Dead End (2006)

Sadly Over-hyped

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

In spite of all the comments I have already read, I really liked it. For the first time a Dutch movie without nudity and with all the usual horror ingredients. My hands were in front of my eyes a lot of the time and I didn't have that feeling with a Dutch move since De Lift from Dick Maas. I even was surprised by the way the story was set up. And not to spoil anything, but I also liked the ending. Great to see some of the famous Dutch soap actors in a very different part from what they do usually. So to sum it all up: Fortunately the actors didn't have to overact and the effects were as good as you can see in most of the US mad horror movies. And this movie was scary. Thanks for a great viewing time and looking forward to the next horror movei frm Dutch ground.So to even the odds and give this movie what it deserves a 10+ for me.And keep up the Horror movies in Holland!!

If there's one thing "Dood Eind" can teach us, it is that even the Dutch know about all the dreadful clichés of the horror genre and that it took until now, late 2006, before they processed them all into one lame movie. I'm pretty sure that, if this movie was made in any other country, it never would have seen the light of day, but since it's the Netherlands and since this nation is desperately craving its very own horror tradition, "Dood Eind" got exaggeratedly promoted in the specialized press and on websites. The story revolves on themes that you've seen a thousand times before already and largely blends the plots of the overrated films "Blair Witch Project" and "Ju-On: The Grudge". The writers, however, claim that their main inspiration was Sam Raimi's "The Evil Dead", but I spotted very few similarities between that classic and this pretentious piece of junk, apart from the ominous woods and the book of the dead. Seven friends that haven't seen each other since their childhood (and actually can't stand each other anymore...) come together for a reunion trip in the Scottish countryside. On the first night around the campfire, the group is attacked by ravenous dogs and they're forced to take refugee in an abandoned house. Minor mistake, as it soon turns out that the house is haunted by the restless spirit of a woman whose baby got killed over a hundred years ago on suspicion of witchery. A haunted house? Dwelling ghosts?? Really? That's so original... NOT! Naturally it doesn't take long before all the clichés start following each other at fast pace. Spontaneously slamming doors, eerie noises coming from the attic and the occasional sudden appearance of a pale-faced ghost lady, they're all there. Stereotypes are well-presented as well, as the clique of seven contains a coward, a bitch, a macho, etc.. Strange fiery mucus that grows on the walls kills most of the Dutch trespassers, and the remaining survivors have to try and understand the house's history if they ever want to get out alive. Technically speaking, the film is okay. The budget was extremely low, but it was nevertheless enough to come up with a handful of decent visual effects and adequate filming locations. Even the acting performances are acceptable, although some of the players are difficult to understand even if you speak the same language. Nope, the problem with "Dood Eind" is purely the substance. There's never any tension since you can feel the 'twists' and 'shocks' coming well in advance and especially the climax is really pathetic. There's still hope for the Dutch horror film (check out "Sl8N8"), but "Dood Eind" is a production better left ignored.

Oh boy, what to say about this.Holland doesn't have a horror culture, and if this movie is any indication, it probably never will have one.Let me get the good stuff out of the way: technically, the movie is adequate, with some good cinematography, decent music and (for Dutch standards) pretty decent effects.But then we have to start judging the movie on its actual content and what impression that leaves. Which left me wholly underwhelmed (and i'm being kind). To summarize all the aspects: the acting ranges from decent to downright laughable (depending on the actors and on the emotion they were intended to express); the story (what little of it there is) ends up amounting to absolutely nothing the least bit interesting; the movie CRAWLED along, with most of it spent making characters sneak through dark corridors and rooms with flashlights where most of the times nothing ends up happening; the movie is repetitive in the extreme (scene: people rest in room - smoldering fire invades wood around them - people try to escape room - repeat ad nauseum); whenever something happens it is the usual annoying shocks of the "BOO" type with quick cut editing; we have characters that make NO impression whatsoever, and included a main protagonist who spent most of his time crying or making hilarious faces (supposedly representing a mix of shock , rage or crying, or all at the same time).Put it this way, whatever tension the makers managed to build up initially went down the toilet when this viewer started quickly realizing that NOTHING scary (or gory) was going to happen. You can only have people creeping down corridors with flashlights for so long without payoff before i stop giving a hoot and thinking about turning the DVD off (which i didn't because i wanted to see if it improved).I have to compliment the guys making the film for the technical proficiency and meaning well, but it seems as if they really thought that throwing ingredients from "Blair Witch Project", "Silent Hill" and "House on Haunted Hill (remake)" into a pot and cooking it, automatically meant the result would be a great tasting horror soup. This soup fell completely flat and tasted like nothing.Sorry guys. You undoubtedly love horror, but loving it is different from being able to make it and doing a good job.On a side note: some Dutch reviewers (see "reviews" on left side of IMDb page) have given the movie props for being a successful attempt. These people are obviously a bit too chauvinistic about Dutch "product" and need to regain their objectivity. You're not going to do horror's future in Holland any good by praising this movie if it really sucks. And those that think it really was good, ah well...

OK, let me start off by saying something nice: 1: some of the special effects were quite good. (some weren't) 2: the lighting was very well done.now, because I don't want to get too upset about it I will keep it short.it sucked...it really did. there was no suspense at all. You'll almost fall asleep while waiting for something scary to happen.The scenario and the director are most to blame. I can't believe he won an award for this! the acting is quite bad but mainly because of the dialog. I'm sure this is the best they could do with it.the fact that it all happens in Scotland is just ridiculous! and the dutch woman trying to speak Scottish is just pathetic. I mean - they used Scottish kids in the movie so why couldn't they use a Scottish actress? trés horrible! (horror in the wrong kind of way.)yet what disturbs me the most is the ending. that's probably why it's called dead end. because there is no. It's like they couldn't come up with a good ending so they let the actors improvise or something like that...hell, I don't know.What I do understand is Tarantino's companies' interest in it because with the humor and real horror I'm sure Tarantino is able to bring in it can make it a good movie. (if he uses different actors and changes the script.) - but that's why they said they were interested in making a remake and not having it released in America.so, I gave it 2 stars for the effects and lighting. and that's the most I can give to this piece of dogpoo. horror at its worst!