. The movie builds a great deal of suspense, but when the final act comes it is short lived and falls flat. It could have been better if it was stretched out a little more and got to see a more intense climax. As for the scares, it has its moments. One jump-scare was very predictable, but when we get to see the movie starting to take momentum, some moments are jaw dropping, leaving the viewers shaking and kinda nervous. The movie is never boring and it keeps you glued to the screen. Much of this is joined by great cinematographic shots, which I gotta give it to Tony Valenzuela, he has an amazing artistic point of view. Although I was slightly disappointed with the films climax, I strongly suggest giving this movie a watch. It has a breath taking story, very atmospheric and appealing. Plus the characters strong background story is very interesting.

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• Surely not the greatest.

  gothic-fiction2017-12-02

  This is a straight forward horror movie that you've seen many, many times before, with all the standard moves, scares, characters and ending. It brings nothing new, delivers on very few levels, doesn't get you too involved, annoys at times but at least it is not over stretched. A haunted house film like all others, with familiar ghosts and typical reactions leading to the most common finale. It's down to everyone's personal opinion, I just sat there, watched it and that was all. Didn't do much for me. So watch it at your own peril. Cheers!

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• More Than a Ghost Story

  gavin69422017-01-24

  "Villisca" is a ghost story based on the house where the notorious and still unsolved 1912 ax murders took place. Three outcast teenagers break into the house in search of answers, but discover something far beyond their worst fears. Director Tony Valenzuela and producers Kevin Abrams and Seth Caplan had come to writer Owen Egerton with a story based on Tony's own visit to the house years before. He described voices, dark images, and, most intriguing of all, a sensation that the house was compelling him to commit acts of violence. Upon joining the team, Egerton returned to the house with Valenzuela, and recalls that "the tour guide told us his own story of becoming infatuated with the house, revisiting it over and over and finally moving in next door. Tony nods along as the young man describes his uncanny and uncomfortable attraction to the spot. It's a house that invites obsession." The team spent the night at the house, with Valenzuela and Caplan prepping, and Egerton getting a feel for the living space. He says, "Do I believe in ghosts? I'm not certain, but I do know that when a rock hits a pond, the water ripples out. I could feel the ripples of that crime. I could feel it as a presence. I'm not sure if that house is haunted, but I was haunted." That session resulted in a story not just about the murders themselves, but a secondary layer concerning the "presence" left behind and three high school students who are affected. Ultimately, the casting also brought along some noteworthy actors in supporting roles: Sean Whalen, Jon Gries, and Conchata Ferrell, whose faces will be familiar even if you might not know their names. Reviews have been trending negative, though it appears people are more upset about their expectations than the film itself. Matt Donato writes, "The Axe Murders Of Villisca is too familiar a haunted house story to be anything more than generic." To some extent, he is, of course, right. There are only so many ways to tell a ghost story. But you have to admire the team's commitment to originality, whether or not you think they succeeded. The script had been around since at least 2013, and therefore had to be modified when coincidental similarities came up in "The Conjuring". No matter how coincidental, the creators did not want that comparison to be made unfairly. Noel Murray is more forgiving, writing that "it's refreshing that Egerton and Valenzuela have at least spent some of their 78 minutes beefing up the characters and relationships". Some of this does seem forced, such as how quickly Jess becomes attracted to Caleb, despite knowing nothing about him. But these aren't the one-dimensional teens of a slasher. Murray is also critical, though, asking, "Was an actual horrible ax murder not scary enough to support its own movie?" I think that Murray is offbase here. Yes, you could tell a grim story about such a murder spree. Or you might even turn it into a courtroom drama. As Egerton notes, "The murders were followed by a massive but sloppy investigation and two widely publicized trials, both ending in acquittal." But that was not the point, so it seems unfair to criticize a script (or film) for what it never aimed to be. If anything, the movie should be applauded for drawing attention to an exciting, unsolved case. Being in Wisconsin -- only one state away -- I had never heard of this case, and now I am compelled to find out more. Those interested might seek out "Villisca" by Roy Marshall, and perhaps this would spark interest in a new book or documentary? Anyway, "Axe Murders" is out now from IFC Midnight, and well worth a visit if you want to explore a trans-generational ghost story in America's heartland.

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• A Response from An Interested Party

  navarre_22017-07-04

  Full disclosure: I'm not just any old audience member for this picture. I've also worked on a Villisca-related project, co-writing, directing and appearing in one entitled "Haunting Villisca." Ours was far rougher than this one, from a production standpoint (I suspect we had a small fraction of this one's budget) and, sadly, we did no better with reviewers. My own reaction to this one is. . .frustration and bewilderment. I don't care for the picture but I wouldn't, regardless of whether or not I myself had made one. It's lodged very uncomfortably in a very small space: true crime meets paranormal activity meets teen slasher flick. Finding the intersection of those circles is going to be dicey work indeed and, having attempted something like it, we may have to admit that it cannot be done at all. The picture isn't all bad - some elements are exceedingly well-done - but the more important point, to me, is that the case has not attracted and given rise to the sort of high-achieving work we who are familiar with it believe could be produced. What's the problem? I wish I knew. I've often described the case as an itch between the shoulder blades, the itch that takes up residence in that one insanely inaccessible spot. You feel you'll go mad if you can't somehow deal with it. So you write a book, you write a song, you make a movie. They're all undertaken with the best of intentions, and they all fall short (Roy Marshall's book, "Villisca," comes the closest to fullness, combining a law officer's obsession over evidence with a folksy charm that lifts the endeavor onto a higher plane, one approaching "art.") No, I don't like this movie very much. Then again, I don't like ANY of them - my own included - very much. The dragon of history sleeps soundly still; he's not been prodded sufficiently into yielding up his treasure. Someday, perhaps.

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