Although "Jessabelle" was all set for a nationwide release in the U.S. in 2014, the powers that be decided to shelve her. There she was, gathering dust, when Blumhouse Productions (known for its low-budget films) picked it up for a VOD release two months ago. Then she crossed the Pacific to show in theaters across the archipelago. All this is bad for a movie's reputation. It's like a woman who goes on a date, doesn't hit it off with the guy, but then he shops her around to his dateless pals on Twitter ("Hey, anyone interested?") — very damaging for Jessabelle's morale.
On the other hand, she doesn't have a whole lot going for her. The story is shaky and inconsistent, with twists so predictable you can spot them 10 minutes before they happen. The premise: A young woman goes home after a car accident leaves her wheelchair-bound. There, she discovers a videotape made by her dead mother. After that, strange and terrifying things start to happen.
The swampland setting is nice and leading lady Sarah Snook goes above and beyond to charge the titular role with energy and charisma. Still, that's not enough to sustain this package and you can't help but notice its bargain-basement tinge.
| Rating | |
|---|---|
| Director | Kevin Greutert |
| Language | English |
| Opens | March 14 |
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