Jack Goes Home (2016)

After his father is killed in a car crash, Jack travels home to Colorado to help nurse his mother (who was injured in the crash) back to health. There, he uncovers long buried secrets and lies within his family history, his parents, his friends and his very identity.

Review

Written and directed by Thomas Dekker (Whore) Jack Goes home is a little of an oddity. A consummately slow paced movie, hinging more on the subtly of the players than anything else - it is very much the embodiment of creeping dread. 

Dekker does a good job of the direction, but his standout here is the writing. It's a clever film that doesn't give away too much, yet still manages to contain some seriously twisting plots and character motivations. Not only that, but nothing is sprung with weight on the viewer. Deft is the hand that gives the watcher enough information to suspect, but not enough to prove things that are afoot. It's one of those films that makes you think you're smarter by the end. 

There is little in the way of gore here for the hounds. Dekker very much plays on performance and revelation to gain the scares. This is helped along the way by the excellent casting choices. 

Lead, Rory Culkin (Scream 4) is certainly an interesting actor. He plays the weirdo well, but has enough range to be able to bring a complex character to life. He is perfectly cast here. His mother is played by Lin Shaye (Insidious) gives a downright terrifying performance and is as unhinged as they come. Rounding out the main cast is Daveigh Chase (The Ring) - Jack's best friend.

The film slyly bounces from oddball melodrama to gripping horror from scene to scene with the cast taking it completely in their stride. The revelations made by Jack throughout the grieving process are both heart-wrenching and startling at the same time, and the finale is both twisted and shocking - guessable, but not - and perfect for the film.

Not one for the gore hounds and Hellraiser fans, but certainly a great gothic-esque horror, with great writing and a great cast.