The Atoning (2017)

Lack of good storyline.

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

Better Late Then Never

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

I'm thinking Tennessee, but maybe Alabama. In any case, this film is not theologically correct, but I give it a 3 because the "psychic" is really a witch in league with demons, which is very accurate on all accounts since Endor and long before that. I really wanted to love this wonderfully shot and lit film, but the lack of good, solid theology--and the shocking lack of forgiveness from an obviously penitent soul--makes it almost worthless. So, if you're into unique Ghost Stories that have little or no actual truth about them, then this one's for you. Oh, and to the reviewer who commented that the demons (Asmodeus et al) are caricatures (not realistic enough), no, this is really what they look like. I've seen one, my wife has seen so many she can't count them, and others I have met have also encountered them. They are black and menacing--but this film got their eye color wrong. It's always red.

Aside from two sanctimonious reviewers who criticised people who weren't overly positive about this movie, I think a lot of people are on the same page with this. For me, any movie where the characters haven't engaged me by the 20 minute mark is a dead loss. No matter your budget, you can still make your characters appealing or engaging for the audience. These people were so dull and monotonous that they were actually repellent in a dull, lifeless way. I watch a lot of horror (which this wasn't), and a lot of low budget movies (because everyone deserves a go, and this was definitely low budget)... but this one just didn't have any appeal at all. To be honest, I think if you're going to make something on a seriously low budget, you may want to take a chance and be creative rather than remake parts of other more successful movies in such a drab and lifeless way. Sorry guys! Just not the movie for me.

This film is very low budget, and slightly stilted in a couple of places.It still works, and works quite well.It has a similar plot line to a major Hollywood release starring a terrible actress. I can't give its name without revealing plot details.But that piece of crap is a multi-million dollar budget toss-fest, and 'The Atoning' is better than it.Story builds.Nice foreshadowing.Spookiness.A couple of tasteful jump-scares.Special FX effort and money spent where it matters, not scattered willy nilly to try and polish a Spielberg or Whacko-Cows-on-Skis turd.Soundtrack carefully subdued and only 'kicks' where it's needed.ACTUAL PLOT! (They hired a writer.)Extra twist, a good one, at no extra cost! But now, we come to the problem with tiny budget films, especially intelligent ones that go over dribbling, driveling morons' heads as 'The Atoning' did.It is this - They have no promotional clout whatsoever.The other day I went searching, and found what I was looking for. Sites, services and individuals that offer to give lots of positive reviews, on IMDb and other review sites, for money. I knew they existed but I had to convince myself. They do. They're real. And I don't doubt for a moment they can deliver what they offer.Thus it is possible for Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Meth, or Dreamcatcher, or anything starring Meryl Streep or Nicole Kidman, to have an IMDb score higher than 1.I think if the world of reviews was an honest world, few films would get above 5.'The Atoning' deserves the 7 I'm giving it.Eat me.- -- ---

A couple and their son are having several issues trying to keep the family together as they seem distant and full of tension. While attempting this their house appears to be haunted with all of them seeing ghosts. What they soon find out is that they are the ghosts and they can't leave the house. They need to figure out how to move on before the creepy shadow creatures get them.This had an interesting premise that was kind of like a serious Beetlejuice but it never reaches its full potential. It was neat how the ghosts still need to eat and sleep so they have to rely on whatever the living people own or get as groceries. The film however is an incredible slow, boring burner. I don't think anyone will watch this twice. It is a very depressing flick as well. The ghost family was lucky the other family never moved out which would've left them with nothing!