Friday, November 11, 2022

The Dead Half (2017)

Aaron, an unappealing guy who fancies himself a filmmaker,  shows Claire the footage he’s shot for his movie. It consists of interviews with locals about an abandoned house, the family who lived there, and the legend that it’s haunted.  Based on the footage, you’d think he’s making a documentary. Yet he’s asked Claire to act in it. 

The goal is to shoot footage in the house, act like something is happening, and then put good effects on it. His friend Dillon claims to be the director of photography, which is odd since he never touches a video camera and each person has a Go Pro strapped to their chest.

Aaron’s girlfriend Jill, who is way out of his league, has the role of clairvoyant. This leads one to wonder why anyone would date Aaron since his personality sucks.  The mystery is quickly solved when Jill reveals how incredibly insecure she is by being aggressive towards Claire, even turning off their cameras and mics so she can berate her during their trip upstairs. 

When Claire feels and sees odd happenings in the house, Jill gets angry because she’s supposed to be the clairvoyant.  Aaron also gets irritated because he thinks she’s faking. This makes no sense since he’s planning on adding effects to the footage anyway.  

Both Claire and Dillon have interactions with something supernatural and want to leave. But Aaron refuses because it’s his movie and he wants more footage.  Even though they want to figure out if it’s haunted, Aaron scoffs at their experiences and doesn’t believe them.  Then Jill accuses Claire of sleeping with Aaron and I’m wondering why Claire doesn’t leave. She doesn’t even know these people. 

After more unpleasant interchanges between unlikeable characters, we get the story of the family that lived there, but who cares?  You’ll spend your time wondering why anyone is friends with Aaron and why Dillon and Claire didn’t leave earlier. After dealing with all Aaron’s crap, they still agree to help him shoot more footage. Just cut your losses and go. Also anytime someone tells you to give them your cell phone, it’s a bad idea.

Dialogue by unlikeable characters:

I want to get in there, capture real footage, dramatize it with some good acting and some effects. Get it out there and get rich and famous after it.

Aaron didn’t tell me that you’re kind of pretty.

Claire - this place really has a vibe to it.
Jill - A vibe?
Claire - Yeah, yeah you know like a feeling?
Jill - Look. Who’s the clairvoyant in this movie?


Aaron glaring at Claire as he shows her his footage
The group heading to the abandoned house.
This is Aaron at his happiest.
The many moods of Aaron
Is there a scene where Aaron isn’t hateful to his friends ?
No. No there isn’t
This much blood for a nosebleed doesn’t bode well
Let me guess, Aaron’s mad





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