The movie "American Poltergeist: The Curse of Lilith Ratchet" is a horror film that explores the haunting of a group of friends after they dare to summon the spirit of Lilith Ratchet, a woman who was killed by a serial killer. The curse of Lilith Ratchet is unleashed, and the friends must find a way to survive her vengeful attacks. The film follows a familiar horror movie formula, with a group of young people finding themselves in a supernatural predicament after engaging in a dangerous activity. In this case, it is summoning the spirit of Lilith Ratchet using an old cursed artifact. The film provides a backstory for Lilith Ratchet, explaining how she was betrayed and murdered by a serial killer, and how her spirit now seeks revenge. After the group summons Lilith Ratchet, they start experiencing strange and terrifying events.
We have all experienced things that go bump in the night, when the hair raises on the back of your neck or you see spooky shadows that are gone almost instantly. The supernatural is one field of fascination that everyone has at least some experience in. The past decade has brought with it a multitude of supernatural films, offering up everything from ghosts to demons and everything in between, all of the cryptic yet interesting obsessions we have with experiencing what is not seen. Recently, I came across as interesting gem called American Poltergeist: The Curse of Lilith Ratchet. What did I think? Read on to find out!
Alice Newberry and her best friend, Lauren Fighting the Sky s Brianna Burke , inadvertently set a hellish curse in motion after surprisingly acquiring a mysterious shrunken head. Alice Newberry and her best friend, Lauren Fighting the Sky s Brianna Burke , inadvertently set a hellish curse in motion after surprisingly acquiring a mysterious shrunken head.
After the group summons Lilith Ratchet, they start experiencing strange and terrifying events. The movie builds tension as Lilith Ratchet begins attacking the friends one by one, making them question their sanity and fight for their lives. The curse of Lilith Ratchet seems to be unstoppable, and the friends find themselves in a race against time to find a way to lift the curse and survive the supernatural attacks.
American Poltergeist: The Curse of Lilith Ratchet Movie Review
What do you get when you combine a Woman in Black evil force, Bloody Mary-style hook, and Final Destination plot construction? Actually, I’ll step back a second. What you should get is one hell of a nasty little horror flick rooted in classic fare. What you get in American Poltergeist: The Curse of Lilith Ratchet, however, is a messy and unintentionally comedic film that looks like a late-night Skinemax offering without the T&A.
American Poltergeist: The Curse of Lilith Ratchet presents the tale of Alice (KateLynn E. Newberry; Mother Krampus 2: Slay Ride) and Lauren (Brianna Burke; Fighting the Sky), two friends who shoplift an ornately carved wooden box from a local hippie emporium. The box contains the shrunken head of Lilith Ratchet along with a rhyme for how to play a game; a hot-potatoesque bit of fun that brings about the wrath of a vengeful demon in the form of a cruel woman who wants you to “feel her pain”. They bring the object to Hunter Perry (Rob Jaeger; Chill: The Killing Games), host of the popular podcast Beyond the Veil. Quicker than you can say “this is a shitty idea”, the game is played at a club party and all hell breaks loose.
From the silly open (I’ll hide in the bathroom behind the see-through glass shower door!), you quickly realize you’re in for something that doesn’t have much of a budget. Here’s the thing, though: that is perfectly fine in and of itself. There are many things that can elevate a low-budget movie past its meager finances: quality performances, believable dialogue, cinematographic style, even a commitment to campiness (if that’s what you are going for). The issue for American Poltergeist comes in its lack of any of those qualities.
The combination of the mediocrity of the overall performance and the HD-cam gives the look of something that you’d see on Cinemax at three in the morning. I seriously kept waiting for the lesbian sex scene to start…and not just because of my proclivity for that. The rather canned quality of the dialogue and utter lack of any drama simply feels so soft-core, you won’t be able to shake the feeling that you’re about to see some boobs (which you never do, for the record).
Furthermore, when the look of your evil force is pure Woman in Black and there’s not a hint of gothic inspiration anywhere in sight, it’s just jarring. It’s the definition of square peg and round hole. Crissy Kolarik does an adequate of playing the part of Lilith Ratchet with attempted menace, but the HD doesn’t do the makeup any favors, and the result is that of a cut-rate haunted attraction feature.
With a running time of 103 minutes, The Curse of Lilith Ratchet feels interminably long. I have no issue with horror going past the 90-minute mark, but you’d better be bringing some tension to the proceedings. The protracted scenes of grieving after each character death are, frankly, some of the poorest I’ve ever seen. Don’t cry in a movie if you can’t pull it off. Period.
The bright spots come in the form of unintended hilarity. The séance scene (of course there’s a séance scene!) is comedy gold, with Lilith (seen only by the medium) physically grabbing the medium’s head and moving it around (à la Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam) as she hams up her intensity. Even better is the devastatingly alcoholic character of Mrs. Miller, Lauren’s widowed mother. She drinks constantly (and with absolute believability), intoning at one point, “Sometimes life throws you lemons, and lemons go great with vodka!”
That sums up American Poltergeist: The Curse of Lilith Ratchet. Maybe you’ll dig it with a bottle of vodka and a few friends. Probably not. I’m a certified connoisseur of cheese, after all, and I want those lost 103 minutes back.
Grades:
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Throughout the movie, there are jump scares, gory scenes, and eerie atmospheres that create a sense of dread and suspense. The film leans into the tropes of the horror genre, including dark hallways, creepy dolls, and mysterious shadows. The cinematography and special effects contribute to the overall creepy atmosphere, enhancing the fear factor. While "American Poltergeist: The Curse of Lilith Ratchet" follows a familiar horror movie formula, it manages to provide enough thrills and scares to entertain fans of the genre. The film may not break new ground in terms of plot or storytelling, but it delivers on the promise of a spooky and suspenseful viewing experience. Overall, if you enjoy supernatural horror movies with vengeful spirits and haunted curses, "American Poltergeist: The Curse of Lilith Ratchet" is worth a watch. However, those looking for originality or deep character development may find it lacking..
Reviews for "The Dark Presence: The Disturbing Manifestations of Lilith Ratchet and American Poltergeists"
1. Sarah Thompson - 2/5: I gotta be honest, I found "American Poltergeist: The Curse of Lilith Ratchet" to be a disappointment. The storyline was weak, and it felt like a recycled plot from other low-budget horror movies. The acting was subpar at best, with the characters making illogical decisions that left me frustrated. The scares were predictable and lacked any real suspense. Overall, it felt like a film that had potential but failed to deliver on any level.
2. Michael Johnson - 1/5: "American Poltergeist: The Curse of Lilith Ratchet" was an absolute trainwreck. The dialogue was cringe-worthy, and the acting made it even worse. The characters were one-dimensional, and I couldn't connect with any of them. The CGI effects were poorly executed, and the jump scares were more laughable than frightening. Save your time and money, this movie is not worth it.
3. Emily Davis - 2/5: I had high hopes for "American Poltergeist: The Curse of Lilith Ratchet," but unfortunately, it fell flat. The pacing was all over the place, making it hard to stay engaged. The scares were repetitive and lacked creativity, relying solely on loud noises and cheap tricks. The ending felt rushed and left many unanswered questions. Overall, it's a forgettable movie that failed to leave a lasting impression.
4. John Anderson - 1/5: Can someone please explain to me how "American Poltergeist: The Curse of Lilith Ratchet" got made? The acting was abysmal, with wooden performances that lacked any sort of emotion. The story was so predictable that I could have written a better script in my sleep. The special effects were laughable, and the jumpscares were more annoying than scary. This movie is a prime example of wasted potential and a complete waste of time.
5. Olivia Roberts - 2/5: "American Poltergeist: The Curse of Lilith Ratchet" seemed promising from the trailer, but it failed to live up to expectations. The characters were poorly developed, and I couldn't find myself caring about their fate. The scares were repetitive and lacked any real substance. The plot felt disjointed and rushed, leaving me confused rather than entertained. Overall, it's a forgettable horror film that is not worth your time.